As Su Wenchen's welcome words fell.
There was a polite but heartfelt applause at the airport.
“Crack! Crack! Crack!”
A densely flashing spotlight also began to capture the scene frantically.
This scene was also broadcast live to thousands of households on the other side of the ocean via American satellite equipment.
Lin Kee Restaurant in Chinatown, San Francisco.
The old TV screen flickered, and the picture showed the Huanghuaihai Special Economic Zone Airport thousands of miles away.
"Dad! Look! We're in China!" The girl who was wiping the table said excitedly, pointing at the TV.
"The young cadre on TV said that the area was all saline-alkali land a year ago!"
Hearing the voice, an old overseas Chinese who had been away from his motherland for nearly twenty years stuck his head out from behind the counter.
After seeing the scene on TV.
The rag in his hand stopped in mid-air.
His cloudy eyes were fixed on the close-up of the land on the screen, which was clearly visible and had a grayish-white reflection.
His Adam's apple rolled violently, and his sight seemed to penetrate the screen and fall on the barren land that was both strange and somewhat familiar.
All I could hear was Su Wenchen speaking in Chinese: "Be self-reliant, work hard, and strive to change your destiny." Every word was clear.
"The saline-alkali land... is hard and poor, nothing can be grown on it..." He muttered to himself in Cantonese with a strong local accent.
As he spoke, his eyes instantly turned red and his voice choked in his throat.
He recalled the barren red soil of his hometown in the south, and the hunched back of his old father and the barren slope behind his thatched house when he was forced to leave home as a young man.
"It's changed...it's really changing..."
In the corner, an equally elderly diner silently put down his chopsticks, wiped the turbid tears from the corners of his eyes, and sighed silently.
"I don't know what's happening in my hometown! Will I ever have the chance to go back in this lifetime?"
The desolate scene touched the deepest roots in their hearts. It was the appearance of their distant hometown and a replica of the memory of their ancestors struggling to survive on the barren land.
On the other side, in the living room of the Wilson family's farm.
Old Wilson's brows were twisted into a knot, and his fingers were almost poking into the TV screen.
"Salt marsh? Sh*t!" he spat at the screen.
"That patch of ground is covered in salt, like it's been licked by animals! Why would the president go to that place? Is he looking for trouble?"
His wife, Mary, frowned. "They said on TV that they have a new method to transform saline-alkali land!"
"Did we sell that piece of land on our ranch at a loss?"
"Reform? God be my witness!"
"There's no way that kind of land can be transformed. It's simply a bottomless pit!"
Wilson shook his head in disdain.
"Two years ago, I wanted to transform the saline-alkali land east of the ranch. Guess how much they asked me for?"
"It costs me $700 a year! And every year I have to divert water for flushing, so there's no way to fill that bottomless pit!
"I sold that piece of land for $300 per acre, which is the price of ordinary pasture."
"So our piece of shabby land can be sold. Mary, you should thank your wise husband."
"Well, I hope you don't regret it!"
"Regret? No, I don't regret it. I only regret buying that piece of crappy land."
After a brief welcome ceremony, the visiting delegation boarded the convoy that had been prepared in advance.
The convoy slowly drove out of the airport and headed towards the reception hall according to the predetermined route.
Along the way, there was a vast wilderness outside the car window.
As the convoy moved forward, the sky slowly turned from white just after leaving the airport to black, and finally to tender green winter wheat seedlings.
Seeing the scene outside the window, several officials accompanying the president in the bus following the Red Flag car all looked out the window in surprise.
He asked curiously to Su Wenchen who was sitting at the front of the bus.
"Mr. Su, was the green land here all saline-alkali land in the past?"
"I heard from Ronald that your saline-alkali land treatment method is very low-cost and effective in a very short time."
"But the last time I came here to arrange a visit to you, there was no such news in your country."
"So, your saline-alkali land management method can really complete the transformation of saline-alkali land at a very low cost?"
After hearing the translator's words, Su Wenchen stood up with a smile and turned to introduce himself to the accompanying staff at the back of the bus.
"Mr. Kissinger, thank you for facilitating this friendly exchange, but regarding the management of saline-alkali land."
"I can certainly guarantee it's true."
After saying that, he pointed out the window.
"These are our achievements for this year, after the luncheon."
"We have arranged visits to relevant saline-alkali land management demonstration areas."
"You can see for yourself when the time comes."
After Su Wenchen finished speaking, Ronald, who was sitting in the third row, also helped out.
"Henry, I promise I'm not lying."
"Their alkali-control fertilizer is very cheap. Believe me, we should import a large amount of it."
"This will greatly help enhance Mr. President's prestige!"
Hearing this, the other party shrugged.
"Ronald, you should tell the President this. I have no control over the specific introduction plan."
"Henry, do you think I don't know that the president trusts you the most?"
As the two were arguing in English.
The convoy in front suddenly stopped, and the bus Su Wenchen was on also stopped.
