The tractor stayed in the field all afternoon, while Li Long and the others took turns pressing the seeds out of the watermelons.
At first, it felt quite fun. They rotated, while the others picked watermelons and put them beside the pot or in the trailer.
Du Chunfang sat at the edge of the field, holding a small watermelon and pounding it hard with a small stone she had found. Li Long happened to be between turns. Seeing her, he went over and crouched down.
"Mom, want a taste? I'll break it open for you!"
"All right." Du Chunfang smiled.
Li Long raised his fist and punched the watermelon.
Du Chunfang held up the stone, distressed for him.
"Use the stone! That must hurt your hand!"
"It's fine." Li Long watched the watermelon split under his fist. He had actually held back, or he would have smashed it to pieces.
He pulled it apart and found yellow flesh inside. Li Long held out half to his mother.
"Mom, try it!"
"All right." Du Chunfang pointed at the other half.
"You have some too. The flesh looks really good."
Li Long scooped out the flesh from that half and began eating.
It did taste good. Though not as sweet as an ordinary watermelon, it had a fragrance ordinary watermelons lacked.
Seed watermelons had thick rinds. Pick a few and keep them in a cool room, and they would last until November or even December. Ordinary watermelons would only last until late October at most. By November, they would either have spoiled inside or turned hollow, with the flesh becoming fibrous.
When team members passing by on their way to work saw the Li Family Members pressing watermelon seeds in the field, with some people eating melons, they came over now and