Meng Sheng tossed the second-generation seeds he had been keeping to the other party and said indifferently, "There's only one packet of seeds. Save some for the experiment."
Zhou Shuhan was stunned: "You... gave it all to me?"
For a moment, I couldn’t tell whether he had won the jackpot or the other party was not in his right mind.
Meng Sheng chuckled, found a sofa to sit on, and looked at him meaningfully: "After all, we have a common goal~"
Zhou Shuhan stared at the person in front of him, not understanding why Meng Sheng suddenly became so goal-oriented.
You know, when she went out to collect yesterday, she looked lazy and had no interest in doing anything.
But it’s okay, Zhou Shuhan said secretly, it’s better for the other party to awaken himself than for him to be whipped from behind with a small whip every day.
He then retracted his stunned expression and regained his composure: "Okay, let's do as you say. You provide the seeds, and I'll provide the technology."
This year, he must create groundbreaking agricultural achievements for Singapore!
"By the way, which department issued the grant for our team last year?"
Meng Sheng's words interrupted his thoughts.
Zhou Shuhan paused, his voice suddenly lowered by two degrees: "Green Frog Finance Bureau..."
"Green frog..." Meng Sheng sat on the sofa, his long legs swinging casually.
Zhou Shuhan knew he was embarrassed and couldn't help but look down.
The levels of government funding in Singapore are divided into five levels, from low to high: White Cat Finance, Green Frog Finance, Blue Whale Finance, Orange Melon Finance and Amethyst Finance.
He only received the second-to-last level of funding last year. As a B-level team, he was really embarrassed.
However, Meng Sheng didn't seem to be surprised. He even smiled, pursing his lips. "We're going to do something big this year and get the purple crystals directly."
What……? !
Zhou Shuhan's emotions, which had finally calmed down, were stirred up again: "I thought your target was the Blue Whale or the Orange Melon, but I didn't expect... you actually wanted the Purple Crystal!"
This is too big a step!
You have to know that Amethyst-level grants (investments) are basically only available to S-level teams. For a small, unknown team like theirs, it is impossible unless they achieve incredible results!
As if peeping into his inner thoughts, a chuckle reached his ears the next second: "Then if you get a heaven-defying result, won't you get the purple crystal?"
Zhou Shuhan admitted that at this moment, his heart was moved.
Amethyst!
If he gets it once in his life, he will have endless wealth and glory!
The golden road is already in front of him, he has no reason to shrink back!
With his blood boiling in his body and dreaming of getting rich overnight, Zhou Shuhan left the room with a smile.
After confirming that the doors and windows in the house were closed, Meng Sheng sank back into the sofa.
She raised her hand and slowly moved something in the air.
"Tsk, one for survival, one for saving others, and one for purple crystal. S-level copies are troublesome."
After a two-second pause, impatience flashed in his eyes: "I know, it's the last copy. I can go home after I finish it."
Dear passengers, we regret to inform you that flights ASX9420 and ASX9421 have been cancelled due to abnormal weather conditions. Please contact the duty counter immediately to change or refund your ticket. We wish you a pleasant journey!
The announcement was repeated three times, and the waiting passengers became anxious.
Some people held their tickets tightly with serious expressions; some walked around the waiting hall, constantly slapping their foreheads; and some had already started calling their families to express their inner worries.
"Mom, the flight is canceled. It's a sunspot storm. Yeah, I heard on the news it's very serious... What should I do? Mom, Linda is only 12 years old. I'm so scared to leave her alone there..."
"Dad, have you heard about the black market storm in Ethiopia? Old Liu is alone now. What if he can't come back?"
"Brother, I'm fine... I'm just canceling the wedding... Zoe... I can't contact her for the time being, it's okay, it's really okay..."
Sobbing, crying, groaning...all kinds of sounds came into my ears.
To avoid further panic among passengers, the airport quickly dispatched staff to explain and reassure them.
"Dear passengers, please be patient. Sunspot storms occur every 11 years. This is a natural phenomenon, so please do not worry too much. Once the storm passes, flights will resume and we will announce it via the announcement. Please stay tuned."
