"What's good about this or that," Shen Su smiled, "I'm thinking about it a lot, but I have to say no."
Chen Lin was so embarrassed that he had to say: "In that case, I won't bother you."
"That's it. I hate to see you people pretending to be pretentious." Li Yao'er said, "I have a common meal here, and there is nothing delicious. After dinner, I have something to discuss with you."
Immediately, I asked the waiter in the factory to serve lunch. The food in the factory is very simple, a big pot of rice and a big pot of food. Local produce is also used. Although the Chen family is a large family, they also pay attention to thrift in housekeeping and are not particular about food.
Meals are served per person, no more, no less. During the meal break, Li Yaoer asked some more about local customs and production conditions. Chen Lin didn't have to hide anything, he just said it one by one. Li Yaoer is most concerned about expanding the area of mulberry weaving.
“Do you know Sankey Fish Pond?”
Chen Lin looked confused. It turns out that the mulberry fish pond model, one of the pioneers of the Pearl River Delta's characteristic agriculture and circular economy, has not yet appeared locally.
The so-called mulberry-based fish pond means planting mulberry trees on the cofferdam of the fish pond, using mulberry leaves to raise silkworms, using silkworm pellets, silkworm pupae, etc. as fish bait, and using pond mud as mulberry tree fertilizer to form a pond bank to plant mulberries and raise mulberry leaves to raise silkworms. , the production structure or production chain of feeding silkworm chrysalis to fish, pond mud and fertilizer mulberry, the two make use of each other and promote each other to achieve the effect of taking advantage of both fish and silkworms.
This model first emerged in the sericulture areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The formation of the Huzhou mulberry fish pond system that can be traced back to later generations originated in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. "Shen's Farm Book" written in the last years of Chongzhen records: "The pond is stocked with fish, and the fertile soil can be grown on the bamboo field. The rest can be used for mulberry trees and fish. At the end of the year, rice can be exchanged, and five or six sheep can be stored, which is the basis of mulberry trees." , can achieve the economic benefits of "both benefits, ten times the harvest".
In addition to obtaining mulberry leaves to raise silkworms, after the end of spring silkworms, mulberry leaves were also used to raise sheep in the Jiangnan area. The benefits are greater.
But in Guangdong, this model is much rarer. The "information officers" sent by the Agricultural Committee to various parts of the Pearl River Delta disappointed them with the news. The Pearl River Delta was not a region where the sericulture industry was very developed as they thought.
The sericulture industry in the Pearl River Delta experienced its first major development with the opening of Macao and the export of large amounts of raw silk. At that time, due to the sales of raw silk, large-scale sericulture industries appeared in Jiujiang in Nanhai County, Longshan and Longjiang in Shunde County, and Gulao in Xinhui County. It was also at this time that mulberry planting at the base of ponds began to appear in these areas - the most famous of which are Sang Yuan Wai and Gu Lao Wai.
However, looking at the entire Pearl River Delta, the overall sericulture industry is not large. After consulting the Grand Library, they learned that the sericulture industry in the Pearl River Delta began its second large-scale development during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty as the total foreign trade volume increased significantly.
The scale of raw silk and satin trade in the late Ming Dynasty was still small compared to the Qing Dynasty. Britain, the largest trading partner, had not yet come to China. In fact, the only countries that started trading with China were Spain, the Netherlands and Japan. It happened that the late Ming Dynasty was the time when Fujian's foreign trade ports were most prosperous. Foreign merchants in Fujian are obviously more inclined to import goods directly from Jiangnan.
Although the raw silk trade of the Senate is now much larger than in history, due to Zhao Yingong's operation in Hangzhou, the production and output of silk in Jiangnan have increased significantly compared with the original level. The raw silk in the south of the Yangtze River was not only sufficient to meet the demand for trade with Japan, but also generally met the needs of the Portuguese and Dutch.
As a result, raw silk production in the Pearl River Delta region was further suppressed. Naturally, the sericulture farmers in Xiangshan County, who were already sluggish, had no interest in introducing any new production model.
In other words, Li Yaoer's efforts to improve sericulture in Guangdong may not necessarily yield much actual benefits. In particular, the further increase in raw silk income may only cause the export price of raw silk to fall further.
There is still debate among all parties at a joint meeting held by the Planning Institute on whether it is necessary to carry out sericulture improvement and establish a new silk weaving industry in Guangdong. The final conclusion is that relevant improvements will continue - after all, upgrading the sericulture industry must be done, and doing so in Jiangnan will cause too much inconvenience.
Therefore, Chen Lin's reaction did not surprise her.
“Are there many people raising fish locally?”
"It's quite a lot." Xiangshan has a low-lying terrain and crisscrossed rivers. It has convenient conditions for fish farming. There are quite a few fish ponds in the county.
"Have you never thought of planting mulberry trees on the pond ridge?"
This question puzzled Chen Lin. There were no mulberry gardens in the village, so why should they be planted on the pond ridge? Besides, what’s the use of planting so many mulberry trees?
"The mulberry leaves in the local mulberry garden are enough. If occasionally there is not enough, just buy some from other villages." Chen Lin said, "Otherwise, just plant more..."
In Guangdong at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the contradiction between man and land was far less prominent than in the Qing Dynasty, and the use and refined management of land were not yet involved to the extent that they were later.
