Scholars in the courtyard

Mr. Yang woke up from his memories, with a little pain on his face.

"It was during the land reform, and a work team came to the village. When they saw the corn like this, the leader seemed to have said, let us choose corn with large grains."

"What happened next?"

Yang Xiaotao knew that something must have happened.

"well!"

Mr. Yang sighed.

"At the beginning, I really gained a lot. But later"

"That year, our village picked the best corn kernels as seeds and planted them with joy."

"At the beginning, the corns were growing beautifully. They were taller and taller. When the ears are ready, they will all be big cobs."

"But no one expected that just when the corn kernels were growing, a storm would completely destroy it."

"All the corn has been blown down. It's incomparable to the corn before! This time, half of the corn in the village can't be lifted up."

At this point, Mr. Yang was full of regrets and regretted the decision he made back then.

"The food harvest failed, and the final result was that the villagers were hungry. If it weren't for the state's support, half of our village would be alive."

"So, our village, including several surrounding villages, all owe the country!"

Mr. Yang said that his eyes were red, as if tears were falling down.

"Master, it's over, let's just contribute more to the country from now on!"

Yang Xiaotao comforted, and Mr. Yang nodded, and then said, "So, you have a good idea, but you better stop messing around!"

After hearing this, Yang Xiaotao hesitated for a moment, but then shook his head, because his experience of going to school in his previous life gave him more windows to understand the world.

He couldn't think of anything else, but he still knew about hybrid corn.

This involves the concept of genetic hybridization, which was in high school textbooks in that era of information explosion.

Therefore, he must try this kind of thing that benefits the country and the people.

Otherwise, he would not be reconciled.

He is a systematic person.

Although there are no seeds in the exchange column yet, there may not be any in the future.

Yang Xiaotao made up his mind and said to Mr. Yang.

"Master, no matter what, I want to try this."

Seeing his appearance, Mr. Yang was silent for a long time, then nodded in agreement.

He knew that the young man would not give up if he was not allowed to try.

Once you hit the wall, you'll know what to choose.

What's more, with him on guard, he won't let the village follow suit.

Picking up a corn cob and carefully clasping the corn kernels, the two of them felt particularly warm at this moment.

In the afternoon, Yang Xiaotao continued to enjoy the New Year atmosphere in the village, but also paid attention to the corn planting situation of each family.

Every time I go to a house, I will look at the corns on the beams for a while. If I see a big one, I will take one. The villagers don’t ask why, they just take it if they like.

Finally, when night fell, Yang Xiaotao had found more than five kilograms of corn particles, all of which were large.

There is also about half a pound of small grain corn.

Yang Xiaotao took the opportunity to ask the elders in the village about the habits of corn.

Everyone just thought that the city man was a novelty and told him without reservation.

Yang Xiaotao remembered it in his mind and understood that the corn was of the same female plant, with the male flower at the top and the female flower with the stick in the middle.

Planted in the ground, there is no need for artificial pollination at all, and sexual reproduction can be completed by itself.

This is exactly what Yang Xiaotao wants. Perhaps others need manual participation in the process of studying cross-breeding, but he does not.

As long as you tell Xiaowei what you are thinking, this elf from the plant world will be able to complete the task.

This is his greatest reliance.

At night, Yang Xiaotao and Mr. Yang cleaned up the house and steamed a pot of multi-grain steamed buns.

I have to get up early to visit the grave tomorrow morning, so I go to bed early.

As soon as he got up in the third grade of junior high school, Yang Xiaotao felt that the room was a lot colder. He stretched out his hand and tried the bottom of the bed, and it was completely cold.

I got up and got dressed, ready to add firewood to the stove, but I was shocked by the scene outside the house.

A vast expanse of white.

The house is covered with a white layer of cotton, and the white snow on the wall is like a hat on top. The occasional ups and downs in the yard represent something hidden underneath.

"Snowing!"

Yang Xiaotao breathed in the coldness in the air, as if the snow had a taste, an ethereal taste.

"Hurry and pack up, we have to go out soon."

Mr. Yang said as he began to pick up items.

He took out a knife of yellow paper, then took out a big black ten and pressed it twice.

Cut off a small piece from each steamed bun and wrap it in yellow paper.

Finally, I took an empty bottle and filled it with a bottle of water.

This is wine.

Then he picked up a hanging white firecracker, put it in a basket, and Yang Xiaotao helped Mr. Yang out the door.

The street was already full of people.

The people who came were all men from various families, and a few boys went with them.

The team walked in silence, the snow crunching under their feet.

The ancestral graves of Yangjiazhuang are on Nanshan Mountain. If you want to go there, you have to cross the river.

There used to be a wooden bridge, but it was later destroyed in the war and has not been repaired over the years.

Fortunately, the river can be both deep and shallow, and the villagers have built a road with stones, so they can usually cross the river.

In winter, there is less water and it is easier to cross the river.

It's just that it's snowing heavily now and the rocks are slippery, so you have to be careful when walking.

Yang Xiaotao carried Mr. Yang on his back, and several young and strong men also carried the old man across the river and walked a mountain road before arriving at the cemetery.

There are hundreds of graves, large and small, on this land. Some have names and are worshiped by descendants, while some have no names at all, but they also enjoy the care of Yangjiazhuang.

Yang Xiaotao came to the ancestral grave, put down a knife of yellow paper, then took the remaining things and walked aside to a new grave. On the wooden sign were the words "Yang Laogen's Tomb".