"In addition, the airport has contacted the nearest hotel, and relevant personnel will take everyone to check in free of charge later."
The airport's response was prompt, which calmed the emotions of most passengers.
The passengers on the two flights were evacuated one by one. When it was Song Yue's turn, she waved her hand and refused: "The three of us won't be staying here. Can we just refund our tickets?"
The staff was very professional: "Yes, please follow me to the counter."
At the same time as the mobile phone received the refund information, it also received a new ticket booking.
She Wen looked at the new order and murmured, "Are we really going to take the international high-speed rail instead?"
Song Yue hummed and exited the high-speed rail booking system. "The sunspot storm affects flights, but not high-speed rail. If you want to arrive as early as possible, high-speed rail is the best option now."
Fortunately, there are high-speed railways connecting the countries in this world, otherwise I don’t know how long it would take to reach Ethiopia.
The international high-speed rail station is not far from the airport, and the three of them prepared to take a taxi there.
Before getting on the car, Mr. Qiu suddenly said, "She Wen, if you don't think it's necessary, you can stay in the country first."
She Wen exclaimed, not understanding why Mr. Qiu specifically said this to her.
Elder Qiu said seriously, "Going abroad this time is no joke. You might get hurt. You're still young and have plenty of opportunities in China, but I'm already old and it doesn't matter if it's dangerous or not. If you don't want to, you can tell me now. I understand and I'll arrange a better team for you than Zhou Shuhan."
I hadn't expected that there would be an outburst of black fans in Ethiopia, so Mr. Qiu didn't mention anything.
But now it's different. Sunspots are erupting in the sky and the ground is still hot. Any danger may happen. With a responsible attitude, Song Yue understands why Mr. Qiu brought it up at this time.
She Wen bit her lower lip and thought for a long time. Finally, she raised her tear-stained eyes and choked up, "Master Qiu, am I still not able to meet your requirements?"
Otherwise, why did he only ask her whether she wanted to stay or not, but not ask Senior Sister Song?
She was indeed too bad. Even though Senior Sister Song spoke up for her and wanted to get her into the team, Elder Qiu was still unwilling to take her.
Mr. Qiu was stunned for a moment: "Why do you think so?"
Song Yue, however, burst out laughing beside her. She patted She Wen's back gently and said softly, "What are you thinking about? It's obvious that Mr. Qiu is worried about your safety, so he said this to you."
"Then Senior Sister Song, you..."
"I have family in Ethiopia," Song Yue explained. "I've already informed Mr. Qiu about this, so I have to go there no matter what."
She Wen slowly opened her eyes wide: "So that's how it is?"
She thought that Mr. Qiu was politely saying he didn't want her anymore!
Then he heaved a long sigh of relief, and his previously fluttering eyes immediately became bright and sparkling: "Don't worry, Elder Qiu! I grew up in an orphanage, I don't have any worries, I can go anywhere!"
After confirming that she was willing to take the risk of going abroad, Mr. Qiu nodded with satisfaction and said nothing more.
The three of them took a taxi to the International High-Speed Railway Station.
After routine security checks and identity checks, they successfully got their seats an hour later.
There were many people like them who switched to high-speed rail. Song Yue saw familiar faces from the airport constantly walking into the train: a mother who was worried about her daughter Linda, a wife who missed her husband Lao Liu, a man who was in a hurry to see his fiancée... These were passengers who would rather take a hard seat for dozens of hours to see their families than spend the night in a hotel.
The temperature in Xingguo this year is higher than in previous years, but no matter how high it is, it is still far lower than that in the neighboring country of Star.
Half an hour later, the train crossed the border and entered the country of Sta.
The passengers in the car suddenly cried out in surprise.
“The ground actually cracked!”
"I remember there used to be a river here, why is it gone this year?!"
"And there's a really big lake at the foot of the mountain over there. I brought my family here for a trip two years ago, and now... it's dried up..."
Following the gazes of the people, Song Yue also tilted her head and looked out the window.
