Rebirth of Bayi Fishing and Hunting in the Northwest

We had lunch at Lao Ma Hao. We didn't have fish stew today, but we made noodles, stir-fried lamb with spicy sauce, and fried leeks and Chinese cabbage. The red and green colors made us hungry just by looking at them.

Leeks and Chinese cabbage are all grown in the fields in the yard of the horse farm. The old horse farm was built by the production team, and although Uncle Luo was in charge of it, the land in the horse farm could not be moved when it was returned to the production team before the government made it prosperous.

After Li Long bought the old horse farm, he let Uncle Luo take care of it. Uncle Luo had wanted to grow a vegetable garden for a long time, so he turned one of the empty plots into a vegetable garden. He turned the land over, built a waist wall to enclose it, and hoeed it into small plots. He used the fermented fertilizer from the horse farm, and the vegetables he grew were very good - the leaves of the small Chinese cabbages were all dark green.

In addition, Li Long and his team dug a pressurized well here, making water very convenient. There is so much vegetables in the vegetable garden from spring to autumn that they can make sauces, dry vegetables, and pickle them.

When a few old men moved in, the vegetable field could be used more fully. These people, even Yang Laoliu who changed his job halfway, were good at growing vegetables. With plenty of fertilizer, the vegetable fields here were ranked first in the team.

The chili skin was dried last year and kept for a year. In the hot spring this year, it was dried again under the sun to prevent moisture and insects. The tomato sauce was made in a glass bottle used for intravenous drips and plugged with a soft rubber stopper. It can be stored for more than a year.

The mutton was air-dried after being slaughtered earlier. It was then cut into cubes and added with some green onions. The taste was absolutely amazing.

Latiaozi is a common dish in the whole northern Xinjiang, whether in cities or rural areas. The only difference is that the dishes used are different in different regions. For example, in Yili, the old brands usually put fried meat and minced meat, cabbage and sprouts; the more particular ones will also add vinegar sauce.

In Beiting, green leafy vegetables such as leeks and celery are fried in boiling water, chopped up, and mixed with la tiaozi. The rolled spicy noodles are a bit similar to the vinegar sauce in Yili, but the seasoning is mainly tomato sauce. That is, stir-fry mutton, add tomato sauce and soaked and chopped spicy noodles, stir-fry until cooked, and mix with rice.

So when eating la tiaozi here, three or four kinds of vegetables are added, such as leeks, celery, and Chinese cabbage. In summer, chili peppers may be boiled in water and cut into the leeks. In summer, eggplant, chili peppers, and tomatoes are fried together as the main dish of la tiaozi, which is also very delicious.

The noodles are very thin. Winter wheat is grown here. It is sown in October of the previous year and harvested in July of the following year. The growing period is as long as nine months. In addition, the sunshine time is long, so the noodles made from the flour are very chewy. So much so that forty years later, they became popular all over the country.

Eating Latiaozi is different from eating other meals. Once the noodles are taken out of the pot, each person takes a turn to eat. There is no need to wait - if you wait, the noodles will clump together and it will not taste good.

At this time, both Professor Luo and several college students were no longer so particular. Each of them held an enamel bowl, sat or squatted, mixed the dishes, and started to eat with big mouthfuls - except for Zhu Yuechan who was not used to this way of eating. Even He Lijuan ate in a very heroic manner.

Well, this is how you eat la tiaozi!

In order to avoid not having enough food, each side dish is served in an enamel bowl. It seems that Uncle Luo and his team already know the students' appetite and have done a good job of preparation.

After finishing the noodles, Li Long got himself half a bowl of soup, blew on it and shook it, then drank it in small sips, feeling refreshed.

After dinner, Professor Luo called Li Long to the beet field outside and pointed at the beet seedlings and said:

"You have watered your beets twice. Before the second watering, I led my students to put some mixed fertilizer in. Of course, it was just a small piece as an experimental comparison. We mixed these fertilizers with compound fertilizers currently on the market. From the current situation, it seems to be having some effect."

Li Long looked at Professor Luo pointing at the small plot of beetroot that had been fertilized. The seedlings here were indeed stronger than those in other plots. It was not only a problem with the seedlings, but also because there was less salt and alkali crystallization on the surface of the land.

