The couple were planting thumb trees, an improved native species from the Exile Planet, which bore thumb-sized yellow fruits.
On the seventh day of the holiday, the second day of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng woke up early to plant trees and discovered that the first batch of planted trees had already flowered.
Tiny white flowers, the size of rice grains, covered the trees, hidden amongst the newly sprouted green leaves.
"What a pity," Jiang Ye said, looking up from beneath a tree.
"What's a pity?" Cen Yemeng asked, holding his arm.
"If the holiday were a few days longer, perhaps we could eat the newly grown thumb fruits?" Jiang Ye said.
"It doesn't need a few more days," Cen Yemeng explained. "They're flowering now, and the flowers will likely fall in about half an hour. The fruits should appear by evening."
"That fast?" Jiang Ye was surprised.
"These thumb trees are common fruits on the Exile Planet. They bear fruit every three days, flowering in the morning and being edible by evening. The yield each time isn't high, but the total yield throughout the year is quite considerable," Cen Yemeng said. "The only drawback is that these trees consume a lot of soil fertility. On the Exile Planet, they are planted next to rural septic tanks and fertilized daily with manure to ensure they continue to bear fruit."
"What if they're not fertilized with manure?" Jiang Ye asked.
"Then the fertility of the soil around the trees will be depleted quickly, and the soil will become nutrient-poor. The thumb trees will produce fewer and fewer fruits, then stop bearing altogether, eventually start dropping leaves, and after all the leaves fall, they'll start dropping branches, and finally, the trees will die," Cen Yemeng said.
"These trees can't survive in the wild, can they? They can only be raised by people, like poultry?" Jiang Ye asked.
"They can survive. Thumb trees were originally a wild species," Cen Yemeng replied. "They need to co-exist with other species."
"Like what?"
"For example, Gladiolus. Not the flower, but a native grass on the Exile Planet. Its leaves are slender and tough, and they can move on their own, stabbing passing vermin like swords. They are very strong and can impale small animals to death. Thumb trees co-exist with Gladiolus. The Gladiolus stabs small animals to death, and after the small animals decompose, they are absorbed by the thumb trees," Cen Yemeng said. "There are also many types of animals that raise thumb trees, defecating at the base of the trees, and then coming back to eat the fruits when they appear. It's actually similar to human behavior."
Jiang Ye clicked his tongue, marveling at the ingenuity.
"You got so many saplings. Are these fruits very delicious?" Jiang Ye asked.
"They are delicious. Husband can taste them this evening," Cen Yemeng nodded.
The couple continued their work, digging holes, watering, and fertilizing, planting the thumb trees one by one.
For most of the holiday, they spent their days planting trees, even on New Year's Day itself. Planting trees and chatting, their lives were quite peaceful.
Jiang Ye felt that this holiday break was a bit too much like retirement, like an elderly couple, only missing birdcages.
After planting just two trees, his phone suddenly rang.
Jiang Ye took it out and saw the screen. He was startled. It was Dai Zhixing's call!
"Happy New Year, Xiao Jiang. Happy New Year to you," Dai Zhixing's voice immediately came through as he answered.
"Happy New Year, Commander! I wish you a prosperous New Year and all the best!" Jiang Ye said quickly.
"Are you busy now?" Dai Zhixing asked.
"Not busy, I'm on holiday," Jiang Ye replied. "Is there something you need?"
"I have a New Year's gift for you," Dai Zhixing said. "The pilot areas for the average lifespan reform have been approved for you. The official documents will be sent to you shortly."
Jiang Ye quickly thanked him. Dai Zhixing didn't waste any more words, exchanged a few pleasantries, and hung up.
"Damn, it's finally done!" Jiang Ye excitedly plunged the shovel into the soil.
"Which planet?" Cen Yemeng asked.
"I don't know. Waiting for the documents, they should be here soon," Jiang Ye said. "Let's stop planting trees. I need to save my energy. There's going to be a lot of work ahead."
Cen Yemeng nodded, linked her arm with her husband's, and they returned to the house.
Both of them had worked up a sweat planting trees. They went to the bathroom to shower separately, then both, wrapped in bathrobes, went to the living room on the first floor, snuggled on the sofa, and watched television, quietly waiting for the documents to arrive.
The television program was a street interview from the Birong Star. The couple enjoyed watching it because the show often interviewed drunkards or eccentric people, which didn't seem scripted and helped them understand the general public's situation.
The couple had a low threshold for laughter, and they started chuckling as soon as they began watching, occasionally erupting into synchronized bursts of laughter, reaching out to pat each other, making sounds like seals clapping.
Half an hour later.
Jiang Ye's phone vibrated on the coffee table.
Both hands reached out simultaneously. Cen Yemeng grabbed the remote control and pressed it, pausing the television, while Jiang Ye grabbed his phone, his excitement akin to winning the lottery.
"Read it, Niannian," Cen Yemeng said.
"Notice regarding the pilot areas for average lifespan reform," Jiang Ye cleared his throat and began.
"After review by the relevant departments, including the Galactic Empire Population Resource Planning Agency, the Galactic Empire Macroeconomic Research Institute, and the Galactic Empire Military-to-Civilian Frontier Technology Committee, 862 planets have now been designated as pilot areas for average lifespan reform."
"So many?" Cen Yemeng was surprised.
"Compared to all the planets, it's quite rare," Jiang Ye said. "This lists all 862 planets. I won't read them out one by one. Wait a moment while I find it."
Cen Yemeng leaned her head over, close to her husband, and they searched the list together.
"Jiang Ye Star, Birong Star, Exile Planet!" Cen Yemeng's eyes were sharp, and she pointed, "Here, here, all three are listed together!"
"Great!" Jiang Ye was immediately delighted.
When Dai Zhixing had spoken to him earlier, he had only mentioned that the competition was fierce and to try their best, but it wasn't guaranteed that all of them would be designated as pilot areas. So, it was possible that only one planet would qualify. Now, all three had qualified, which was an unexpected joy!
Cen Yemeng leaned to the side again, like a kitten, holding her husband's arm, "Continue reading, read the rest of the content."
"Why don't you read it yourself?" Jiang Ye asked.
"Since you're reading it, why should I?"
"The main content of this average lifespan reform, which is to extend the lifespan of most people in the entire region by three to five times through medical means. Therefore, the conditions for pilot areas are: moderate population, normal age distribution, a stable social system, a certain economic foundation, sufficient organizational capacity, and strict standards for the number, level, and scale of hospitals," Jiang Ye read obediently from the document.
"Effective immediately, the Galactic Empire Military-to-Civilian Frontier Technology Committee will liaise with the pilot planets to complete the technology transfer within one year. Each planet may utilize the relevant technologies according to its own situation, but must comply with the 'Galactic Empire Military-to-Civilian Frontier Technology Management Regulations' and relevant Galactic Empire laws. Once serious technological criminal acts are discovered and verified, the pilot status will be revoked, and a huge fine will be imposed."
"During the pilot period, this technology may only be used within the pilot areas, and technology leakage is strictly prohibited."