Seeing this, Su Wenchen immediately got out of the car with a frown.
As soon as I got off, I saw a translator from the Concierge Department get out of the Red Flag car in front.
After the other party walked towards Su Wenchen, he also felt a little headache.
"Director Su, the President just saw the people working on the roadside in your special zone and suggested going over there to see the workers there."
After saying that, he pointed to several hand tractors in the distance that were plowing the soil with thick smoke coming out of them.
"Can I go over and take a look?"
Obviously, the protocol department was helpless about this sudden request that was outside the itinerary.
Their biggest wish is to complete the reception safely.
However, this kind of surprise attack, which is done on impulse, will greatly increase the likelihood of unexpected events.
But this was proposed by the president.
So they had no choice but to quickly find Su Wenchen to discuss countermeasures.
Su Wenchen nodded.
"That's our farm's alkali control team over there. They're applying fertilizer early. There's nothing to be ashamed of."
Hearing Su Wenchen say this, the other party nodded.
"Okay, I'll go talk to the security and have them go over there and set up surveillance first."
"Really? This kind of impulsive decision is really helpless!"
Here, we watched as the people from the Concierge Department hurriedly ran towards the car in front.
Lei Bailiang, who followed, looked at Su Wenchen in surprise.
"You are amazing!"
"How do you know the other party might have a sudden impulse? Are you the president's inner worm?"
Su Wenchen rolled his eyes.
"Uncle Lei, what are you talking about!"
"When you go down to inspect, if you want to see the real scene, will you see the real thing by following a step-by-step approach, or by launching a surprise attack?"
"Now people want to know the effects of our alkali fertilizer treatment."
"So it's no surprise that this happened."
"Besides, I couldn't have predicted this in advance."
"Along the way, I asked ten production teams to carry out their daily operations today."
When Lei Bailiang heard this, he immediately became curious.
"So, you deliberately lured him to watch? Did you give instructions in advance?"
Su Wenchen shook his head.
"No, I just checked the identities of all the people, but I didn't give any instructions."
"It's just normal work!"
"Besides, what can I ask you for? We haven't falsified our alkaline fertilizers, so what can I ask you for?"
"I'm confident in saying whatever I want to say. And it's that restraint and helplessness that makes it seem real, isn't it?"
Lei Bailiang gave a thumbs up.
"How dare you!"
"Aren't you afraid that they will say bad things about you?"
Su Wenchen shook his head.
"I'm upright and honest, so I'm not afraid of that!"
After saying that, he walked forward.
After the protocol department and security personnel have completed the deployment.
Led by Su Wenchen, the President and the elderly people accompanying him left the highway and walked along the country path towards the hand tractors that were emitting black smoke and making rumbling sounds.
The group of reporters following behind, like a swarm of bees attracted by a magnet, followed closely behind with their cameras and long guns, the sound of shutter clicks filled the air, capturing the pristine moments around them.
The biting cold wind swept across the fields, stirring up fine dust.
In the fields, dozens of members wearing cotton hats and thick old cotton jackets were operating tractors.
Apply anti-alkali fertilizer in advance to this saline-alkali land that is to be improved.
Suddenly, I saw a group of people coming over and saying that foreign guests wanted to come and watch them work.
They knew that they would be receiving foreign guests today.
But they obviously didn't expect the convoy to stop suddenly, and they didn't expect these high-nosed foreigners to run over to their field to watch them fertilize.
After all, the news their captain received when he went to the meeting had nothing to do with them.
Just clean up and go to work as normal.
So they seemed very surprised by this kind of thing and were at a loss as to what to do.
Several members of the cooperative who were following the tractor also had their wooden rakes and shovels frozen in mid-air.
The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds, leaving only the howling of the cold wind and the low wheezing of the tractor engine.
It was only when Su Wenchen came over that he broke the brief silence with his clear voice.
He walked quickly forward and shouted.
"The distinguished guests coming up next are Mr. President and the leaders of our country!"
"They came specifically to see how we treat the saline-alkali land! We just work as usual! They just want to see what our real life is like!"
"Just do what you normally do."
Su Wenchen's words were simple and powerful, with soothing and clear instructions.
His arrival was like a reassurance, and when they recognized him as Su Wenchen, the tense atmosphere in the scene immediately eased a lot.
The panic on the members' faces quickly faded, replaced by curiosity and a little bit of restraint, but their bodies had relaxed and were no longer so stiff.
The tractor driver also shifted back into low gear and let the tractor continue to move forward slowly, using the iron harrow on the wheels to deeply plow up the slightly compacted soil.
At this time, the American translator who was fluent in Chinese came over and immediately translated what had just happened to the president in a low voice.
The other party nodded.
Although he doesn't know much Chinese, it doesn't mean that he can't understand the expressions on other people's faces.
Obviously, the sudden, surprised, reserved and stiff expression on the farmer's face just now did not seem to be fake.
If even this is just an act, then he thinks these farmers can definitely become actors in Hollywood.