As the sun sets, the cracked mud, the scorched grass roots, the bare riverbed and river channel are revealed. If Song Yue hadn't heard the passengers talk about it, she would have found it hard to imagine that this place used to be a grassland area with abundant water and grass.
The high temperature dried up the grasslands of Star Country. At a glance, it was all yellow sand and there was no sign of life.
However, at this moment, more than ten faces suddenly came into view.
They were wearing tattered clothes and standing outside the platform, their faces pale and their bodies thin from hunger.
Seeing the train passing by, there was desire and expectation in their cloudy eyes.
But the train did not stop, and it whizzed past them like an emotionless shuttle.
The train that Song Yue bought was an express train that went directly to Ethiopia without stopping.
It was the best choice for the passengers, but for the people of Star who were suffering from famine and thirst, it was like a ray of sunlight that turned halfway and shone straight to another place.
Song Yue recalled passing by a Xingguo restaurant and seeing the kitchen staff carrying large plates of uneaten food and dumping them into the trash.
Only Singapore has not been hit by high temperatures yet, and food crops are still being produced, so the entire country is still in a comfortable environment, and no one is paying attention to the food crisis at all.
Except for Mr. Qiu.
Despite his age, he traveled all the way abroad to find suitable growing soil.
"I hope Mr. Qiu can save his motherland." Song Yue whispered to himself as he looked at the slowly setting sun.
After a night of silence, the train was still in the country of Sta early the next morning.
However, according to the broadcast, the train will be able to cross the border and enter Ethiopia in another 8 hours.
Song Yue finished her breakfast provided by the train and looked outside.
She Wen looked outside and sighed, "It's still a desert... Star Country has become like this... Doesn't their government care about anything?"
"Government? Haha, little girl, I can tell you don't pay attention to international affairs, do you?" the man sitting opposite laughed. "Ever since the Reform Party came to power three years ago and overthrew the previous government, this place has been in chaos. These reformists, in the name of reform, have massacred civilians, burned down towns, and established an autonomous government. Do you think this kind of government can get things done?"
The aunt next to the man joined in, saying, "How can this be considered a government? It's not even internationally recognized. It's just playing house behind closed doors. It's just nonsense."
"Indeed," the man nodded. "I saw on the international news that after the high temperature spread to Star Country, the Reform Party not only did not try to increase food production and solve the water crisis, but instead massively plundered the people's food and increased taxes."
"Ah, then there's not enough for me to eat, how can I hand it over?" She Wen blinked.
"You don't have to pay it. You can either do hard labor for them in exchange for food, or wait to be hanged." Auntie shook her head and was full of sympathy for the people of this country.
Song Yue listened silently on the opposite side, equating Star with some war-torn countries in reality.
In the afternoon, Song Yue finally saw a town called Sta that had not been completely destroyed.
There are yellow walls everywhere, streets and alleys are crisscrossed, shops are scattered here and there, and many men and women are walking on the streets. It finally looks like a country.
However, at this moment, a loud bang sounded into the sky!
The whole train shook violently, the brakes screeched, and everyone in their seats who wasn't wearing seat belts rushed out!
For a moment, wailing, shouting, and children's crying... filled the entire carriage.
"I'm going to die! How can the conductor drive the train?"
"There's no stop here, why did you stop suddenly?"
"Ouch, my leg hurts so much from the fall, can someone help me up?"
Song Yue had been wearing her seat belt and did not rush out. She was sitting in the aisle seat and when she heard the sound, she pulled the shouting auntie. The latter looked at her gratefully and kept saying thank you.
Another little boy also rolled to her feet, and she quickly bent down to help him up.
The little boy's mother was Ethiopian. She stumbled over and saw that it was Song Yue who helped her child. She smiled and made a gesture to her, saying "May God bless you."
The others who had fallen also stood up one by one, some supporting their waists or holding their foreheads and returning to their seats.
The broadcast came on at the right time.
I spoke Singaporean first, then Stalin and Ethiopic.
