The first stop for the convoy was the freshwater lake on the west side.
Today, this place has been named "West Lake" and has become the shelter's most important source of protein.
When the convoy arrived at the lakeside, the sight before them caused the accompanying ministers to gasp in amazement.
On the vast expanse of the lake, ten larger and sturdier fishing boats made of ironwood are shuttling back and forth.
The huge fishing net was being towed by boats working together. With each haul in of the net, you could see the silvery fish struggling inside, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight.
Along the lake, rows of huge wooden docks and processing workshops have been built. Countless workers here quickly sort, clean, and gut the freshly caught fish.
The air was filled with a rich aroma, a blend of the smell of water and the fresh scent of fish, but to everyone who smelled it, it was so comforting. Because it represented abundance.
As soon as the convoy came to a stop, a dark-skinned, burly man, as strong as an iron tower, jogged over with a beaming smile.
He was the head of the West Lake Fishery, nicknamed "Old Black," and the leader of the fishermen.
"Leader... Leader! You... You've come in person! Oh my, this... This truly brings honor to our West Lake!" Old Hei was so excited that he was almost incoherent. He wanted to kneel down to pay his respects, but Qin Lan stopped him with a cold look.
"No need for formalities." Lin Feng stepped out of the car, looked at the bustling scene before him, and nodded in satisfaction: "Old Hei, well done. I heard you're now supplying the shelter with over 10,000 catties of fresh fish every day?"
"Reporting to the leader! It's more than ten thousand catties!"
Upon hearing this, Old Hei immediately perked up. He puffed out his chest and proudly declared, "This is all thanks to you! Since we started using the new fishing nets, our fishing efficiency has at least tripled!"
He pointed to a huge pool next to him, where several giant catfish, each over three meters long, were swimming leisurely. They were jet black and had a metallic sheen on their backs.
"Look! This is it! We used to avoid it like the plague, its tail could sweep a hole in a boat! Now, hey, it's all on our plates! It has few bones and lots of meat, and the soup it makes is milky white and very nourishing!"
Lin Feng watched with great interest and asked, "What happens to the fish we catch? Can you guarantee there won't be any waste?"
"Don't worry, Leader!" Old Hei patted his chest and assured him, "We're not like we used to be! Besides supplying fresh fish to the shelter's canteen and the logistics store, we've built a fish-smoking room for the rest, slowly smoking them with fruitwood to make dried fish that can last for a year! The rest is sent to Minister Pang Dahai's cannery to be made into canned fish in various flavors!"
“We don’t even waste the fish’s innards and bones!” Old Hei pointed to rows of steaming pits in the distance and said, “Those are all sent to the Ministry of Agriculture. Lord Wang Jianguo said that it’s called something like… fermentation, yes, fermentation into ‘organic fish fertilizer,’ which is then sent to Jinmai Field and vegetable greenhouses for fertilization. The effect is excellent!”
Lin Feng listened, his smile widening.
Fishing, processing, storage, waste utilization... a complete and efficient industrial chain has quietly taken shape on the shores of this lake.
Behind this lies the increasingly tacit cooperation and collaboration among the various departments of the shelter.
"Old Black, what kind of reward do you want?" Lin Feng suddenly asked.
Old Hei was stunned for a moment, then his face turned red with excitement. He rubbed his hands together and said with a simple and honest smile, "Leader, being able to serve you is the greatest blessing for me! I... I don't want anything else!"
“No.” Lin Feng shook his head. “Rewarding merit is my rule. Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll grant you a small ‘internal combustion engine transport vehicle’ and 10,000 ‘gold coins’ as a collective bonus for the fishing grounds. From now on, you won’t need to rely on horse-drawn carriages to deliver fish to the sanctuary.”
With a "boom," it was as if a bomb of happiness had exploded in Lao Hei's mind.
Internal combustion engine transport vehicles! Those are precious items that only ministers can apply for and use!
"Thank you, Leader! Thank you, Leader, for your divine grace!" Old Hei couldn't hold back any longer and knelt on the ground, kowtowing several times.
Upon hearing the news, the surrounding fishermen erupted in thunderous cheers.
"To die for the leader!"
Long live the leader!
Lin Feng calmly accepted the gesture. He knew that a carriage and ten thousand gold coins were insignificant to him, but to these people, they were an immense favor. He had long since mastered this method of combining kindness and power.
Leaving West Lake, the convoy sped eastward along the newly paved asphalt road.
