Year: I planted trees in Saihanba

After Songzi finished tidying up, Xia Tian and Engineer Chen had nothing else to do.

Of the 1000 saplings planted earlier, only that one is still stubbornly taking root.

The rest of the summer leaves could be pulled up and used as firewood.

Xia Tian and Engineer Chen followed Yu Zheng down to the dam.

Forestry Bureau.

"Master Liu, it's not Monday today, why are you stewing meat?"

canteen.

A young man looked at Old Liu with curiosity.

"Today, Lao Chen and Xiao Xia went down to the dam, and the director asked us to prepare a welcome banquet."

"real or fake?"

"Engineer Chen and Engineer Xia have been staying on the dam for almost half a year, why are they coming down here again?"

"You little rascal, you should rest on Sundays!"

"Old Chen and Xia Xia have finished their work, shouldn't they take a break too?"

"Too!"

The young man nodded.

"So we've benefited from Engineer Chen and Engineer Xia's efforts today too."

"Of course! You should be secretly happy about it!"

After Old Liu finished speaking, he ignored the young man and started cooking on his own.

The four of them arrived at the Forestry Bureau before lunchtime in the summer.

I just arrived at the Forestry Bureau, just as they were serving lunch.

"Director Yu, Section Chief Qu."

"Engineer Chen, Engineer Xia."

Upon arriving at the canteen, the forestry bureau employees greeted the four of them.

Xia Tian responded with a smile.

"Xia, after this trip down the dam, when do you plan to go back up the dam?"

The dinner table.

Yu Zheng and Xia Tian chatted and ate together.

"Uncle Yu, I'll go to Shangba whenever it snows."

"why?"

"Because the seeds need to be sterilized and stored in ice."

"Isn't it snowing down below the dam too?"

"Since we are going to cultivate seedlings on the dam, it would be best to use snow from the dam for storage."

"The climate and environment above the dam are completely different from those below the dam."

"So we have to go up to the dam!"

"That's it!"

After listening, Yu Zheng nodded.

"Xia, after you go up to the dam, when will you be able to come down again?"

"The next time we go down to the dam will probably be after next spring."

Why does it take so long?

"The sterilization and storage of seeds cannot be separated from human intervention!"

"After spring arrives, all the seeds will have to be transplanted into the seedbed."

"These all need people!"

Summer explained it in one sentence.

"So, what about celebrating Chinese New Year this year?"

"I won't come down during the Chinese New Year; I guess there will be a lot of snow and wind then."

"I can stay on the dam by myself!"

Upon hearing this, Engineer Chen, who was eating his meal nearby, put down his rice bowl.

"Xia, what did you mean by what you just said?"

"You'll be going to go up the dam alone in a while?"

"Yes, Engineer Chen, what's wrong?"

"No way, I want to go up to the dam too!"

Engineer Chen spoke up.

"No, Engineer Chen, you can't go up to the dam!"

"why?"

Chen Gong didn't understand and asked Xia Tian in return.

"First, your lung disease has just healed, and the air in Bashang is too cold, which is not good for your recovery."

"Secondly, you're getting old!"

"Thirdly, the bureau needs you too!"

As Xia Tian spoke, she winked at Yu Zhenglai.

Yu Zhenglai immediately understood and quickly replied.

"Yes, Engineer Chen, those nurseries down below the dam need your guidance!"

“In the months since you and Xia Xia left, our bureau’s nursery has been unable to operate.”

Xia Tian nodded in satisfaction after listening to Yu Zheng's words.

"Xia, can you manage all by yourself in Bashang?"

At this moment, Qu He, who had been quietly eating his meal, spoke up.

"Uncle Qu, I'm fine on my own."

"You can come up and help me when spring comes and I'm raising seedlings on the dam!"

"As for handling the seeds, I can manage on my own."

"Xia, you've only been here for a year and you've already made such a huge sacrifice. As the bureau chief, I feel terrible about it!"

"Uncle Yu, it's all for planting trees!"

"Comrades on the revolution, let's not talk about anything else."

"Well said, well said!"

"In that case, on New Year's Eve, I will personally go to the dam to spend the New Year with you."

After listening to Xia Tian's remarks, Yu Zheng made a guarantee.

"Uncle Yu, please don't mind. If you really want to spend New Year's Eve with me..."

"I'm afraid Aunt Yu will chop me to pieces if she finds out!"

"She dares?"

Yu Zhenglai is very stubborn.

"Oh, Aunt Yu, what brings you here? Are you here to see Director Yu?"

Summer suddenly looked up and said something.

Yu Zhenglai felt a pang of anxiety upon hearing Xia Tian's words and suddenly turned around.

There was no sign of his wife anywhere.

"Haha, Uncle Yu, don't be nervous, Aunt Yu isn't here."

Summer laughed without a care in the world.

"You little rascal, Xia, how dare you make fun of your Uncle Yu?"

Lunch ended amidst everyone's laughter and cheerful conversation.

After meal.

"Xia Xia, Uncle Yu, I'm so sorry!"

Yu Zheng called Xia Tian into his office.

"Uncle Yu, where did you get this idea?"

“I shamelessly asked you to come from the Forestry Department, and then I left you to suffer alone in Bashang.”

"Uncle Yu, don't say things like that again."

"First of all, I came here voluntarily."

"Even if you don't say anything, I will still come."

"Secondly, although I don't agree with suffering."

"But there's no other way. If I suffer now, our descendants will suffer less."

"Besides, the suffering is only temporary."

"Once we successfully plant trees on the dam, all the hardships we're enduring now will be worth it."

"What do you think, Uncle Yu?"

"Xia, you're right, but I still don't feel quite right."

"Hey, Uncle Yu, please don't think like that."

After offering a few more words of comfort to Yu Zhenglai, Xia Tian asked another question.

"Uncle Yu, do you have any radio tickets here?"

The new China has fully entered the era of ration coupons.

The era of planned economy has fully begun.

Xia Tian understood that this was an inevitable trend, one that no human could change.

This is a necessary means for a major agricultural country to rapidly transform into a major industrial country.

There was no need to make such a hasty change.

However, the war in the east two years ago led the leaders to develop a new strategy.

It's all worth it if the people suffer a little.

Of course, this is a parallel world.

The current situation is that money alone is not enough; you need tickets for everything.

You needed food coupons to eat out, and meat coupons to eat meat dishes. Not only did you need coupons, but you also had to pay money.

You need cloth coupons to buy clothes, and you need cotton coupons to buy cotton.

In short, you need a ticket for everything.

"Xia, do you want a radio ticket?"

"Aren't we going to go up to the dam soon?"

“I was afraid I would be bored if I stayed in Bashang alone, so I thought I would get a radio.”

"It's something to do to relieve boredom when I'm free."

"I don't have any radio tickets here right now, but don't worry."

"When you go up to the dam, I'll get you a radio."

Yu Zheng listened to Xia Tian's words and made a very serious promise.

Xia made such a great sacrifice for the bureau.

Let alone a radio, we'll find a way to get Xia a television set.

Yu Zhenglai thought to himself.