"Dear passengers, a large explosion has occurred in the town ahead. To avoid disrupting the train's operation, the emergency brake has been applied. The conductor is currently negotiating with the other party. The train is expected to resume operation in half an hour. Please remain patient."
There was silence in the carriage.
None of those who were yelling at the conductor for braking indiscriminately were able to say a word now.
They sat upright in their seats, their eyes wide open with fear.
Explosion! It was an explosion!
How unlucky they were to encounter the civil war in Star!
These reformists are notoriously ruthless and will not release anyone until they see blood. What should they do if they break into the carriage!
The atmosphere of fear instantly filled the train.
Song Yue turned her eyes and found that the yellow wall standing outside the window had been blown into ruins.
Smoke filled the rooftops and bursts of gunfire came from all directions.
And with every gunshot, the atmosphere in the car became gloomier, as if death was one step closer.
The person beside her was trembling slightly. Song Yue held She Wen and comforted her with her mouth: "Don't be afraid, trust the conductor."
The broadcast said that the train conductor came out to negotiate, which means that this is not the first time he has encountered such a situation.
Although the Reformists were terrifying, Song Yue believed that they were not stupid enough to openly challenge the entire Star Country.
I don’t know how long I waited, but the car felt as cold as if I had fallen into an ice cellar.
Suddenly, a voice came from the radio overhead.
As the female announcer finished her words, the entire train was filled with great joy!
"The conductor negotiated successfully! The conductor negotiated successfully!"
"Long live the conductor! Long live the Star Nation!"
Someone shouted, and in an instant, the ice broke and hot tears flowed out!
Woo——!
The train started slowly.
The scenery outside the window began to move.
She Wen turned around, tears welling up in her eyes: "Senior Sister, you're right, we must trust the conductor!"
At four o'clock in the afternoon, the international high-speed train arrived at the terminal half an hour late.
The people on the bus rushed out, and Song Yue, Qiu Lao and the other two were pushed out.
As soon as I stepped out of the train door, a wave of heat hit me!
"It's so hot!" She Wen frowned, took out the small rechargeable fan from her pocket, and blew it directly at her face. However, after blowing for a few seconds, she put it back and said, "Forget it, it's just hot air, it's better not to use it."
Indeed, on a day with a temperature over 50 degrees, the wind is like a sauna, and there is no difference whether it blows or not.
"Let's take a taxi to Gabriel, which is the town closest to the desert." Mr. Qiu had done his homework long ago and suggested.
After getting out of the main platform, they found a row of cars parked on the street. They picked one at random and got on.
The whole process took less than a minute, but Song Yue suddenly felt a tingling sensation on her skin, as if it had been burned.
She said nothing and sat quietly in the front row.
The driver asked them where they were going, and Song Yue took out the translation software he had downloaded in advance and translated for him.
When the other party heard this and took a look at the three of them's luggage, he immediately waved his hands and said, "No, no, don't go on the trip. It's too hot over there!"
Song Yue smiled and said, "We're not here for tourism. We're agricultural researchers, and we've come here specifically to collect and study your desert soil."
The driver's mouth half opened, and it took him a while to understand what she meant. "Why study desert soil? We can't grow food there."
"That's not necessarily true!" She Wen explained after hearing the translation, "Our Xing country has advanced agricultural technology. We will definitely find a way to grow crops in desert soil!"
After hearing this, the driver showed an envious look and started the car: "Your country is really good, even sending you abroad to study this."
She Wen, sitting in the back row, tilted her head and asked, "What about your country? Doesn't the president care?"
The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and said with a helpless smile, "What the president means is that everyone should get used to a low-carbon diet in the future and put an end to the previous practice of wasting food."
ha? ? ?
She Wen was stunned when she heard this, and whispered to Song Yue in the front row, "Senior Sister, what does he mean?"
Song Yue looked ahead calmly: "It means to survive on your own."
She Wen: ???
A country faces a crisis, but instead of trying to cope with it, it just lies down? And it even wants to PUA the people to lie down with it?
