This looks like it's not difficult at all, and it's fun!
Qiaoqiao hesitated for a moment: "Uncle Zhang, isn't this like thinning seedlings in the mountain plots or pruning fruit trees, where we dig some out to let the rest grow better?"
Zhang Wang laughed: "Not to that extent, our lotuses aren't densely planted to begin with, digging or not digging doesn't really affect them—Qiaoqiao, are you feeling reluctant?"
Qiaoqiao nodded: "Yeah, if we don't dig them now, they can grow into huge lotus roots, and then they can be cooked into several dishes. Teacher Xin said this is about making full use of things."
Zhang Wang didn't know much about making full use of things. But he had a broad perspective on fieldwork and could understand: "What's there to use or not use, you planted these for eating, right? Whether you eat them young or old doesn't make much difference."
