Chapter 56: Orchard Planting Plan

Chapter 56: Orchard Planting Plan

Deng Shirong stood at the top of the mountain, looking around and contemplating planting fruit trees on the mountain.

In his previous life, after the production team divided the mountains among each household, no one in the entire Help and Correct Brigade had thought about planting fruit trees on the mountains. Everyone just focused on the trees already growing there, thinking they were valuable resources that could be sold for money and must not be stolen.

It wasn't until several years later that one family sold all the trees on their mountain and began planting fruit trees.

At first, the family didn't plant many fruit trees—only twenty or thirty. It was just an experiment.

After two or three years, the fruit trees began to bear fruit, and they were sold for a significant profit, causing a sensation in the village.

From that point on, the entire Thatchfield Village entered a peak period of fruit tree planting. Deng Shirong's family also followed the trend and started planting lychee trees at that time.

Unfortunately, when choosing the lychee variety, he had been short-sighted and selected the Black Leaf lychee, which had low economic value. A few years later, when the fruit trees in the village began bearing fruit, Deng Shirong and many other families who had chosen the Black Leaf lychee regretted their decision deeply.

Compared to lychee varieties like Rogue and White PondShack grown by other families in the village, the economic value of the Black Leaf lychee, which had a larger seed, was much lower.

However, what was done was done. There was nothing they could do even if they regretted it. They couldn't just cut down the trees and replant them. That would not only dramatically increase the cost but also waste several years. No one was willing to do that.

The main reason was that no one in the village knew anything about grafting techniques at the time. Otherwise, the lychee variety could have been changed through grafting.

By the time grafting techniques were introduced to Thatchfield Village, Deng Shirong's sons had already become successful. He lived in the city with his sons for a while, and the family orchard, left unattended, gradually became overgrown and abandoned.

Later, Deng Shirong returned to his hometown to live alone. Although he wasn't short of money, he had no motivation to rebuild the orchard. By the time of his rebirth, the weeds in the orchard had grown taller than the lychee trees.

In this life, Deng Shirong would naturally not make the same mistake. He wouldn't just be the first to plant lychee trees; he would also choose the best lychee varieties.

When it comes to which lychee variety is the best, most people have probably heard of the "Three Heroes of Lychee" in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian—the three provinces known for their abundant lychee production.

The three most valuable lychee varieties are Hanging Green, Cinnamon Flavor, and Sticky Rice.

Hanging Green is a rare lychee from Zengcheng, Guangdong. It was listed as a tribute during the feudal era. According to county records from the Qianlong period, it was originally produced in Siwanggang, Xintang, Zengcheng. Later, during the Jiaqing period, due to harassment by officials, the people could no longer bear the burden and cut down all the Hanging Green lychee trees. Only one tree remained, located in Xiyuan Temple in the western suburbs of the county.

As a result, Xiyuan Hanging Green is extremely precious. This mother tree once set a record high price of 555,000 yuan per single tree at the Hanging Green auction held in 2001 and 2002.

Sticky Rice, also known as rice branch, is the variety with the highest economic value in Guangdong. It is a famous specialty fruit known both domestically and internationally and is regarded as the king of lychees.

Cinnamon Flavor, also known as Cinnamon Branch, is named after the fragrance of osmanthus. Its origin is also Guangdong. The fact that it is listed as one of the top three alongside Hanging Green and Sticky Rice lychee speaks volumes about its quality.

All three major lychee varieties come from Guangdong, which is not surprising since Guangdong accounts for more than 50% of the country's lychee planting area and production, making it the world's undisputed top lychee-producing region. Guangxi and Fujian follow, while Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Taiwan only grow lychees in small quantities.

The lychee variety Deng Shirong wants to grow is Cinnamon Flavor, one of the three major lychee varieties.

The reason he chose Cinnamon Flavor over Hanging Green and Sticky Rice is primarily due to soil requirements. Both Hanging Green and Sticky Rice have relatively high soil requirements. While they can grow in other soils, the taste of Hanging Green or Sticky Rice lychee grown in such soils is significantly inferior.

Cinnamon Flavor lychee, on the other hand, is highly adaptable to different soils, drought-resistant, and suitable for mountain planting. The texture and flavor of its fruit are no worse than Hanging Green and Sticky Rice, so Deng Shirong didn't need to think too hard about this choice.

After deciding on the variety, Deng Shirong's only concern was whether he could obtain Cinnamon Flavor lychee saplings in this era. If he could, that would be ideal, as he could plant the fruit trees in early spring next year.

If he couldn't, the fruit tree planting plan would have to be postponed.

It seemed he would have to take some time to visit Lingshan County in Qinzhou District of Guangxi or the suburbs of Guangzhou City in Guangdong, as the best Cinnamon Flavor lychees are produced in these two places.

With this in mind, Deng Shirong descended the mountain and headed home.

…

In the courtyard of Deng Shirong's old house, Guan Yongying and Deng Yunzhen were squatting there, washing vegetables.

It had been a month since Guan Yongying married into Thatchfield Village. During this time, she had begun to adapt to her new life in her husband's family. Her parents-in-law were easy to get along with, and her husband treated her well, so her married life was quite happy.

The matchmakers of this era were completely different from those in later generations.

In later generations, after receiving the thank-you gift, the matchmaker would basically have no further interaction with the newlyweds.

But in this era, matchmakers maintained relationships with the newlyweds, almost like gaining an additional relative.

Deng Shirong's family was currently building a house, so it was only natural for the young couple, Deng Changfu and Guan Yongying, to come over and help.

"Auntie Zhen, there's another Double Prosperity Market tomorrow. Do you want to go?" Guan Yongying asked while washing vegetables.

Deng Yunzhen shook her head. "I'm not sure yet. If my dad doesn't go out tomorrow, then I'll have time to go. If he does, I'll have to stay home to cook and won't have time to go to the market."

Guan Yongying said, "Then wait until Uncle Jiu comes back and ask him. If you have time to go to the market tomorrow, I'll go with you."

Deng Yunzhen nodded and smiled. "Okay, I'll ask him when he comes back. Is there anything you want to buy at the market tomorrow?"

Guan Yongying placed the washed vegetables into a bamboo basket and said, "Since I have nothing to do now, I want to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some yarn and knit sweaters for my parents-in-law."

Deng Yunzhen suddenly understood. Guan Yongying was now a new daughter-in-law, and her parents-in-law treated her well. It was only natural for her to show her gratitude by knitting sweaters for them as a gesture of filial piety.

Thinking of this, Deng Yunzhen was also moved. "Knitting sweaters is a great idea. I'd like to buy some yarn and knit with you, but I'm busy making clothes for my dad and brothers right now, so I don't have time to knit sweaters."

Guan Yongying encouraged her, "Auntie Zhen, let's buy some together. After we get the yarn, I'll make the clothes for you first. Anyway, it's still a while before the weather gets cold, so there's plenty of time to knit sweaters later."

Deng Yunzhen hesitated. "This will take up too much of your time!"

Guan Yongying said nonchalantly, "What's the big deal? I'm free now anyway, and it won't take much time to make a few pieces of clothing."

Deng Yunzhen thought about it and nodded. "Okay, when my dad comes back, I'll tell him I'll go with you to Double Prosperity Market to buy yarn tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)