Chapter 86 New Variety We have developed a new grape variety...
Behind Lin Huijun's words, it was as if an invisible hand had suddenly appeared, abruptly pulling Chen Yongliang's thoughts back to decades ago.
He had just graduated from high school and was overjoyed, thinking he could go to university in another province. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, he had to return home to farm.
Going to university...
This time, it was Chen Yongliang's turn to be conflicted.
Chen Yongliang said slowly, "I haven't touched a book for many years."
“Of course there are. Those books on your bookshelf are practically worn out from being read so many. You didn’t even leave them at home this time when you came to Xinjiang; you secretly brought them all with you,” Lin Huijun teased with a smile. “You don’t think I don’t know, do you?”
Chen Yongliang was somewhat embarrassed by his wife's words, "But what am I going to do in college now? Mianmian is doing it for the farm, you're doing it for the clothing company, what can I do..."
His daughter and wife have been very busy lately, so he stays home to help with cooking, delivering things, and looking after the farm. He doesn't have anything specifically for himself; he's like a versatile brick, always there wherever he's needed.
Chen Yongliang couldn't understand why he was going to university. If it were twenty years ago, or even ten years ago, he would have been confident that he could find a decent job after graduating from university again, and achieve his life goals while supporting his family. But now it's twenty years later.
He is almost fifty years old.
Lin Huijun never expected her husband to think of her this way. She gently took Chen Yongliang's hands and stroked them, saying, "Ah Liang, it's never too late to start reading. You're the one who told me that."
Chen Yongliang: "That was before. I'm old now."
“I’m getting old too, but now when I go out, people still call me Teacher Lin,” Lin Huijun said. “Age has never been a problem. With your excellent writing skills, you can continue writing articles and poems after graduating from university and submit them to newspapers and publishing houses.”
"Now we don't need to do the farm work ourselves."
When Lin Huijun spoke these words, her eyes were bright and she looked radiant. Chen Yongliang looked at his wife and felt that she was now like a real city person.
Unlike the women who were previously confined to the fields and kitchens, Lin Huijun now resembles the woman they first met—idealistic and ambitious.
Chen Yongliang: "Okay, let's retake the college entrance exam together." Let's be young again together.
In April, Professor Shen Hetong led several students from his research group to Xinjiang for an inspection tour, and their first stop was the Kapok Peach Orchard.
Chen Muhe, the only undergraduate student in the team, also came along.
It must be said that Professor Shen chose the perfect time. Half of the peach trees in the orchard were still in bloom, while the other half had just borne fruit. The small green fruits, like little lanterns, stood gracefully on the branches.
Upon arriving at the farm, before Chen Mian could even exchange a few pleasantries, Shen Hetong politely declined her warm hospitality.
Shen Hetong: "Sister Muhe, you don't need to be so polite. Just treat us as ordinary tourists visiting the farm and tell us about the current situation."
Chen Mian: "Okay, everyone, follow me."
Although Shen Hetong told Chen Mian to treat them as ordinary tourists, they were still the first group of tourists she had received since the opening of Mian Peach Garden.
When the peach blossoms were in bloom this year, everyone in the family was extremely busy. It was already a feat if they could find a moment to check on the farm; they simply didn't have the energy to open it to the public.
Chen Mian introduced the situation from the front, while Shen He occasionally asked a few questions about the details. The students behind them, including Chen Muhe, were all frantically taking notes with paper and pen in hand.
Shen and Tong knew what they were doing without even turning around: "Just take a few notes, we'll need to collect the specific data separately."
Shen Hetong is quite satisfied with the existing model of Chen Mian's farm. It has fixed boutique projects, as well as short-term crops that can be flexibly changed. Chickens are even raised in the peach orchard, forming a simple ecological cycle.
When he saw the vegetable greenhouse, Shen Hetong was even more surprised, "Did you figure this out yourself?"
He remembered that greenhouse cultivation was only being promoted on a small scale at the time, and he wondered how Chen Kapok had managed to do it, and how the yield seemed to be quite good.
Chen Mian: "I learned this from an older woman. She likes to study these things and figured it out after seeing it on TV."
"The old lady's grape farm isn't far from here. If you're interested, you can go and take a look. Her grapes are delicious."
Shen Hetong said thoughtfully, "One of our recent research projects is on new grape varieties. We have already achieved some initial results, but we need data from large-scale experimental fields to support our findings."
Chen Mian had already grasped the implied meaning and gladly offered herself up, "What do you think of me? Just tell me how much area you want and what conditions you require."
Shen Hetong adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his handmade suit still bearing the distinctive dark pattern, and smiled elegantly, "You are Muhe's older sister. Even if you didn't try, we would have contacted you anyway."
He briefly introduced the new grape variety to Chen Mian, explaining that it was a hybrid of grape varieties from Europe and America. The fruit is yellowish-green, with thin skin and firm, crisp flesh, seedless, and has a high sugar content.
