Chapter 40: Crop Rebirth and Mission Inheritance
# Chapter 40: Crop Rebirth and Mission Inheritance
On a morning after the rain, Qingxi Village was shrouded in a light mist, the air filled with the fresh scent of earth and vegetation. The new guardrails at the old variety base had a matte silver-gray finish. A patrol car from the Ecological Protection Bureau slowly rolled over the ridges of the fields, its wheels treading the moist earth, leaving shallow marks that were quickly blurred by the morning dew. Lin Xiaoman squatted by the ancient well, watching as a researcher drew a water sample with a glass tube, her fingertips gently brushing the moss along the well's edge. This well, which had protected Qingxi Village for a century, had not only saved the old varieties in the fields but also revealed a secret that her grandfather had kept hidden for half his life.
"The test results are in!" A researcher in a white coat ran over, holding an instrument, his voice filled with excitement. "The activity of the unique degrading microorganisms in the ancient well water has increased threefold, and the efficiency of decomposing toxins is twice as high as last week! Moreover, this microorganism only survives in the soil of Qingxi Village, which is a unique ecological advantage here!"
Lin Xiaoman took the printed test report and his eyes fell on the line "Qingxi unique microorganism-crop symbiotic system". He suddenly remembered the words in his grandfather's notes: "Well water produces bacteria, bacteria nourish soil, and soil protects seedlings, which are the roots of Qingxi." It turned out that his grandfather had discovered the symbiotic relationship between the ancient well microorganisms and the old varieties long ago, but he was afraid of attracting the covetousness of outsiders, so he did not break this window paper and only left obscure comments in his notes.
Chen Wang approached, carrying a bamboo basket filled with freshly picked strawberries. The fruits were bright red, their stems still stained with moisture. "Major Su said this batch of strawberries can be sent for national organic certification, and the packaging will have the 'National Native Crop Protected Variety' logo printed on it. The city's supermarket chains have already placed orders for the second half of the year." He squatted down and brushed the grass debris from Lin Xiaoman's hair. "Where's Xiaochen? Is he in the parent-child area again talking to the kids about the seedlings?"
"That's right, I'm a tour guide now." Lin Xiaoman smiled and took a bite of the strawberry. The sweetness mixed with a hint of acidity spread in her mouth - it was the same taste she was used to as a child, but it was mellower than before. "Experts say that after this pollution test, the old varieties have become more resistant and sweeter. It's a blessing in disguise."
As they walked towards the parent-child area, they heard Xiaochen's voice from afar: "This is a 'Star Pattern' tomato. It was planted the year I was born. It was poisoned by bad guys before, but it was saved by the water from the ancient well and the degraders from the uncles and aunts!" He was holding a pot of seedlings in his hand. The light yellow lines on the leaves were very conspicuous in the morning light. There were several children who came to study around him, and their eyes lit up when they heard it.
"Brother Xiaochen, can this kind of tomato really only be grown in Qingxi Village?" The little girl with pigtails tugged at the corner of his clothes.
Xiaochen nodded and quickly added: "But Aunt Su said that she will study how to grow it in other places in the future, but we have to protect the soil and water here first, because the microorganisms only exist here!" This was what Chen Wang taught him yesterday, but he said it so convincingly that even the researcher next to him couldn't help laughing.
Not far away, Major Su and Uncle Li were discussing the base expansion plan over blueprints. In addition to a larger nursery shed, the newly planned area also included a "Qingxi Old Variety Science Museum." The walls would be covered with photos of old varieties growing, copies of Grandpa's research notes, and stories from the recent battle against the Blackstone Consortium. "The state will allocate special funds to build a constant-temperature nursery," Major Su said, pointing to the blue area on the blueprint. "It will be able to control the temperature in winter and provide shade in summer. Even in extreme weather conditions, the old varieties will be able to grow safely."
Uncle Li smiled so hard that his wrinkles were squeezed together. "That's great! My son called yesterday and said he's quit his job in the city and is coming back to be a guide at the science museum. He also said he'd write a short story about our seedling protection and tell it to everyone who comes here!"
At noon, the villagers gathered under the old pear tree for lunch. The stone table was filled with dishes made from traditional Chinese food: tofu with strawberry jam, beef brisket stewed with tomatoes, and stir-fried vegetables with walnuts. Even the soup, cooked with pear branches, was fragrant. Grandma Zhang handed a bowl of double-kernel walnut sweet soup to Major Su. "Comrade Su, try this! We picked the walnuts this morning and simmered them for two hours. They're incredibly sweet!"