He imitated the old man, squatted down, completely ignoring the mud on his expensive trouser legs, stretched out his fingers, and picked up a handful of freshly turned soil.
The surface of the soil still has a barely perceptible grayish-white tint, but the deeper layer is already brown-black mixed with black organic matter. It no longer feels like pure sand, but has a slight stickiness of humus.
Seeing this, Su Wenchen also walked over and introduced himself.
"Mr. President, this is the hero who made this barren land perform miracles: a special organic fertilizer that can break down salt and alkali molecules!"
As the translator repeated what Su Wenchen had just said.
The president said curiously.
"You just need to spread this fertilizer all over the ground?"
"How do they work?"
After hearing the translator's words, Su Wenchen paused and explained.
"Mr. President, our 'salt-alkali killer' bacteria will absorb some salt-alkali molecules and convert them into other nitrogen-related elements."
"This will effectively lower the pH value in the soil to a level that the crops can tolerate."
"Of course, if the salinization is serious, we will generally apply fertilizer again after a few months."
"Just like this piece of land in front of us, three months ago, it was as white as the land near the airport."
"It has now turned dark brown after this last topdressing."
“Once the weather warms up, the land will be ready for spring sowing.”
After hearing Su Wenchen's simple explanation, the president nodded thoughtfully.
“What is the cost of your governance?”
Su Wenchen paused after hearing this, then spoke slowly.
"According to the US hectare calculation method, our cost price is probably around $100 per hectare!"
"It's mainly in the breeding and fertilizer processing stages that a lot of manual labor is required."
After hearing the cost, the other party nodded and said to the person next to him.
"Zhou, congratulations on finding a way to tame this barren land!"
“If there’s a chance, I hope we can talk about this magical method!”
The old man responded with a smile.
"Mr. President, this technology stems from our responsibility to the land beneath our feet and carries the simple desire to ensure that our people have enough food to eat. We are pleased to see it become a bond connecting the well-being of the people of our two countries."
"We are also always willing to share our experience in improving people's livelihood with the world, but let me emphasize that the exchange of technology must be based on equality, mutual benefit and benefit ordinary people.
“Otherwise, this kind of communication will not last.”
The president nodded.
"I agree with you!"
"However, the specific negotiations should be left to my advisory team. Let's talk with your local relevant departments!"
At this time, some brave reporters had even pulled their translators forward and started to conduct simple interviews with the members who were following the tractors to spread fertilizer.
Faced with this situation, although the members were so nervous that their palms were sweaty and they spoke quickly, when asked, "Is this fertilizer really effective? Did the leaders of the Special Administrative Region deliberately make them say this?"
When faced with such related issues, the members' attitudes were surprisingly consistent, and there was even a hint of hostility in their words.
"How can you talk like that! Our own fertilizer is useful if it's useful, and useless if it's useless. You're saying this on purpose. What's the point of saying this on purpose?"
"If we don't use this fertilizer, everything will be white in winter, and even if we plant crops, they won't survive! Is this intentional?"
"Besides, this isn't something precious, so how can I not afford it?"
As he spoke, the affirmative attitude in his words was clearly palpable.
Although you, the members, may not express yourself fluently and eloquently, your simplicity, directness and heartfelt confidence cannot be expressed by fictitious words.
A few minutes later, the visit ended at the signal of the security personnel.
Su Wenchen also saw the president's accompanying translator walking over with a box and speaking.
"Director Su, I'm sorry, Mr. President asked me to come and apologize for disturbing your farmers' work just now."
"This box of chocolates is Mr. President's apology for the interruption just now."
Seeing this, Su Wenchen glanced at the person from the Concierge Department who followed over, and when he saw the other party nodded, he smiled and said.
"Okay, I'll convey the President's apology and thank them for the gift."
Seeing Su Wenchen take it, the other party nodded slightly and followed the crowd in front.
Su Wenchen also handed the things to Lei Bailiang.
"Uncle Lei, please arrange for someone to check it out. If there's no problem, send it to the member just now!"
Back on the main road, the convoy restarted and drove towards the reserved reception hall.
However, this time, perhaps the cold wind and soil on the ridges of the fields, and those simple faces that were frozen red but full of hope and hard work, may still remain in everyone's mind.
The news about the treatment of alkaline fertilizer also spread across the ocean with a brief interview.
At this time, in the living room of the Wilson family's farm.
Old Wilson's scarlet eyes almost poked into the TV screen.
He kept shouting.
"Oh! Sh*t!, a hundred dollars can improve an hectare!"
"These damn capitalists, I was wondering why they suddenly paid such a high price to buy my saline-alkali land in the Central Valley. They must have received the news a long time ago."
"They actually bought it from me for three hundred dollars!"
"Sh*t! Sh*t! I'm going to take my land back!"
While cursing, the old white man was about to pick up the hunting rifle on the wall, as if ready to take back his land. (End of this chapter)
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