Although he hasn't seen the actual product yet, just based on the few keywords Chen Hetong used to describe it, Chen Mian can already tell that this new variety will definitely take over the market quickly in the future.
With its beautiful color and appealing appearance, firm and crisp flesh that's easy to transport, seedless texture, and high sugar content, the fruit is sure to taste great.
Chen Mian smiled sweetly instantly, her dimples appearing and disappearing at the corners of her lips. "Thank you, Professor Shen. You're so kind to our Muhe."
She caught a glimpse of her sister out of the corner of her eye, who was turning her head away as if to avoid suspicion, and the smile in her eyes gradually deepened.
After the visit, Chen Mian invited the group to stay at her home, but Shen Hetong said that his assistant had already booked a hotel in advance and that the students should go back and rest first.
As for himself, he still had some details to discuss with Chen Mian about the experimental field, so he stayed at the Chen family home with Chen Muhe.
Chen Mian smiled and agreed, "Professor Shen, please sit and rest for a while. I'll go cook for you."
In the living room, Chen Muhe awkwardly asked, "What would you like to drink?"
Shen Hetong, who had previously been gentle and refined, now had a smile that carried a hint of unbridled arrogance. "I like anything you pour."
.
The program that Chen Mianmian and Ji Yu took was mainly for working professionals seeking further education. They could choose their class times freely; during the week, they could attend classes with other university students, or if they didn't have time, they could attend classes alone on weekday evenings or weekends.
She has flexible working hours, so she chose to attend classes during the week so that she could participate in more campus activities with her younger classmates.
Ji Yu has to work during the week, so he can only attend classes on weekends. However, in order to experience university life with Chen Mian, he still insists on taking Chen Mian to school every morning before going to work.
After get off work, he would pick up Chen Mianmian from school on time. Occasionally, when he worked overtime, Chen Mianmian would wait for him in the office until he finished, and then they would go home together.
On Friday afternoon, Ji Yu finished her work early and prepared to pick up Chen Mianmian to go out for hot pot.
A military green jeep was parked at the school gate. Ji Yu, dressed in neat overalls, leaned against the car door with a peach-flavored lollipop in her mouth.
At 5:30, a group of youthful and energetic college students walked out of the school gate one after another to the food street across the street for a treat.
Chen Mian did not come out for a long time. Ji Yu casually looked around for a while, and was about to get up and go in to look for her when he suddenly saw Chen Mian and a boy with shoulder-length hair walking out together.
The two of them seemed to be chatting and laughing.
Ji Yu's eyes gradually turned cold. He bit the lollipop in his mouth and snorted coldly, preparing to go over and see what they were talking about that made them so happy.
And this person looks kind of familiar.
Wen Xuyan was in high spirits: "Chen, the story you just told in class was really touching. Can I write it into a story to participate in this essay contest?"
"Or you can write it yourself, and I'll help you revise and polish it. Such a good story really deserves to be seen by more people; it gave me an unprecedented sense of vitality..."
Chen Mian smiled awkwardly and exchanged a few polite words. Didn't she know her own level? Besides, if she hadn't been distracted and called on by the teacher to share a case study, she wouldn't have hastily used her own entrepreneurial experience to fill the gap.
"Really, it's not necessary. Thank you for your kindness, Wen, but my story is really ordinary, so I won't spoil your masterpiece," Chen Mian said.
“How can this be called pollution?” Wen Xuyan grabbed Chen Mian’s shoulder excitedly when he saw that she was unmoved. “This is literature and art! It is a literary creation based on a true story.”
Ji Yu stepped forward, grabbed the man's arm, and said sternly, "Police officer, what are you doing, touching me like that?"
Wen Xuyan instinctively squatted down and covered his head, "Officer, I really didn't do anything this time, I just talked to her about literary creation."
Ji Yu: "You said the same thing when you were arrested and taken to the police station for harassing women last time. If I see you doing it again, I will report it to your school leaders and have you severely punished."
Wen Xuyan pleaded, "No, no, officer, I'll leave, okay? I really just wanted to discuss art with them."
"Three, two..."
"Get out of here right now, get out of here right now." Wen Xuyan brushed his wind-blown hair aside and ran away, tumbling and crawling.
"Chen, you really need to think this over carefully! I'll be waiting for you!"
Ji Yu got even angrier when he heard the last sentence. He was about to go over and bring the person back when Chen Mian stopped him.
"Okay, forget about him, let's go eat. I've been craving it for days." Chen Mian took Ji Yu's arm and looked at him with a smile.
Ji Yu: "Stay away from him next time. He's no good."
"Okay, I'll take good care of myself," Chen Mian replied, briefly explaining the conversation between the two of them to Ji Yu.
"He doesn't seem to be in our major..."
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Author's Note: This is unprecedented! I actually wrote 21,000 words in a week! Please, please let me finish it by the end of July! [emoji]
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