Riding the wind of rebirth

"I see. It's what you said. Grassroots work requires running, asking for favors, and making trouble, right?" Wu Renzhong rubbed his face and said, "Why do I feel like I've become more and more shameless after spending so much time with you?"

"You are thick-skinned and have eaten enough." Zhou Zhi also laughed: "Now in our Lianhe Township, funding is not a problem. The key is policy. You have an innate advantage in this regard. It is natural for a brother-in-law to help his brother-in-law."

"Get lost!" Wu Renzhong scolded with a smile, "Are those big rocks so beautiful?"

"In fact, if you go and see it, you will definitely shout that it's boring." Zhou Zhi said, "But for those of us who study literature and history, it's okay if we don't know about the strange tomb remains of the Neolithic period, but if we know that it's nearby, then why don't we go and see it?"

"Oh, then give me the car keys. Do you think I should ask the bureau to arrange a car for me to drive?" Wu Renzhong said, "Your car was modified for you... Several times when I went to the county unit, I was mistaken for a plumber by people who didn't know the value of it!"

“Hahahaha…” Zhou Zhi laughed so hard that the bait shreds spurted into the fire pit, stirring up a cloud of coal dust. He was so scared that he quickly turned around to protect the bowl. “Don’t tell me, it really looks like it… As I said, how do you know you can’t get it if you don’t go and ask for it? You’ve made a lot of achievements for the bureau now. You haven’t forgotten your essential work when you went to the countryside to help the poor. The autonomous prefecture newspaper has even listed you as a role model. It’s such a big deal, you should give it a try!”

"What a pity! Why didn't you think of getting a horse to lead the wedding photos?" Wu Renzhong said, "The wedding dress made Shama look so beautiful. Many people asked who helped take the photos. I haven't said thank you yet."

"Let's not be polite." Zhou Zhi asked, "Is good news coming soon?"

"I had planned to get married after the poverty alleviation work was completed during the Spring Festival this year." Wu Renzhong sighed, "Now there are so many things to do, I can't go back."

"My sister means that time doesn't change. I can't let poverty alleviation delay my personal development, right? You have to be my driver when the time comes!"

"No problem. How about we come to Lianhe Township for our honeymoon after we get married? I heard from the old man that there are several wild hot springs around here. It's very comfortable to take a bath."

"You bastard just want to treat me like a donkey!" Wu Renzhong stood up indignantly: "The hot spring is in the Qionghai Hotel. Why would I want it?"

"Hehehe, the one in Qionghai Hotel is just a hot water swimming pool. What's the fun of that? Grandpa Chi Ri is talking about the wild hot springs, in the forest. The water is warm in winter, and it's easy to see wild animals. Don't refuse yet. You have to ask Shama if he likes it..."

“I don’t want to listen, I don’t want to listen, I don’t want to listen…” Wu Renzhong shook his head and walked away.

"What's wrong with Renzhong? Why is he shaking his head while walking? Have you finished eating the elbow?" As soon as Wu Renzhong left, Li Lu's head popped up at the kitchen door again.

"I'm done, there are still two bites left."

"Hurry up, let's go."

"Thunder god won't strike a person who is eating, not even you."

"Huh? You Shu people have so many wisecracks...Okay, okay, let's get going!"

  ·

·

·

The rainy season is coming to an end. Now the rain has become gentler every night and stops early. Most of the time, a bright moon can be seen at night.

By the early morning, the road surface had become slightly wet. Apart from the raindrops on the flowers and leaves on the roadside indicating that it had rained last night, there was nothing else to feel except that the air was very fresh.

Old Chi Ri was riding a gray-white big-headed horse with a long leather rope tied to the copper ring on the side of the saddle. Behind him were two novices' horses, Liang Guangping and Liu Hongtao.

Zhou Zhi was riding a maroon two-horse with a long leather rope tied to the copper ring on the side of the saddle, and he was leading Li Lu's horse behind him.