It seems that Professor Luo's experiment has made considerable progress.

"Really good!" he exclaimed. "It's only been less than half a month and we've already seen initial results. That's great."

"But it's still a little different from what we expected. I've been further adjusting the fertilizer ratio these two days. I plan to apply fertilizer before the third watering to see the specific situation. If the situation is better, then this stage of the experiment will be over."

"So does that mean this project is completed?" Li Long asked.

"How can it be that simple? This is not a chemical balance formula that can simply neutralize the elements in the soil. It depends on which type of soil is suitable for the crops you grow. Generally speaking, we still need to go to other places for experimental testing to see the distribution of saline-alkali land in major regions across Xinjiang, the soil characteristics of each region, and so on. This is a very long experimental research process, and I may spend the rest of my life on this."

It’s not that simple after all.

Li Long admires the persistence and professionalism of these scientific researchers very much.

"What do you need me to do? I'll go to the agricultural supply store and get some fertilizer. What kinds do you need?"

Professor Luo originally wanted to experiment on a small plot of land, but since it has achieved initial results, he thought he could try it on the entire plot of land, so when Li Long asked him this, he said:

"Then bring urea, diammonium phosphate..." He said some names of fertilizers and asked Li Long to bring a few bags of each.

This was not a problem for Li Long, so he drove his jeep to the county. Gu Boyuan had already gone to work at the purchasing station, and Li Long drove his jeep here to get some fertilizers from the warehouse that had been transferred there.

Gu Boyuan has all the fertilizers that Professor Luo mentioned.

The atmosphere at the purchasing station is obviously better than that at the market. People are talking and laughing, and there is no sense of tension or hostility at all. It is obvious that the people who come here to sell things still trust Lao Gu.

There are middlemen who come here frequently and know Li Long. When they are queuing behind him, they will chat with Li Long and help him carry the fertilizers.

After pulling seven or eight bags of fertilizer back to the Lao Ma, the college students came to help unload the fertilizer. After finishing these things, Professor Luo let Li Long go back - according to him, there was no point for Li Long to stay here, these students could do any work, and it was a good opportunity to exercise the students' life skills.

Li Long drove the jeep to Li Jianguo's home.

It is not the busy farming season now, and apart from weeding, fertilizing and watering the fields, there is basically no major work to do.

There were quite a few people in Li Jianguo's yard.

When Li Long came over, these people also took the initiative to greet him. Li Long was chatting with his father and master about family matters in a low voice. He listened to what those people said and realized that these people came to ask about the melon planting.

Many people in the team really didn't listen to the advice and bought seeds to plant melons. Planting melons is quite skillful, and the management is different at each stage.

These people couldn't be persuaded, so they just planted. There was no grudge between them, they were all members of the team, they came to ask for technical advice, and Li Jianguo naturally had no reason to kick them out, he would still say what he should say, after all, the crops had already been planted.

Naturally, someone would come to ask Li Long - after all, everyone in the team knew about the melon planting business. It was Li Long who first initiated it, and he went to the Bayi Agricultural College to consult a specialized professor on how to plant melons. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to harvest so much.

Farmers also have information channels among themselves. After the Li family started planting, other people found out how many melons could be planted - after all, the Corps had planted them here before.

The Li family has a relatively high harvest, so they must have a unique technique. Now that many people in the village are growing crops, naturally some people come to ask for advice.

Rural people have a very serious herd mentality. If someone makes money by planting something in the first year, there will definitely be a large number of people planting it later. This is the case now, and it will still be the case 20 or 30 years later; at that time, cotton prices would occasionally rise in a year, and those who planted cotton made money that year, so the land contract fee would definitely increase in the second year - but the cotton price would definitely fall that year.

This kind of thing has happened several times, but people just don’t learn from their mistakes and are very addicted to gambling.

There is no other way. Planting other crops will obviously lose money, so I just plant this. The government provides subsidies, and I think I can earn some subsidies. If it is my own land, I don’t have to pay the contract fee, and in the end I can only earn enough money for one acre of land.

At this time, Li Long would also talk about what he knew, the key points being what medicine to use to kill the insects, what kind of fertilizer to add at what stage of the melon's growth, etc.

No one would like to hear you say that growing melons is not worth the money at this time. It would be better to tell them how to increase production.

