Chapter 41: Strategic Codes and International Undercurrents
# Chapter 41: Strategic Codes and International Undercurrents
On the day the Traditional Variety Ecological Research Center opened, a light rain fell in Qingxi Village, but it didn't dampen the villagers' enthusiasm. The newly built science museum was packed with people. Outside, a video screen looped footage of traditional varieties improving soil quality—double-kernel walnuts growing in saline-alkali soils in the northwest, "star-patterned" tomatoes recovering from heavy metal pollution in the south. Every frame was filled with genuine excitement, not a hint of illusion.
Lin Xiaoman was leading a group of children through a replica of his grandfather's "Old Variety Planting Log." His fingertips traced the inscription: "In 1999, we planted the third batch of tomatoes and found that the root system could improve compacted soil." Suddenly, his phone vibrated. It was Major Su, his voice a bit more serious than usual. "Xiaoman, come to the base conference room immediately. It's an emergency. The research report on the old variety has just been classified as top secret. Several countries have suddenly defined it as a 'strategic ecological resource.' They're moving very quickly."
When he arrived at the conference room, Chen Wang was already seated at his desk, several foreign-language documents spread out before him, his brow furrowed. Major Su pointed at the international news on the screen, speaking rapidly, "This morning, Country A issued a ban prohibiting any technical exchanges related to the Qingxi old varieties. The EU has proposed 'sharing' ancient well microbial samples, lest they restrict Chinese agricultural imports. Three other countries have sent special envoys, promising to 'participate' in the old variety breeding project. Anyone with a discerning eye can see they're here to get resources."
"They're targeting the soil-improving capabilities of our traditional varieties." Chen Wang pointed at the word "food security" on the document, his tone growing colder. "There are over a billion mu of saline and polluted land around the world. If we can improve our traditional varieties, we'll have half the initiative in ensuring food security—that's the 'strategic code' they truly desire." He picked up the list of special envoys and pointed to a name. "Look, this 'agricultural consultant' was previously the technical director of the Blackstone Group. Now he's using an official identity to try to get in."
Lin Xiaoman flipped open his grandfather's diary and found a piece of letter paper tucked in the last few pages. It was an unsent letter his grandfather wrote to the Ecological Protection Bureau: "The value of the old Qingxi variety lies in the fact that its roots can nourish the soil, and the soil can grow seedlings. If the principle of symbiosis is leaked, it may attract the covetousness of various countries. We must protect the two foundations of soil and ancient wells and not give them away lightly." It turned out that his grandfather had foreseen the situation today. He deliberately concealed his research back then because he was afraid that this "soil-nourishing ability" would be snatched away by people with ulterior motives.
The next day, the special envoys arrived at Qingxi Village. The envoy from Country A walked in front, his attitude arrogant. As soon as he reached the edge of the old variety field, he reached out to take a soil sample. "This crop, which can improve the global ecology, should not be monopolized by one country. Your refusal to share is inconsistent with international morality."
"The old varieties are native crops grown in Qingxi Village, relying on the unique microorganisms and soil structure here. They won't grow well outside of Qingxi, let alone improve other lands." Major Su stepped forward, blocking his hand and pointing to the monitors on the edge of the field. "We've conducted more than a dozen cross-regional trials, and the survival rate of seedlings is less than 10%. Forced transplantation is a waste of resources."
The special envoys did not give up and asked to enter the research laboratory for "observation", but were politely declined by Chen Wang: "We welcome academic exchanges, but the cultivation of old varieties involves our country's ecological safety technology and is not open to the outside world for the time being." The envoys' faces instantly darkened, and before leaving, they said, "If you refuse to cooperate, you will lose the international market." The threat in their words could not be hidden.
Trouble arrived sooner than expected. A week later, the agency responsible for organic certification of the old varieties suddenly sent a letter announcing the suspension of the certification process, citing "joint complaints from multiple countries, requiring re-verification of safety." Immediately afterwards, all old strawberry jams and tomato products on e-commerce platforms were removed from shelves, with customer service providing a vague response: "We've received a complaint from the World Trade Organization, suspecting a technology monopoly."
"They are using trade tactics to force us to compromise." Chen Wang clenched the edge of the table as he looked at the orders that were cleared in the background. "They know they can't rob us by force, so they want to cut off our sales channels and force us to hand over the cultivation technology." What is even more worrying is that the infrared monitoring of the Ecological Protection Bureau has found that there are always unidentified drones hovering over the base at night. Some people even secretly took samples in the mountain stream near the ancient well, and fled in a hurry after being discovered by the patrol team.
While sorting through his grandfather's journals, Lin Xiaoman discovered a coded brown paper bag containing several pages of yellowed experimental records. His grandfather, while studying the roots of an old variety, discovered that the roots secrete a special organic acid that activates beneficial microorganisms in the soil and inhibits the activity of heavy metals. This is the key to the old variety's "soil-nourishing" properties, a "strategic code" coveted by various nations. The records concluded: "This acid must coexist with Qingxi microorganisms. If extracted and modified, it could potentially allow for artificial soil manipulation. Leakage must be strictly prevented."
"So they're after this organic acid extraction technology." Lin Xiaoman handed the records to Major Su, feeling a surge of anxiety. "If they get their hands on it, not only will they be able to monopolize soil improvement technology, they might even use it to disrupt the ecological balance in other areas."
Major Su quickly verified her suspicions. "We've intercepted communications from a research institute in Country A. They're collaborating with the remnants of the Blackstone Consortium to steal root samples from older varieties and decipher the genetic sequences of organic acids. The previous drone and mountain stream sampling efforts were all for this purpose."
