Chapter 57 Three Clever Brains
The progress of using pigs to control desertification is even smoother and faster than Cheng Cheng expected. The base leaders attach great importance to this matter, and Cheng Cheng even met with Li Lao, the dean of the Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences.
Old Li valued Comrade Cheng Cheng's ideas and opinions, who was the first to propose using pigs' snouts to root the ground to control the sandy land. He personally came over to ask the young comrade what he thought, hoping it might bring unexpected surprises to their work!
Old Li asked with great interest, "Comrade Cheng Cheng, tell me, how did you come up with the idea of using pigs to control desertification?"
Cheng Cheng smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Old Li, I was having trouble planting trees because of the hard soil. Then I remembered that the pigs in my hometown have very sharp noses. They can dig through hard soil to find food. Their noses are even more sensitive than hoes. They can even dig out hard grass roots buried in the soil."
"I was thinking, could we let them try to break the hard crust of our sandy soil?"
"They can break up the hard soil while simultaneously producing manure to fertilize the land, saving us the effort of loosening the soil and applying fertilizer. It's a win-win situation!"
"The two most difficult things in our area are farming and desertification control: first, the soil is too hard, making it difficult for seedlings to survive; second, the soil is too infertile. Don't laugh at me, but I immediately thought of pigs. I felt like they were born to solve these two problems."
Old Li nodded repeatedly, his expression gentle and smiling, "You young comrade, you're quite clever and quick-witted!"
He smiled and pointed at her, his gaze falling on Zhou Yue beside him. "Little Zhou, I think Comrade Cheng is just as smart as you. You three are all brilliant minds in your family!"
Wow, that's a great review!
Cheng Cheng was overjoyed. Her intelligence was comparable to Zhou Yue's! That's right!
She underestimated herself before. She could have been more confident, more proud, and more arrogant!
Looking at his wife's bright smile, Zhou Yue lowered his eyes and smiled. How fortunate he was to have met such a good person as A-Cheng. It was the greatest gift God had given him.
Cheng Cheng continued, "I just don't know whether our local black pigs are better, or whether those white pigs from other places are more willing to put in the effort?"
She pondered this matter carefully, listing out as many questions as possible in the hope of helping Professor Li and his team with their research and avoiding some detours.
"If this works, I have another concern: what if they misbehave and run around? Will they uproot the seedlings that have finally sprouted?"
"Then I thought, maybe we should mark out territory for them like shepherds herd sheep."
These words made Old Li's eyes light up. Comrade Xiao Cheng's concerns were not wrong. He turned to the technician next to him and said, "Did you write it down? Comrade Xiao Cheng not only thought of the problem, but also came up with a solution for rotational grazing."
"This idea is very clear. Let's go back and start studying it immediately."
Cheng Cheng was a little embarrassed by the praise, her eyes shining, "If this really works out, our base will be able to raise more pigs, and none of us will lack meat to eat!"
These words were spoken.
There was a moment of silence, as if everyone hadn't quite grasped the moment and needed a moment to process this overwhelmingly good news. Then, thunderous laughter erupted.
Old Li laughed heartily. He pointed at Cheng Cheng and said to everyone, "Look! While we're still thinking about how to control desertification, Comrade Cheng has already planned out the follow-up developments for improving our meals!"
Cheng Cheng smiled and looked down, then raised her chin and looked at everyone, "Old Li, this isn't just my hope; everyone is hoping to be able to eat meat!"
Old Li laughed and said, "Good! Your suggestion of additional benefits is excellent!"
A young technician standing nearby laughed and loudly chimed in, "Sister-in-law is right! If it really works out, I've already thought of a name for our project report: 'Comprehensive Experimental Project of Gobi Ecological Cyclic Aquaculture and Soil Improvement'."
He paused, then chuckled, "To put it simply, it's about raising pigs to control desertification, so everyone can eat meat! Eat meat to their heart's content!"
Sister Wang from the family committee spoke in a loud voice, "This is a great idea! It controls the sand, fertilizes the land, and even makes our mouths smell better! If it works, I'll be the first to sign up to be the 'Pig Commander'!"
