Chapter 742

After rice is submerged in water for a long time, because it can only perform anaerobic respiration for a long time, the roots will produce alcohol, causing root rot. After the rice roots rot, it naturally won't grow well, causing a reduction in production. When the rice matures, it may even lodge, and the yield will be even lower.

Precisely because of this, rice needs to be dried in the fields during the tillering stage so that it won't cause root rot, and it can also increase the oxygen content of the soil, improve the soil redox potential, inhibit ineffective tillering and the elongation of basal internodes, and promote sturdy stems and developed root systems, thereby adjusting the growth and appearance of rice seedlings and achieving the purpose of enhancing lodging resistance and improving the seed setting rate and grain weight.

Peng Yuwen had farmed for a lifetime and knew the habits of rice better than anyone. Although he didn't understand the scientific principles, he knew that if rice was submerged for too long, it would rot at the roots.

Seeing that this year's rice was about to have a significant reduction in production, his heart ached!

Su Xinghui understood his mood very well. He said to Peng Yuwen, "Uncle Peng, don't worry. Isn't the weather sunny now? When the Changjiang water level drops a little more, we can organize drainage and field drying. It can still be remedied. The town government won't ignore everyone after they've suffered a disaster."

Peng Yuwen said, "I don't know which day the Changjiang water level will be able to drop."

Su Xinghui laughed, "Isn't it dropping every day? There's no more rain in the upper reaches of the Changjiang River. I've checked the weather forecast, and there won't be any rain for a while. I estimate that in another two or three days, we can open the sluice gates to release water, and then we can dry the fields."

Peng Yuwen knew that Su Xinghui was saying words to comfort him. He naturally didn't want to spoil Su Xinghui's fun, so he nodded and said, "That would be great. It seems this rice can still be saved."

Su Xinghui asked again, "Uncle Peng, how is the situation at your home? Is there any problem with the house?"

Peng Yuwen said, "My family is fine, but there are a few families in the village whose houses have been soaked by water, which is a bit dangerous."

Su Xinghui said, "Then take me to see."

Su Xinghui let Peng Yuwen get into his jeep and drove toward the village. Peng Yuwen took him to a bungalow. This bungalow was low and dilapidated. Peng Yuwen got out of the car, pushed the door open and walked into the house, and Su Xinghui and Liu Yongjun also followed in.

As soon as they entered the room, a pungent musty and foul smell hit their faces, and there were no lights on in the room, so the light was very dim. After a few seconds, Su Xinghui could see the situation in the room.

An old man was lying on the bed in the room, with a head of gray and messy hair. Su Xinghui could barely tell it was an old woman.

Peng Yuwen called out, "Old sister-in-law, it's sunny outside, why are you still closing the door? Take the quilts and things out to dry."

The old woman groaned and said, "Is that you, Yuwen? My rheumatism has flared up again, and my whole body hurts. I can't get up at all."

Su Xinghui looked around the room. There was still accumulated water in the low-lying areas of the room, and the walls were made of adobe bricks. After being soaked by water, they looked a bit shaky. One wall was even a bit crooked, and he didn't know who had propped it up with a few wooden sticks.

In such a living environment, how could there not be a musty and foul smell? And how could the old woman not have rheumatism?

Peng Yuwen helped the old woman off the bed, and Su Xinghui helped him help the old woman out of the house. Liu Yongjun helped take a few chairs out, and Su Xinghui helped Peng Yuwen help the old woman sit down outside the house.

Su Xinghui went back into the house, first found a few bamboo poles and took them out of the house, set up a frame, and then took the bedding from the old woman's bed out of the house and spread it on the frame to dry. When he held the bedding in his hands, he felt it was a bit damp, and he didn't know how the old woman had slept in such bedding.

Then, Su Xinghui sat down on a chair. In fact, it was already July, and in the middle reaches of the Changjiang River, a sunny day was quite hot. However, the old woman had rheumatism, so even on such a hot day, she was very afraid of the cold and needed to bask in the sun.

The old woman said weakly, "The quilt is dirty, comrade, don't trouble yourself."

Su Xinghui said without caring at all, "It's fine, Auntie."

Peng Yuwen said, "Old sister-in-law, this is the new Town Mayor Su in our town. The Peng Dazhi brothers were arrested by him. Town Mayor Su said he wanted to see families that were more seriously affected by the disaster, so I brought him to you first."

The old woman said with difficulty, "I've heard of Town Mayor Su for a long time. Town Mayor Su has done a great good deed for the common people in our village."

Su Xinghui said, "This is what I should do. Auntie, this house has become a dangerous house, right? Can you still live here?"

The old woman said, "There's no way. Anyway, I'm a lonely old woman with a body of old bones. If the house really collapses one day and smashes me to death, that would be fine, saving me from suffering."

Su Xinghui said, "That won't do. This house has been soaked by water, and the foot of the wall has been soaked soft, so it may collapse at any time. You can't live here anymore."

The old woman said, "If I don't live here, where can I go?"

Su Xinghui said, "Don't you have any children?"

The old woman couldn't speak, she just shook her head in pain.

Peng Yu'an said for her, "This old sister-in-law is my cousin-in-law. I originally had two cousins. Later, one year when they were playing in the water after school, they both drowned in the pond. Later, there were no more children. My cousin also passed away a few years ago. There was no labor force in the family all of a sudden, let alone renovating the house, they couldn't even farm the land."

Su Xinghui asked, "Then how does she live now?"

Peng Yuwen said, "She is a 'five-guarantee' household in the village. The village provides her with rice and oil, and she grows some vegetables at the door herself. We neighbors sometimes help her with some work, so she can get by. But no one helps her renovate this house. I wanted to help her, but I don't have the ability."

Su Xinghui said, "Doesn't the 'five-guarantee' household guarantee food, clothing, medical care, and housing? This house has become a dangerous house, the village should help repair it. And the old woman is so sick, why doesn't the village help her treat it?"

In fact, the 'five-guarantee' household also guarantees burial, but it was not appropriate to say this in front of the old woman, so Su Xinghui didn't mention it. However, logically speaking, the village should help the 'five-guarantee' old people treat their illnesses and should also provide housing that meets basic conditions. For those who cannot take care of themselves, someone should take care of them. The village obviously didn't do any of this.

Peng Yuwen shook his head and said, "Sigh, in our village, there are too many unfair things."

The old woman said, "Yuwen, don't say it. The country has already been good enough to me. I can't farm, the village gives me rice and oil, and sometimes gives me some meat. As long as I can get by, I'm a lonely old woman, living one day at a time. If I ask for so much, wouldn't that be too heartless?"