After chatting for a while, Li Long drove the jeep back. Although there was nothing major going on in the county, there were still a lot of miscellaneous matters.

Gu Boyuan was in charge of the purchasing station, so Li Long didn't need to worry too much. However, Gu Boyuan would tell Li Long how much he had collected that day during dinner every day, and asked him to take some time to bring some of them over, mainly Fritillaria and medicinal herbs, and wash them in the yard, so that they could be sold the next time Jia Tianlong came.

Both Li Long and Gu Boyuan knew that it was best not to hold back the goods received by the purchasing station, and it was normal to recover the funds in a timely manner. If there were too many goods, one of them would become stale over time, and not all goods would get better with age like wine.

Jia Tianlong is also waiting for the funds to be recovered after the freight is shipped, and he has other things to do.

So after returning to the compound, Li Long washed the Fritillaria brought back from the purchasing station as usual, checked those that were drying in the sun, and put away the dry ones.

He was working here, and Mingming Haohao was not in a hurry beside him, so Sister Yang had time to prepare dinner. There was a knock on the door, and Li Long answered and let him in. The small door beside the main door was pushed open, and Li Long turned his head to see that it was Zhou Yuan.

"Section Chief Zhou, why are you here? What's up?" Li Long stood up and shook the water off his hands. "Sit down first. I'll pour you some water."

Zhou Yuan came over pushing his bicycle. He propped up the bicycle and said with a smile, "I came here for something. It's a great thing. I really need to drink a sip of your water."

Before Li Long went over to pour water, Sister Yang came out with a bowl of tea. She handed it to Zhou Yuan with a smile, thanked him for his hard work, and then went in.

Zhou Yuan took the tea and took a sip, then looked at Mingming Haohao and asked:

"Are these your two sons? They look so energetic and strong! They are not afraid of people..."

Although the two children seldom go out of the yard, there are often people and cars coming and going in the yard. They are not afraid and just blink their big round eyes and look at Zhou Yuan.

"You can even stand like this, how old are you?"

"Less than a year old...almost a year old." Li Long said, "Not bad, pretty obedient."

After Zhou Yuan praised Li Long's son, he started talking about business.

"The county has notified us that Director Li has been recognized as an advanced individual in ethnic unity in the county. Our supply and marketing cooperative is an advanced unit in ethnic unity in the county and also in the state. As for you, you are an advanced individual in ethnic unity in the state. The director asked me to come and inform you that he and you will go to the state to attend a meeting in two days, and asked you to go there tomorrow morning to discuss this matter."

Having already been awarded as an advanced individual for ethnic unity in the autonomous region, Li Long is not particularly interested in the one at the state level.

But he opened a purchasing station, and with the current living standard, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is "making a fortune every day". At this time, it is good to have more hats to keep out the wind and rain.

So after listening to Zhou Yuan's words, Li Long smiled and said:

"Thank you, Chief Zhou. This is really great...Would you like to stay for a couple of drinks?"

"No, no, no, forget about drinking. Let's wait until we have time. After receiving the award, our director will definitely celebrate. Then we can drink together."

Zhou Yuan did not stay at Li's house. He left after finishing his business. After he left, Sister Yang came over to collect the bowls and said to Li Long with a smile:
"Uncle, this is great. We have been commended by the state again. This is great!"

"Well, that's a good thing." Li Long smiled.

Being famous is not necessarily a good thing, but judging from what happened last time, I really need some fame and protection.

In the afternoon, Gu Xiaoxia and Gu Boyuan came back from get off work one after another. As soon as Gu Xiaoxia came back, she smiled and said to Li Long:

"You are going to be commended by the state this time, and the documents have been sent to our bureau. Director Wang even came to me and asked me to congratulate you on his behalf."

"Commendation by the state?" Gu Boyuan knew that Li Long had been commended by the autonomous region, and now by the state. He thought about it and understood, "National unity? That's a good thing! With this, people with ulterior motives who want to take advantage of our purchasing station will have to think carefully. The state's ethnic and religious affairs committee still has some role to play."

"Yes." Li Long nodded. "That's a good thing. I'm going to the company tomorrow. Director Li asked me to discuss how to attend the commendation meeting."

