Chapter 225 New Rice Seeds
Knowing that the children would be back today, Zhao Shu rushed to Lin Qi's place as soon as he got off work and brought ice cream for the children. He wanted to buy soda, but considering the children were young, he didn't buy it and bought egg cake instead.
The four children hadn't seen their grandfather for a week and missed him terribly. Zhao Shu's heart melted with each clear call of "Grandpa".
The family members were very curious about what the children learned in the special training camp, but no one asked. They only asked if they were tired or used to it.
"Not tired at all, almost the same as at home."
"Yes, the training intensity is not high, we can all keep up."
“The cultural courses are also up to date.”
"There were so many teachers, more than a dozen, that I almost recognized the wrong teacher."
“I learned a lot and it was very interesting.”
"The life teacher praised us for being independent and able to complete our own tasks, which is amazing."
“........”
The children were chattering away without a trace of gloom on their faces, showing that they had indeed adapted well to the special training camp.
Seeing this, Lin Qi finally felt relieved.
In October, Brother Tan came again and brought a small bundle of rice ears.
"This is..." Lin Qi carefully examined the rice. The rice ears were longer than ordinary rice and the rice grains were also full.
"What do you think this is?" Brother Tan asked back.
"A new variety?" Lin Qi guessed.
"That's right." Brother Tan's eyes flashed with admiration. "This is a new variety that has just been successfully cultivated. The yield of the new variety is more than 20% higher than that of ordinary rice. And this number is not fixed. It is very likely to continue to increase."
"So amazing!" Lin Qi really admired the person who cultivated this new variety of rice. He was a genius! And once this rice came out, the food shortage problem would be solved. Everyone would be able to have enough food in the future!
Brother Tan nodded, "Isn't that amazing?"
When they learned about the rice yield, many people cried with excitement, including him.
"Once this new variety of rice is promoted nationwide, we won't have to go hungry anymore."
"Indeed." This seed was better than the one she had induced to grow. The seeds she had induced to grow could not guarantee a 20% increase in yield. Moreover, she was alone and had limited capacity. She could supply seeds to a brigade or even a commune, but not to more than that.
"But it says that this variety of rice doesn't taste as good as regular rice." Brother Tan said, and then he laughed. "It's all rice, I don't think it can be that bad. Besides, it's good enough to fill your stomach, so who would care whether it tastes good or not."
Lin Qi and Xu Hexiao looked at each other, nodded, and agreed with what Brother Tan said.
"There is a big gap in our country's grain supply. With this rice, our country should be able to save a lot of foreign exchange. Even if the taste of this rice is not so good, we don't have to eat it directly. We can make a lot of agricultural and sideline products and various foods. After processing, it is not a problem to improve the taste and flavor of food. And when we have enough grain, poultry and livestock can also be fed with processed grains, and the output of meat will increase accordingly." At this point, Xu Hexiao smiled, "Everyone will not panic if they have surplus grain at home. The advent of this new variety is a great deed to the researchers."
"I just want to have enough food to eat. He Xiao, you think more long-term." Brother Tan grinned, "I don't know when it will be promoted nationwide, but I guess it will be soon. When it is promoted nationwide, we will plant an acre ourselves and keep it for our own consumption."
"You came here just to tell me this good news?" Lin Qi asked.
"Of course not." Brother Tan denied. "The higher-ups want to see if you can grow this rice. They say that this rice can't be used to grow seeds the next year. They compare it to a mule born from a horse and a donkey, but the mule can't produce offspring. They just want you to give it a try to see if you can grow rice with this rice."
"The second generation can't produce rice ears?" Lin Qi became interested. She picked up a plant and said, "I'll give it a try."
After saying that, she turned and walked towards the room.
Lin Qi returned to her room, and Brother Tan and Xu Hexiao started chatting about family matters.
"If I hadn't come here, would you not have planned to tell me that you were going to have a second child?" Brother Tan looked resentful.
"We thought you would come to the capital before the New Year, so we didn't write to you specifically to inform you." Xu Hexiao said.
"What if I don't come before the New Year?"
"Then you will definitely come after the New Year."
"............"
Brother Tan rolled his eyes in anger, "Is it possible that you just can't write to me?"
"I have a lot of children, so I'm quite busy." Xu Hexiao said calmly.
"I see through you." Brother Tan was a little sad, but he didn't expect Xu Hexiao to comfort him. He changed the subject, "What about the four older ones?"
"He went to a training camp in the military district and is not at home on weekdays." Xu Hexiao said.
Brother Tan's expression became serious, "At such a young age——"
"That training camp recruits young children. I can't explain more to you, just know this." In fact, as a father, he didn't know much either.
