Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 781 Winter Goes and Spring Comes

Throughout history, countless literary figures have described spring from countless angles. Even in modern times, poets and writers have produced a constant stream of works. Spring has always been a favored season.

However, unlike most poems and verses, spring always arrives so late in Northeast China.

While the spring breeze in the south is as sharp as scissors in February, the northeast is still in the depths of winter, with snow falling – the coldest days of the year.

While the Jiangnan region is bathed in the spring breeze and snow, the Northeast, amidst the north wind and snow, weeps, lamenting that poetry is all a lie. The reason is that in the era when poetry and prose flourished, this region was not yet part of China's territory. Therefore, we find almost no historical records describing the Northeast. The few that exist are filled with war and sorrow. The Northeast has no spring.

Spring in the South arrives in an instant; suddenly, overnight, flowers bloom all over the mountains and fields, and spring has arrived, followed by the sight of alluring waists swaying in the breeze.

Spring arrives slowly and hesitantly in Northeast China, its spirit crushed by the remnants of winter, merely waiting for its departure. As the snow melts, a biting cold pervades the air. There's an old saying in Northeast China: "Dress warmly in spring and lightly in autumn," highlighting how the cold of spring penetrates to the bone. If only those months could be called spring.

By the time wildflowers bloom and pines turn verdant in the northeast, and the mountains and fields are bathed in green, it is already early summer in the south.

Around April or May, the last piece of ice in the mountains finally melted and disappeared. The wind was still cool but no longer chilly. People started burning stubble and making furrows in the fields. Peach and apricot trees began to bloom. People took off their cotton-padded clothes and put on light sweaters.

Or some of the stronger ones skipped the sweater and put on lighter thermal underwear, and when the night wind blew, they immediately curled up into a ball and shivered.

By the time the night breeze warms up, it's already June, and all the flowers have bloomed. You take off your autumn clothes and want to shout "Hello, spring!" but spring has already gone far away. Standing in front of you, smiling like a flower, is summer.

In this courtyard at the southern corner of Wanliu Park, Xiaowei's family is planting crops, turning over the black soil, pruning it into ridges, and sowing seeds.

"Mom, are you planting scallions now? Aren't they already a foot tall? When are we going to eat them?"

Xiaowei's mother didn't even turn her head: "If we can't eat it today, we'll have to wait until the snow melts next year. What are we going to do then? If we don't plant it this year, we won't have any next year either."

Xiao Wei said, "Can't we plant in the fall? What are we doing taking up space? Wouldn't it be better to plant something else?"

Xiaowei's mother said, "You're really planning to grow it locally? It's just a thought. What can you grow? Sprinkle some scallions, plant some chives, and surround it with two rows of lettuce, that's about it. At most, you can grow a few cucumber trellises."

Xiao Wei's dad straightened up and looked over: "Aren't you going to plant persimmons, peppers, or anything like that? I've already brought back the seeds for green beans and eggplants."

Xiaowei's mother glanced at the plot of land behind the main building, made a mental calculation, and said, "Let's plant it if we want. We can manage anyway. Okay, let's do it this year, and then we'll figure out how to plant next year in the fall. But what will we use to trellis the green beans and cucumbers?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'll get you some bamboo poles, and I'll bring them back every few days. That should be enough for you."

Xiao Wei's dad put down his hoe, thought for a moment, and asked, "What kind of fertilizer do we use on this land? Urea?"

Xiao Wei said, "We have our own fertilizer and feed factory, so we have plenty of fertilizer. We can just have Hongliang bring back two bags, that'll be enough. Does this land even need fertilizer?"

Xiao Wei's dad said, "It's good to plant some. This is uncultivated land; it's been so many years since we've planted it, it's just been overgrown with weeds. I'm worried the soil won't be fertile enough, let's take a look first."

"Waaah, waaah!" Gengsheng's loud and clear cries came from upstairs. Xiaowei's mother said, "This child, his voice is too loud."

Xiao Wei's dad said, "A loud voice isn't a good thing, kid. It means you're physically strong, like when you were little, as cute as a kitten, isn't it?"

Xiaowei's mother said, "Oh dear, is Dajun's wife about to give birth? I'll have grandchildren soon too, I'm getting old."

Xiao Wei asked, "When are you going? I think it should be early."

Xiaowei's mother said, "What will happen to Xiaobing if we leave? There's such a mess here."

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "It's not like we can't live without you. It's not like we're leaving for years. How long do you plan to stay there?"

Xiao Wei's mother skillfully planted the seeds with her feet, saying, "Why won't it be a full month? It'll take two months, right?"

Xiao Wei said, "Two months is fine. You can stay until the New Year, and then we can all come back together. What's there to worry about back home? There are so many people here."

The three of them worked together skillfully, chatting as they went, making ridges, digging holes, planting seeds, and watering—all with a natural, flowing motion.

In the courtyard, the grass and trees were just beginning to sprout; the fruit trees were just turning green, while the willows had already sprouted new branches and were laden with leaves. In the woods and flowerbeds, tender green shoots of grass were growing. Chickens frolicked happily in and out of the woods, while ducks and geese floated leisurely on the pond. A large dog lay prone on the stone platform at the corner of the building, watching a few people work the land. It was a scene of vibrant life.

"Last year you were practically living at the police station, handling cases every other day. Why have you become so quiet after the New Year? I've noticed you're mostly hanging around at home lately. Don't you want to go anymore?"

Xiaowei's father handed the hoe to Xiaowei and went to the side to light a cigarette.

Xiao Wei said, "After all, it's not my job. Last year I just happened to be there, and what could I do but ignore it? This year, it's almost the end of the month, and I'm too lazy to go over unless it's absolutely necessary. Now I'm just waiting for the building to be completed so everyone can move in. I'll treat everyone to a meal then, and that'll be enough. Anyway, it'll be a favor, right?"

Xiaowei's mother asked, "So, if you don't go when the appointed time comes, will you still be considered a policeman? Will you have to return your badge?"

Xiao Wei said, "No need, this is mine. I still have to go to meetings in the future, and I still have to attend if something is called. It's just that I don't have to work normally and I don't get paid."

Xiao Wei's mother was puzzled and said, "This is really strange. I've never heard of police like this before. What's going on?"

Xiaowei's father asked Xiaowei, "How did Xia's family decide on the arrangements?"

Xiao Wei said, "They'll all be moving here in a few days. It's all agreed that they'll live right at the front gate. My eldest sister and second sister are coming over. My eldest sister goes to sell clothes, and my second sister wants to open a cake shop. The two of them will take care of their grandson. My second sister's in-laws are also coming. I'll help them open a pancake stall at the front gate, so we'll have pancakes for breakfast then."

Xiao Wei's dad said, "That's fine too, it's better than staying down here. You can't sell many of those houses near your place anyway. Xiao Long's family, Engineer Wang, Xiao Wang, Xia's family, four? Five? Add Liu Liu and Xing Hai'er, and you can manage one building, right?"

Xiao Wei said, "I reckon one building will be taken, but it's not free; we still need to cover the costs. We didn't plan to make a profit on these houses in the first place. When the time comes, any of the elderly people from the factory or the restaurant who want them can come over. It'll be more convenient for everyone to live closer together. We'll see how many are left after everyone has been settled."

Xiaowei's dad said, "I'll ask your uncle to come over, is that alright? His back probably won't be able to support him anymore, and Xiaowang is here. What will he do alone in the village? He can't farm the land anymore."

(End of this chapter)