The researchers turned to look and saw that Warden Tan had walked downstairs from his office at some point, and what was more, he was carrying several saplings of unknown species.
"What's wrong, Warden Tan?" Shen Yiran asked curiously.
The warden, his face etched with wrinkles, chuckled as he walked up. He glanced at the crowd, then flashed the sapling in his hand. "I received word that the research base will be demolished shortly after you leave, right? The prison will be restored to its previous layout?"
"Yes."
“These are red willow seedlings. Nothing else can grow in the Gobi Desert except drought-resistant plants that can adapt to this saline soil. Since you’ve come all this way, why don’t you leave something behind?”
Everyone then understood what the warden meant. There were only a few hundred meters ahead of the circular prison, with a sparse grove of red willows, though it was really just a dozen or so trees.
He planted all of these in his spare time. The northwest is too windy and sandy because there is no vegetation to protect it. China has been working hard to control it in recent years, and Lao Tan wanted to respond to the call when he had nothing to do.
Jiang Cheng and the others exchanged glances. This couldn't be better. Planting trees was not only meaningful, but they didn't know if they would ever have the chance to come back to the Gobi Desert again after they left.
Perhaps when we see the circular prison again, it will be many years later. By then, the red willows they planted should be lush and provide some shelter from the wind and sand for this "one of the few buildings in the Gobi Desert".
Let's consider this a final farewell before leaving.
"Let the people who are supposed to pick us up wait a bit. Planting a few trees won't take long."
Jiang Cheng immediately made a decision, took a sapling from Warden Tan, and turned to tell everyone, "What are you all standing around for? Go to the prison and get a shovel, a bucket, or something."
"clear!"
Many researchers smiled and strode inside.
They chose a good spot and used shovels to pry open the hard ground. The dry soil was stuck together and not loose enough, so under Warden Tan's guidance, they pounded the soil to loosen it. Within a circle about the size of a bucket, there was enough space for the tamarisk to grow.
Once this plant survives, its roots will continue to extend outwards. Eventually, they will become thick enough to penetrate hard soil. Right now, however, it is still young and needs protection.
Jiang Cheng held a shovel in his hand. He vaguely remembered that when he was a child, he planted a cherry tree with his father in the small vegetable garden in the courtyard of his old home. At that time, he looked forward to the cherry blossoms and fruit every day, but before that day came, he went to a boarding school for high school and then met Zhao Xuerou.
Later, I only went home during winter and summer vacations and once a month, which meant I missed the cherry blossom and fruiting season.
But he has no regrets. Many things are like that; they don't necessarily have to have a good outcome. As long as you have had good wishes in your heart, that's enough.
Ignoring the risk of getting his hands dirty, he tossed the shovel aside, dug out the soil from the pit with his hands, placed the sapling inside, and then pushed it into the soft soil piled up next to it.
Many of these researchers had never experienced rural farming life, especially Shen Yiran. She was clumsy, sometimes tilting the tools, sometimes using her dirty hands to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and it took her a long time to dig out a hole that looked like a mess.
She looked up and saw that both Jiang Cheng and Chen Ang were doing their jobs quite well. She was a little surprised. Did her research colleagues in the same laboratory have all sorts of unknown skills?
Shen Yiran was immediately filled with envy.
In this young lady's eyes, being able to work has become a virtue.
Warden Tan instructed everyone to tamp the soil around the perimeter of the hill not too tightly or too firmly, so that it could resist wind and sand while allowing the roots of the tamarisk to breathe oxygen.
There are gaps between soil molecules, which allows for ample air to enter.
Wan Xingyan and several other men went inside the circular prison and fetched several buckets of water. They planted a dozen or so trees, and within an hour, they had finished planting them all.
The weather in December was already quite cold. Jiang Cheng and his companions were wearing heavy clothes, and before they knew it, beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads, and steam began to rise from their heads.
They spent two months in the Northwest, not a complete autumn, and the year was drawing to a close. The Brain-Inspired Project was a complete conclusion.
After returning to Kyoto, Jiang Cheng wanted to spend more time with Xiao Li while dealing with affairs within the hospital. Since they had only recently started dating, Jiang Cheng naturally felt that Xiao Li was the most important person in his life, and he was very happy when he was with her.
"Alright, mission accomplished!"
Chen Ang's excited voice came from the other end.
The researchers stepped back a few paces, standing on a slightly higher vantage point, looking at their collaborative masterpiece. On the sunny slope, a dozen or so tender saplings were already growing, swaying in the slightly chilly wind.
The unopened leaves are only the size of a fingertip, green, connected to the brown branches. Before long, after enduring this long and cold winter, they will be able to sprout new buds.
Although they are not delicate flowers, trees can still bloom; they are an iron wall against the Gobi Desert in Northwest China.
Jiang Cheng looked at the trees with satisfaction, clapped his hands, and they prepared to leave.
I took one last, reluctant look at the circular prison.
He didn't go to say goodbye to Mizutani Yumi, because he didn't know what to say. He had already asked the prison guards to convey the news of his departure. In fact, even if he didn't say anything, she could have guessed it with her intelligence.
Neither of them knew whether they would have the chance to meet again in the future.
But they tacitly agreed to protect a secret together, which was about Luo Xiaoli's background.
Jiang Cheng and his group got into the car, rolled down the window, and glanced at Warden Tan, who was still on the slope.
The old man with a wrinkled face stood up and waved.
Jiang Cheng smiled and waved.
The engine roared, the car started, and headed towards the distant horizon, thus concluding the story of the Northwest.
Shen Yiran suddenly peeked out and looked directly at Warden Tan, who was still standing there like a towering black tower. He was born in this place and guarded this place, never having left.
"Uncle Tan, I'll come back to see you when I have time!" The already sensitive girl's emotions erupted at this moment, and tears welled up instantly.
It's just unknown whether her cries will be heard by the warden, who is already hundreds of meters away.
The scenery in Shen Yiran's eyes gradually blurred, and the warden's figure gradually turned into an indistinct black dot.
They left this land.
Continue to strive for scientific research.
The researchers silently said in their hearts: Goodbye, Northwest.
(Laplace's Demonic Scroll Ends)
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