Chapter 252: Uncle Jiu's Prestige
Thatchfield Village.
In front of Captain Deng Yunjun's house.
When Deng Shirong mentioned the proverb, "Rain falls in the first month of August, and cows freeze to death in winter," most people looked confused, clearly unfamiliar with the saying. However, a few villagers, including Deng Yungui, had heard of it before.
Deng Yungui stood up and said, "Uncle Jiu, I remember my grandfather mentioning this. He said that if it rains on the first day of August, the winter will be extremely cold. I'm not sure if it's true, though."
Deng Yunqiang also chimed in, "That reminds me! I heard my mother say something similar when I was a child. There really is such a saying."
Two other elderly villagers also confirmed the proverb's existence.
Deng Yunfeng, a professional cattle breeder from Yang's Hillside Village Village, felt uneasy upon hearing this. Over the past two years, he had carefully tended to the oxen he contracted from the production team, growing the herd from a few to more than a dozen. These oxen were his family's most valuable assets.
When others heard Uncle Jiu mention "cows freezing to death in winter," they might brush it off, but Deng Yunfeng couldn't afford to ignore it.
After Deng Yungui and the other elders confirmed the proverb, Deng Yunfeng turned to Deng Shirong and asked solemnly, "Uncle Jiu, how reliable is this saying? It did rain heavily on the first day of August. Will this winter really be that cold?"
Deng Shirong had brought this up mainly to warn Deng Yunfeng, as his family had suffered significant losses in his past life when several of their oxen froze to death.
In response to Deng Yunfeng's question, Deng Shirong explained, "This proverb has been passed down by our ancestors. In the past, people would observe the weather on the first days of June and August to predict the year's conditions. Since this saying has survived, it's likely based on real events.
I can't say for sure whether this winter will be as harsh as the proverb suggests.
But as the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry. If nothing happens, that's great. But if it does, being prepared will save us from heavy losses. Don't you agree?"
Deng Yunfeng nodded repeatedly. "Uncle Jiu, you're absolutely right. Whether it happens or not, I need to be prepared. If this prolonged cold spell really occurs and my oxen freeze to death, I'll be devastated."
Hearing this, Deng Yunqiang grew worried and asked, "Uncle Jiu, if this proverb comes true, will our lychee trees be in danger too?"
Deng Shirong nodded. "Yes, we need to prepare frost protection measures in advance. If the extreme cold hits and the lychee trees freeze or die, the losses will be enormous."
Deng Yunqiang pressed further, "Uncle Jiu, do you know how to protect the lychee trees from frost?"
Deng Shirong replied, "I know a few methods. Come to my house later, and I'll explain them in detail."
Relieved, Deng Yunqiang said, "Thank you, Uncle Jiu. I'll come by later."
Deng Yunjun, the team leader, added, "Many families in the village have already started planting August potatoes. If this proverb holds true, most of the sweet potatoes will freeze to death. My suggestion is to plant fewer sweet potatoes this year to avoid wasting labor and resources.
As for the production team, I've decided not to plant flue-cured tobacco this year. Although it's a winter crop, it's not cold-resistant. If the prolonged cold hits, the tobacco will freeze, so it's better not to plant it at all."
Initially, some villagers didn't take the proverb seriously. However, seeing influential figures like Deng Shirong and the team leader treating it with such importance, they began to pay attention.
Of course, not everyone believed it. Some villagers frowned when they heard the team leader's decision to skip planting flue-cured tobacco.
"Captain, if we don't plant tobacco this year, where will we get our tobacco next year?"
"Yes, Captain, we're all used to smoking. If there's no tobacco next year, how will we manage?"
"Captain, this is just an old saying. Don't take it too seriously. We should still plant tobacco, even if it's just a little."
"Captain..."
Deng Yunjun firmly replied, "I've made my decision. If you don't believe it, you can plant it yourselves. Today's meeting is just a reminder from Uncle Jiu and me. We can't guarantee the proverb's accuracy, so think carefully about what you want to do."
The villagers left the meeting with mixed reactions. Some believed the proverb, some didn't, and others were unsure. As they dispersed, they discussed the matter in small groups.
Deng Yunqiang and his eldest son, Deng Changfu, followed Deng Shirong to his house to discuss frost protection for their lychee trees.
The lychee orchard had become their family's primary source of income. This year, they had earned over 1,500 yuan from selling lychees, and they expected even higher yields next year. The thought of losing their orchard to frost was unbearable.