"You're pretty busy this month," Gu Boyuan thought for a moment and said, "Boss Jia will be here soon, right? And the mountains... now is the peak season for Fritillaria, don't we have to go there as well?"

"Well, I just need to arrange these things before I leave. Besides, I'll only be gone for a day at most, so it shouldn't be a big problem."

He didn't need to attend the county's commendation meeting, he only needed to attend the state meeting. The two places were more than 100 kilometers apart and could be done in one day.

After breakfast the next day, Li Long rode his bicycle to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Li Xiangqian had just finished a meeting with everyone and was reading the newspapers delivered today in his office.

When Li Long arrived at the door of his office, the phone just rang.

Li Xiangqian saw Li Long. He picked up the phone with one hand and pointed at the sofa with the other, motioning Li Long to sit down.

"Hello, I'm Li Xiangqian."

"Old Li, you're really capable... You just made it to the newspaper, and now you're going to be commended by the state. This new official becomes famous right after taking office without any preparation." The voice on the other end was very loud, and Li Long could hear the sourness in the other person's tone.

"Hey, Xiao Ye." Hearing that it was not the leader, Li Xiangqian relaxed and said with a smile, "What's the matter? Are you jealous? Let me tell you, this is just a small display of my skills. It's nothing. The leader values ​​us..."

"I told you you're fat and you're still panting! Everyone knows you have a good subordinate. Old Wei told me. If you keep showing off, Old Wei said he wants to poach you."

"If Old Wei doesn't do this, then Little Li on our side won't go there either." Li Xiangqian smiled at Li Long, pointed at the kettle and asked him to pour the water himself, and continued, "How is it over there? No one is going to receive the commendation?"

"My place is just an advanced unit in the county, not comparable to yours in the state. Well, it's just right that we can get together sometime and learn from you. I'm telling you, I've been in office for three years, and I haven't received any commendations from the state, not to mention from the state, not even from our state cooperative. Your place is advanced every year, you have to tell me about it anyway..."

"No problem." Li Xiangqian said proudly, "When the time comes, you can treat us. It has to be at least Fenjiu-level. I'll tell you what's going on."

"That's no problem. I can get you at least six of the eight famous wines, as long as you want to drink..."

After chatting for a while and hanging up the phone, Li Xiangqian just said to Li Long, "There will be a commendation meeting next Monday. If your jeep is free, drive over there and I'll take a ride..."

Before he could finish his words, the phone rang again.

Li Long smiled and said nothing more.

Even if Li Xiangqian hadn't mentioned it, he would have driven the jeep over there. He couldn't let Li Xiangqian take a truck or buy a long-distance bus ticket, right?
The person who called this time was Director Wei, who had been transferred to Beiting. He also came to congratulate Li Xiangqian on receiving the commendation on behalf of the unit, and also to invite him to dinner.

Director Wei meant that since they were going to Beiting, he, as the landlord, must do his best to serve them. He even mentioned on the phone that he should bring Li Long along.

Li Longxin thought that there was no need for him to join in the fun, right?
But since Director Wei said so, he would definitely go.

"It was Ye Jialiang, the director of the supply and marketing cooperative in Fukang. We used to work together, but later separated." Li Xiangqian explained, "You also heard what Director Wei said just now, right? We will go together then. We must attend the old director's meeting."

Li Long knew that he had to give this face. Director Wei treated him well when he was in office, and asked him if he wanted to go to Beiting before he left, but Li Long refused.

The sentiment of burning incense is still there.

Li Long was thinking that since he was going to Beiting, he would definitely have to visit Director Qian, so he had to prepare some local specialties.

What are you preparing for?

PS: Thanks to book friend suma丶yanci for the reward of 20250418114338862 yuan, and he was promoted to the leader. Thanks to book friends heianniuge and shiwusiren for the reward. Thanks to book friends he is waiting for me in the galaxy, Wukong Babujie, 20250422231448760, 20250314084306751, 202504188473, 20200712185340233, 20250317151149154, 202504191025, and other book friends for the reward. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly ticket recommendations.

There will be a lottery on the evening of the 30th of this month. Please keep your monthly ticket number. Currently, the lottery is limited to the main site, and the numbers are drawn randomly. Please stay tuned. (End of this chapter)