Chapter 727: 719.Apple tree_1 Chapter 727: 719.Apple tree_1 Of course, now during the three hottest days of summer, it’s definitely not a good time to transplant apple trees, and the demolition process has just passed the stages of freezing household registration and preliminary price negotiations.
Currently, the other party is drinking with Professor Song and pounding his chest, promising, “Don’t worry! Demolition won’t reach my house just yet, and when the dog days of summer are over and the temperature difference rises, whenever you need the fruit tree, my side can arrange it!”
His fruit trees are in their fruit-bearing stage right now, meaning they not only require regular pruning this year, but also, because the trees have grown to a considerable size, the cost of transportation would be substantial.
Professor Song truly had carefully calculated for Song Tan–the fruit trees, if transplanted this autumn and nurtured over the winter, would bloom and bear fruit by May next spring. And with proper care, they might even seamlessly transition into their thriving fruit-bearing period.
The economic benefit far exceeds the current cost of transportation.
Moreover, during the transport and pruning process, they would also meticulously reorganize each branch…
“When the time comes, I’ll still have to trouble you!”
Professor Song sighed, “When the time comes, I’ll send my students to guide the workers; we’ll take care of that expense. But we’ll still need your help to find a few people to do the manual labor. After all, we’re not familiar with this area…”
“Rest assured!” The other party was so eager that he seemed to be pounding his chest hard enough for it to echo, his eyes full of anticipatory glimmer:
“Leave it to me! I guarantee everything will be handled perfectly!”
Only then did Professor Song show a smile: “I’m definitely relieved when it’s in your hands.”
“Over these years, I’ve come across quite a few fruit growers, and your orchard is truly well-tended! It’s especially meticulous. If it weren’t for this demolition, in no more than three years, your life would have been prosperous.”
The other party laughed heartily:
“Now it won’t work out, I don’t have the drive I had when I was younger. Once I get the demolition compensation, I’ll first sort everything out for my kid and wife–school district, medical care, all of it. If there’s any money left, I might lease an orchard again.”
“With the experience from the past, things will definitely run more smoothly. When the time comes, I’ll still need to trouble you for more guidance…”
Mature fruit trees that don’t cost a penny during their prime are hard to come by; even someone with an extraordinary network like Professor Song only happened upon this opportunity by chance.
After confirming that there were no issues here, the four apprentices hurried back–despite having stayed at Song Tan’s home for less than two months, why did it feel like they couldn’t part with it now?
And when they rushed back home overnight, just as dawn was breaking, Seventh Uncle had just opened the kitchen door, calling Qiaoqiao, Wang Xiaoshun, and the others to scoop out the winter melon strips that had been soaked in lime water the night before.
This was another big project.
A few people huffed and puffed, carrying basins of winter melon strips and squatting by the water basin with Aunt Lianhua, rinsing them over and over in cooperation.
Soaking in edible lime water makes the winter melon strips crunchy, but they had to wash them gently to avoid breaking them and ruining their appearance.
A group of people surrounded the basin and squatted down, laboring all morning long, until they had all been rinsed two or three times.
When Professor Song entered the yard, they were just working together to pour the winter melon strips back into the basins to be soaked again in clean water–
Indeed, this treat is cheap to eat, and it’s cloyingly sweet, and the preparation is simple, but it relies entirely on patience, often requiring a dozen hours for a single step!
Zhang Yanping and Wu Lei were regretful! Hadn’t they agreed not to work this morning? How come they got caught again just when they sat down to eat?
“What are you doing?” Yan Ran curiously looked over: “Are you making something delicious again?”
Qiaoqiao nodded, “Sister Yan Ran, we’re making winter melon candy. Do you like to eat it?”
Who doesn’t have some of these in their childhood memories?
Yan Ran instantly backed away two steps: “No! No! No! I won’t eat it! It’s too sweet!”
But Tai Xiaodong seemed interested: “Our classmates said that making mung bean and lily sweet soup with it would probably taste pretty good.”
Winter melon candy soup…
Seventh Uncle was a bit silent.
Being from a rustic mountain village, he certainly hadn’t imagined all the strange ways people might eat something, willing to try anything.
Qi Lin was a bit embarrassed: “I like it. Where I come from in the mountains, as a child, candy was quite precious… Once it’s ready, if there’s extra, can I buy some to send to my grandfather?”
“There will definitely be extra.”
Seventh Uncle nodded towards the multitude of big basins in front of him: “We’ve piled up so much; see how much the family can actually eat?”