Chapter 985: 675 cases of Interstitial Pneumonia_3

"Five years ago, we were told to plant pepper trees. They said they’d find experts and a market for us, but by the second year, no one was managing it anymore.

Three years ago, it was alfalfa. They claimed to have connections with feed companies, but after we planted it, we heard nothing more.

Last year was quiet, and everyone thought the disruptions were over. But then came this year.

Mayor Dong, after what happened the last two times, who would dare to blindly agree to anything new? If we did, we’d all starve to death," the village director said.

Dong Yuezhang was well aware of the matters the village director spoke of. He knew the villagers’ enthusiasm and trust had been worn thin.

But I’m different from the others, Dong Yuezhang thought. I genuinely want to do something to help everyone.

At this, the village director felt he might have spoken too bluntly to a Town Mayor, risking causing the leader to lose face. He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Mayor Dong, it’s going to be very difficult to mobilize everyone now. However, I do have someone in mind. If we can get him on board, it’s as good as convincing the whole village."

Dong Yuezhang’s eyes immediately lit up. "Tell me more," he urged.

The village director cleared his throat and said seriously, "There’s a man in our third brigade named Shi Kaimin. He’s contracted more than half of the third brigade’s land.

If we can get him to agree, the town won’t even need to find anyone else; the land he’s cultivating now is enough."

Dong Yuezhang was overjoyed but suppressed his excitement. "How old is this Shi Kaimin? Does he farm full-time? And is he home now?" he asked.

"Shi Kaimin is fifty-nine this year. He’s spent his whole life farming here and has never worked elsewhere." The village director was very familiar with Shi Kaimin’s situation and readily continued, "A few years ago, when many villagers left to find work, a lot of land became fallow, and Shi Kaimin took it all over.

At first, he only cultivated the land that cost nothing, but starting the year before last, he also began renting land from others—a lot of it."

The village director paused, himself slightly perplexed. A man nearly sixty, whether he enjoys farming or not, certainly wouldn’t have the stamina he once did. His choices are truly baffling, he mused.

Though excited, Dong Yuezhang remained rational. Instead of rushing off to find the man, he curbed his enthusiasm and continued, "So, with all that rented land, what does he plant?"

"Lilies. It’s all lilies. For the past two years, he’s planted lilies on all the land he acquired. It must be around 6.5 to 8.2 acres in total."

As soon as the village director finished, Du Heng’s burgeoning excitement vanished.

Lilies are a three-year cash crop, Du Heng thought. They can’t possibly ask him to dig up plants that are almost ready for harvest and switch to astragalus, with its uncertain future, can they?

Noticing Dong Yuezhang’s concern, the village director quickly explained, "I recommended him to you, Mayor Dong, mainly because of his lilies. By the end of this year, about 3 to 5 acres of them will be ready to sell.

If he agrees, his 3 to 5 acres should be enough."

Three to five acres? Dong Yuezhang mused.

Dong Yuezhang glanced at Liao Quansheng beside him. When Liao Quansheng nodded, Dong Yuezhang understood and said to the village director, "Alright. Take us to see him. We’ll talk with this Shi Kaimin."

The village director, of course, wouldn’t refuse such a suggestion and promptly rose to lead everyone out.

When they found Shi Kaimin, he was digging up potatoes with his family.

While Dong Yuezhang went to discuss matters with Shi Kaimin, Du Heng seized the opportunity to slip out of the crowd. Seeing the fist-sized potatoes scattered over the ground, he was instantly overcome with a craving for baked potatoes.

He especially recalled baking potatoes as a child using a makeshift stove built from stones—heating the stones red-hot and then burying them with the potatoes. The memory alone made his mouth water.

For an instant, he almost thought he could smell the fragrance of roasting potatoes wafting through the air.

Du Heng took a deep breath, trying to catch that rich, smoky aroma again, but all he smelled was the damp earth.

Sighing in disappointment, Du Heng noticed two children playing nearby. He slowly walked over and joined them.

COUGH, COUGH. COUGH, COUGH.

Not far behind the children, a woman about Du Heng’s age was coughing incessantly. The sound drew Du Heng’s attention, making it hard for him to focus on playing with them.

COUGH, COUGH... PTOO! COUGH... COUGH...

How awful, Du Heng thought.

Listening to her struggle to cough, the sound so strained and continuous that she seemed unable to clear her throat, Du Heng felt his own throat tighten uncomfortably.

Du Heng glanced at the coughing woman again. She kept her head down, focused on digging potatoes, so he couldn’t see her face. Not knowing if she was Shi Kaimin’s daughter or daughter-in-law, Du Heng didn’t approach, instead continuing to play quietly with the two children and their potatoes.

COUGH, COUGH... COUGH... PTOO! 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

This is unbearable, Du Heng thought, feeling genuinely distressed.

Every time the woman behind him coughed or spat, Du Heng felt his own throat churn in sympathy.

Du Heng quietly asked the children, "Where is your Mother?"

The slightly older child pointed to the coughing woman. "That’s my Mother."