Back to 1980: Farming the Sea and Expanding the Island

In Qingpingzhou during the twelfth lunar month, life is exceptionally light and slow.

Lin Chuan encountered a problem. When the spinach in the No. 2 vegetable greenhouse was almost ripe and ready to be sold, cold air flowed in because the entrance was not properly secured, ruining most of the plants.

Lin's father felt guilty for a long time, and it took Lin Chuan a long time to comfort him and soothe his distress.

The deed is done, and everyone is saddened. But let's pick ourselves up, replant, and try to bring the celery to market together with the harvest.

The good news is that for a long time to come, Lin Chuan and the transport team will have plenty of fresh vegetables to eat, and even the ducks at home will have a good meal.

Time flies, and the Xiaoman holiday is here.

That day, she ran home with her schoolbag slung over her shoulder, her nose red from the cold, but her eyes were exceptionally bright.

"Mom! Bro! I got third place in the class!"

Upon hearing this, Lin's mother poked her head out from the kitchen and said with a smile, "Oh my, our Xiaoman is amazing, just like your brother!"

Come in quickly, there's some brown sugar cake steaming in the pot, just cooked.

Lin Chuan was studying the books and materials that Su Yanqiu had sent when he heard the sound and looked up.

Xiaoman rushed over and couldn't help but laugh, "Not bad, not bad. Your brother was always third back then, and you're third now, which is better than your brother."

Xiaoman raised her chin and said smugly, "That's right, don't you know who my sister is?"

"So who are second and first?"

Xiaoman wrinkled her nose: "It's Ma Weidong and Chen Xiaohong."

"Then let's try to surpass them next year," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Hmm!" Xiaoman nodded emphatically after hearing this.

He threw his schoolbag on the chair and couldn't wait to go to the kitchen to find something to eat.

The old man sat warming himself by the stove, and upon hearing this, slowly said, "Good, good, studying is the right thing to do. Your brother was a good student back then, but unfortunately..."

Before he could finish speaking, the old man waved his hand and said no more.

Lin Chuan knew what he wanted to say, and smiled: "Grandpa is all in the past."

With her mouth full of brown sugar cake, Xiaoman mumbled, "Brother, the teacher said they might organize an activity next semester?"

"What activity?"

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"I don't know, the teacher just mentioned it briefly."

"Okay, we'll see then." Lin Chuan patted her head. "Let's focus on our studies, and we can go wherever we want."

Days passed by like this.

Lin Chuan continued his routine of going back and forth between the brigade headquarters and the island.

In the greenhouse on Canhong Island, the celery has already grown to half a foot tall, with thick, glossy green leaves, while the spinach is growing vigorously and is very energetic.

Every now and then, Lin Chuan would lift a corner of the plastic film, reach in to feel the moisture of the soil, and check the color of the leaves.

The area next to the sweet water well has been leveled and covered with a layer of gravel.

There has been progress on the cypress timber for the cultural center. Lin Chuan wrote a report and submitted it, saying that a portion could be approved for use in the construction of rural cultural facilities after the spring.

Lin Chuan told his family, and everyone was very happy. They were waiting for spring so they could have some money and then go to the cultural center to bring the timber back.

Two more jars of pickled alkaline sedge were opened, and the sedge became even saltier, fresher, and crisper, with the unique fragrance of alkaline sedge.

Lin's mother also sent some to Aunt Liang and Aunt Gui's families, and when she returned, her basket was full of several eggs.

On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, the village suddenly became lively.

Dr. Sun's son, Sun Renpu, is getting married.

The news came from Li Jiaye, who was panting heavily but beaming with excitement: "Brother Chuan! Renpu is getting married! It's the 18th of the twelfth lunar month!"

"So soon?" Lin Chuan was somewhat surprised. He remembered that Sun Renpu did get married in his previous life, but it seemed to be next spring.

Could it be that you've mixed them up?

"What's the rush? He's already nineteen!" Li Jiaye scratched his head.

"His father used his connections to get him an internship at the commune hospital. When the girl's family saw this, they thought, 'Oh, he might get a government job in the future,' so they quickly made an appointment."

Lin Chuan suddenly realized.

In his previous life, Sun Renpu worked at a hospital, but it seems he later divorced.

