Song Wei’s pregnancy had stabilized, and Lin Zhen went to speak with the brigade leader about processing pine nuts.
The brigade leader was skeptical: “Pine nuts are everywhere, and they’re so hard to crack. Will anyone actually buy them?”
Even the locals only gathered and roasted them for occasional treats during the New Year. Pine trees were common everywhere, and the whole idea seemed unreliable to him.
Lin Zhen explained: “But the pine nuts here are larger and of better quality than those from other places. During the New Year, everyone wants to enjoy something special. With the economy growing, many city dwellers are willing to spend money on unique snacks. Pine nuts are more fragrant than sunflower seeds, and serving them during the holidays adds a touch of prestige.”
Hearing this, the brigade leader gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll discuss it with everyone. If they agree, we’ll go ahead with it!”
Since the pine nut project would be organized as a rural cooperative, everyone needed to be informed.
Like the brigade leader, many people were doubtful.
“Pine nuts are so small, and each pinecone yields so little. The cones are hung high up in the trees, and climbing is dangerous. How much would we need to sell per pound to make it worthwhile?”
Lin Zhen responded: “They’d definitely be two or three times more expensive than sunflower seeds. We can target wealthier cities like those in Zhejiang Province and Beijing. I can help with sales. It’s worth a try. If it works out, everyone in the village will have an additional source of income. Pine nuts could even become our local specialty. If it doesn’t work, we’ll only have wasted some labor. The pine nuts are free—we just need to be careful when climbing the trees to harvest them.”
After Lin Zhen shared his thoughts, the brigade leader added: “Lin Zhen makes a good point. He’s not doing this for personal profit but for the benefit of our community. He doesn’t need the money—he wants to help us improve our lives. Maybe we should be bold and give it a try!”
Someone in the crowd raised their hand: “brigade leader, I’m in! I trust Brother Lin Zhen. Even if we don’t make money, we’ll only lose some labor and still get plenty of pine nuts for free. It’s not a loss!”
“I agree too. The pinecones are right there for the taking, and we country folks have plenty of strength.”
More and more people joined in.
Afterward, Lin Zhen handed the lead role to the brigade leader. He didn’t plan to be directly involved in the production of pine nuts but offered to collaborate with the village through his company to sell the pine nuts in other regions.
Pinecone harvesting took place in autumn.
The pine trees in their mountainous area were old and tall. Some pinecones had fallen to the ground, but many remained hanging high up.
Harvesting pinecones was risky. It required climbing tall trees and carefully knocking the cones down.
Those standing below also faced danger—a falling pinecone from such a height would undoubtedly hurt if it hit someone.
The skilled tree climbers in the village tied ropes around their waists and carried bamboo poles. After climbing up and securing themselves to the tree trunk with ropes for safety, they used the poles to knock the pinecones down.
Those below covered their heads with baskets, listening to the loud thuds of the pinecones hitting the baskets. If one were to hit someone’s head directly, it would surely cause injury.
Song Wei had also come along, though she watched from a distance.
Lin Zhen didn’t let her go any closer.
Beside her stood two bear cubs, both taller than Lin Zhen even when standing upright. They wore cloth bags around their necks, filled with all kinds of snacks.
One of the bear cubs pulled a large apple out of its bag, munching on one itself and handing another to Song Wei.
Song Wei’s legs were getting sore from standing. The bear cub, understanding her discomfort, crouched down and patted one of its legs, gesturing for her to sit on it.
Song Wei patted the chubby bear affectionately.
“Let me know if your leg goes numb, alright?”
Then she sat on its leg, leaning back against the bear’s soft, furry body.
This outing wasn’t about doing anything productive—it was purely for relaxation.
Her three-month baby bump was already showing, and the whole family was being extra careful with her, especially since she was a bit older now.
By midday, everyone’s baskets were nearly full of pinecones.
There were no major accidents, though a few minor incidents occurred. Some people gathering pinecones below weren’t wearing their baskets properly and got hit by falling cones. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.
Everyone carried their full baskets back and sat on the ground to begin shelling the pine nuts.
They roasted pine nuts every year, and some were particularly skilled at it—they knew exactly how to control the heat to avoid burning them or leaving them undercooked.
They also knew how to crack the pine nuts open properly.
For several days in a row, the entire Ping’an Brigade was buzzing with activity.
When the final product was ready, the aroma of roasted pine nuts lingered over the Ping’an Brigade for a long time, making all the children drool with anticipation.
After ensuring Song Wei was settled, Lin Zhen left, carrying the hopes of everyone in the Ping’an Brigade as he took the pine nuts with him.
Before he left, Song Wei saw him off and placed his hand on her slightly rounded belly.
“Come back early, alright? If you only return by the time I give birth, I’ll give you a good beating.”
“Don’t worry.”
Lin Zhen leaned down and kissed her forehead, then left with the convoy.
This was Lin Zhen’s own transportation team—the largest private fleet in their area. Most of the employees were young people from the Ping’an Brigade, and they were a source of great pride for the community.
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