Shuangling: Braving the Rapids

A few days later, the best time to harvest chamomile arrived. To make harvesting easier, Aimin specially found Qin Huozi, a skilled basket weaver.

Previously, Aimin and Huozi had a falling out because Qin Ergou spread rumors. As time went by, the rumors were disproven, and there was no longer any estrangement between them. They were from the same village, so why would they stay silent for a lifetime over such a small matter?

"Brother Huozi, are the baskets all ready?" Aimin called out from outside Huozi's house.

"Here they are." Qin Huozi welcomed Aimin into the courtyard, where dozens of wicker baskets were neatly stacked in front of Aimin.

Despite his congenital disability, Huozi became a skilled bamboo craftsman. After learning about Aimin's needs, he worked day and night to make flower baskets. And indeed, these brambles, after being neatly arranged, looked more like handicrafts than farm tools.

Upon seeing the stacks of flower baskets, Aimin's eyes lit up, and he immediately took out two hundred-yuan bills from his pocket and stuffed them into Huozi's hand.

Faced with this "huge sum of money," Qin Huozi couldn't stop smiling. Of course, he couldn't help but smile even when he wasn't, but at this moment his two front teeth were completely exposed, making him look a little comical.

No wonder Qin Huozi was so happy. Aimin's order this time exceeded his previous half-year's worth of shipments. If he could get a few more orders like this, the day he could build a new house wouldn't be far off.

Thinking of this, Qin Huozi unconsciously scratched the back of his head. Just as he was about to say something, Ma Xiangju's hearty laughter came from inside the house.

"Aimin, why are you being so polite! Take the money back. I haven't even paid you back for the tuition you gave me for teaching me how to grow vegetables in the greenhouse! Besides, these baskets aren't worth that much, right, sir?"

As they were talking, Ma Xiangju had already walked up to the two of them and was now giving her husband a meaningful look.

Huo Zi wasn't very bright and couldn't figure out if his wife was just being polite or if she really didn't want the money. But now that the money was in his hands, how could he possibly return it? Wouldn't that mean he'd worked for nothing? But if he didn't return it, his wife would scold him. For a moment, he didn't know what to do.

Just then, Aimin said with a smile, "Brother Huozi, Sister-in-law Ma, you absolutely have to accept the money! I'll be buying flower baskets from you again in the future, and if I don't accept the money this time, I'll be too embarrassed to ask you for it later!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Zi happily stuffed the money into his pocket, while Ma Xiangju rolled her eyes at her husband, then turned to Aimin and asked, "Aimin, you only planted two mu of chrysanthemum fields! What? Aren't all these baskets enough for you?"

"This is enough. I mean, we'll need to buy a large batch when we expand the planting area in the future!" Aimin replied with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the couple exchanged a glance, both revealing expressions of delight. They knew in their hearts that this person before them was definitely a big client, a god of wealth! They had to serve him well!

"Aimin, you're using these baskets to pick flowers in the chrysanthemum field, right? Well, I'm free today anyway, so why don't I go help you? You can't carry all these baskets by yourself anyway. If I go to the field, you won't have to run back and forth, right?"

After saying that, Ma Xiangju slung a stack of flower baskets over her shoulder without saying another word. Just for how efficiently the woman worked, Aimin had to thank her properly.

Huo Zi originally wanted to help, but he had difficulty walking, so he stayed at home. However, this time, he did not feel humiliated because his wife helped Ai Min with the work. Ai Min was generous and looked like someone who would do great things. How could he do such immoral things?

Thinking of this, Huo Zi cursed Qin Er Gou, who was always up to no good, once again in his mind...

At the same time that Aimin and Ma Xiangju set off, many villagers had already gathered around the chamomile field. Seeing the two acres of chamomile in full bloom, the villagers naturally wanted to join in the fun. Several mischievous children had already run into the sea of ​​flowers to play "hide-and-seek," and laughter occasionally burst out from the depths of the chamomile bushes.

As Aimin approached the crowd carrying his flower basket, a hunchbacked old man suddenly stopped him. "Aimin, hold on a minute, let me ask you something: how much do these chrysanthemums sell for per pound?"

When the topic of profits came up, the villagers all perked up their ears.

Aimin steadily put down the flower basket and replied in front of everyone, "Fourth Uncle, fresh chrysanthemums can sell for more than ten yuan a pound, and after being dried, they are about three yuan a pound."

The casual reply struck the villagers like a thunderbolt. This unassuming little flower was more valuable than grain? Was this kid bluffing? No, he's a college student; why would he lie to them for no reason?

A look of doubt crossed the old man's deeply lined face: "Don't try to fool me just because I'm senile! Chrysanthemums really can sell for that price?"

"I wouldn't dare say anything out of line here! The prices are clearly marked at the county department store; you can check if you don't believe me." Aimin casually picked a chamomile sprig to show everyone. "Besides, we're growing an improved variety, which can be used in medicine and for making tea. It's very effective, so who knows, the price might even go up!"

These words immediately caused a stir among the crowd. They all knew the prices of grains grown in the fields by heart; even the lowest-yielding sesame seeds were not as valuable as these chrysanthemums, let alone ordinary grains.

"Aimin! What is the yield per mu (unit of land area) for this new variety of chrysanthemum? Are there any specific management requirements?"

"Yes, Aimin, tell everyone, do we need to spray pesticides or apply fertilizer?"

"Aimin, are the chrysanthemums being sold at such high prices because someone is specifically buying them? Or do you have connections to sell them?"

……

The old man was about to ask something else when everyone swarmed around Aimin, bombarding him with questions. It seemed that everyone was interested in the little chrysanthemum.

Aimin patiently answered the villagers' questions. Although the work in the fields couldn't be delayed, he was eager to explain the benefits of growing chrysanthemums in detail, thinking about how he would lead everyone to plant them in the future.

From medicinal value to market prospects, from daily cultivation to precautions at every stage, it can be said that he has thoroughly mastered all the skills of growing chrysanthemums.

These people might not all be expert farmers, but they've certainly toiled in the fields year after year. After listening to Aimin's explanation, their eyes widened in astonishment—wow, there's so much to it in these little flowers? No wonder they're college students; they're more meticulous about farming than us roughnecks!

"I'm practically half-buried in the ground, and I still... I still hear about farming like this! This involves improving the soil and building plastic greenhouses. I think Aimin knows more than those agricultural experts on TV!" The old man praised him in public, and the people around him nodded in agreement.

"Absolutely! No wonder it sells for such a high price; there's a lot more to it than meets the eye!"

"Aimin, our land is also in Shuangxitian. Could you share some chrysanthemum seeds with me? I'd like to plant them with you next year. What do you think?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? You think you can just give away these expensive chrysanthemum seeds like that? You'd be better off buying them! Aimin, how much are the chrysanthemum seeds? Sell me some, I want to try planting them for a season, okay?"

"Me too! Save some for me!"

……