Wang Yupei: Planting Trees is Planting Trees (Essay)

Source: Zhongshan Daily

Column: Wen Peng

Poet He Sanpo said: 'If you are lonely, go plant a tree. If you love someone, go plant a tree. Only trees are quieter than us, more loyal than us, and longer-lasting.'

The poet's words were like electricity, touching my buried memories of planting trees.

When I planted trees, I wasn't lonely at all.

My first time planting a tree was in 1998 during Arbor Day in elementary school, third grade. According to the school's unified arrangement, all students in grades three and above, carrying shovels, walked two or three kilometers to Jimu Ridge to dig tree pits. From the mountain, each person's task was to dig a tree pit, the requirements were eight decimeters deep and eight decimeters wide. After finishing, we returned home. After digging, it was almost noon, and we were all thirsty and tired. However, a group of people dug tree pits together, it was like a competition, all fatigue was thrown to the Nine Heavens.

I went to junior high school, again during Arbor Day, digging tree pits. Just like digging tree pits, the place was farther. Under the school's leadership, we rode bicycles, carried shovels, and went to the mountains 7-8 kilometers away to dig tree pits. Each person's task was still to dig a tree pit, with higher requirements: one meter deep and one meter wide. After finishing, it was almost noon, and we were all hungry and thirsty. But everyone seemed proud to 'green the motherland,' and didn't care how tired they were. I didn't know how many tree pits were dug, and later how many were planted?

I finally saw the tree pits I dug on the roadside in the county seat grow into fast-growing eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus trees, as their name suggests, grew very quickly. After graduating from junior high school, I studied for three years in the county seat, and the eucalyptus trees were already more than ten meters high, green and lush, forming a beautiful landscape on the roadside—just looking at them made me happy.

Finally, my last time digging a tree pit was when I was in high school, digging tree pits on the hillside by the sea. After digging the tree pit, we rode bicycles on the beach with classmates. The beach was just receding, the sand was fine and solid, and we flew on it for a while, leaving beautiful curves, very enjoyable.

Actually, digging tree pits is not a complete planting. I have planted flowers, mango trees, lychee trees, guava trees, banyan trees... But only night jasmine has been successfully planted.

In the spring, I casually inserted a branch of night jasmine into the pit in the backyard, and just watered it occasionally. However, without intentional care, in the summer, the night jasmine grew to two or three meters high, with lush branches and leaves. At night, when the night jasmine bloomed, the entire courtyard was fragrant and intoxicating.

To be honest, I planted more trees than my father.

My father planted trees in a particular way—he planted whatever grew well. My father planted guava trees, and within a few months, guava trees grew densely. The guava fruits were large and round, and tasted sweet when eaten.

My father planted a pineapple in the countryside. One year, I rode a bicycle with my father to the village to pick pineapples, and we each carried two back, and we ate them for several days, which was very satisfying. The pineapple tree was still in the countryside, and every year it brought sweet fruits to the villagers.

My father planted lychee trees in the backyard, and lychee trees grew quickly. When I graduated from university, the lychee trees already had fruit.

My father's guava trees grew well, and his pineapple trees also grew well.

My father planted trees, and his trees became a matter of envy for others.

My father planted several bitter almond trees by the wall. In the spring, the young trees grew into trees in the summer. But one day, someone cut down the bitter almond tree with a saw. I asked my father, 'Who did this?' My father said, 'It was probably Mr. An.'

Mr. An was a villager nearby, tall and white, looked scholarly, it turned out he was ruthless. Why did he harm the trees under which my father had caught my fish? Fortunately, it was just cutting trees, not hurting people. The trees were gone, and it was okay to plant new ones.

My father planted another dozen lychee trees, and when I went to university, the lychee trees had fruit.

Mr. An still cut down trees? I asked my father. My father said, 'No more.' Why? Because he died early. I was worried about Mr. An, who was in his thirties, and died early. I let go of my resentment towards Mr. An, it was just a pity that Mr. An's lychee forest on the hillside was gone, who was responsible for taking care of it.

My father retired, and Mr. An also retired. Without the conflicts in the workplace, the guava trees were preserved, and every year they brought fruits to the surrounding neighbors.

My father moved to a new home and started planting bananas, pineapples, yellow peaches, guava, and dragon fruit in the empty space in front of the door. Every time I went home, I could taste the delicious and flavorful fruits my father planted.

As people grow older, loneliness increases. Although I have planted trees myself, I regret that none of the trees have grown to this day. If possible, I want to plant a tree and accompany me to the end of my life.

My father grew old. If there is a second life, I would like to be a tree, relying on the soil, with clouds as friends, with green grass as neighbors, inviting birds and insects as companions, not going anywhere, quietly guarding a corner of my hometown and guarding my parents.

(Please do not post on WeChat! Wen Peng is a shared platform for essays, open to all Chinese-speaking writers and readers for dissemination. Its 'Writer' column actively seeks good articles from writers across the country. All articles that achieve 6500 reads in a month will be rewarded with 100 yuan. Please submit one draft, and indicate the genre. Email: [email protected], 1600 words maximum. Non-signing authors please indicate your real name, contact information and bank full name and account number.)

◆ Zhongshan Daily Group New Media Center

◆Editor: Xu Xiangdong

◆Second Review: Lan Yunliang

◆Third Review: Wei Lijiun

◆Source Material: Zhongshan Daily

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