Brother Tan nodded and mentioned the three younger ones, "You are amazing. You gave birth to quadruplets once and triplets once. Wow, I have never heard of anyone more amazing than you."
Xu Hexiao shook his head and said seriously, "Qiqi is amazing."
"Of course, I definitely don't need to mention my sister-in-law." Brother Tan sighed, "Before, I never thought you would be able to get married and have children. I even thought you wouldn't last a few years. I didn't expect that after just a few years, you not only came to the capital from Yao County, but also have seven smart and lovely children. You can be called a winner in life."
Xu Hexiao also recalled those difficult days, "At that time, I didn't expect that I would have such a day. Everything I have now was given by Qiqi."
Brother Tan patted Xu Hexiao on the shoulder and said, "Treat her well."
"Of course I will. You don't need to remind me."
Lin Qi stayed in the room for five minutes and then came out, holding a rice pole that could not produce rice ears in her hand, and shook her head at Brother Tan.
"It's okay, they are just curious. It doesn't matter." Brother Tan comforted Lin Qi.
That night, Brother Tan had dinner at Lin Qi's place but did not stay overnight. He left with a truckload of goods.
"Once the new variety of rice is promoted, we won't have to mail seeds to Anliang Brigade. And I have a feeling that rice is just the beginning. Various new grain varieties will definitely appear in the future. Not only rice, the output of other grains will also increase." Xu Hexiao said firmly.
Lin Qi nodded, "I think so too."
"Then, when you grow high-yield crops, fruits and vegetables, no one will be surprised."
“Can I still farm?”
"The situation is constantly changing, nothing is static, and I don't think everyone will necessarily like farming in the future. If no one farms anymore, then we will do it."
“The state will not allow the sale of land.”
"Then rent it."
During the twelfth lunar month, the four children had their holidays and the three younger ones were half a year old.
On the evening of the Little New Year, there was a cultural performance at the machinery factory. Lin Qi had no interest in it at first, but the four children wanted to join in the fun.
"Then let's go. The location is indoors, so it's not too cold. And according to the weather forecast, the temperature will start to drop from tomorrow night, and it should snow. After the snow, it will be difficult for the children to come out to play." Xu Hexiao said.
Lin Qi thought so too, so she agreed, "Then the whole family will go."
The family naturally includes godfather Zhao Shu.
In the evening, three adults rode three bicycles and took seven children to the machinery factory.
Because they were going to the party, the seven children were all wearing new clothes in a festive red color, and their hats were also red and furry, which looked very good and expensive. In addition, the four older children each wore a pair of small leather boots, which were polished to a shiny finish and were obviously new.
Not only the children, Lin Qi was also dressed very casually, wearing a grey mink coat and a mink hat of the same style. The long mink hair made her little face look even whiter and more delicate.
"Didn't Xu Hexiao say that he had to raise seven children, was under a lot of pressure, and could barely afford to eat? He doesn't look like he can't afford to eat. He's dressed better than most people in our factory."
After knowing that Xu Hexiao had three more sons, few people wanted to take advantage of him. However, Xu Hexiao was still often mentioned by everyone, and what everyone talked about was his seven children and Xu Hexiao's life.
Because Xu Hexiao only had the same few pieces of clothes in the past year, everyone guessed that it was because his family was poor and he couldn't afford to buy new clothes.
But now looking at the family's clothes, the facts seemed different from what they thought. And Xu Hexiao also changed his clothes tonight, a brand new military coat, and changed his shoes, a pair of very handsome boots.
"I guess his family is not poor." Apart from this, she couldn't think of any other reason.
"Let's not talk about anything else for now. This family is really good-looking. Not a single one of them is bad-looking. Especially Lin Qi. I haven't seen her for a few years. How come she hasn't changed at all? She still looks as young as a 17 or 18-year-old girl. She has given birth to so many children, but she doesn't have spots on her face or a deformed figure. How did she do it?"
"I also want to know, should I ask?"
"I'm not going. You go if you want to go."
"Let Sister Chu go. Their two families have a good relationship."
Lin Qi, Xu Hexiao and Zhao Shu each held a six-month-old baby. It was their first time being in a crowded place like this. The baby didn't cry or make a fuss, but looked around curiously with his eyes blinking.
The four older children sat alone behind their parents and grandfather. They were also looking around, and when they saw Chu Wei and Chu Jing, they waved to them.
Chu Wei and Chu Jing came over and sat down. There were more children here.
However, although there were many children, they were not noisy and the volume of their conversations was kept at a relatively low level throughout the whole process.
"Brother brought me some melon seeds, do you want some?"
"Yes, thank you, brother."
"Brother and sister, we brought some candy and beef jerky, let us share some with you."
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