In order to guard the "password", the Ecological Protection Bureau dispatched additional personnel, installed three layers of infrared warning systems around the base, and had someone on duty at the ancient well 24 hours a day; the villagers also spontaneously organized patrol teams. Uncle Li led the young people to circle the base during the day, while Aunt Wang and Grandma Zhang stood guard at the village entrance, registering strangers entering and leaving; even Xiaochen knew to help keep an eye out - he would go to the edge of the field after school every day, and if he found any unfamiliar vehicles, he would immediately run to tell the patrol team.
Late that night, an infrared warning suddenly sounded. Surveillance footage showed three men in black evading patrol routes and entering the laboratory's nursery area, where they were using specialized tools to dig out the roots of older varieties. When Chen Wang and Major Su led their men over, the men had just finished placing the roots into sample bottles. Realizing their whereabouts had been exposed, they dropped the bottles and fled into the mountains, only capturing one lone individual.
"There's gene preservation solution in the bottle." The researcher's face was solemn after testing it. "They wanted to take the root samples back to extract the organic acid gene. Fortunately, they didn't take it away."
This incident made everyone realize that the crisis was more insidious and dangerous than before. The old varieties were no longer just Qingxi Village's "treasures" but had become the focus of international competition. One wrong move could jeopardize the country's ecological security.
A few days later, a working group from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment arrived in Qingxi Village with new plans: "Traditional variety cultivation has been upgraded to a national strategic project. A special task force has been established, led by the Ecological Protection Bureau, in collaboration with agricultural and scientific research departments, to safeguard organic acid technology. At the same time, we've launched the 'Traditional Variety Ecological Corridor' project, piloting cultivation in suitable saline and polluted areas across the country. This will both promote the technology and mitigate the risks of a single base."
Chen Wang and Lin Xiaoman were appointed technical leaders of the special task force, responsible for developing technical standards for the pilot plantings. At the first team meeting, Lin Xiaoman combined his grandfather's experimental records with modern testing data and proposed a "locally adapted" approach: "We can't simply copy the Qingxi model when promoting established varieties. We must first test the local soil and incorporate appropriate microbial agents to ensure effective soil nourishment. This is the 'ecological balance' that my grandfather always emphasized."
However, the promotion efforts encountered obstacles just as they began. Country A announced an embargo on the precision testing equipment needed to cultivate old varieties, and the European Union restricted the export of key raw materials for microbial inoculants. Other countries also spread rumors internationally that old varieties would "destroy the local ecological balance," causing several provinces that had originally intended to pilot the program to hesitate.
"They want to cut off our technology chain." Chen Wang looked at the "embargo" sign on the equipment purchase list, but his tone was firm, "We can't rely on imports, we have to develop our own." He joined forces with domestic universities and research institutions to set up an "old variety equipment research group", intending to replace imported testing instruments with domestic equipment.
Lin Xiaoman, along with villagers and researchers, established an "experimental field" at the base, experimenting with his grandfather's traditional cultivation techniques—for example, using a decoction of pine needles and mugwort to replace imported microbial nutrient solutions. The results were surprisingly positive, with the roots of the old varieties growing stronger. Xiaochen came to help water the plants every day, reciting the motto in his grandfather's journal: "Morning dew waters the roots, evening breeze stirs the leaves. Follow the will of heaven and earth, and the seedlings will naturally grow strong." After a few days of this, he noticed that the seedlings in the plots he watered grew faster than those in the others.
"Mom, grandpa's formula seems to be really useful!" Xiaochen pulled Lin Xiaoman to see, his eyes full of surprise.
Lin Xiaoman touched his son's head and said with a smile, "It's not that the formula is magical, but what Grandpa has memorized is decades of experience in planting - the soft morning dew won't hurt the roots; the cool evening breeze allows the seedlings to breathe. This is all in line with the laws of plant growth."
In the evening, Chen Wang and Lin Xiaoman sat beneath an old pear tree, watching the old varieties in the field unfold their leaves in the night. In the distant research lab, lights were still on, as members of the research team worked through the night to debug a domestically produced detector. The patrol's footsteps were measured at the village entrance, and the infrared warning lights flashed like stars. Xiaochen played with Wangfu nearby, occasionally running to the edge of the field to whisper to the old varieties, "Grow well, don't let bad people steal them."
"Although it's difficult, I feel at ease." Lin Xiaoman leaned on Chen Wang's shoulder, clutching his grandfather's experimental records. "Before, I guarded the old variety for the sake of Qingxi Village; now I guard it for the ecological security of the country. This mission is heavy, but also more meaningful."
Chen Wang held her hand tightly, the silver ring on his fingertip touching her pear wood ring. "Whether it's an international blockade or covert sabotage, we can overcome it. Because we have the experience left by our grandfather, the support of the country, and the power of this land and the old varieties themselves - they are rooted here and will not be easily taken away."
He took out his mobile phone and edited his "Orchard Diary": "Strategic codes are hidden in the roots, and international undercurrents surround the outside. With the soil as the foundation and the heart as the shield, we will protect the seedlings of Qingxi and the country's ecological line." In the photo, the red ribbons on the branches of the old pear tree fluttered in the wind, and the infrared lights by the field and the lights in the research laboratory were connected together, like an impenetrable barrier.
The night breeze carried the delicate fragrance of the old varieties, along with a touch of determined warmth. In the distant city, the task force's meeting continued; the village patrol changed shifts, and new figures stepped into the night. Chen Wang and Lin Xiaoman knew that the battle to protect this "strategic code" had only just begun, but they were not afraid. With the nourishment of the land, the protection of the country, and the unity of all, the roots of the old varieties would grow deeper and deeper, and the light of this "strategic code" would shine only for China's ecological security.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