At Deng Shirong's house, Deng Yunqiang eagerly asked, "Uncle Jiu, what methods can we use to protect the lychee trees from frost?"
Deng Shirong didn't keep them waiting. "The first method is to whitewash the tree trunks and branches with a mixture of quicklime, lime sulfur, and adhesive. This prevents cold damage and kills bacteria—a two-in-one solution."
Whitewashing trees wasn't new in rural areas. Rubber trees at Baiping Farm had used this method, but Deng Yunqiang hadn't realized its frost-protection benefits until now.
Deng Shirong continued, "The second method is to wrap the trunks and branches with straw. This also helps prevent frost damage."
Deng Yunqiang smiled. "Uncle Jiu, that method sounds simple."
Deng Changfu nodded. While he wasn't familiar with quicklime and the other ingredients, wrapping straw around the trees seemed straightforward.
Deng Shirong added, "The third method is especially useful for newly planted lychee trees like ours. Build a 30-50 cm high mound of soil around the base of each tree, shaped like a bread loaf. First, lay down a layer of rice straw or plant ash in the tree tray, then cover it with soil. This prevents freezing and retains moisture. It's the most reliable method."
Deng Yunqiang said, "This method is a bit more work, but if it protects the lychee trees, it's worth it."
"The last method," Deng Shirong explained, "is to mix weeds with turf mud and pile them in low-lying areas prone to frost. On nights when frost is expected, light incense in the windward areas. Set up multiple points to ensure the smoke spreads evenly. Control the ignition timing so the smoke covers the entire orchard before sunrise."
Deng Shirong concluded, "These are the four frost protection methods I know. If we use all of them, we should be able to protect our lychee trees from frost damage."
Deng Yunqiang nodded gratefully. "Uncle Jiu, you're so knowledgeable!"
Deng Changfu asked, "Uncle Jiu, when should we start?"
Deng Shirong replied, "After winter begins, you can start with the first three methods. For the last method, prepare in advance and implement it when the weather turns cold enough."
Deng Shirong had anticipated the extreme cold and had prepared these methods based on his past life's experiences and knowledge from farm experts.
With Uncle Jiu's guidance, Deng Yunqiang felt reassured. After discussing the details, he and his son returned home, feeling much more at ease.
Thanks to Deng Shirong's warning, more than half of Thatchfield Village chose to believe the proverb and halted their sweet potato planting. Only a small number of skeptics continued as planned, while others reduced their planting.
Deng Shirong didn't press the matter. Planting sweet potatoes wasn't costly—just labor-intensive. For rural families, time was the least of their concerns.
However, families with oxen took the proverb seriously. Oxen were among their most valuable assets, and the idea of them freezing to death was terrifying. Many planned to build sturdy sheds to protect their animals from the cold.
Deng Yunfeng, in particular, was deeply concerned. After hosting a celebration for his eldest grandson's first month, he began constructing a shed for his more than a dozen oxen. He was determined to ensure their survival through the winter.
Word of the proverb spread to neighboring villages, where more elders came forward to confirm its validity. This left many villagers uncertain about whether to believe it.
Some families with ample labor continued planting sweet potatoes, reasoning that even if the crops froze, the loss would be minimal. Others, already short on labor, decided not to plant at all, fearing a total loss.
While sweet potatoes were cheap and their loss manageable, the potential loss of oxen was a different matter. Families with oxen paid close attention to the proverb, determined to protect their most valuable assets.
The day after Guan Yongying heard the news, she rushed to her parents' home to share it.
Guan Dewei was shocked. Thanks to his daughter and son-in-law, his family had been among the first in Double Prosperity to plant Cinnamon Flavor lychees. This year, they had earned thousands of yuan, far exceeding their initial investment. They expected even higher yields next year.
But now, this ancient proverb had cast a shadow over their plans.
"Aying, what did Uncle Jiu say? Does he really believe this proverb?" Guan Dewei asked.
Guan Yongying replied, "Dad, Uncle Jiu said he doesn't know if the proverb is accurate, but he believes it's better to be safe than sorry. He thinks we should prepare for frost to protect our lychee trees. Otherwise, if the cold hits, the losses could be devastating."
Guan Dewei nodded. "Uncle Jiu makes a good point. But how do we protect the lychee trees from frost?"
Guan Yongying smiled. "Dad, don't worry. Uncle Jiu shared several methods. I'll explain them to you."
She then detailed the frost protection methods her husband had learned from Uncle Jiu. "I came here to prepare you, Dad. Brother Fu and I will come to help when the time comes."
