Hometown Prose: Plowing, Raking Grass and Busy Spring Plowing

Figure: Source network

The earth has just taken off its winter clothes, and the spring is chilly. The annual agricultural spring ploughing production is about to begin. At this time, the busiest people in the production team are those who plow and rake the fields. The paddy fields of six production teams in the village are connected together. At first glance, people in twos and threes are plowing and raking everywhere.

In the 1970s, every production team would arrange special personnel to plow and rake the fields. Our production team mainly includes Wang, Wang Weijin and Wang Erniang, who undertake the task of cultivating more than 200 mu of paddy fields. These rice fields were plowed by cows in early winter. After a winter of soaking and freezing, the land has become softer and more fertile. They should get up early, hurry up and plow the paddy fields that are about to be transplanted, so as to ensure that the transplanting will not be delayed.

Every morning, just before dawn. They have been holding the cow, carrying an iron plow on their shoulders, shouting the cow all the way to the head of the field and carefully putting down the plow on their shoulders. Take the cow to the paddy field, put a shuttle on it and put it around its neck. There is a hole at each end of the cattle shuttle, and a rope passes through the two holes. This tool is very important and heavy, because the strength of pulling cattle comes from here, so it should be firm and smooth.

When they were ready, they went down to a paddy field one by one, holding the plow handle in their left hand, raising the bullwhip in their right hand, lashing into the air and shouting "Hurry". The cow obediently carried the plow and walked forward step by step in the paddy field with deep steps. They also carried the plough handle and walked straight ahead. While shouting loudly, he raised his bullwhip and whipped it into the air from time to time, scaring the timid and honest cows not to be lazy, burying their heads behind the plow and mastering the essentials of plowing skillfully. The first plow is very important. The plow should be inserted at the junction of ripe soil and raw soil, not too deep. Ploughing too deep will turn up the raw (hard) soil, slow down the plowshare speed, and easily break the plowshare. You can't plow too shallow, you can't turn up the cooked soil completely, and you can't meet the requirements of deep tillage. When plowing, you should master the spacing, and the turned soil should be next to each other in rows, so as to be even.

Uncle Wang is an expert in farming, and the cattle he uses are the strongest in the production team. Although he works hard and plows quickly, he is usually stubborn and difficult to control. Once, it may be that it was tired from work and suddenly stopped farming. No matter how his uncle shouted, he just refused to take a step forward. Uncle Tang wanted to catch up and didn't let him rest. He raised his whip and slapped him hard, which may have hurt him. Angered, he raised his head, stared at his eyes and dragged the plow forward desperately. No matter how loudly Uncle Tang shouts, he just won't stop. Uncle had to hold the plow in the back, step forward and follow behind with one foot deep and one foot shallow, running and running. He accidentally fell into the paddy field and the plow turned over, but the cow didn't stop. Uncle's left hand still clung to the plow and refused to let go, being dragged by the cow. Just as the production team leader came to see the situation of plowing, he immediately ran as fast as he could, grabbed the cow rope from the front and led it by the nose. Cousin was panting, struggling to get up from the mud, looking at his face and body covered with mud, gnashing his teeth with anger and flying into a rage. Hurry home and change clothes, and then continue to plow. In this way, they plowed round after round, and finally each of them plowed a rice field. At this time, I will take the cows home for breakfast and feed them.

After breakfast, Uncle Tang and others rushed to the paddy fields plowed in the morning, holding the cows and carrying rakes. Then they skillfully put the cows on the shuttle and put them around their necks, and the raking began. I saw them bend down, erect handrails, press them hard with their hands and shout "Drive". The cow took a step, carrying a rake, and walked obediently in the rice field. Sometimes, their uncles think that the rake is too light. They will stand on the rake by themselves or put a big stone on the rake or ask a child to sit on the rake, so that the raked land will become broken and flat.

At that time, double-cropping rice was planted, and the farmland of the production team should be deeply cultivated in early spring, summer and winter every year. Although their plowing and harrowing is very important, compared with farming activities such as transplanting rice, cutting rice and threshing, plowing and harrowing is not only a technical activity, but also a physical activity. After plowing the ground all day, my back is sore and my back hurts. Really tired.