Hongmiao Radish

Hongmiao Radish

　　 Dear friends, whether you’re visiting relatives, going on a trip, or just passing through, when you arrive in Hongmiao Village after a long journey and take a bite of a bright red radish, you’ll instantly feel your hunger and thirst quenched, your fatigue vanish, and your spirits lifted. The radish, with its thin skin, sweet juice, and pear-like flesh, is sure to win your praise. And if you listen to the local farmers share a beautiful legend about the radish, you’ll feel even more that “the trip was well worth it.” Don’t believe it? Here’s how previous generations praised the Hongmiao Radish:

　　 White flesh, sweet as snow pear, dressed in red and green, showing off its grace.

　　 Seven feathery strands reach toward the sky, two-inch silver pins stuck in fertile soil.

　　 Hongmiao Radishes come in two shapes: round (persimmon-shaped) and jug-shaped. The roots are straight as silver pins, with fine and sparse lateral roots, seven feathery leaves with wavy edges, shallow notches, and fine hairs. The leaf stems are purplish, and the leaves are deep green. The plant is short with semi-upright leaf clusters, and in sparse areas, the leaves tilt more noticeably. The flowers are white with a slight purple tint and can be sown in both spring and autumn. They can be harvested about 45 days after sowing, growing large with high yields—3,000 to 4,000 pounds per mu.

　　 The Hongmiao Radish has a thin, smooth skin with a striking bright red color. The flesh is white, tender, and crisp. When the root is peeled with a knife, it tends to split open. If the peeled flesh has a slight light green tint, the taste becomes even sweeter and more delicious. It has a high sugar content, superior quality, is not prone to hollowing or bolting, and is rich in nutrients, earning it the nickname “earth ginseng.” It can be used as a vegetable, a fruit, or processed into pickled products. Per 100 grams of edible portion, it contains 0.6–1.0 grams of protein, 5.7–6.6 grams of carbohydrates, 44–61 milligrams of calcium, 28–40 milligrams of phosphorus, 0.5–0.7 milligrams of iron, and 19–34 milligrams of vitamin C. Whether stir-fried as a vegetarian dish or cooked in a meat broth, its flavor is delicious.

　　 Why does the Hongmiao Radish have such a beautiful shape and excellent quality? It’s said to be related to the following story.

　　 Long ago, in the western part of Hongmiao Village, there was a smart and handsome boy who often herded cattle and cut grass for them. He loved playing the flute, and whenever birds heard his music, they would fly onto his cow’s back or horns, hopping and refusing to leave. In the eastern part of the village, there was a girl who spent her days digging wild vegetables and gathering pig feed in the fields. She loved singing, and her voice sounded like a phoenix’s cry. When birds heard her sing, they would circle above her head, chirping along in harmony. Both were only thirteen years old and became fast friends. Over time, their bond grew even closer. Though they were innocent children, both were kind-hearted and empathetic, sharing a bond of mutual pity. They helped each other dig wild greens and cut grass; when the girl’s basket was too full to carry, the boy would help her. On the way home, he often let her ride on the cow’s back while he led the cow by the rope. They took care of and helped each other like siblings.

　　 Three years passed in the blink of an eye. The boy had grown into a handsome young man. His face was delicate, his eyebrows like spring mountains, his eyes black and bright, his teeth white and lips red, his nose high, and his figure average. Dressed in a white cloth shirt, he had a strong, graceful presence that was simply adorable. The girl, meanwhile, was even more stunningly beautiful. Her face resembled a lotus, her eyebrows like crescent moons, her eyes shimmering like autumn waves, her lips like cherries, and her teeth like rows of pearls. Her black hair flowed like ink, and her smile could captivate anyone. She wore a bright red dress, with a green silk ribbon in her hair shaped like seven petals fanning outwards, resembling a green seven-petaled feathery flower blooming toward the sky. When still, she looked like a delicate flower reflected in water; when moving, she was like a willow swaying in the breeze. A fragrant scent emanated from her, making anyone who saw her fall in love and unable to bear to leave. A poem describes her:

　　 An eighteen-year-old beauty, soft as satin, draws birds to sing.

　　 A single glance back charms a kingdom, making the moon hide, flowers blush, and fish cease to swim.

