"Next class, bring your favorite flowers, and I will do a basic pruning for them," Teacher Mei’s words sparked another round of discussion.
Among the attendees, there was also someone who voiced their skepticism: "Teacher Mei, we wanted to hear some of your planting experience, not the basics of pruning. You should know, most of us are well-versed in pruning."
What’s known as basic pruning is the removal of surplus branches and leaves from overwintered plants to allow for more nutrients to support growth.
Whether it’s chain flower shops or novices in flower arranging, who isn’t proficient in basic pruning? Coming here isn’t to waste time listening to these things. In their flower shops and companies, basic pruning is done by apprentices.
"Do you think basic pruning is not important?" Mei Nian pulled out a photo with Shen Zhou Red Snow standing tall and elegant, "I’ve already said, this daffodil is natural, but most of you do not believe it."
"That’s right, everyone knows, daffodils typically bloom for ten to twenty days. That daffodil has been blooming for a whole month, right? If it’s not using some special solvent, then at least a little salt has been added. Plus, look at those two flowers, blooming from the same stem, the blossoms are symmetrical, the colors are fresh and delicate, it simply doesn’t seem natural," said the flower arranger who had studied in Japan.
All eyes were focused on Zhuo Feng’s face. After all, she was the owner of the daffodil.
If she had known this so-called horticulture class wasn’t for training but for pressing for her secrets, she would have let Feng Xing attend. Zhuo Feng shook her head helplessly. Xiao Xian didn’t have all these tricks to use solvents or salt.
"Unfortunately, I have to tell you, there isn’t just one way to lengthen the flowering period of a daffodil. There’s a main method that few pay attention to," Mei Nian’s finger, still pointing at the photo of Shen Zhou Red Snow, no longer rested on the flowers but moved down, staying on the visible bulb in the pot.
Could it be that the reason lay in that shriveled, seemingly moldy daffodil bulb? Zhuo Feng stared incredulously at Mei Nian’s finger as if it held some magic.
"The cutting of that daffodil bulb is very perfect, compared to ordinary daffodils in the market, even after overwintering for a year, its bulb’s nutritional value is preserved at 99.9% or more," Mei Nian finished, and everyone’s view of her changed.
Pruning a daffodil, like the basic pruning of a tree, is the most easily overlooked step. Hearing about the effects of basic pruning, the other nine students in the class were energized and no longer doubted the content of the second lesson.
After class, Zhuo Feng wanted to sneak away, but before she could leave, she was called out by Mei Nian.
"Hello, Teacher Mei," Zhuo Feng awkwardly addressed the person whose face looked to be about her own age.
"That pot of Shen Zhou Red Snow is not yours. He managed to bring it out for display?" Mei Nian asked with a cold tone, it was hard to tell if she was pleased or angry, not as icy as in the classroom, but not exactly friendly either.
"Sorry, I know my level, at best I’m just filling the numbers. The flower is mine... You know the flower belongs to Master Bai?" That ’he’, who else could it be but Bai Juyi, who had already turned to a handful of white ash.
"Hmph, to be precise, neither the flower nor the bulb is his, they belong to the Mei Family," Mei Nian was not pleased with Zhuo Feng’s statement, how could a mediocrity like Bai Juyi cultivate such a daffodil.
"The Mei Family, you’re called Mei Nian? You’re not the daughter of Granny Mei Xiang and old Master Bai Ju, are you? My goodness, could it be that when Mei Xiang left all those years ago, she was pregnant? No, that’s not right, you look too young for that." Zhuo Feng, a typical addict of melodramatic series, was already imagining countless dramatic scenarios.
Mei Nian truly regretted calling out to Zhuo Feng.
"Who’s his daughter? He’s not worthy. I’m Mei Xiang’s sister," Mei Nian reluctantly admitted her identity.
"Sister? The age gap between you two sisters is too big, isn’t it? Grand Old Master Mei is really vigorous in his old age," if Mei Nian is thirty years old, then Mei Xiang should be around the same age as Bai Ju, probably also about eighty. There’s a fifty-year gap between the two sisters, half a century.
Mei Nian glared fiercely at Zhuo Feng, this woman, was truly brainless. However, it was not necessary to explain too much to her.