Text/Xu Zhirong
From the beginning of the story to the present, there have been many versions of the fields of my hometown. "Four seasons rotation type", "10,000 acres of orange garden type", "half-barren half-made type", and now there is a "dress-up hairstyle".
It seems that I have more love for the "four-season rotation type" in the past, although at that time people would be anxious about firewood, rice, oil and salt, there was no poetry and distance, and I had not really stepped into the ranks of agricultural work, but I could still feel the simplicity and heaviness of the land, the vitality and vitality of the field, the hardship and persistence of the peasants at that time, the peace and tranquility of the countryside, and the fields at that time were like poetry, like paintings, or even more beautiful than poetry and painting.
In spring, the warm spring breeze dispels the cold of winter, the gentle sunshine awakens the earth, and the gentle spring rain caresses the earth and moisturizes all things. The grass is green, the flowers are blooming, and the vast fields are beginning to flourish.
Under the spring light, in the spring breeze, in the spring rain, after bathing in the baptism of cold, and experiencing the accumulation of midwinter, the oilseed rape and winter wheat in the fields are no longer reserved, and each shows its own glory.
↑ Poetic habitat
The wild turquoise rape, gradually pumping moss buds, gradually blooming gorgeously, becoming the silhouette of early spring, the terminator of winter, inadvertently, will change from a green ocean to a world of yellow flowers. Under the sun, it is so colorful, so harmonious and warm, so brilliant and dazzling. The breeze passes by, or golden ripples, or swept up golden waves, making it look more delicate and charming. The seductive pollen and enchanting aroma attract bees and butterflies, chasing, playing, and busy, really "the east wind blows warm cauliflower yellow, and the butterfly dance bees suck the fragrance." It is another harvest year, and the spring fields are full of golden light. ”
If the rape field is warm and unrestrained, then this wheat field is simple and restrained. The dark green winter wheat is never ostentatious, but only glowing with green waves, trying to pull joints, pregnant ears, pumping ears, raising flowers, setting seeds, and harvesting grains. Small white flowers bloom on the long, thick roots of wheat, allowing the bees to circle around in front of the ears of wheat. By May, the wheat field had faded its blue makeup, and although it looked haggard, the yellow, thick straw still mentally picked the girl's braid-like tassels. They are so solid and deep, like strings of golden beads of sweat. At this time, it seems that the smell of wheat cake has quietly sunk into the depths of the soul. This harvest of wheat is a timely rain when it is green and yellow.
↑ Beautiful countryside
At this time, there are either yellow and green, or golden, there are village shepherd boys, leading the cows to be cultivated, smelling the fragrance of flowers and plants, wandering among them, or holding bamboo branches to drive flies for the cows, or picking a small flower to put in the head of the cow, or going to the rape field wheat field to pick a handful of grass, stuffing it into the cow's mouth, or looking forward to the present and the future. Isn't this scene a harmonious and symbiotic, full of vitality and wonderful spring scene.
If you look closely, you will also find the early rice fields in the middle of the green or golden sea, the smooth and uniform fields, the tender white germs of the rice grains, and a few scarecrows that drive away the birds, watching over these seeds of hope, where the prosperity and harvest of the summer fields are nurtured.
In late spring and early summer, rapeseed and winter wheat are harvested and returned to the warehouse, and the vast field switches to the previous scene of spring ploughing and spring planting map: the ploughing cattle that have been stripped of their hairs by the spring water and fattened by the spring grass are refreshed, put on a plough rake, and in the gentle shouts of the old farmers, shake their heads and move forward, it plows the villagers and hopes for the new year, plows the air with the fragrance of fresh earth, and also attracts birds to be fed or feeding, or hovering around the cows, or perched on the back of the horned ox, or stopping on the newly turned soil to peck at earthworms and reptiles.
After that, the earth is dressed in new clothes, the seedlings in the scattered fields are decomposed and planted in the newly ploughed fields, and the bare and vast fields are gradually replaced and shrouded by a new green ocean, and everywhere is filled with the powerful force of life. They greedily absorb the nourishment of the earth, enjoy the caresses of the sun, and dress the fields in summer clothing. They are so frankly and pure, so quiet and calm, so wanton and dashing, so deep and persistent.
In July, this green color is replaced by a golden yellow, and the heavy ears of rice shyly hide under the rice mang, looking back affectionately at the land and rice roots below them, pulling the rice mango to greet the sun overhead. Under the sun, the rice fields everywhere glow with golden light, and in the breeze, the golden rice fields ripple with golden waves.
Immediately, the prologue of the busiest season for rural areas, agriculture, and farmers quickly began, and the early rice harvest, late rice planting, and rush to harvest and plant (known as double robbery) came. At this time, the field was jubilant, busy, and noisy. Rejoice at the new rice that is about to be eaten, and busy for both the harvest and the insertion (generally double-grab takes about a week to complete due to solar terms), and it is noisy because of busyness. Those who cut rice, beat rice, collect rice poles, plough fields, pluck seedlings, and plant rice are almost all available in every household in the village. "The summer heat is hot, and the flat-headed people are busy in the fields. Rush to harvest and plant diligent plowing, and do not panic for grain."
It is winter, as the saying goes, "autumn harvest and winter storage", but at this time the fields are still not idle, and the hardworking farmers still have to plan for the next year, sowing the hope of the next year in the harvested fields, and sending the next year's harvest: rape and wheat. It seems that in order that this field will not be lonely due to the cold, it will be left out in the cold. At this time, although the field is bleak, it also contains life, and if it is covered with winter snow, it is covered in silver, which is a special scene.
At that time, the fields would occasionally grow crops such as corn, cotton, sweet potatoes, and vegetables, as well as scattered citrus trees, although they were not large or piece, but they were also small family jasper, self-contained, still full of life. At that time, the fields were abandoned and deserted.
↑ Poetic countryside landscape
In this poetic field of four seasons, the hardworking, brave, simple and kind peasants have always been the authors and protagonists of this poem and painting. They tore open the morning sun and held up the night; They braved the scorching sun, braving wind and rain; They sweated, poured out their affection, and even melted their lives, composing the most beautiful poems and painting the most moving pictures in this heaven and earth.
That field, sometimes subtle, sometimes unrestrained; Sometimes quiet, sometimes warm; Sometimes elegant and fresh, sometimes intense. That field, sprinkled with hard sweat, mixed with simple emotions, mixed with helpless bitterness, also rippled with happy smiling faces.
The fields nurture and nourish my life, and the colors that change with time, the scenes of hard work, are full of infinite charm, picturesque and still often appear in my mind.
↑ Poetry and painting fields
Wandering the fields of my hometown, in this season that should be fruitful and full of fruits and vegetables, I can only see scattered decaying branches hanging rusty, malnourished, shriveled and sour fruits, or some scattered vegetable patches. And a large area of land is in the process of desertion or rectification or to be developed, and the part that has been rectified does not see new vitality, and the heart cannot help but wonder: what about the original value of the land?
The construction of new rural areas has achieved remarkable results, complete infrastructure and beautiful environment. I hope that this vast field can regain infinite vitality, and once again present a scene like poetry and painting, which will be a more perfect picture of the new countryside. (The author is a teacher at Quzhou Senior High School)
Green China B (second half) April 2023 issue