According to the fashionable theory, the mulberry fish pond system itself is also a manifestation of agricultural involution.
Li Yao'er said to Shen Su: "Come and talk to Mr. Lin about the benefits of this mulberry fish pond. This is also a test of whether your knowledge is solid."
"I understand." Shen Su responded with a smile.
She looked at Chen Lin and then lowered her gaze. Although it was the first time they met today, she had a good impression of Chen Lin in this short contact.
Although this young man is from a wealthy family, his attitude is humble and polite, his behavior and speech are calm and elegant, and he is neither humble nor arrogant. Compared with Chen Xuan, who only smiles flatteringly when he sees them, but looks fierce when he sees the villagers, he is much more pleasing to the eye.
Shen Su said: "Mr. Chen, this mulberry fish pond looks like this..."
In the entire mulberry-based fish pond system, mulberry leaves are harvested to feed silkworms, and the silkworm excrement silkworm excrement and silkworm pupae left after reeling are used as fish feed; after the fish are raised from the pond, the thick silt at the bottom of the pond is excavated. It is used as fertilizer for mulberry trees on the surrounding pond base. Since the pond base has a certain slope, the excess nutrients in the soil of the mulberry field flow into the fish pond as the rain washes away. The excess nutrients and waste generated during the cycle are recycled within the system over and over again, without causing pollution to the ecological environment outside the system, and also saving the cost of planting and breeding.
A farmer can coordinate and arrange agricultural activities according to seasonal changes. Generally, mulberry trees are managed and fish fry are stocked in the first and second months of the year; mulberry trees are fertilized in March and April; silkworms are raised in May and sold in June, and the silkworm pupae are used to feed fish; July and August During the month, the fish pond is desilted and the pond foundation is reinforced with pond mud; in the last few months, weeding and feeding of fish are carried out.
"...If you have spare time, you can also pick mulberry leaves and raise sheep, which will bring you more income. Do you think this is a viable business?"
Chen Lin pondered her words carefully and wondered who came up with this idea! It's absolutely amazing. He mused: "The method is excellent, but now, people who raise silkworms can only raise fish, and they no longer have enough time to cultivate land."
"After selling fish and cocoons, are you still worried about not having enough money to buy food?" Shen Su said, "In our hometown, just raising silkworms makes the whole family worry about food and clothing..."
"Next, we will promote mulberry fish ponds in Nansha." Li Yaoer continued, "This requires more of your efforts."
"This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. You should do your part as a villain." Chen Lin thought about it. Although it was a good thing, no one would be willing to do it at the beginning - it was the same when his father promoted silkworm breeding. . You have to find one family to set an example. Only when people see that there are real benefits will they follow suit.
He expressed his thoughts, and Li and Shen looked at each other and smiled. Li Yaoer said:
"You're right! Since ancient times, the promotion of new crops and new technologies has to go through a process. The people must really see the benefits. Besides, whether the new crops and new technologies are suitable for the local area, you have to try them first. . Otherwise, if the promotion fails, it will cause great harm to a large area."
"The chief is far-sighted."
"You learned how to flatter someone so quickly." Shen Su said with a smile.
"No, no, I mean this from the bottom of my heart." Chen Lin's face turned red again. He had never come into contact with "Australian women" like Li Yao'er and Shen Su in the past, and he was not used to their unabashed way of speaking.
"Oh, I'm so thin-skinned..."
Li Yaoer was not interested in listening to the students' jokes and interrupted: "Think about it, who in the village is the most suitable to be this model household?"
Chen Lin pondered for a moment, thinking that first of all, this family must not be rich, as a wealthy person has no motivation to change; secondly, it must have a fish pond; thirdly, it is best for the family to raise silkworms at home...
After much thought, I came up with a suitable candidate.
"Chen Ji's family is the most suitable."
Li Yao'er signaled, and Shen Su immediately took out a leather-bound notebook from his bag and opened it. After searching for a while, he handed the notebook to the teacher.
Li Yao'er looked at it and nodded with satisfaction. Chen Lin was a little confused and didn't know what they were looking at.
"Why do you think his family is suitable?" Li Yaoer closed the book and asked.
Chen Lin replied: "His family has many children and little land, and life is very tight. He has a fish pond and also raises silkworms. He is an expert at raising fish and silkworms. As long as you give him some benefits, he will naturally agree."
"Then what benefits must be given to him before he can agree?"
"As long as he is allowed to have enough food for his whole family, no matter what the results of the experiment are."
"It makes sense. But there are a few of them. We need to find at least three or four more."
Chen Lin searched his guts and thought about several families. Li Yaoer asked Shen Su to write down all these families.
"We will go to these people's homes in the afternoon. Check out the situation - you should come too."
"Yes, I will definitely accompany you."
Li Yao'er's eyes stayed on him for a moment, and suddenly asked: "I heard that you have a younger sister?"
"Yes, my sister-in-law Chen Yue." Chen Lin thought to himself that the chief's question was really unreasonable!
"Is she your biological sister?"
"She was originally the daughter of my second uncle. Later, the clan decided to adopt her as a daughter to her late father."
"Your second uncle has nothing at his knees. Why did he adopt his only daughter to your father?" Li Yaoer has always been interested in this question. Because Chen Xuan has talked about this in the past, always gnashing his teeth, saying that it was Chen Lin's father and others who persecuted him and wanted to make him a loner.