Major Su took the soup, took a sip, and her eyes lit up. "This tastes really unique, with a walnut aroma and a hint of pear sweetness. No wonder the Blackstone Group is eyeing it." She put down the bowl and pulled a silver USB flash drive from her briefcase, handing it to Lin Xiaoman. "This is Grandpa Lin's research materials compiled by the bureau. It contains decades of his planting records, soil testing data, and correspondence with our bureau. He deliberately concealed his contact with us because he was afraid his old varieties would be stolen."
Lin Xiaoman took the USB drive, his fingertips trembling slightly. He plugged it into the laptop next to him, and a densely packed document popped up on the screen. The top folder was titled "Qingxi Old Variety Protection Log." He clicked on the first page, and saw his grandfather's familiar handwriting: "In 1998, we tried planting 'Star Pattern' tomatoes. We found that they thrived better when grown alongside old pear trees. Soil moisture changes need to be recorded..." Flipping back, there were several unsent letters, addressed to the "Ecological Protection Bureau." They all covered the growth and potential risks of old varieties.
"Grandpa...has been guarding these seedlings all this time, and he even wanted to tell the country." Lin Xiaoman's tears fell on the keyboard, but she wiped them away with a smile. "Now it's good. His research can help more people."
"Not only can it help more people, it can also help more land." Major Su pointed to a report on the screen. "Researchers have discovered that the roots of 'Star Pattern' tomatoes secrete an organic acid that activates beneficial microorganisms in the soil and improves saline-alkali soil. The bureau would like you to take the lead in establishing the 'Qingxi Traditional Variety Ecological Research Center' to promote this technology nationwide. Are you willing?"
Lin Xiaoman looked at Chen Wang, who held her hand and nodded gently. They both looked at Major Su and said firmly, "We do. This is Grandpa's wish, and it's what we should do."
In the evening, the setting sun cast a long shadow over the old pear tree. The cracks in the trunk had long since healed, and new branches were draped with red ribbons bearing the words "Protecting the Old Variety, Carrying On the Mission" written by the old accountant. The strawberry beds in the fields glowed red, tomato vines climbed high along the bamboo trellises, and the new leaves of the double-kernel walnut seedlings swayed in the wind. The entire base was brimming with vitality.
Chen Wang took out his mobile phone and edited the "Orchard Diary": "Old varieties are reborn, and protection has a new mission. Based on my grandfather's research and with the support of the country, we will protect the soil of Qingxi and let the sweetness of old varieties spread to more places." In the photo, he and Lin Xiaoman are holding Xiaochen's hands and standing under the old pear tree. Xiaochen is holding freshly picked strawberries in his hand. The background is the science museum under construction and the patrolling members of the Ecological Protection Bureau.
Xiaochen suddenly pointed to the sky and shouted, "Mom and Dad! Look! The sunset glow is the same color as Miaomiao!"
Everyone looked up. The setting sun had dyed the sky a pale red, overlapping with the color of the strawberries in the field and the pale yellow stripes of the tomatoes, creating a warm and cozy painting. Wangfu squatted nearby, wagging his tail cheerfully and barking softly at the sunset, as if happy for the peaceful days ahead.
Lin Xiaoman leaned on Chen Wang's shoulder, clutching her grandfather's old badge—she had wiped it clean with a soft cloth, the words "Ecological Protection" faintly visible. She knew that her grandfather's single-handed protection had now become a shared mission; Qingxi Village's traditional crops were now national treasures.
The night breeze blew through the backyard, carrying the sweet scent of strawberries and the aroma of earth. In the distant nursery, researchers were still recording data; at the science museum construction site, workers were packing up their tools; and by the fence at the village entrance, members of the Ecological Protection Bureau were still patrolling. Everything was slowly getting better. The old varieties were growing, the land was recovering, people's hearts were coming together, and the mission was being passed on.
Chen Wang and Lin Xiaoman know that there may be new challenges in the future, such as the difficulty in promoting old varieties and the threat of alien species, but they are no longer afraid - with the support of the country, the support of the villagers, and the wisdom left by their grandfather, they will definitely be able to continue this protection, let the old varieties of Qingxi Village take root and bear fruit in more land, and pass on the sweetness of the land to more people.
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