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 Committee to investigate the service and management of seasonal workers (Xinjiang, especially the Construction Corps, welcomes tens of thousands of flower pickers from Henan and Sichuan every September and June). On the way back to the station, I found a dense bush on the roadside with silver-gray leaves and no gap between them. There are clusters of small red and yellow fruits on the tree, which are too small, even smaller than wild Lycium barbarum, and there are small black spots, like shrinking hawthorn. On the edge of the desert dominated by golden Populus euphratica, Elaeagnus angustifolia is lonely and outdated. Perhaps because it was really inconspicuous, I didn't notice it even when I passed the branches under the tree on my way to the cotton field. I asked the company cadres who came with me. It was called Elaeagnus angustifolia, which was edible, so I picked one and put it in my mouth. I chewed a few times and almost threw up. It tastes really bad, dry noodles, no water, sweet and astringent, like chewing a slightly sweet sand. I think Elaeagnus angustifolia is called not only because it grows on the edge of the desert, but also because of the taste of its fruit. The company cadre said flatly, the taste is average, but the child has diarrhea, so just eat a few at once, which is very clever. From his habitual behavior, I can see that Elaeagnus angustifolia is not a rare species in the local area. A lot of things are like this. When you first met it, you thought it was a new discovery. Only after you meet it, do you know that it is everywhere in your life. Elaeagnus angustifolia is like this. It was the first time that it was found almost everywhere in Xinjiang like a weed. It used to be just too humble to turn a blind eye.
It was not until the following spring that I was deeply impressed with Elaeagnus angustifolia for the second time.
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 floated in through the window gap. The aroma is not strong, but it is clear and penetrating. The driver's master said that Elaeagnus angustifolia is in blossom. Oh, it's the smell of Elaeagnus angustifolia flowers. At that time, I thought to myself, the taste of fruit is not good, but the fragrance of flowers is really unusual.
On the way back, I passed by the village again, so I specially asked the driver to stop for a while to feel the flowers. I saw the whole village hidden among Elaeagnus angustifolia trees, and every household was covered with Elaeagnus angustifolia trees. Dense branches and leaves provide a strong shade for every farmer, which makes people feel cool when they look at it. Anyone who has been to Xinjiang knows that although Xinjiang has long sunshine and strong light, as long as there is shade, there are caves. In hot weather, as long as you stop under a tree, the shade is really called shade. ). You can only see clusters of small hexagonal yellow flowers on Elaeagnus angustifolia trees when you are close. As expected, the flowers are not big, even smaller than small nails, similar to ordinary jujube flowers, with dense leaves, which can hardly be seen until they are near. There are swarms of bees buzzing among the branches and leaves, and not far away, beekeepers are cutting drones to seal boxes; Two or three free-range lambs are eating leaves of Elaeagnus angustifolia; A businessman sat behind a table full of honey, and even the awning was not supported by the shade of Elaeagnus angustifolia; A gust of wind came, and the tiny petals turned into drizzle, and the ground was already a shallow yellow layer. This idyllic scenery suddenly narrowed the distance between me and Elaeagnus angustifolia, and the contempt when I first saw it vanished in an instant. It turns out that it is like our friendly neighbor, living silently and selflessly by our side, 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 clearing away fire and relaxing bowels. I snickered at the thought that Elaeagnus angustifolia fruit has the effect of consolidating excretion. This Elaeagnus angustifolia is really a treasure, whatever it doesn't work.
The feeling brought by Elaeagnus angustifolia can be said to be shock and admiration.
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 windbreaks on both sides of the road are tall and neat, with branches and leaves almost growing from the ground to the top of the tree, dense and dense, with silver-gray leaves, quiet and restrained, practical and safe, really like two walls. Although the windbreak wall is still forty or fifty meters away from the road, I can recognize it from the unique leaf color of Elaeagnus angustifolia at a glance. That road is more than 30 kilometers long. I walked between two rows of Elaeagnus angustifolia trees lined up neatly like soldiers, crossed the crown of Elaeagnus angustifolia trees and looked at the endless Gobi. The car seems to be driving in a corridor of life, witnessing the clouds of Elaeagnus angustifolia rolling, and suddenly feel ashamed of their ignorance and shallowness. I always thought Elaeagnus angustifolia was a shrub. At that moment, I discovered that Elaeagnus angustifolia can 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 Oasis Poplar, Gobi Red Willow and Desert Populus euphratica, and got to know Zuo Gongliu and Dayeyu. They either represent a certain spirit or carry a certain period of history. They are undoubtedly the stars and business cards of Xinjiang, so we look at them. In addition, the appearance of Elaeagnus angustifolia is really too ordinary, and the leaves are not bright enough. When it grows with poplars or Populus euphratica, it looks a little gloomy and confident, and it can only be the gray background and foil of Populus euphratica. When it does not exist, it seems that we should ignore it. But it is here that the life of the Corps people is at the end of the limelight, and it has been here for a long time. When we are used to seeing the place where flowers are 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 the camera and captured by the rolling stream of people, it is still there, still silent and long-lasting, opposing rooting, growing, flowering and bearing fruit, or holding our heads high, proudly becoming a landscape and holding sand.
At this time, two company employees came to the office and asked some questions. They are wearing military uniform camouflage short sleeves and camouflage pants that they often wear at work, and their expressions are stiff. I don't know where the article ends. Seeing them, my mind suddenly opened up. After sending them away, I couldn't calm down for a long time, and my heart seemed to be whipped in a very soft place. Are they Elaeagnus angustifolia trees? However, it seems that they are not as good as Elaeagnus angustifolia, which still stands proudly. When did these fighting men become so humble and introverted? Just thinking about it can't stop the tears.