Go back to the past to plant trees

The next day, when Feng Cheng got up, Zhao Jinquan was still asleep, which was unprecedented. Zhao Jinquan used to wake up very early because he was bored at night and went to bed early, usually before nine o'clock. He would wake up at six o'clock every morning, his biological clock was very punctual.

Feng Cheng always goes to bed a little later. He developed the habit of sleeping in late in his previous life. Unless he is really busy and has to get up early to work, he can sleep a little longer. Also, he likes to read at night, so he goes to bed a little later.

Picking up toiletries, Feng Cheng led the somewhat impatient Xiao Liu out of the dugout.

Just as Feng Cheng finished washing up and was about to go to the kitchen to cook something, Zhao Jinquan got up, still half asleep.

"How was it? Not bad, right?"

Seeing Zhao Jinquan's bewildered expression, Feng Cheng asked with a smile.

Zhao Jinquan said, "I'm alright, just feeling a little unwell."

"Get up, brush your teeth, and wash your face! You'll feel better after eating something."

"Ah."

After Feng Cheng finished speaking, he went to the kitchen. There were some leftover vegetables from yesterday, so he could just cook some millet porridge to make do.

"Sigh, I only got drunk when I first started drinking. I haven't gotten drunk once in the last two years. I never thought I would get drunk last night."

Sitting outside, Zhao Jinquan sipped his porridge and sighed.

Feng Cheng said, "You drank too fast. This liquor isn't very strong, probably only around 20 degrees. You kept drinking without stopping, and when I told you to take a break, you refused. That's why you got drunk."

The most common situation when drinking and playing games is getting carried away. As you play and drink, you start arguing, and everyone else has to drink too, otherwise they'll be at a disadvantage.

At first, I could control it, but as more and more alcohol accumulated in my stomach, my emotions became increasingly difficult to control.

However, Feng Cheng was quite satisfied with Zhao Jinquan's reaction after getting drunk last night. He didn't shout or talk nonsense; he just lay quietly and slept when he was drunk.

A person's drinking habits reveal their character. Feng Cheng disliked those who got drunk, shouted, acted arrogantly, and caused trouble. If someone had drunk too much, they should just rest instead of making a scene.

"I did drink too fast," Zhao Jinquan nodded in agreement. He was still quite sober last night and didn't black out. He knew how he was when he was drinking and could vaguely remember what he said.

"But this game is quite fun. Let's continue next time we have drinks, Brother Feng."

Although he was drunk, Zhao Jinquan still really enjoyed playing dice last night. He had never played games while drinking before, but after playing once, he understood why Beijingers play games when they drink – it creates an atmosphere, and the more you play, the more you want to drink.

Zhao Jinquan felt that the previous routine of just touching and drinking was a bit boring. He thought it would be more interesting to play some games and let others drink. The real skill was to get drunk while remaining sober.

As for drinking less alcohol, Zhao Jinquan felt that was no longer important; as long as he was happy, that was all that mattered.

Zhao Jinquan realized the difference between simply drinking and drinking while playing games. He got drunk yesterday, but he felt very happy, at least he had fun while playing.

Although he wasn't feeling well, Zhao Jinquan didn't slack off. After finishing his meal, he went to work at the nursery with Feng Cheng.

Today was another uneventful day. After finishing their work at the nursery, the two added water to the reservoir in the evening and then returned to the camp.

"Brother Feng, how did you get through last year alone in Bashang? You didn't have anyone to talk to. Weren't you bored?"

Lying in bed, Zhao Jinquan, bored and unsure of what to do, took the initiative to start a conversation with Feng Cheng.

"It's boring, but what can I do? I can't just give up because I'm bored! I made a vow when I went up to the dam: I won't come down until I've planted a living tree on the dam!"

"Ah! So trees won't grow on the dam, are you really not going down to the dam?" Zhao Jinquan asked in shock.

Feng Cheng replied calmly, "I have confidence in myself. Trees can definitely be planted on the dam."

Zhao Jinquan suddenly didn't know what to say. Did he think that trees definitely couldn't grow on the dam? Wouldn't that upset Feng Cheng?

Feng Cheng looked up from his book, glanced at Zhao Jinquan, and roughly guessed what he was thinking.

However, he was too lazy to explain, nor did he feel the need to. He had never managed to grow a tree successfully in the dam area, so it was normal for others to lack confidence in him.

Confidence is built on the foundation of repeated successes. Only when you succeed will others believe that you can succeed again. If you can keep succeeding, then others will have confidence in you, believe in you, and even admire you.

"Brother Feng, haven't you ever thought about what you'd do if the tree doesn't survive?"

"Can't grow trees? I haven't thought about that. Trying one method after another would take at least seven or eight years to finish. That's too far in the future. I don't want to think about it. It's useless to think about it because plans can't keep up with changes."

"Maybe next year the bureau will think that planting trees here in Bashang is a waste of money and time, and then they will send me down to Bashang. Or maybe the bureau will think that no matter what, the trees in Bashang must survive, no matter what the cost, and then they will think that I alone cannot do it, so they will increase the manpower here. With more people, there will be more wisdom, and it will be more likely to survive the trees."

"Is it really possible that the bureau will send more people to our area?" Zhao Jinquan pressed.

"I don't know. I'm not a leader in the bureau, how would I know what the leaders are thinking?"

Zhao Jinquan rolled over and lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), looking at the thatched roof above his head, and said, "I really hope the bureau can give us a few more people here, so it won't be so boring, and I'll have more people to chat with."

Feng Cheng was focused on the contents of the book and did not respond to his words.

After a while, Zhao Jinquan fell asleep while lying down.

Feng Cheng glanced at him, then looked at Xiao Liu on the ground. Xiao Liu was lying on the ground with his eyes closed, and he looked like he was asleep.

Following Feng Cheng, Xiao Liu also developed the habit of going to bed on time every night, and he would not make a sound unless there were wolves howling outside.

Feng Cheng tightened the autumn clothes he was wearing. The nights in Saihanba were a bit chilly, and he had to cover himself with a quilt to sleep, otherwise he would easily catch a cold.

After reading for two hours, when it was ten o'clock, Feng Cheng blew out the kerosene lamp and lay down to sleep.

There are many bad things about this era, such as not being able to eat well, not being able to dress well, and not being able to sleep well. But there are also good things. For example, Feng Cheng's sleep habits. He used to stay up late all the time and would not go to bed before midnight. Now, he goes to bed around 10 or 10:30 at the latest, and he can fall asleep very quickly after lying down. Unlike his previous life, he often suffered from insomnia and sometimes stayed up until 4 or 5 in the morning. He only slept for two hours a day, and his mental state got worse and worse the longer he stayed up.