Chapter 130

Ming Chunxi looked at the blueberry seedlings again. "You seem to like cultivating seedlings quite a bit, so what do you like about this batch of blueberry seedlings?"

Qing Mengzhu: "Adaptability to the local environment."

There are many varieties of blueberries in China, but this area is not a blueberry producing region, and many varieties are not suitable for this area.

Qing Mengzhu worried that even if there were good varieties, they would degenerate if planted in an unsuitable environment.

Instead of just choosing a local variety and cultivating it properly, you might get blueberries that taste even better.

However, we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see Yi Yanbai's blueberry seedlings to find out the truth.

If all the blueberry seedlings are "Good Grade," it doesn't meet his planting standards; he needs to find other blueberry seedlings.

With so many blueberry varieties and so many people growing them in China, finding better blueberries shouldn't be difficult; they should at least meet the "Good Grade+" quality standard.

Author's Note:

I'm late! I'll be giving away 88 little red envelopes in this chapter. See you tonight!

Chapter 130

The next day, Qing Mengzhu took Zhao Hexi and drove to their village, following the navigation provided by Yi Yanbai.

Yi Yanbai's home is located deep in the mountains. He said yesterday that it would only take a little over an hour to drive here, but in reality, it took Qing Mengzhu almost two hours to get to their village.

Yi Yanbai was delighted to see Qing Mengzhu arrive as promised and immediately wanted to take them to see his blueberry seedlings.

His family's blueberry farm is located deeper in the mountains, almost a ten-minute drive away.

Once inside the mountains, Yi Yanbai led them on a hike to see the blueberry seedlings in the terraced fields.

The blueberries in Yi Yanbai's house are lowbush blueberries, not even reaching Qing Mengzhu's thighs, but they grow quite well and are very lush.

As Junior Grower, Qing Mengzhu could tell at a glance that his family had taken good care of their plants, watering, fertilizing, and pruning them. Unfortunately, his planting techniques were a bit lacking, and the varieties were not very good either. This batch of blueberry seedlings did not grow very well, and the quality was mostly "Good Grade," with some even being "Good Grade- ".

They walked up the terraced fields until they reached the top.

Above the terraced fields, a little higher, are mountains. At this time, winter snow covers the earth, a mix of white and withered yellow, while the distant mountains appear as dark as ink.

The wind howled, and the withered reeds on the mountains and field ridges swayed. There were also graves beside the terraced fields.

There are many graves deep in the mountains, dating back hundreds of years to recent years, one after another, sitting on this land alongside the houses with smoke rising from their chimneys.

It seems that many families have lived here for generations, and Yi Yanbai's family is one of them. No wonder he came back after graduating from university.

Qing Mengzhu withdrew her gaze, intending to subtly mention the matter of his family's blueberries to Yi Yanbai.

Just then, someone called to them from down the mountain.

Yi Yanbai was the first to react and answered in the local dialect.

Qing Mengzhu's home was not far from here, and their dialects were similar, so he quickly understood that the person coming down from the mountain was Yi Yanbai's father, Yi Ousheng, who said that dinner was ready at home and asked when they would come down to eat.

Yi Yanbai said he hadn't finished looking at the saplings yet and would have to wait a little longer.

Hearing this, Qing Mengzhu dared not delay any longer and quickly said, "Yanbai, you should go back for dinner. We should go back too."

Yi Yanbai's eyes sparkled. "Brother Mengzhu, are you sure you've got it?"

Qing Mengzhu looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry, we might have to plant other types of blueberries that are more disease-resistant and have higher yields."

This was a rejection, Yi Yanbai's face revealed a disappointment he couldn't quite hide. "Is that so?"

Zhao Hexi patted Yi Yanbai's arm to comfort him, "We'll have the chance to work together again."

Yi Yanbai nodded, then said dejectedly, "I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again."

Seeing that they hadn't come down the mountain, Yi Ousheng came up to find them. As soon as he saw Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi, he smiled and greeted them in broken Mandarin, "The food is ready. Let's go down the mountain and eat."

Qing Mengzhu quickly said, "We have to go back now, I'm sorry."