Guan Dewei sighed in relief. "Uncle Jiu always has a solution."
Yongying's mother added, "If the weather Uncle Jiu warned about really happens this year, he'll be our family's savior!"
Guan Yongying agreed. "Mom, Uncle Jiu isn't just our family's savior. If this proverb comes true, he'll have saved countless families in our village and nearby areas from heavy losses. In ancient times, people would've given him a longevity plaque!"
After praising Uncle Jiu, Guan Dewei asked, "Aying, I heard Uncle Jiu opened the largest restaurant in the county. Is that true?"
Guan Yongying nodded. "Yes, it's true. Aunt Yunfeng from our village stayed at Uncle Jiu's place last month when her daughter-in-law gave birth in the county. She couldn't stop praising his restaurant, saying it's 20 to 30 times bigger than the Shuangwang State-Owned Restaurant. It's incredible."
Yongying's mother marveled, "Uncle Jiu is truly the most capable man in your village. Opening such a large restaurant in the county must have cost a fortune!"
Guan Dewei added, "It costs a lot, but it earns even more. Uncle Jiu made over 6,000 yuan from his orchard this year. The tile factory he runs with Deng Yungui is also doing well. They must be making tens of thousands of yuan a year. With such a big restaurant, I can't even imagine how much he's earning now."
Guan Yongying smiled. "Dad, it's normal for someone as capable as Uncle Jiu to earn a lot. We're following in his footsteps. Our orchard has already made us a high-income family in the village."
Guan Dewei couldn't help but smile. This year, their lychee orchard had brought in over a thousand yuan, and their other side businesses had added to their income. Their family had become the envy of Deepwater Village, with many villagers now reclaiming land to plant lychee trees, hoping to replicate their success.
Happiness comes from comparison. While the rest of the village struggled, Guan Dewei's family could afford to eat meat regularly, a luxury they hadn't enjoyed in years.
And all of this was thanks to Uncle Jiu.
Guan Dewei and his wife deeply respected Uncle Jiu for his guidance and support.
After discussing business, Guan Yongying chatted with her parents about her twin sons. The two toddlers, now over a year old, were lively and had learned to call their grandparents, bringing joy to the household.
After lunch, Guan Yongying returned home.
Deng Shirong had been busy during his time at home. After attending the celebration for Deng Yunfeng's grandson, he arranged for the woman's family to visit his third sister's house. His eldest nephew, Bu Dashi, rushed back from the county town for the occasion.
As the matchmaker, Deng Shirong rode his bicycle to Peace Slope Village early in the morning.
By the time he arrived, many relatives had already gathered at Liu Aihong's house. The relatives who would accompany Liu Aihong to visit the man's house had been decided.
After exchanging greetings, Deng Shirong explained, "This visit is mostly a formality. The man has already bought a house in the county. Originally, the visit would've been there, but considering the inconvenience for you, we decided to do it in his hometown."
Liu's parents were pleasantly surprised. They had discussed this with the matchmaker earlier but hadn't expected the man to act so quickly.
Liu's mother asked, "Uncle Jiu, do you know how big the house is?"
Deng Shirong nodded. "It's in the south of the city, a bit remote. It has three brick-and-tile rooms, a toilet, and a yard for growing vegetables or raising chickens. It's a very good house."
Liu's parents were thrilled. A three-room brick house with a yard was impressive, even in the countryside, let alone in the county town.
Excited, Liu's mother said, "Uncle Jiu, wait a moment. I need to tell them something."
Deng Shirong smiled. The woman's family was there to assess the man's financial situation. Even if the matchmaker spoke highly of the man, the family needed to see the house for themselves.
After Liu's mother briefed her relatives, they set off for the man's house.
The visit went smoothly. The woman's relatives were treated to a feast, and each received a red envelope and a gift before leaving. Everyone left satisfied.
The next day, Deng Shirong returned to Bobai with his daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and nephew.
National Day was approaching, and Suifeng Restaurant was preparing for its busiest period since opening. Although Deng Shirong trusted his eldest son's management skills, he wanted to oversee the preparations for the bicycle parts factory's banquet.
If his son could successfully host this event, future banquets would be much easier to handle.
On the afternoon before National Day, four temporary kitchen helpers and twelve young waiters arrived at Suifeng Restaurant. They weren't there to work that day but to familiarize themselves with the staff and their roles for the following day's event.
(End of this chapter)