Yang Xiaotao sighed in his heart, fortunately there are no ghosts in this world.

Otherwise, I don’t know if Yang Laogen would jump out of the coffin and beat him, the time traveler, to death.

After sweeping away the snow in front of the tomb, Yang Xiaotao lit the yellow paper, burned it together with the steamed buns, and finally poured the "wine" aside.

"Every year from now on, I will give you money to visit your grave."

"If you have anything to say in your dream, I will definitely do it if you can."

Yang Xiaotao said silently in his heart, while Mr. Yang had already arranged for people to kowtow.

In this era, we talk about abolishing feudalism, but can we just change the customs that have lasted for thousands of years?

Besides, this is called remembering the ancestors. In this rural area, no one dares to talk nonsense.

Yang Xiaotao kowtowed to his ancestors four times, and then kowtowed to his elders with his peers and juniors. When there were only about ten people in front of Yang Laogen's grave, they kowtowed solemnly.

After the trip, Yang Xiaotao's body was covered with mud and snow, but he felt extremely solemn.

After visiting the grave, everyone returned.

Unlike when we arrived, the journey home was filled with laughter.

Everyone was talking and laughing, and walking quickly on the snow. Many children played in snowball fights and shouted lively.

On the morning of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Yang Xiaotao packed his things.

But he was preparing to return to the city.

He had to start work on the seventh day of the lunar month, and he had to go back for a walk, so he didn't have much time.

And he also has to go back to make preparations and put hybrid corn on the agenda.

Parting is always sad, not to mention that we have just felt like home, just like a child who has left home to work. Even though he feels extremely reluctant to leave, he has to bow his head to life.

Mr. Yang is very open-minded. At his age, he has experienced too much and his heart is broader than others.

"Go back and work hard so that the people can be worthy of the motherland."

"Don't cheat and cheat. We don't have that kind of people in Yangjiazhuang."

"Also, don't worry about me. If anything happens, I will ask Shitou to find you."

Mr. Yang spoke openly, but said more than usual.

In just a few days, he already regarded Yang Xiaotao as his own grandson, and his love for licking the calf was beyond words.

"Master, don't worry, I'll come see you again during the Qingming Festival."

Yang Xiaotao set a time and calculated that it would only last a month or two. If things went well, he should be able to catch the spring corn in the field.

"Okay, let's find a wife quickly. Someone will take care of you so that no one will hurt you all day long."

Yang Dazhuang was also talking to the side. Yang Xiaotao nodded and smiled, "I'll find one when I get back and invite you to have a wedding banquet."

When everyone parted, they talked more.

"Go ahead."

"Let's go, don't waste time."

After waving goodbye, Yang Xiaotao got on the donkey cart and walked towards Sijiucheng with Yang Shitou.

Just like when we arrived, there was also a pile of things piled on the donkey cart.

Corn, peanuts, and walnuts are packed in bags with the wishes of every household in the village.

"Let's go. Go back!"

Two car marks were left in the snow, and people in the distance were still standing in the snow. Yang Xiaotao shouted loudly, but he didn't know if he could hear him.

At noon, Yang Shitou parked the car in front of the courtyard, helped carry things back to the house, and walked back without staying long, wearing Yang Xiaotao's military coat.

It was dark and the roads were slippery and freezing, which was why I gave him a coat.

Yang Shitou had no choice but to refuse. He happily put on his military coat, took the wine bottle Yang Xiaotao put into his hand, and drove the donkey cart home.

I’ve walked this road countless times, so why worry about the dark spots? We’re walking at night.

The donkey walked slowly on four legs, and the people in the car were so happy that they almost fell asleep.

Just as we finished packing things here, the discussion in the courtyard started again.

The third uncle looked at the bags and baskets of things being brought in. Although they were just mountain goods, he was always feeling panicked.

It would be great if I gave him some of this.

"It's Chinese New Year, so you should always say hello when you meet."

Seeing Yang Xiaotao pick it up in front of his house, Yan Fugui rolled his eyes and hurried home.

"Dad, what are you looking for?"

The third aunt held Yan Jiedi in her arms. It had been too cold in the past two days and the coal in the stove had not stopped. But the younger daughter was a little afraid of the cold and cried when no one was around. She couldn't put it down at all.

"I'm looking for Spring Festival couplets."

Yan Fugui pulled the desk and finally asked.

"I remember writing two more paintings. Where did you put them?"

The third aunt remembered, "What's more, you said it will be the same every year, and no one will use it after the New Year. Didn't you light the stove yesterday?"

"Oh, you loser bitch."

After hearing this, Yan Fugui slapped the table and shouted, "Don't you know the usefulness of things? What can you do if you leave them alone?"

The third aunt didn't say much, and walked aside with her daughter in her arms.

Yan Fugui had no choice but to shout to Yan Jiefang and Yan Jiekuang who were playing in the yard, "Jiefang, go home quickly!"

Yan Jiefang, who was playing building a snowman with his brother, could not continue and ran back to the house.

"Get it quickly."

Yan Fugui had already laid out the red paper and had his pen and ink ready, waiting for Yan Jiefang to support him.

"Dad, it's already the New Year, why are you writing this?"

"What for? Huh, of course it's useful."

Yan Fugui replied, and after thinking for a moment, he started writing quickly. Yan Jiefang was holding a couplet on the side. Yan Jiekuang also ran in and consciously picked up the cattail leaf fan to dry it.

After a while, Yan Fugui looked at his masterpiece and nodded with satisfaction.