Yi Ousheng paused for a moment before realizing what was going on. "You're not buying blueberry seedlings?"

Qing Mengzhu gave him an apologetic look.

Yi Ousheng: "Hey, you still need to eat. It's the middle of the day, and you'll be driving for over an hour outside. It's so cold, how uncomfortable would it be to go out hungry?"

Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi exchanged a glance, both feeling rather embarrassed.

Yi Ousheng greeted them, "Have lunch before you leave. It's alright if you don't buy anything, but you still need to eat lunch. Yanbai, quickly take the guests home for lunch."

Unable to resist the father and son's enthusiasm, Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi eventually went to their home for dinner.

Yi Yanbai's mother, Chen Meimei, is cooking at home. The food is ready, and the aroma fills the house as soon as you enter.

His house is a typical two-story building, with tiles on the outside but simply painted white on the inside.

Two cross-stitch pieces hang on the wall, one depicting flowers symbolizing wealth and the other representing instant success, both showcasing a distinct local rural style.

Chen Meimei shyly invited them to sit down and eat.

The table was already set with dishes: spicy fish, stewed hen, steamed sausage, stir-fried pickled cabbage, stir-fried cabbage... a whole table full of local farm-style dishes that smelled delicious.

Yi Ousheng brought out his homemade wine and invited them to drink.

The two quickly declined, saying they had to drive in the afternoon and couldn't drink, so Yi Ousheng had no choice but to give up regretfully.

All the dishes on the table were delicious, especially the stir-fried pickled cabbage.

The pickled cabbage is made from mustard hearts and contains shallots, giving it a very crisp texture and a unique onion flavor. It's stir-fried with lard, chopped chili peppers, and scallions, making it a great accompaniment to rice.

The Qing Mengzhu family also pickles sauerkraut, and I must say, today's sauerkraut is sour, spicy, and flavorful—a completely different taste.

While everyone was having breakfast and chatting casually, the topic turned to blueberries. Yi Ousheng said, "Actually, growing them is not bad. Sometimes no one comes to buy them, so we pick them and transport them to the county to sell. We can always sell them even if we're a little cheaper."

Qing Mengzhu: "Why hasn't anyone come to collect it?"

Yi Ousheng: "Few people grow blueberries here. It's a remote place, and the blueberries aren't particularly good. People prefer to go to bigger places to buy them; they rarely come here."

Qing Mengzhu: "Aren't there many people growing blueberries locally?"

Yi Ousheng shook his head. "Not many. Most people still prefer to go out to work. After working away for two years, they can build a house when they come back."

Zhao Hexi asked, "You guys don't seem to have ever gone out to work, do you?"

Yi Ousheng nodded, without explaining why.

Chen Meimei, standing nearby, said in somewhat broken Mandarin, "A few years ago, when we were young, Yanbai was studying at home. How could we bear to leave him alone at home to work? Now he wants to go out, but he's too old and no one wants him anymore. He might as well stay and work in the fields."

Yi Ousheng: "We can earn a little bit each year, enough to keep us from starving. As long as the family is safe and sound together, that's enough."

Yi Yanbai chimed in, "That's what I thought too, so I came back after graduating from university. I sell some fruit and make short videos; it's not bad, I can save some money every year."

Zhao Hexi remarked, "This is already quite impressive. Working outside, you might not be able to save any money even after a whole year. Besides, staying at home provides peace of mind; at least you don't have to worry about food and shelter."

Yi Yanbai smiled, revealing a dimple on his cheek. "Right, I won't work for the landlord."

Towards the end of the meal, Qing Mengzhu fell silent.

Chen Meimei quickly asked him, "Is it not to your liking?"

Qing Mengzhu out of her daze. "No, it was delicious, I'm a little full."

Yi Ousheng: "Then I'll go make a cup of tea."

After the meal, Yi Ousheng led them to the living room and served them tea.

The tea is Yi Ousheng's own tea, and it has a unique aroma when brewed.

Qing Mengzhu took a sniff and said, "This tea smells wonderful."

Yi Ousheng proudly said, "This is an old tea tree passed down in my family; everyone who has tasted it says it's fragrant."

Qing Mengzhu smelled it again. "It really smells wonderful, very different."