Chapter 557 Agricultural Knowledge
Qi Tongwei saw unlimited potential in this child. He seemed to see the hope that these children would walk out of the mountains and become pillars of society in the future.
In a correspondence with Gao Yuliang (assuming that he could communicate), Qi Tongwei frankly recounted his life in the mountain village and his inner transformation. He wrote: "Teacher, I once lost myself on the wrong path, but now in this remote place, I have truly found the value of life. These children are like pure white paper, and I want to paint a beautiful future on them, instead of smearing my life picture with darkness like I used to. I know that the mistakes I made are unforgivable, but I hope to do something meaningful here with the rest of my life, so that these children will not repeat my mistakes and can move towards a broader world with knowledge." After receiving the letter, Gao Yuliang pondered for a long time. He saw the shadow of the ambitious student he once was. Although he felt mixed emotions, he was also a little relieved for Qi Tongwei's transformation.
Qi Tongwei continued to work hard in the mountain village. He not only paid attention to the children's studies, but also focused on cultivating their moral character and will. He took the children to repair the village paths, and taught them the importance of unity, cooperation and hard work during the labor. At night, he would still sit in front of the hut, looking at the stars and reflecting on his past, while also planning the future of the children. He was thinking about setting up a small scholarship fund to encourage the children to study hard; he also planned to invite some volunteer teachers from outside to bring more diversified knowledge to the children. He knew that his power was limited, but as long as he persisted, he would definitely bring more changes to this mountain village, and he would also be able to go further and further on the road of redemption, use practical actions to make up for his past mistakes, and make his second half of life full of hope and positive energy, becoming a real guide for the children's growth, and also one of the promoters of the prosperity of this mountain village.
As the seasons changed, Qi Tongwei welcomed his first harvest season in the mountain village. The children had made significant progress in their studies, and their yearning for the outside world became stronger. Qi Tongwei looked at the changes in the children and felt a sense of accomplishment. He organized a small knowledge contest, and the children actively participated, showing the knowledge and confidence they had learned during this period. Qi Tongwei presented the winning children with prizes he made with materials from the mountains. Those simple little objects carried his deep encouragement and expectations for the children.
He also used the slack time to cultivate a small experimental field with the children, taught them to grow some new crop varieties, and explained agricultural knowledge and scientific planting methods. He hoped that the children could not only get out of the mountains through learning, but also use knowledge to change the poverty of the mountain village when they are willing to return to their hometown in the future.
In that quiet green countryside, Qi Tongwei seemed to have found a place for his soul to rest. His life was simple yet fulfilling, and his happiness became pure and sincere.
The morning sun shone on the fields, and Qi Tongwei led the children to the newly reclaimed experimental field. He squatted down, gently grabbed a handful of soil, put it in front of the children, and began today's class: "Children, look at this soil, it is our farmers' treasure. Different crops like different soils. Just like this wheat, it likes loose and fertile soil, so that its roots can grow deep and grow strong." The children gathered around curiously, staring at the soil, as if exploring the mystery in it.
Qi Tongwei stood up, walked to a tree by the field, broke off a branch, and gestured on the ground: "Come, let's talk about planting trees first. Planting trees is not just about digging a hole and putting the sapling in. When choosing saplings, you should pick those with thick branches and well-developed root systems, just like when you look for friends to play with, don't you also like to find those with strong bodies?" The children were amused and nodded. "After planting, you still need to water, fertilize, and trim the branches and leaves regularly. For example, if this fruit tree is not pruned, the branches will grow randomly, and the fruits will be small and not delicious." As he said, he pointed to the grassland not far away, "Look at that grassland again, planting grass is to prevent soil erosion and to provide food for our cattle and sheep. There are many types of grass, some grow fast, and some are drought-resistant. We have to choose according to our climate and soil."
When talking about planting flowers, Qi Tongwei's eyes showed a touch of tenderness: "Children, planting flowers is like dressing the earth in beautiful clothes. These flowers are not only beautiful, but also attract bees and butterflies, which will help spread pollen and make the flowers produce seeds. Like this sunflower, it always turns towards the sun because it needs sunlight for photosynthesis, so that it can grow tall and produce big sunflower seeds."
Qi Tongwei explained in detail about planting crops such as wheat and adzuki beans: "Wheat is one of our staple foods. Before sowing, the land must be plowed and leveled, and fertilizer must be spread. When sowing, the spacing between seeds must be controlled. If they are too dense, they will compete for nutrients, and if they are too sparse, it will waste land. When the wheat seedlings grow out, we must also pay attention to weeding and pest control. The adzuki beans have high nutritional value and are relatively drought-resistant. However, when they bloom and bear fruit, they also need sufficient water and sunlight."
Qi Tongwei was not limited to the knowledge in the first and second grade textbooks. He knew that these rural children needed more practical and life-oriented knowledge. The agricultural knowledge he learned by himself came in handy here, and he taught it to the children in the most easy-to-understand way. For example, when explaining pest control, he did not talk about the professional names of pesticides and complex chemical compositions, but told the children: "Some insects like to eat our crops. We can plant some insect-resistant plants on the edge of the field, such as mint, whose smell can drive away pests; we can also put some ladybugs in the fields, which are good at eating pests."
The children listened with great interest, and their little heads were filled with all kinds of novel questions. A little boy raised his hand and asked in a baby voice: "Teacher Qi, why do some trees lose their leaves in winter, but some do not?" Qi Tongwei smiled and replied: "This is because different trees have different growth habits. Deciduous trees like poplars and willows lose their leaves in winter to reduce water evaporation and protect themselves from frostbite. Evergreen trees like pine and cypress have smaller leaves and a layer of wax on the surface, which can lock in moisture very well, so they do not lose their leaves in winter."