Lin Chuan thought about it and then stopped worrying about it. In his previous life, he didn't attend Sun Renpu's wedding banquet; he was just at home studying materials, so the two of them didn't have much interaction.

However, in those days, being able to intern at the commune hospital was indeed a promising career path.

Although Dr. Sun has practiced medicine for many years, he has spent most of his time on the island. He must have put in a lot of effort for his son.

Three days before the wedding, Dr. Sun personally came to deliver the invitation.

This is a thin, middle-aged man who spends most of his time carrying a medicine box and traveling between various islands on the river, always with a gentle smile on his face.

He handed the bright red invitation to Lin's father, then took out a pack of Shanghai-made Daqianmen cigarettes and gave one to each of the old man, Lin's father, and Lin Chuan.

"Brother Lin, you must come and visit sometime." Doctor Sun said with a sincere smile. "Renpu was a child who didn't know any better before and just messed around with the other kids in the village."

Now that someone is in charge, I feel much more at ease.

Lin's father took the cigarette, tucked it behind his ear, and laughed, "I think Renpu is a very steady boy. You're just worrying unnecessarily."

Dr. Sun smiled and turned to Lin Chuan: "Xiao Chuan, I heard that the vegetables on your island will be ready for harvest soon?"

If it's convenient, bring some over on the wedding day so the villagers can have a taste. Pay whatever you want; we don't want you to lose out.

Lin Chuan nodded and readily agreed, "Sure, Uncle Sun, I'll bring it with me."

After Dr. Sun left, Lin's mother began preparing congratulatory gifts.

According to village custom, gifts must be given for weddings and funerals.

Those who were close to the villagers would give three or five yuan, ordinary villagers would give a few yuan or eight mao, and even the poorest families would contribute ten eggs or a bag of brown sugar.

Lin's mother pulled out a red cloth bag from the bottom of the trunk, inside which was a list of wedding gifts she had accumulated over the years.

She kept meticulous records of how much money she gave as a wedding gift to each family, and what gifts she gave when an elderly person passed away.

"Let's give five yuan as a wedding gift to Dr. Sun's family in Renpu," Lin's mother discussed with Lin's father.

"Two years ago, my mother was sick, and Dr. Sun came to see her in the middle of the night without charging her. I must remember this kindness."

And our father's illness has also been a constant burden on them.

"Of course," Lin's father nodded. "Also, bring two more rice cakes and a basket of eggs. Didn't Xiao Chuan want to bring vegetables? That counts as a portion too."

The old man, sitting to the side, added, "Bring along that jar of bayberry wine I used to make."

On the 18th day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was perfect.

The rain that had lasted for several days finally stopped. Although the sun wasn't out, the thin clouds allowed some sunlight to filter through.

The Sun family set up a shed early in the morning, borrowing a large oilcloth used by the production team for drying grain. The shed was supported by bamboo poles at the four corners, and a dozen or so square tables were placed underneath.

The stove was a makeshift structure, with two large iron pots placed on it, and a roaring fire burning, steam rising from it.

When Lin Chuan's family arrived, there were already quite a few people in the courtyard.

The women gathered around the stove to help wash vegetables and cut meat, while the men sat around the table drinking tea and chatting.

The children weaved through the crowd, picking up unexploded firecrackers from the ground.

Sun Renpu, dressed in a brand-new blue Zhongshan suit with a large red paper flower pinned to his chest and his hair neatly combed, stood at the gate of the courtyard to greet guests.

Upon seeing Lin Chuan's family arrive, he hurried forward, his face flushed, and he could barely speak: "Uncle Lin, Uncle Lin, Aunt Lin, Brother Chuanzi, you've come..."

"New son-in-law, you look great!" Lin's father patted his shoulder and smiled, handing him the congratulatory gift.

Lin Chuan handed the large basket of vegetables he had brought to the aunties by the stove; the vegetables were fresh and crisp, and the spinach was plump and tender.

The aunties immediately gathered around, praising it enthusiastically.

"Wow, celery is still available at this time of year!"

"This celery is growing so well! The leaves are so green!"

"Ogawa is really capable; he can grow such good vegetables on a deserted island, even in the dead of winter!"

Lin Chuan was surrounded by the aunts and wives, who asked him all sorts of questions. He immediately blushed and it took him a long time to find a chance to get away, which made everyone laugh.