The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 447 - 418 Meritorious Achievement_1

Chapter 447: Chapter 418 Meritorious Achievement_1

He Jingyu cleared his throat and said, "This peach, bearing fruit for three years, is sweet, juicy, tender, and has a high yield. At the initial bearing, each tree could produce about forty jin, which is roughly sixty to seventy peaches. Next year, the yield could double, and during the peak maturity period, it could reach two to three hundred jin, or even more."

"These peaches taste great, they’re the best we have ever had, but as you know, peaches are difficult to preserve. If picked before they ripen, their taste is affected; however, once ripened, the peaches become soft, taste extremely good, but are hard to keep!" Ma Zijian spoke precisely, pointing out the key issue of peach preservation.

No matter how good something is, it’s of no use if it can’t be transported out!

He Jingyu smiled and said, "The firmer peaches everyone just ate were freshly picked from the trees, while those softer ones have been picked for ten days, becoming gradually softer. Roughly estimated, peaches wouldn’t become soft within a week. As long as the roads are good and the packaging is done properly to avoid the peaches from colliding, shipping them all over the country wouldn’t be a problem."

Upon hearing this, everyone realized that indeed, in a week, they could be transported nationwide.

"Good, good, good!" Ma Zijian said repeatedly, "So what is the situation with the Peach Orchard now? Can you show us around?"

"Secretary Ma, it’s almost lunchtime. The Peach Orchard is situated midway up the hill, it’s a bit far," said Qi Dazhu. "Let’s have lunch first and then go."

Having traveled early in the morning, everyone indeed was hungry.

"Alright, let’s have lunch first and then go," Secretary Ma said, then instructed the office director to handle the follow-up work.

The office director distributed half a jin of rice tickets and fifty cents to each city leader, as meal compensation.

Qi Dazhu declined at first, but after the director’s persistent persuasion, he accepted it.

At least with this money, the cost of what was consumed at noon could be replenished.

Qi Shuliang, seeing Big Brother Dazhu talking with the leaders, pulled He Jingyu aside to speak.

"Hello, younger brother. Thank you for taking care of my mother," Qi Shuliang said softly in gratitude. When chatting with his mother back in the United States, he often heard her mention He Jingyu and knew he was a good person.

Qi Shuliang was very grateful to anyone who was kind to his mother.

He Jingyu smiled and replied, "Don’t mention it, elder brother. Mother has been good to our family as well."

"There are many people around now; it’s not convenient to talk. Let’s have a good chat tonight when we get back," Qi Shuliang said, aware that it wasn’t proper to keep whispering with so many people around.

"Yes, we’ll talk at home," He Jingyu agreed, thinking his brother-in-law was a straightforward person, and there would be plenty of happy times ahead for his mother-in-law!

The village branch only had one large table, but Zhao Dajiao brought over two tables from the villagers, which seated about twenty people over three tables perfectly.

Although hospitality for the leaders couldn’t be haphazard at this time, there weren’t too many formalities to observe.

The villagers had brought out their finest offerings, and everyone was satisfied.

Each person got two white flour buns, two meat dishes, and two vegetarian dishes.

Since Secretary Ma was constantly thinking about the Peach Orchard, the meal proceeded rather quickly.

With the leader being in such a hurry, the others, not lacking tact, quickly followed suit and ate hurriedly.

Once Ma Zijian finished, everyone set aside their bowls and chopsticks.

After the meal, Ma Zijian turned to Qi Shuliang and said, "Mr. Qi, you must be tired from the journey. Go back and rest first. Once you’ve set the date for the ancestral worship, Comrade Qi will inform us. At that time, we will pay our respects to Elder Mr. Qi together, how does that sound?"

Secretary Ma’s words were tactful, and the underlying meaning was clear to all.

Worshiping ancestors wasn’t something to be done offhandedly; a date had to be selected, but with the current push to break with old customs, it had been changed to fixing a date.

"That’s all the trouble for Ma then," Qi Shuliang said. "I’m fine, not very tired. I’ll go with you to see what kind of environment can produce such delicious peaches."

This was no secret, and Ma Zijian readily agreed, saying, "If Mr. Qi isn’t tired, then please come with us to take a look. Mr. Qi has seen the world and can offer us some advice."

"Oh please, I couldn’t," Qi Shuliang replied modestly. He grew up in China and only went abroad as an adult, so he had some understanding of the bureaucratic customs back home.

Although current staff members were somewhat more honest than before, certain practices ingrained over thousands of years hadn’t changed.

He was indeed a distinguished guest of the local authority, but he had no intention of offending these officials with arrogance.

These people couldn’t do anything to him, but there were many villagers here!

The group, led by Qi Dazhu and He Jingyu, set off for the Peach Orchard.

The leaders now were in good physical condition; even when they climbed halfway up the hill, at most a few were slightly short of breath. None were unable to walk or climb.

Each peach, large and tender yellow with shades of pink blush, hung from the trees.

A fence had been set up around the Peach Orchard, and the peaches looked vibrant, obviously well cared for.

A wooden hut on the side blended seamlessly with the entire Peach Orchard.

"Good, by utilizing the mountains without taking up farmland, we can increase our income by a lot," Ma Zijian said, looking at Niu Peng and Qi Dazhu with gratification. "This time, both Taoyuan County and Qijia Village have made merit."

"We dare not take credit. We’re just responding to the call from the leaders in the city," Niu Peng said. "We in Taoyuan County have more mountains than land, so we should change our way of thinking and follow the directives of our leaders to achieve something that benefits the public."

"Well said," Secretary Ma said. "With our limited land and low grain output, let’s grow other crops and exchange them with the neighboring grain-producing provinces. That way, we can obtain a lot of grain!"

The people present also thought so. Those who initially supported the work all had a share in the achievement.

Looking around the Peach Orchard, Secretary Ma was quite pleased.

Ma Zijian was not an ordinary official—he thought farther ahead. Huai City, with more mountains than flatland, had lower than average grain yields, so the higher-ups hoped An Province’s Huai City would make some changes.

By taking on this task from the province and producing results, Huai City was contributing to his performance appraisal!

"Niu Peng, Village Chief Qi, tomorrow you’ll harvest the peaches and send them to the county’s purchasing station. Expert He, I’ll need you to work hard on writing up a summary report so we can submit it to the province together."

"Yes, Leader Ma," Niu Peng said happily. He needed to secure a good price for Qijia Village and also bring up the matter of road repair.

He Jingyu also said, "I’ve already written most of the report. I’ll finish it today and send it together with the peaches."

Once he completed the report, most of his job would be done, and they could plant on a large scale again next year.

Luckily, they had the foresight last year to grow seedlings, which by now had already reached one year in age.

"Expert He has worked hard," Ma Zijian said, his heart racing with excitement. While riding the wave of Qi Shuliang’s visit, he could earn another merit, potentially advancing him further in his career.

"It’s no trouble at all; it’s my duty," He Jingyu replied modestly.

After touring the Peach Orchard, it was already half-past two in the afternoon, and time for the leaders to descend the mountain to go back.

Once they had sent off the leaders, only the villagers of Qijia Village remained.

******

Contradictory Orange, in "Cannon Fodder’s Big Battle," deceived into marriage, tricked into being the other woman, used by the closest people, implicated to the ninth degree by a loved one... Faced with the clients’ unfortunate experiences, Tong Xinlan will make the wrongdoers pay a heavy price.