Lao Chiri's requirements for the three of them were to keep their feet on the stirrups, their hands on the saddle, their bodies relaxed, and not control the horses at all, just chatting and enjoying the scenery. The horses he picked this time were very docile, and they would follow obediently with the lead and second lead horses, without any extra instructions or control.

After walking on the road for a while, the horse team turned onto a muddy trail and headed downstream along the Meigu River.

The Meigu River is still full of water, and the road is not too far from the water. Everyone can hear the sound of water while riding on horseback.

Liang Guangping looked at the water and said, "If there weren't these rocks on the shore, the Meigu River would definitely carry away all the mud on the riverside."

"The Autonomous Prefecture Academy of Agricultural Sciences seems to be researching soil and water conservation crops, right, elbow? It seems like you are planting them."

"We originally introduced sweet potatoes for forage," Zhou Zhi said. "Sweet potatoes are legumes that can fix nitrogen. We plant them in potato fields that need crop rotation."

"The degree of intensive potato cultivation is becoming increasingly higher, and the biggest problem is soil-borne diseases and insect pests caused by continuous cropping. This problem has become increasingly serious in the north, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to control diseases and pests. The problem of declining yield and quality is particularly prominent." Liu Hongtao said with a frown.

"The soil health will also decline. In addition, the northern climate is cold and dry in winter, so only one crop can be grown each year. During the season outside the crop growing season, from December to April of the following year, the surface of the land is exposed for a long time. In addition, the climate is dry and the wind is strong, which makes the soil wind erosion and desertification more and more obvious."

"It seems that these problems also exist in Liangshan Prefecture?" Zhou Zhi asked, "The wind here is quite strong. The only good thing is that there is a rainy season, at least the wind blows less dust."

"We can't underestimate it. Many places in Liangshan Prefecture are at higher altitudes than those in the north, and the ecology is very fragile. Once damaged, it will take a long time to recover. Look at how many years the aerial seeding forests have been planted? How many of them have matured into forests?"

"Speaking of aerial seeding forests, Lianhe Township is lucky to have found a good deal," Zhou Zhi said with a smile, "This is the area where aerial seeding forests grow best."

"Our Academy of Agricultural Sciences also studied the cause of this situation," Li Lu said, "and finally found a problem."

"What's the problem?" Zhou Zhi asked.

"The aerial seeding afforestation in Liangshan Prefecture started more than 20 years ago. At that time, people relied more on the experience of aerial seeding afforestation in the northwest and northeast, and ignored the local climate conditions in Liangshan Prefecture. The biggest point is that Liangshan Prefecture has a unique two-season climate of dry season and rainy season."

"The season for aerial seeding is generally from May to July, and both the temperature and precipitation are very suitable," said Liang Guangping.

"It is very suitable for plains." Liu Hongtao continued: "But it is not suitable for plateau side slope terrain like Liangshan Prefecture."

"Think about it. Since there are two seasons here, dry and wet, the seeds fall on the hillside and remain dormant until the rains come. But before they can root and settle in the soil, they are washed away by the heavy rains every day."

"Then why do the valleys in Lianhe Township grow so well?"

Old Chi Ri had understood everything: "Because the pine forests behind Lianhe Township were all rushed in from the surrounding mountains in this way. They were first blocked by the native wild forests, and then grew outward in circles. Over the past few decades, several valleys and the surrounding gentle slopes have been covered with pine trees."

  "Is it so magical?" Zhou Zhi found it unbelievable. How could those pine seedlings scattered on the surrounding mountains roll down to Lianhe Township dozens of miles away and take root?

"Elbow, didn't you notice?" Old Chi Ri was very confident in his inference: "The closer to the pine forest at the foot of the mountain, the older and bigger the trees are. The higher up the mountain you go, the younger and smaller the trees are."

"Eh? It seems to be true!" Zhou Zhi also reacted: "I thought that the top of the mountain was blown by strong winds for a long time, so the trees could only lie flat and not grow big. So this is the case!" (End of this chapter)