　　 By this time, both had reached the age of budding romance, and their words and actions inevitably carried a touch of youthful shyness. Whenever they met, the boy always showed care and affection, his gaze unwavering and full of devotion. The girl, in turn, looked at him with tender eyes, her cheeks blushing as if she had something to say but couldn’t bring herself to speak.

　　　　One clear autumn day, as usual, they went to the fields to continue their daily chores. When crossing a small ditch, the girl accidentally dirtied her dress. The boy said kindly, “Take off your skirt and wash it. It’ll dry in no time.” The girl replied, “Okay, but you have to turn around and not peek. Only call me when I tell you to turn back around.”

　　 The boy readily agreed, immediately turning 180 degrees and standing quietly by the field. After waiting for a while with no movement, he grew anxious, worried something might have happened to her. Slowly, he turned his head and saw the girl laying her red dress on the ground to dry. She was wearing a tight white outfit inside, squatting there and gazing at him with affectionate eyes. Their eyes met, and the girl, feeling shy, let out a startled cry. In a flash of red light, she transformed into a round radish—bright red in color, with seven green leaves tilting upward. Her basket and small spade remained nearby.

　　 The boy was stunned by this sudden transformation, frozen in shock for a long while before regaining his senses. He called out to the girl loudly, but there was no response. He kept calling—from noon until evening, and from evening until midnight—until his voice grew hoarse. He cried, and cried until his tears dried up and blood streamed from his eyes, staining his white clothes red. A gust of wind blew by, and he, too, transformed into a large, jug-shaped red radish.

　　 Some say the two youths were originally the golden boy and jade girl from the Western Heavenly Queen Mother’s court. Because they once shared a smile, the Queen Mother saw it as “a sign of earthly longing and a violation of heavenly rules.” As punishment, they were banished to the mortal world to endure hardship, rid themselves of worldly desires, and were told they could return to heaven only after sixteen years.

　　 When people learned of this, they couldn’t help but shed tears and sigh. A poem lamented:

　　 The jade girl and golden boy descended from the heavens, inseparable since childhood.

　　 Tender love like water could not be fulfilled, transforming into “ginseng”—a sorrowful fate.

　　 extThey carefully tended to these two radishes, letting them bolt, bloom, and seed, planting again the following year. This cycle repeated for several years until every household in Hongmiao Village grew these radishes—but none dared to eat them.

　　 Later, someone heard that these red radishes were transformed from immortals, the incarnations of the boy and girl, and that eating them could grant immortality. Someone stole and ate one, finding the taste incredibly delicious. The news quickly spread, and people began cultivating them as both fruit and “little ginseng,” a tradition that continues to this day.

　　 When the news spread, outsiders brought the seeds back to their regions to grow them—but the results were vastly different. Neither the appearance nor quality matched that of the Hongmiao radishes. Why? It’s said that the devoted boy and girl missed their homeland and family, unwilling to leave Hongmiao and settle elsewhere.

　　 Legends are just legends, but facts are facts. The good soil and quality water of Hongmiao Village, along with the villagers’ scientific approach and skilled management in radish cultivation, are the fundamental reasons why the radishes grow so well and have such excellent quality. A poem summarizes it well:

　　 Ten parts radish, nine parts millet—planting in rich soil grows strong, thick sprouts.

　　 Prevent disease and pests with regular care, follow science for superior quality.

　　 First, the soil in Hongmiao Village is oily sandy loam. Farmers often use oilseed cake, water plants, ash fertilizer, and manure from pigs and cows as base fertilizer, further optimizing the soil quality.

　　 Second, sow at the right time, cover with water plants, thin seedlings appropriately, water regularly, use water-manure fertilizers to boost growth, and manage disease and pest control consistently.

　　 Third, practice meticulous farming—hence the saying “ten parts radish, nine parts millet.”

　　 4. The selection process is rigorous, choosing turnips shaped like dried persimmons or small buckets, each weighing about two taels, with slender roots, few fibrous roots, and seven leaves. The mature seeds must not only be plump but also slightly concave in shape, with a deep color. Seeds from the tip of the same turnip plant may lack sufficient nutrients and should be discarded.

　　　　It is precisely for this reason that the quality of Hongmiao turnips has improved with each generation of cultivation, becoming widely renowned far and wide.