and away from rats and vermin.

也保其免受老鼠和害虫的侵害
That's a business and it's a very important business for any country.

这是笔生意对任何一个国家都很重要
If it weren't rice, it would be some other grain, which is stored.

即使贮存的不是大米也是其他谷物
When people buy and sell grain they know it's--

当人们买卖谷物时
they're thinking out at least a year

他们总是考虑一年用量
because that's how long the cycle is for one harvest--one cycle.

因为收获周期就是一年一个周期
So, lots of contracts are signed to buy and sell rice,

所以签订了许多买卖大米的合同
but typically at some future date.

但一般都在将来的某个时点
We talk about "spot contracts,"

我们说过现货合同
which means buying and selling something right now.

指的是买卖交易在现在进行
If you show up at the warehouse and say,

如果你到仓库说
I've got my wagons, I want to load rice in.

我把马车拉来了给我装些大米吧