That was three years ago, I went to Xinjiang to work in the Second Division of Xinjiang Construction Corps in the first autumn, and went to the Youth League to investigate the service and management of seasonal workers (Xinjiang, especially the Construction Corps, will welcome tens of thousands of flower-picking troops from Henan and Sichuan every September and October). On the way back to the station, I found a dense bush on the side of the road, with silver-gray leaves and no gaps between them. There were clusters of small red and yellow fruits on the tree, which were too small, even smaller than wild Lycium barbarum, and had tiny black spots, like shrinking hawthorn. On the edge of the desert dominated by golden Populus euphratica, Elaeagnus angustifolia seems lonely and out of date. Perhaps because it is really inconspicuous, I didn't notice it even when I passed by the branches under the tree on my way to the cotton field. I asked the company cadres who came with me that it was called Elaeagnus angustifolia and was edible, so I picked one and put it in my mouth. I chewed it for a few times and almost vomited it. That taste is really not good, dry noodles, no water, sweet and astringent, like chewing a slightly sweet sand. I think it is called Elaeagnus angustifolia not only because it grows on the edge of the desert, but also because of the taste of its fruit. Company cadres said flatly, it tastes ordinary, but if children have diarrhea, it is good to eat a few immediately, which is very clever. From his accustomed manner, I can see that Elaeagnus angustifolia is not a rare species in the local area. Many things are like this. When you first met it, you thought it was a new discovery. Only after you met it did you know that it was everywhere in your life. Elaeagnus angustifolia is like this. It was the first time that it was discovered that it was almost everywhere in Xinjiang like weeds. In the past, it was just too inconspicuous to turn a blind eye.

I was deeply impressed by Elaeagnus angustifolia for the second time until the spring of the following year.

It seems that on a weekend in May and June, several of our aid friends rented a car to go to Bosten Lake and passed by a village. Suddenly, a refreshing fragrance came through the window gap. The aroma is not strong, but it is very clear and penetrating. The driver's master said that Elaeagnus angustifolia trees are in bloom. Oh, it turned out to be the smell of Elaeagnus angustifolia flowers. At that time, I thought to myself, the taste of fruit is not so good, but the fragrance of flowers is really unusual.

On the way back, I passed the village again, and I specially asked the driver to stop for a while to feel the flowers. I saw the whole village looming among Elaeagnus angustifolia trees, and every house was covered with Elaeagnus angustifolia trees. The dense branches and leaves provided a strong shade for every farmer, which made people feel cool when they looked at it. (Anyone who has been to Xinjiang knows that although the sunshine in Xinjiang is long and the light is strong, as long as there is a shade, there is a cave. In hot weather, the shade is really called shade as long as you stop under the tree.). You can only see clusters of small hexagonal yellow flowers on Elaeagnus angustifolia trees when you are near. As expected, the flowers are not big, even smaller than small fingernails, similar to ordinary jujube flowers, and the leaves are dense, so you can hardly see them until you are near. There are swarms of bees buzzing among the branches and leaves, and not far away, beekeepers are cutting drones and sealing them; Two or three loose lambs are feeding on the leaves of Elaeagnus angustifolia; A merchant sat behind a table full of honey, and even the awning was not supported by the shade of Elaeagnus angustifolia trees; A gust of wind came, and the tiny petals became a drizzle, and the ground was already a shallow layer of yellow. This pastoral scene suddenly brought me closer to Elaeagnus angustifolia, and the contempt I felt when I first met it vanished in an instant. It turned out that it was like our friendly neighbor, living around us silently and selflessly, providing us with indispensable support and dedication. Several of us bought three or two barrels of Elaeagnus angustifolia honey, which is said to have the effect of removing fire and relaxing bowels. I snickered when I remembered that Elaeagnus angustifolia fruit has the effect of consolidating and discharging. This Elaeagnus angustifolia is really a treasure, and it takes care of everything that doesn't work.

The feelings brought by the three-knowledge Elaeagnus angustifolia trees can be said to be shocking and admirable.

Just over half a month ago, I went to Bortala on business. On the way from Lianhuo Expressway to Bole City, I suddenly found that the windbreak trees on both sides of the road were tall and tidy, with branches and leaves almost growing from the ground to the top of the tree, dense and thick, and the leaves were silver-gray, quiet and restrained, practical and safe, which really looked like two walls. Although the windbreak wall is still forty or fifty meters away from the road, I can recognize Elaeagnus angustifolia from its unique leaf color at a glance. That road was more than 30 kilometers. I walked between two rows of Elaeagnus angustifolia trees that were as neat as soldiers lined up, crossed the crown of Elaeagnus angustifolia trees, and looked out to the boundless Gobi. The car seemed to be driving in a life corridor, witnessing the clouds of Elaeagnus angustifolia trees rolling and rolling, and suddenly I was ashamed of my ignorance and shallowness. In the past, I always thought that Elaeagnus angustifolia trees were shrubs. At that moment, I discovered that Elaeagnus angustifolia trees could stand in two landscapes like poplars, faithfully guarding our life path and blocking the erosion of the desert Gobi.

Yes, I should be ashamed. From the day we arrived in Xinjiang, we knew about the oasis poplar, Gobi red willow and desert Populus euphratica, and got to know Zuogongliu and Dayeyu. They either represent a certain spirit or carry a certain period of history, and they are undoubtedly the stars and business cards of Xinjiang, so we cast our attention on them. In addition, the appearance of Elaeagnus angustifolia is really too ordinary, and its leaves are not bright enough. When it grows with poplar or Populus euphratica, it seems that it is a bit dejected and self-confident, and it can only be the gray background and foil of Populus euphratica. It seems that we should ignore it when it does not exist. But it's here, where the life of the Corps people is at the end of the limelight, and it's here for a long time. When we are used to looking at the place where flowers are surrounded by flowers and chasing light, we are used to the neon noise of reinforced concrete; When we are guided by our own senses, bound by the lens of a camera, and caught by the rolling stream of people, it is still there, still silently and for a long time, opposing to take root, grow up, blossom and bear fruit, or perk up, and proudly become a landscape, holding the wind and sand.

At this point, two company employees came in the office to ask some questions. They wore military-like camouflage short sleeves and camouflage pants that they often wear at work, and their faces were stiff. I don't know where the end of this article falls. Seeing them, my mind suddenly opened. After seeing them off, I couldn't calm down for a long time, and my heart seemed to be whipped in a very soft place. Are they the Elaeagnus angustifolia trees? However, it seems that they are not as good as Elaeagnus angustifolia, and Elaeagnus angustifolia still stands proudly. When did these men who fought against each other become so humble and restrained? Just thinking about it, I can't hold back my tears.