These days, I have nothing to do. I drove to Hancheng in Guanzhong Plain, which is located on the west bank of the Yellow River, more than 200 kilometers away from the provincial capital Xi 'an. It started in the Western Zhou Dynasty and has a history of more than 3,000 years. It was called Longmen in ancient times. It is often heard that the fairy tale of carp jumping over Longmen and Dayu controlling water came from here.

Hancheng, have you been here?

Hancheng is located in the transition zone between Guanzhong Basin and Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi. The complex terrain is the key zone of soil erosion in the Yellow River. When it comes to water conservation and soil conservation, we can't help but mention the pepper in Hancheng. Now it is the season for picking pepper. We have been walking through the ravines. The pepper trees stand in rows on the hillside and between the ravines, and we can smell the smell of pepper far away. In the pepper field beside the road, an aunt tied a bag around her waist and pinched her finger at her fingertips, throwing red pepper into the bag. Our car slowly stopped and walked behind the aunt.

Zanthoxylum dahongpao

Too focused, my aunt didn't notice us. When we approached the pepper tree, it was not easy to pick pepper. If the branches were prickly, they would prick their hands, but my aunt's bag was almost full. After greeting, my aunt turned around and looked at us with mirth. Her fingers turned green and black. He said that pepper in Hancheng was expensive, and they came here to pick pepper from many people. As long as they were willing to endure hardships, they would pick it one day.

Aunties picking peppers

Aunt Wang, who is also over 60 years old this year, is not a native of Hancheng and comes from Heyang, a neighboring county. There are more than 20 people who came with him. I heard that picking peppers here can make money, so I quietly rushed over to pick peppers overnight, and I couldn't stay at home. I was afraid that my son would be too tired to object. They arrived at Hancheng Station at 4: 00 in the morning, and the owner of the pepper field pulled them to the ground by car. From 5: 00, I picked a catty from the owner of the garden./kloc-

When it comes to the day's harvest, my aunt said that although she is a little bigger, her hand speed is not slow, and she can earn 400 yuan a day with a lot of words. Another aunt next to her told me that Aunt Wang has neat legs and feet, and her personality is indomitable. Sometimes she will do herself a favor. She can pick more than 200 kilograms a day and earn less than 300, and she will be satisfied.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum waiting to be picked

The pepper in Hancheng, especially Dahongpao, is famous for its bright color, rich flesh, moderate hemp taste and large and uniform particles. Its fruit can be used for seasoning and medicine, and a large amount of ephedrine and aromatic oil can be extracted from flowers and rhizomes. This is a large-scale, high-yield and good-benefit "base of 40 million pepper plants in a hundred miles" in China.

For pepper in greenhouse, laser plant fill light can be used in case of insufficient light.

At 2 o'clock noon, the aunts are still busy. After 2 o'clock, the garden owner will send the rice to the fields. It is relatively simple for northerners to eat. The lunch at noon is usually noodles or noodles, which is a simple pasta for Weinan people when they are busy with agriculture. Stir with vinegar and pepper and serve. For a simple lunch, the aunts eat with relish. Usually, at home, they are just plain food. Just be able to fill their stomachs outside, and everything smells good when they are tired and hungry.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum has been harvested