Chapter 10 — The Farming Diary of Thien Kim Trillion

13

I used to think growing strawberries was simple. Plug the tree into the ground, water and fertilize and you're done. But reality is much more difficult than I thought. First is the raging red spider. Next is gray mold, and the constant rain causes the fruit to rot faster than my wallet runs out. Every day we go inside the greenhouse to check for diseases, picking up every damaged fruit. He calls it “strawberry ICU daily diagnostics.” Then the leaves begin to turn yellow. Tham Van Vu held the test results table and frowned: "Magnesium deficiency, calcium deficiency, do you need to supplement calcium if you want to grow taller?" Finally, there are the birds of the sky, the fruit just turned red but has been pecked to pieces. We were forced to put up anti-bird nets.

14

Two months later, the first batch of strawberries bloomed. The small, white flowers are extremely adorable. Tham Van Du and I squatted in front of the flower bed, as if we were looking at our children.

“Pollination requires bees,” I said, “but there are no bees here.”

“Artificial pollination.” Tham Van Du gave me a small brush, "It's light, like this."

He modeled, using the tip of the brush to gently touch the pistil, his movements were very gentle. I imitated, my hands and feet clumsy.

“Slow down,” he grabbed my wrist, “yes, like that.”

His hands were so warm, my heart was pounding.

“Tham Van Du.”

“Hmm?”

“Is your topic data enough?”

“Almost enough.”

“So why haven't you left yet?”

He was silent for a moment, let go of my hand, and continued to pollinate the next flower.

“The strawberries haven't been eaten yet.” he said.

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On harvest day, my whole family and half the village came. The strawberry variety "Snow White Princess" is alternating red and white, looks like a gem, is big and round and succulent. I picked the biggest fruit, wiped it clean and gave it to Tham Van Du: "Try it." He took it, but didn't eat it, but gave it back to me: "The first fruit, you should eat it." Next to me, my mother teased: "Hey, why divide it? Let's each take half!" I blushed, grabbed the strawberry and stuffed it into my mouth. Then it was so sour that my face wrinkled!

“Why is this so sour?!” I was almost in tears.

"You picked the unripe fruit. That one," he pointed to the side, "is the ripe one."

Me: “…” No wonder you don't eat!!! In the end, we collected dozens of baskets full of strawberries. My father laughed so much that he couldn't see his eyes. My great-grandfather slapped the table and decided: "Let's make a strawberry festival! Use the strawberries grown by little Nguyet! Let the people of the city come up and see the 'Snow White Princess' strawberries of our Khao Son village!" On the day of the festival, there were as many people as ants. I wore the new dress my mother bought, and Tham Van Du stood behind the exhibition counter. Ms. Tu Quyen also came, tasted one fruit and was silent, then secretly stuffed two more fruits into her pocket. Tham Van Du saw that, smiled and gave her a box: "Miss, bring it home for the whole family to eat." Ms. Tu Quyen's face turned red and she said awkwardly: "... Planting, planting is fine." Ha! This is considered the highest compliment! In the evening, the crowd dispersed. Tham Van Du and I sat on the edge of the field, looking at the greenhouses one after another under the sunset.

“What do you want to grow next?” he asked.

“Watermelon? Or try growing blueberries?” I was excited, "Turn Khao Son village into a high-end fruit growing area!"

“Okay.” He nodded, "I invest."

“Who needs you to invest!” I glared.

“Not an investment for you,”

He looked at me, his eyes shining with the warm sunset light.

"I invested in Khao Son village. Lam Tri Nguyet, honey Have you forgotten, now you are also a villager, responsible for building your homeland."

My heart skipped a beat.

16

Later, my city parents and Lam Diem went to Khao Son village for the summer. Oh no, now she changed her name, it's Tri Lam Diem Diem. Diem Diem has now completely adapted to the wealthy life. But I still like to squat in the vegetable garden and pluck onions. Mother Tri and Ms. Vuong Que Phan were passionately exchanging experiences about the irrigation system in the garden, chatting excitedly. Lam Bao Quoc and my father sat in the yard drinking together. Tham Van Du officially appeared at a family dinner as "future partner and son-in-law". I looked at him, at the house full of laughter, at the thousands of acres of fields outside the window. The fortune teller once said I was destined to be miserable. But now I feel, after suffering, there is more than just sweetness. But there is something else... that is the warmth and authenticity of a home! 【Other name: Moonlight illuminating Khao Son village】 (Full text)