"I'll be second!"
"Count me in!"
"..."
Everyone couldn't help but start dreaming. If it really came true, maybe next year during the Spring Festival, every household would be able to eat pork stew, and there would be an extra main dish on the table from time to time.
Just thinking about it makes me laugh!
"Then the vegetables we grow will be plump and lush from being fed with pig manure, and the pigs we raise will loosen the soil in the sandy areas and improve the soil. Maybe in a few years, we'll be able to cultivate more land..."
"This kind of life sounds wonderful!"
Everyone was overjoyed, their voices filled with excitement and hope. The young soldiers and technicians also had shining faces, as if they could already see the future.
Looking at this group of optimistic and creative working people, Old Li wondered, what are they striving for?
Isn't it all about making the land beneath our feet better, ensuring everyone has enough to eat, and making everyone's lives better and better?
If green trees can grow in this yellow sand, then hope and a better life can also grow. As for how to achieve this, that is the meaning of their struggle.
Zhou Yue stood beside his wife, watching her laugh with everyone. He didn't say anything, but the tenderness and pride in his eyes were almost overflowing.
The mundane world is nothing more than this.
The matter progressed faster than anyone expected. Soon after, the base approved the report from the Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and designated several areas in the Gobi Desert outside the base for the Academy's technicians to conduct experiments.
So, in the mornings, one could often see this scene at the base: young technicians and farm workers driving herds of different breeds, some white and some dark, to graze on the Gobi Desert.
And it also caused quite a few laughs. The young technicians would wave whips to drive the pigs away, but after driving one group, a few pigs on the other side would stop and refuse to move, sniffing and rooting around everywhere.
If the piglets are determined not to move, no matter if the young technicians wave their whips or helplessly push them from behind, the piglets seem to know that their status is different now, and they continue to calmly root in the grass, unmoved in the slightest.
What's even funnier is that the poop these little pigs leave on the road is extremely popular!
The technicians and farm workers were initially worried that the pigs would leave behind a lot of excrement on the way to the experimental site, causing inconvenience to everyone.
Unexpectedly, family members were already waiting on the road with shovels, just to shovel pig manure home to fertilize their vegetable gardens.
Cheng Cheng also joined in the fun a few times, spreading fresh pig manure on her own vegetable garden, leaving it bare except for a patch of tender chives growing in the upper left corner.
I estimate that in a while, we'll be able to eat the chives we grow ourselves.
-
After planting trees for almost half a month, Cheng Cheng felt that she had gotten quite tanned. She held up a mirror and examined herself from all angles.
She sighed every now and then, just as the man returned after soothing their daughter. She turned to look at him and asked, "Zhou Yue, do you think I've gotten darker?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yue did not answer immediately. He walked straight behind his wife and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders.
In the mirror, their eyes met.
Then, the man leaned down and gently cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to tilt her head back slightly and turn towards him.
Cheng Cheng obediently turned her head to look at Zhou Yue, the back of her head resting firmly in the man's large palm, her left cheek imprinted with the man's distinct knuckles.
Zhou Yue's fingertips were not delicate and smooth; instead, they were covered with thin calluses from years of working. Yet, she applied extremely gentle pressure, as if afraid that the roughness would scratch her skin.
The man's gaze lost its daytime coolness and sternness, carrying a burning heat as it swept inch by inch over her forehead, eyes, and nose, finally settling on her red lips.
With his thumb gently stroking her smooth, white chin, Cheng Cheng's heart skipped a beat as he stared at her silently and intently, and her breathing became somewhat erratic.
She instinctively tried to avoid the man's gaze, but he cupped her face, leaving her nowhere to escape.
Just as she grew increasingly nervous from this silent scrutiny, the man suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips.
Driven by urgency and desire, with no room for refusal, they conquered cities and seized territories.
Gradually, Cheng Cheng became immersed in it, like a fish in water, swimming freely in the water.
After an unknown amount of time, he finally stepped back slightly, their breaths mingling, both slightly out of breath. Zhou Yue's voice was low and hoarse, as if it had been ground by the winds and sands of the Northwest: "It hasn't turned black..."
