Chapter 130 Gold Nuts Grown in Saline Soil
"Engineer He, ladies, come and take a look."
It was a renovation plan drawn in pencil, with clear lines and markings that neatly organized the dilapidated warehouse.
"This is the raw material initial processing and cleaning area. We need to ensure proper water supply and drainage."
"This area, divided into individual rooms, is the processing area. We need to ensure it's well-ventilated and dry."
“We will build a drying area with a glass roof on the south side of the warehouse, which faces the sun.”
"At the very back, we'll build a top-standard laboratory for formula research and product testing!"
The entire layout and process are scientific and the flow is reasonable; it's something that a layman couldn't have drawn.
Chief Engineer He leaned closer, his eyes lighting up with each look, and finally he couldn't help but slap the table in admiration.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Director Su, how did you come up with this idea? This layout is more logical than many conventional pharmaceutical factories I've ever seen!"
Under Su Yue's leadership, the enthusiasm of the military wives was completely ignited.
Without workers, they did it themselves!
Clearing weeds, moving bricks and stones, leveling the land... these women, who usually only revolve around the stove, are now bursting with amazing energy.
When the men heard about this after get off work, they all rolled up their sleeves and rushed over to help.
In an instant, the entire abandoned warehouse was transformed into a bustling construction site, filled with shouts and laughter.
Deputy Director Qian had come to inspect the area once before, his hands behind his back. Seeing this scene, he merely curled his lip in disdain, waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.
Just as the factory was taking shape, Su Yue made a decision that shocked everyone.
She submitted a report to the military region, requesting to use the most barren saline-alkali land at the foot of the back mountain.
Everyone knows that the land is covered in frost all year round, and not only can crops not grow, but even weeds can hardly grow.
Upon hearing the news, Deputy Director Qian laughed so hard in his office that he slapped his thigh. He concluded that Su Yue was about to shoot herself in the foot.
Faced with everyone's incomprehension and doubt, Su Yue simply stood in front of that barren land, facing the sea breeze, a confident smile curving her lips.
She said this to Sister Li and Sister Sun who came to inquire.
"I will turn this wasteland into a land of gold!"
The news that Su Yue was going to open an experimental field on that saline-alkali land that even weeds disliked became the latest joke in the entire military compound in less than half a day.
"Have you heard? Factory Director Su from Commander Gu's family is going to grow medicinal herbs in that barren, saline-alkali land behind the mountain!"
"Really? That place is unsuitable for growing crops; you could throw a blade of grass in and it would choke you to death. What is she planning to do?"
"Who knows? Young people, they get arrogant after achieving some success."
When Deputy Director Qian of the Logistics Department heard this news in his office, he laughed so hard that his hand holding the teacup trembled.
He made no attempt to hide his contempt in front of several subordinates.
"What a pipe dream! She thinks she can grow precious medicinal herbs in a place where even crops can't survive? I'll wait and see how she throws away the military region's funds!"
These rumors quickly reached the ears of the military wives, and their newly ignited enthusiasm was suddenly doused with cold water.
Sister-in-law Li and Sister-in-law Sun, along with several other core members, approached Su Yue with great concern.
"Xiao Su... no, Director Su, is that land really feasible? We're all complete novices. What if... what if it's really like what Deputy Director Qian said, and our factory becomes a laughing stock before it even opens?"
Sister-in-law Sun clutched the hem of her clothes, her face full of worry.
Su Yue was drawing some blueprints in the yard. When she heard this, she looked up, her face showing no sign of worry.
She put down her pencil, dusted off her hands, and her eyes were as calm as a deep pool.
"Sisters, what others say doesn't matter; what matters is what we do. Let them laugh; we'll do our thing. Once we've grown it, let's see who's still laughing."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a convincing power.
Sister-in-law Li and Sister-in-law Sun exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and made up their minds.
"Okay! Factory manager, whatever you say, we'll do it!"
That's the kind of drive Su Yue needs.
She put the blueprints away, stood up, and looked towards the back of the mountain.
“Come on, I’ll take you to ‘cure’ that piece of land.”
The next day, Su Yue, along with Sister Li, Sister Sun, and several other military wives who had passed the recruitment process and been selected as core members of her team, set off in a grand procession to that saline-alkali land.
The first step in improving soil is to neutralize its acidity and alkalinity.
While everyone was baffled, Su Yue took them to the beach and collected basket after basket of seashells.
"Burn! Burn these seashells into lime, which is the best alkaline neutralizer."
The military wives were skeptical, but they obediently built a fire.
Having addressed the acidity and alkalinity issue, the next step is to increase soil fertility.
Su Yue then led them to the swamp on the other side of the island.
That place is flooded all year round, the silt is black and smelly, and mosquitoes and flies swarm around it. Nobody wants to go near it normally.
Su Yue's eyes lit up as she pointed to the thick layer of humus-rich black mud and declared, "Treasures! These are all treasures! Dig them up, mix them with poultry manure, and ferment them—that'll be the most natural organic fertilizer!"
As she spoke, she was the first to roll up her trousers and step into the smelly mud.
The military wives were stunned to see Su Yue, who was usually clean and beautiful, suddenly turn herself into a muddy mess.
Immediately, a surge of hot blood rushed to his head.
"The factory manager has already left, what are we still standing here for!"
"Damn it! It's just some stinky mud!"
A group of women were working enthusiastically in the mud.
Deputy Director Qian, with his hands behind his back, made a special detour to "inspect" the area, wanting to see what tricks Su Yue was up to.
What he saw was this scene: a group of women covered in mud, laughing and joking as they dug black mud in a stinking ditch, while their "Factory Owner Su" was even more disheveled, his face covered in mud.
Deputy Director Qian's brows furrowed, and disdain spilled from the corners of his mouth without any attempt to hide it.
He cleared his throat and spoke sarcastically in a condescending tone.
"Director Su, what are you doing? To me, it doesn't look like you're farming, it looks like you're playing in the mud."
The military wives paused, their faces showing some embarrassment.
Su Yue straightened up and wiped the sweat from her face with the back of her hand, only to find that she had smeared even more mud on her face.
She glanced at the impeccably dressed Deputy Director Qian on the shore, didn't even blink, and retorted directly:
“Deputy Director Qian, we are fertilizing the land and improving the soil, which is the first step in scientific planting.”
She paused, a faint smile curving her lips.
“If Deputy Director Qian doesn’t understand agriculture, he should refrain from speaking like an outsider, otherwise he’ll easily expose his lack of intelligence. You should go back and have some tea; the sun is strong here, so don’t get heatstroke.”
"you!"
Deputy Director Qian's face instantly turned bright red. To be publicly accused of "exposing his IQ" by a young girl was an utter disgrace!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com