novelden Chapter 212 Opening up wasteland
Chapter 212 Opening up wasteland
The next morning, Li Xiangyang skillfully cleaned the livestock pen and added fresh hay and water.
While they were busy working, production team leader Zheng Dehou came with several members to check on the livestock.
"Li Xiangyang, this animal is doing quite well!" Zheng Dehou walked into the shed and stroked a sturdy yellow ox. "Look at its coat, so glossy and smooth."
“Yes,” another member chimed in, “our village’s livestock have never looked so energetic.”
Li Xiangyang smiled modestly: "It's all thanks to Dr. Qian's prescription that it worked. Besides, these livestock are all obedient and easy to raise."
"Obedient?" Zheng Dehou raised an eyebrow. "This ox caused us a lot of trouble the year before last, but now it's behaving itself."
Before he finished speaking, the ox seemed to understand and gently nuzzled Li Xiangyang's hand.
The other members laughed when they saw this.
"Li Xiangyang, you're something else, aren't you? You didn't end up paying out of your own pocket to support him, did you?"
An older member joked.
Li Xiangyang was about to speak when Zheng Dehou waved his hand, "Don't tease them. They definitely gave them compensation, otherwise they wouldn't have enough to eat. After spring planting, the production team will definitely have to provide good compensation."
“Captain, you’re too kind,” Li Xiangyang said, wiping the grass clippings from his hands. “It’s all for the collective; it’s what we should do.”
Zheng Dehou nodded in satisfaction: "Okay, then we'll have a meeting this afternoon to assign spring plowing tasks. Come early."
After everyone left, Li Xiangyang sat on the haystack to catch his breath.
The black cat had sneaked in at some point and squatted at his feet, its tail swishing back and forth.
Remembering Wang Ergou's trip to the county town to find Ma Hongxia yesterday, Li Xiangyang took out his pocket watch and checked the time.
The movie should be over by now. I wonder how that kid did.
Just then, Little Tiger suddenly pricked up his ears and looked towards the door.
A moment later, Wang Ergou walked in with a beaming smile.
"Brother Xiangyang!" Wang Ergou's eyes lit up. "You're right, watching movies really works! Ma Hongxia said..."
Watching Wang Ergou gesticulate wildly as he recounted yesterday's events, Li Xiangyang couldn't help but smile.
The production team meeting was held in the village committee in the afternoon, and the venue was packed with people.
Zheng Dehou stood at the front, holding several sheets of paper, explaining in detail this year's spring plowing plan.
"This year, the higher-ups have required us to expand our arable land area. I plan to reclaim the wasteland on the east side, with Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou in charge of leading the livestock to clear the land."
"The situation is good this year, but we can't let our guard down. Everyone will start work tomorrow."
After the meeting, Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou walked towards the livestock shed.
On the way, I ran into Li Xiaoyun and Ma Hongxia. The two girls were chatting and laughing as they came from the educated youth settlement.
"I heard you were assigned to reclaim wasteland?" Li Xiaoyun walked up to Li Xiangyang and asked with concern.
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Yes, the terrain over there is high and the soil is hard. But with these animals helping, it shouldn't be a big problem."
“Then you must be careful,” Li Xiaoyun said, looking at his hands. “Don’t tire yourself out.”
"Don't worry," Li Xiangyang said with a smile, "don't you know my health?"
Wang Ergou, standing to the side, looked at Ma Hongxia, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Ma Hongxia blushed under his gaze and whispered, "You should be careful too."
The four people walked into the livestock shed while talking.
Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou checked the condition of the livestock and added fodder for them.
Two girls were helping to fetch water.
"Let's get to work tomorrow," Li Xiangyang said as he sorted the fodder. "The livestock need to be well-fed tonight."
Wang Ergou responded and started working.
As the sun set, everyone finished their work and dispersed.
Before dawn the next day, Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou arrived at the livestock shed one after the other.
"Guys, we've got work to do today."
Li Xiangyang spoke softly to the cattle and horses in the pen, skillfully harnessing them to the plow.
The black cat was curled up on the haystack and dozing, while the little tiger circled around the livestock, wagging its tail happily.
"Brother Xiangyang," Wang Ergou asked as he poured water into the trough, "how long do you think it will take to cultivate that wasteland?"
Li Xiangyang pondered for a moment: "Let's see about the soil quality. This land has been abandoned for so many years, it'll take at least ten days to half a month."
As they spoke, the sky gradually brightened.
Other members arrived one after another.
Li Xiangyang led a yellow ox in front, while Wang Ergou followed behind, herding several other animals.
In the morning light, their shadows were cast long on the ground.
Upon arriving at the wasteland, Li Xiangyang stood on a high point and looked around.
This place is high up, with a great view, and you can see the distant mountains.
A few white clouds drifted across the sky, indicating that the weather would be nice today.
Wasteland is indeed difficult to manage.
The plow made a screeching sound as soon as it touched the ground, like scraping against a stone.
The livestock couldn't exert any strength and almost tripped over several times.
"Take it slow," Li Xiangyang reassured the ox, "Let's turn over the top layer of grass roots first."
He adjusted the angle of the plow to make it less strenuous for the animals.
Seeing this, Wang Ergou also changed his approach, and the results were indeed much better.
The sun was high in the sky, and Li Xiangyang's clothes were soaked with sweat.
But seeing the rows of black soil turned over, he felt very satisfied.
"Come on, take a break." Zheng Dehou came over with a water bottle. "Don't exhaust the people and the livestock."
Li Xiangyang wiped his sweat, took the water bottle, and took a sip.
Just then, he saw Li Xiaoyun and Ma Hongxia walking over with lunchboxes.
"What brings you here?" Wang Ergou asked in surprise, putting down his tools.
"Lunch is here," Ma Hongxia said, opening the lunchbox. "Knowing you do heavy work, I made extra dumplings."
Li Xiangyang looked at Li Xiaoyun; there were traces of flour on her hands, indicating that she had been busy since early morning.
"Eat up," Li Xiaoyun handed him a pair of chopsticks, "It won't taste good when it gets cold."
After lunch, Li Xiangyang didn't make the livestock work immediately, but let them rest for a while.
He sat on the edge of the field, gazing at the distant mountains, lost in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Li Xiaoyun sat down next to him.
"I'm thinking that once this land is cleared, we'll have a good harvest in the fall," Li Xiangyang said softly.
Li Xiaoyun leaned on his shoulder: "Yes, things will get better."
Not far away, Wang Ergou was telling Ma Hongxia jokes, making her laugh.
The black cat strolled along the ridge of the field, while the little tiger chased butterflies back and forth.
At this moment, the sun shines brightly, and a gentle breeze caresses your face.
Li Xiangyang felt that this was probably what happiness looked like.
Li Xiangyang continued working in the afternoon and noticed that the livestock were more energetic than in the morning.
The ox pulled the plow forward step by step, working exceptionally hard.
"Brother Xiangyang," Wang Ergou suddenly shouted, "Look what this is!"
Li Xiangyang went over to take a look and found that he had dug out a piece of rotten wood.
This indicates that the soil underground is softening, which is a good sign.
“Alright,” Li Xiangyang patted the ox’s neck, “Let’s work harder and turn this whole plot of land over.”
They worked until the sun began to set before finally calling it a day and returning to their village.
Although only a small area has been cultivated, this progress on the first day is already quite good.