Dean Li of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences raised his hand to signal, and Yang Yufen immediately stopped the car in front of Dean Li.
Two other people were with Dean Li, helping to unload the fertilizer.
Yang Yufen and Aunt Wang also took sickles and tied their trouser legs together so they could work later.
"Dean Li, where should we begin today?"
Aunt Wang asked.
"Just this area."
Dean Li pointed out the area, and Yang Yufen and Aunt Wang looked at it, nodded, put on their straw hats and gloves, and began to work.
"Dean, grafting techniques are becoming more and more advanced these days, but very few people are willing to try cultivating these saplings. Look at this area, if they are not transplanted next year, they will all be ruined."
"We've already sent people to the countryside to promote it. This can't be rushed. If we don't apply fertilizer this year, the saplings will really be ruined."
Dean Li bent down and pulled the weeds off the roots of the sapling.
"Dean, can't we think of another way?"
“We’ve thought of everything we can, but growing fruit trees is risky, and the returns won’t be realized for several years. The investment involved is too much for ordinary people to afford. And those who can afford it are not willing to spend the money on farming; they’re all going into business.”
Dean Li's worried expression was no less than Director Zhou's.
"Why do the dean and the director look so bitter and resentful?"
Aunt Wang nudged Yang Yufen with her elbow, her eyes fixed on Dean Li.
"That's true, what are you saying?"
Yang Yufen looked over, and then her arm was grabbed, and the person followed her toward the dean and the others.
"Aren't you always the one with the most ideas?"
Director Zhou turned his gaze to Deputy Director Zhao.
"Don't make things difficult for Lao Zhao. He's been running around trying to get all sorts of subsidies and help for this. Those mountains are there, and he only managed to get the lowest possible rent. He's worn his lips out from talking so much. If all else fails, let our students do the planting."
“Dean, if the institute had money, I would definitely agree without hesitation, but where would our institute get so much money? The students are already busy with their daily research projects, so how can we afford to grow these fruit trees?”
Director Zhou scratched his head.
"If someone were willing to take on the contract, I could try to negotiate for more subsidies, but there's really no one willing to take on the job."
Deputy Director Zhao finally said something.
“Last time I specifically found some people who could rent the mountain, and those villages with mountain land. I promised that the seedlings from our Academy of Agricultural Sciences would be free and that we would send people to guide the planting. But one by one they kept asking if they could plant other things, or how to sell them. Not one of them really wanted to know about the seedlings.”
You can't have it all if you don't want to take any risks but still want to get all the benefits.
"Dean Li, Directors, what you're talking about—planting fruit trees on a mountain—sounds quite interesting. Could you tell us more about it?"
Aunt Wang suddenly spoke up.
"Actually, the government is encouraging us ordinary people to cultivate the land. Growing grain alone isn't enough; we need to make better use of the land. See all these seedlings? They're all fruit seedlings, carefully selected from the best-tasting branches of fruit trees through grafting. This not only shortens the fruiting time but also ensures the quality of the fruit,"
Director Zhou's words came out in rapid succession. He had been feeling extremely frustrated and worried these past few days. When someone asked him, he immediately began to speak.
"That's great! Now we can control the quality of the fruit."
Aunt Wang chimed in with support.
"They are all carefully selected, so there is basically no chance of any mistakes. As long as you follow the instructions for maintenance, the results in three years will be absolutely fine."
Director Zhou said with certainty that he could have been even more certain if he could have said so definitively.
"It's such a waste that no one is planting such good fruit trees."
Aunt Wang chimed in.
"That's right. Fruit tree planting requires a certain density. It's okay to plant them close together when they're seedlings, but as they grow, if they're not transplanted, their roots will become tangled together, and it'll all be a waste."
Director Zhou was heartbroken.
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