His Adam's apple bobbed violently as he added, "No matter what you become, Cheng will always be the most beautiful in my eyes."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Cheng did not shyly bury her head as usual, but suddenly raised her hands and cupped Zhou Yue's handsome face in her hands, with a sly smile in her eyes.
She mimicked the man's earlier gesture, her gaze lingering on his face, from his straight nose to his thin, well-defined lips. Her pale pink fingers slid from his high nose to his thin lips.
She stared intently for a moment, involuntarily swallowing, and the man caught up the next second.
Cheng Cheng tilted her head, and a kiss landed on the corner of his lips. Meeting the man's confused and puzzled gaze, she smiled gently, her eyes crinkling.
Her fingertips gently brushed from his thin lips across his prominent brow bone, and she cupped his face in her hands. "Comrade Zhou Yue, I must confess something to you seriously."
A bright smile played in the woman's eyes, and Zhou Yue raised an eyebrow in agreement, signaling her to continue.
"The first thing I noticed was your face." In other words, she was initially attracted to the man's face. Cheng Cheng is obsessed with looks; if the face doesn't suit her, then she...
Her fingertips touched the man's handsome brow, and she said in a confident whisper, "Your face is on my... well, my heart."
Heart?
Zhou Yue lowered his eyes, which should mean "the apple of his eye." This word was straightforward and fresh, and a smile of sudden realization spread across his usually calm and composed eyes.
The smile deepened, finally turning into a low, slightly smug chuckle, "I see."
The man suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly with both hands, and lifted her up, placing Cheng Cheng from the chair onto the table.
The man pressed closer, squeezing between her legs. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested them on his shoulders.
Zhou Yue lowered his head, his forehead touching hers, his nose lightly brushing against hers, and murmured, "It seems I have to thank my parents for giving me this face that can meet Comrade Cheng Cheng's standards."
Before he could finish speaking and before she could respond, a deeper kiss landed on him, and they embraced tightly.
This kiss, unlike the previous domineering and forceful ones, became more tender and affectionate, as gentle as a light drizzle.
In the midst of his confusion and passion, the chair behind him was bumped, making a soft sound. His hand around her waist tightened, and his previously calmed breathing became erratic again.
Just as he picked her up and was about to walk to the bedside, a loud knocking sound came from outside, along with Xiaoxiao's soft, aggrieved voice.
"Dad, Mom... Xiaoxiao doesn't want to sleep alone anymore, I want to sleep with you."
Their movements suddenly froze, and they could clearly feel each other's stiffness and lingering desire.
Zhou Yue took a deep breath, pressed his forehead heavily against Cheng Cheng's forehead, and let out a sigh that was both restrained and mixed with frustration and helplessness.
Cheng Cheng couldn't help but chuckle softly, her shoulders trembling slightly. Her face flushed as she straightened her collar, which he had disheveled, and gently nudged the man, saying, "Go open the door."
Zhou Yue finally resigned himself to putting her down, gave her a quick peck on the lips, and said in a hoarse voice, trying to keep his voice steady, "Okay, Xiaoxiao, wait a moment, Daddy will open the door for you right away."
Only then did he turn around.
While calming her breathing, she walked towards the door.
Little Lingxiao stood outside the door, hugging a pillow, her eyes still sleepy. It seemed that she had suddenly woken up and found her parents were not by her side, and the feeling of grievance dispelled her promise to her father and the joy of having her own room.
As soon as the door opened, the little girl threw herself onto her father's lap, her voice trembling with tears, "Daddy, I don't want to sleep alone anymore."
No, not tonight, not tomorrow night, not the day after tomorrow, not the day after that...
Zhou Yue picked up his daughter to comfort her and closed the door.
Turning around, he saw that his wife had gotten into bed at some point and was lying flat on the bed. She seemed to have been disturbed by their movements and had only just woken up.
"What's wrong, Xiaoxiao baby?"
"Mother!"
As soon as his father put Lingxiao on the bed, he immediately crawled toward his mother.
She nestled in her mother's arms, hugging her tightly, and said, "Xiaoxiao wants to sleep with Mommy."
