Golden Corn

Last summer during our visit, all around Sanjiao'ancun, the fields were full of corn plants. This year at this time in autumn, everything has been harvested and now the bright yellow corn cobs are stacked in large round barrel-shaped formations in the village. Or long yellow carpets of corn kernels are spread out along the road, sometimes extending onto the road itself. The process of stripping the hard kernels from the cob requires endurance in the hand. I got to experience that myself. First, a gap of two or three rows of kernels is created with a screwdriver, breaking the firm bond of the corn kernels on the cob. Now you can grasp the edges of the remaining kernel areas and, with twisting and gentle pressing in the palm of your hand, release them. Now all the yellow kernels tumble into the basket. These are then spread out for further drying. Who would have thought I would become a harvest helper in China?!