Couple in Fangshan Town, Dingtao County Bonded Over Grapes, Singing a Song of Prosperity Together

On the morning of November 9, the reporter walked into Youji Village, Fangshan Town, Dingtao County, where a large vineyard came into view east of the village, with clusters of glistening grapes looking especially tempting against the backdrop of green leaves. Shan Changyong, the mayor of Fangshan Town who accompanied the interview, told the reporter that this is the vineyard of villager Yao Fulun, and the couple are well-known local grape growers.

A Chance Bond Over Grapes

"Oh my, when it comes to growing grapes, I never expected it either." When the reporter asked why they started growing grapes, Yao Fulun's wife Zhang Qingfen opened up: "In 2008, Fulun went to a friend's home in Dianhutun Subdistrict for a drink, and heard that a family in Wudian Village grew particularly good grapes. He went with some others to take a look, and when he came back he insisted on growing grapes no matter what."

Looking at other people's vineyards with their promising growth and considerable income, Yao Fulun smelled a business opportunity and began making his own little plans behind his wife's back. "Farming for a year doesn't earn much money. Better to grow grapes -- plant once, benefit for years." In June 2009, Yao Fulun began to plant grapes. Behind his family's back, he deep-plowed 7 mu of contracted land east of Linshang Road, secretly ordered grape seedlings, put up wire trellises, and began his grape-growing journey.

A Painstaking Planting Journey

As the saying goes, the first step is always the hardest. Before growing grapes, Yao Fulun worked at a supply and marketing cooperative and had no planting experience at all.

The next year, due to incorrect pruning methods, most of the fruit buds were cut off, causing heavy losses, and Yao Fulun was badly shaken. There is no wall in the world that wind cannot get through -- Zhang Qingfen found out about Yao Fulun growing grapes, but seeing how hard her husband was working, she no longer complained.

Once, Yao Fulun ran into Ma Liuxin, a skilled grape grower, at a temple fair. After looking at Yao Fulun's vineyard, Ma said: "With your pruning method, don't even think about harvesting grapes this year, or even next year." Yao Fulun felt he had met an "expert" and immediately hired Ma Liuxin as a technician.

In 2010, Yao Fulun's grapevines finally set fruit. Just when he thought he saw hope of a harvest, fate played another joke on him -- a heavy rain came unexpectedly, and combined with severe pollution from the nearby road, the grapevines contracted downy mildew, causing losses of nearly 100,000 yuan. When Zhang Qingfen learned of this, her emotions exploded: "Stop messing around! Don't bother coming home, and don't even think about taking a single thing from this house again."

To avoid further pollution of the vineyard, in 2011 Yao Fulun moved the vineyard east of Youji Village, far from the road, and tended it with great care.

In 2012, Yao Fulun's grapes ushered in a bumper harvest. Seeing that the grapes sold for money, Zhang Qingfen also began to learn grape-growing techniques.

A Year of Bumper Grape Harvest

The grape variety Yao Fulun grows is Crimson Seedless, imported from the United States. This grape has the same flowering period as ordinary grapes, but its fruit-setting period lasts as long as 5 months, with large clusters and high sugar content in the berries. Crimson Seedless grapes are somewhat "delicate" -- they cannot get too much or too little rain, and the temperature cannot be too cold or too hot, otherwise the quality and taste of the grapes will be greatly compromised.

Through constant exploration, Yao Fulun also figured out his own "grape wisdom." "When growing grapes, you must check the weather forecast frequently. Once the weather changes, you must quickly take measures to prevent disease." He said: "My grapes never get swelling agents. I apply only organic fertilizer, plus corn stalks and sesame oil residue, so the grapes taste extremely good."

This year, Yao Fulun's vineyard had a bumper harvest. The 7 mu of land yielded more than 10,000 kg, selling for 16 yuan per kg. Since the vineyard opened on October 15, Yao Fulun has signed sales contracts with multiple supermarkets in Heze and Dingtao, delivering grapes continuously to major supermarkets every day.

"Now my grapes are very well known here in Heze. Many supermarkets have signed supply contracts with me, and a large number of tourists come to pick grapes. Next, I plan to get a green food certification, set up a cooperative, and strive to sell grapes to big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, where the returns will be even better!" Yao Fulun looked at his vineyard, his face full of confidence.