"Okay, okay, Mommy and Daddy are here! Little one, go to sleep now!"
Cheng Cheng hugged the little one, patted her head, covered her with a blanket, and gently patted her to lull her to sleep.
After a while, Zhou Yue turned off the light and got into bed.
Hearing the steady breathing of his wife and daughter beside him, the man sighed almost imperceptibly and fell into a deep sleep.
-
Early in the morning, Cheng Cheng was busy in the kitchen. Fresh goat milk, just delivered from the farm, was bubbling in a small pot on the stove.
A rich aroma of milk filled the air, and she carefully skimmed off the foam with a spoon.
Ever since she learned that the base's farm raised sheep and that family members could order goat milk from the farm, Cheng Cheng ordered goat milk from the farm without hesitation. Zhou Yue's level was high enough, and his family was not stingy with money.
Every morning, the farm workers deliver freshly squeezed goat milk.
People with a sensitive sense of taste are particularly sensitive to the goaty smell of goat milk. However, for the sake of health and to supplement the body's nutritional needs, not only Xiaoxiao needs to drink it, but Cheng Cheng also makes Zhou Yue drink a bowl of goat milk every day, and she herself is no exception!
"Mom! Look!"
At this moment, Zhou Yue came in from outside, holding Xiao Xiao's hand.
As soon as Xiaoxiao entered the door, she broke free from her father's hand and ran to her mother like a child presenting a treasure, holding up a small basket with three warm, light brown eggs inside.
"Our hen laid three eggs today!"
Normally I can only collect one or two eggs every morning, but today, for the first time ever, I collected three eggs! All three chickens laid eggs!
Upon hearing this, Cheng Cheng was both surprised and delighted. She took the basket and exclaimed, "Really? That's great! Our family can be self-sufficient from now on!"
Every morning, Cheng Cheng boils a pot of hot goat milk and three eggs every other day. This is because there aren't enough eggs at home, and sometimes she has to buy eggs from the service center and farms, so she can only boil eggs every other day.
With three bright minds in the family, they definitely need to get proper nutrition. Cheng Cheng has always been generous when it comes to food; she would rather suffer from anything than let her children go hungry.
Now that she has a job, the family is now dual-income households. Zhou Yue's salary is high, and his subsidies are also high, so Cheng Cheng feels more at ease providing nutritional supplements for the father and daughter, as well as herself.
Cheng Cheng ladled out the hot goat milk she had cooked and urged the father and daughter to wash their hands.
At the dinner table, she peeled an egg for her daughter while gently instructing her, "Xiaoxiao, when you go to the preschool class, listen to your teacher and play well with your friends."
Today is September 1st, the first day of school. The little girl has been promoted to a preschool class student and is going to school.
Little Lingxiao gulped down the goat milk, his lips smeared with white milk, and nodded repeatedly, "Mmm! I understand, Mom!"
Zhou Yue continued, his tone more serious, "If you need anything, just raise your hand and tell the teacher. Don't be afraid. If you want water or need to go to the toilet, just say so. Don't be afraid..."
"If someone bullies you, don't be afraid. If they hit you, hit them back, and then tell your teacher..."
As Zhou Yue spoke, she became increasingly anxious and worried. Her daughter was too young; what if she was bullied in the preschool class? She vaguely regretted not having considered this matter sooner.
"Starting tomorrow, Dad will teach you boxing."
Xiao Lingxiao nodded vigorously, "Okay, okay!"
"I'll tell the teacher if I'm thirsty! I'll also tell the teacher if I need to go to the toilet! I'll get along well with the other children~"
The little girl was full of curiosity and anticipation about going to school, without any sadness or fear of leaving her parents to go to school alone.
Cheng Cheng nudged the man's elbow, somewhat amused, "Alright, hurry up and eat!"
She wasn't too worried that Xiaoxiao would be bullied by other children in the preschool class. Her daughter wasn't someone to be trifled with. If she were to do something, she would have to learn from Ms. Xu Fengying and see who dared to bully her daughter!
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Author's note: See you tomorrow!
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