The convoy eventually stopped in front of a huge complex of buildings that resembled a white dome.
This is the vegetable greenhouse base upon which the shelter depends for its survival.
Dr. Qian Lifang, the chief agricultural scientist and head of the agricultural base, was already waiting there.
He was about fifty years old, dressed in a crisply starched white researcher's uniform and wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He appeared refined and scholarly.
Upon seeing Leader Lin Feng alight from the car, he immediately strode forward to greet him.
"Leader, welcome to the Ministry of Agriculture." Qian Lifang pushed up his glasses, his tone respectful yet tinged with undisguised pride.
"Lifang, there's no need to be so reserved." Lin Feng patted his shoulder and strode into the largest domed greenhouse. A warm, humid air, mixed with the fragrance of earth and plants, rushed towards them, instantly invigorating them.
Inside the greenhouse, it was like another world.
On rows of neat, uniform hydroponic cultivation racks, all sorts of Blue Star vegetables that only existed in my memory are growing wildly with a vigorous vitality.
Lush green cucumbers hang from the vines, each topped with a tender yellow flower; bright red tomatoes, like festive lanterns, hang in heavy bunches; and deep purple eggplants, glistening enticingly against the backdrop of green leaves.
"My God...unbelievable." Tang Bao, who was traveling with them, couldn't help but exclaim.
She reached out and touched the tomato vine, murmuring, "I thought I would never taste these familiar flavors again in my life."
Qian Lifang explained with a smile, "This is all thanks to an old farmer. He happened to have these seeds with him when he arrived on this alien planet."
He added, “Through state-of-the-art hydroponics technology and fermented organic fertilizer from farms, we have successfully simulated the most suitable environment for their growth. Now, we can not only ensure that the senior staff of the shelter can enjoy fresh vegetables every day, but we also have the capacity to provide limited quantities to ordinary citizens who have made outstanding contributions.”
"Where is the farmer who brought the seeds?"
Lin Feng shifted his gaze from the appealing vegetables, his interest turning to the source of all this. "Such a remarkable feat deserves a great reward. Is he here today?"
"Yes, yes, I'll call him over right away." Qian Lifang quickly turned around and shouted towards the depths of the greenhouse, "Zhao Laosi! Come here quickly, the leader wants to see you!"
A moment later, a man emerged from behind a row of cucumber trellises.
He was about forty years old. Years of working in the fields had made his skin dark and rough, and his body thin.
He was wearing a faded old work uniform. Perhaps he was too nervous, as he kept rubbing the hem of his clothes with his calloused hands, his head down, looking uneasy.
“Leader…I…I am Zhao Laosi.” His voice was a little hoarse, with a strong local accent.
Lin Feng stepped forward and said in an unprecedentedly gentle tone, "Zhao Laosi, raise your head. You have made unparalleled contributions to the shelter."
Looking at Zhao Laosi's tense face, he announced loudly, "I've decided to reward you with five thousand gold coins! Thank you for bringing the taste of home and the hope of survival to all of us!"
Zhao Laosi suddenly raised his head, his cloudy eyes filled with disbelief.
Five thousand gold coins was an enormous sum of money that he, a survivor from the lowest rung of society, could never have imagined.
“Leader…” His lips trembled, too excited to speak.
Lin Feng smiled and helped him up as he tried to kneel, asking even more kindly, "Besides money, what other wishes do you have? Tell me, and I will definitely fulfill them if I can."
Zhao Laosi's face flushed crimson instantly. He hesitated for a long time before finally speaking in a voice barely above a whisper, "Leader... I... when I was on Blue Star, my family was poor, I couldn't find a wife, and I remained a bachelor my whole life. Coming here... I'm still alone. I... I just want a wife, to carry on the Zhao family line..."
After saying that, he lowered his head even further.
Upon hearing this request, Lin Feng was taken aback at first, then burst into hearty laughter: "Hahahaha! I thought it was some huge problem! It's just a woman! What's so difficult about that!"
He turned to Zhao Laosi and said, "I approve of this matter! You can choose any woman in the slave labor camp you like! Just remember, their minds may have been corrupted, so you have to keep an eye on them and not let their thoughts affect your loyalty."
Zhao Laosi was overjoyed. This time, he could no longer control himself. His knees buckled, and he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly to Lin Feng: "Thank you, Leader! Thank you, Leader! Rest assured, Leader, I know what to do. I will definitely keep her under control and there will be no mistakes!"
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