The door to Old Lin's study creaked open.
Then, several people came out of the tightly closed study.
Some were older, and some looked younger.
They walked and talked and laughed.
"Oh my, this little guy is so talkative! He's really keeping me so bored!"
"Luckily, your place is well-equipped and well-ventilated, otherwise I wouldn't be able to stay there."
It turned out that these people had been waiting in the room for a while, eavesdropping on Chen Dong and Old Lin's conversation.
Old Lin asked, "You all heard what young Chen said just now. What do you think of what he said?"
The middle-aged man from the State Planning Commission spoke first: "Mr. Lin, I think he's exaggerating a bit. The corn and other crop seeds developed by the United States are indeed much better than our own. And we have to feed so many people across the country; we simply can't do it on our own. So, whether from a purely economic perspective or from a social benefit perspective, I tend to increase imports while ensuring domestic production. We need to walk on two legs; that's the only way to walk steadily."
However, an elderly man with completely white hair chimed in, "But what Chen Dong said isn't without merit. It concerns the people's food supply, and there's no room for error. It's better to keep these things in our own hands."
Then, everyone else shared their thoughts.
There are many different opinions, each with its own basis, and the viewpoints are divergent and evenly matched.
In the end, everyone turned their attention to Old Lin, wanting to hear his thoughts.
No one spoke; they simply watched Elder Lin quietly, wanting to hear his opinion.
Although Mr. Lin has retired, his views still play a crucial role.
Old Lin silently lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
The doctor was about to stop him when the secretary interrupted, "Never mind, let the old man have it."
The doctor thought for a moment and could only nod.
......
As he smoked, Old Lin paced slowly around the room, lost in thought.
Amidst the swirling smoke, he squinted slightly.
After finishing his cigarette, Old Lin said, "Young Chen is right. From an economic point of view, it's not as cost-effective to import as to grow our own. But once we're held hostage... comrades, the lesson is profound! Who could have imagined that our former big brother would be tormented to the point of near collapse by those Western companies? No matter what, no matter how poor the country is, we can't let our people suffer. Not to mention, this is related to the stability of our regime. I believe that if we give our comrades five or ten years, they will definitely be able to cultivate seeds suitable for our country's characteristics. A small amount of imports is acceptable, but we absolutely cannot relinquish our dominant position. Although some things can be compromised and sacrificed, the rice bowl of the Chinese people must be held firmly in our own hands."
The "elder brother" that Lin Lao mentioned was actually the "Russian Empire" that existed a few years ago.
Russia has more than three times the global average arable land area per capita. Yet, by the late 1980s, they needed to import more than 80% of their food from the United States.
Initially, Russia made money by exporting oil and then used that money to buy food from the United States.
But then, the US said it had a poor harvest and wouldn't sell its grain. At the same time, however, they began aggressively suppressing international crude oil prices.
Over time, Mao accumulated a huge amount of foreign debt.
Then, domestic prices skyrocketed, people suffered, and ordinary people couldn't even get enough to eat...
In the end, Da Mao collapsed.
Therefore, food can also be a weapon, capable of overthrowing a country.
At this moment, no one present was surprised by Elder Lin's idea, because Elder Lin had almost already expressed his opinion during Chen Dong's narration.
What he said at that moment was merely a reiteration of his point of view.
Upon hearing Elder Lin's words, the official from the Planning Commission's face darkened.
He knew his plan had failed.
If they can't get past Old Lin here, they can't get past anyone else either.
Originally, he was a newly appointed official who hoped to gain experience and a good reputation by increasing import quotas, but now it seems that's out of the question.
However, it seems there's still something that can be done.
Suddenly, his eyes darted around.
Yes, it's the genetically modified crop that the guy surnamed Chen was talking about.
Maybe we can give it a try.
He had only heard of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) before, but had never actually been exposed to them.
...
......
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