The driver couldn't understand what they were saying, but from their whispered conversation, he could roughly guess what they were discussing.
Perhaps he was really disappointed with the Ethiopian government's actions, and the driver never talked about it again.
It was not until they arrived at Gabriel City and got off the car that the driver finally spoke: "Thank God for sending you. You are the saviors. I won't charge you any money."
As he said this, he refused the coins that Song Yue handed over.
The life of the people in Ethiopia is more difficult than that in Star Country. Song Yue felt guilty, so he changed the currency into food, grabbed a bag of food and two bottles of mineral water from his backpack (space), and placed them on the passenger seat.
"This is what you deserve, you are so kind. May God bless you and your family."
After saying this, he made the local blessing gesture in Ethiopia.
She learned this from the mother of the little boy on the train. She didn't perform it very skillfully, but it did win the driver's blessing and She Wen's admiration.
"Wow, Senior Sister! You even know how to do this! How do you do it? Teach me~"
Song Yue demonstrated it with a smile, and She Wen quickly learned it with an expression of "Oh, so that's how it is."
The Ethiopian Desert is a famous local adventure area, so many adventure equipment and tools are sold in the city of Gabriel.
Seeing her eyes almost glued to the shop door, Mr. Qiu understood: "Go ahead, it's important to find your sister. Xiaowen and I are collecting at the edge of the desert. It's nothing important. See you at the xx Hotel in three days."
"Thank you, Mr. Qiu." Song Yue nodded seriously, turned around and slipped into the store.
Many items that are not allowed to be sold in Singapore can be bought here, such as satellite phones, adrenaline injections, and even hot and cold weapons.
She asked for a satellite phone, 10 ammunition tubes, a machete, a pistol, 2 boxes of bullets (30 rounds each), and some other miscellaneous exploration tools.
Looking at other hot weapons on the shelves, such as submachine guns, sniper rifles and the like, Song Yue suddenly felt that only knowing how to use a pistol seemed not enough. He should wait for a chance in the future and learn how to use other firearms to increase his own firepower.
She retracted the thought, packed her things and went to the checkout counter to pay.
While she was there, she used a translation app to ask the shop owner, "Is there a place to rent a desert buggy?"
The shop owner had typical Eastern European looks, dark brown skin, and thick hair. He chewed gum and looked fierce: "No."
Song Yue had no choice but to pick up her things and go somewhere else to ask.
Unexpectedly, a young man stopped her at the door of the store and said with a sinister smile: "Give me money."
Song Yue glanced sideways and found that the shop owner had no reaction, and guessed that the security here was like this.
With the idea of saving trouble rather than more, she took out two banknotes from her pocket.
The boy rushed to grab it, looked at her forehead, and didn't let go.
Song Yue understood what she meant, that the money was not enough.
She sighed and said truthfully, "I have no money left. No matter how hard I try, I can't get any."
"Bullshit!" the boy gritted his teeth. "You Singaporeans have plenty of money! What's wrong with giving me some? Take it now, or I'll kill you!"
Kill her?
Song Yue raised the corners of her lips and smiled.
This smile made the boy furious. He rushed over with a scream and reached directly into her pocket.
Song Yue dodged and grabbed his arm with one hand, then turned in the opposite direction.
The boy screamed in pain.
Song Yue did not stop, but pulled out the knife (from the space) and strangled the boy's throat with the blade.
"Money or life?" She didn't use any translation software and spoke in Singaporean.
The boy didn't understand, but he understood the cold light in her eyes and the coldness of the knife. He immediately shook his head and said in the international language: "No, don't kill me!"
Song Yue understood what he said, smiled softly, retracted the dagger, and raised his palm: "Pay back the money."
The boy didn't dare to talk to her anymore. He took out the coins, threw them on the ground, and ran away.
The shop owner, who had been silent the entire time, changed his previous hostility and looked at her with a little more respect: "I didn't expect there are women like you in Xingguo."
Song Yue picked up the coin without even looking at the other person.
The shop owner was a little embarrassed and coughed twice: "I know where I can rent a car."
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