Chapter Forty-Four: Back and Forth Struggle

  In early January 1980, Ge Tai, the secretary of the prefectural committee of Hainan Island, was transferred to be the secretary of the autonomous prefecture. At the same time, the eight counties under the jurisdiction of the autonomous prefecture began to conduct a bottom-up investigation.

  At the same time, Otsu Yuka and Ye Jianwen, Liao Bin and others have also arrived at Bao Ting to start on-site research. Ye Jianwen is completely in a playful mood, except for climbing mountains and fishing every day, he doesn't care about anything else.

  Liao Bin was diligently following Professor Liu and the others, conducting research in the vegetable garden. After sending out the first batch of melons and vegetables, Liang Sanping rushed back to Bao Ting as he watched the refrigerated ship set sail.

  "Teacher, have you figured out what Dajin Yun and the others are up to during this time?" Liang Sanping asked quietly, pulling Professor Liu aside after returning to Bao Ting.

  "The old man has no idea what they want to do! However, the Japanese brought by Dajin Yun are all good hands." Professor Liu frowned and said: "That Ye Jianwen looks a bit strange, but this Liao Bin seems like someone who can get things done..."

  Liāng Sān Píng listened and nodded slightly, it seems that this Dà Jīn Yún is indeed up to no good...

  "Sanping ah, you should learn from Liao Bin, he's got real skills!" However, Professor Liu smiled and said: "I've chatted with him before, and he's familiar with the current agricultural situations both domestically and internationally."

  "And you, you little brat, all day long just wandering around aimlessly. What can you possibly learn?! Look at others, their skills are no worse than mine, yet they're so humble and patient, following us old folks to the vegetable garden, this is what it means to have a learning attitude!"

  Liang Sanping hastily bowed his head in response, this was not a good time to have any conflict with the old master. Otherwise, the furious old master would definitely catch him and give him a good scolding.

  "Hmm... This time I've already put you on the tour guide list, you little brat, keep a close eye on these Japanese people and see what they're up to!"

  "Don't worry, teacher, I'll keep a close eye on them!"

  Liáng Sān Píng didn't know that at this moment he was talking with Professor Liú. His elder brother, Liáng Dà Píng, was also chatting with his comrades-in-arms.

  "Old Li, my third child is not bad, right?!" Liang Daping chuckled and said to the fifty-year-old man beside him: "If you have skills, you have skills! If you have talent, you have talent! How about it?! What did your daughter say?!"

  And this man, called Old Li, wore a blue cotton work uniform, his eyebrows lowered as he drank with peanuts. The man's face was somewhat gaunt, but his eyebrows looked very resolute.

  "Your third child is not bad, my eldest is not worse either!" But then Old Li hummed and said: "My eldest, after all, graduated from high school. Still the son of an old worker, it's more than enough to marry a section chief!"

  "Besides, my eldest may not necessarily look up to your third child!" Old Li said with a flattering tone towards Liang Daping, who responded by curling his lip in disdain.

  "Old Li, it's fine to brag in front of others, but what are you bragging about in front of me, Old Liang?! We're old comrades-in-arms, I should know better than anyone!"

  But then Liang Sanping chuckled and said, "My third brother is now a frequent visitor to the Guangzhou General Bureau, and has even been to the Imperial Capital to meet with important people! Professor Liu calls my third brother his student, if you don't want your eldest to be left behind, many people are willing to associate with my third brother!"

  This remark did not provoke a rebuttal from Old Li, and in fact, the name of Liang Sanping was well-known throughout the Jianghai Farm. In other people's mouths, he was also a legendary figure.

  Old Li came back to see his old comrade, also wanting to take a look at what this newly-minted legendary figure was like. But he didn't expect his old comrade to directly suggest that his eldest daughter get together with this legendary figure.

  "Old Li, I'm only bringing this up because of our many years as comrades-in-arms and old friends. Plus, we're both from Guangxi Province, that's why I'm mentioning this to you." Liang Daping tossed a peanut into his mouth, chuckling as he spoke.

  "You don't know, there are quite a few people in the department who have mentioned my third brother to me. They ask if I have an object, and if you're not willing, then I'll find someone else!"

  Old Li drained the wine in his cup with one gulp, and looked at Liang Sanping who was talking to Professor Liu in the workshop, saying: "Who can grasp the thoughts of young people?!"

  "Why don't you have Siqin's work unit transferred to the vegetable garden. Let these two young people be together, whether they make it or not depends on how they get along."

  Li Da Ping heard this and curled his lip, you old Li are really not kind. Thinking of taking advantage of me, if your daughter is transferred over and it doesn't work out in the end, I won't be at a loss.

  But our old three wants to sell face and transfer work for you. The public share of the vegetable garden is not small now, and it's absolutely profitable to transfer over.

  Besides, Lao Li's eldest son is still a high school graduate. Transferred over, he can definitely mix and get a job title.

  "We're old comrades, can't you just do me a favor...?" Old Li sighed and said: "You know I have four daughters at home, one young son. And my mother-in-law still comes over from time to time..."

  Old Li said that, and Liang Daping couldn't help but smile awkwardly. However, they were old comrades-in-arms after all, so helping out like this wasn't a big deal. He would just mention it to Old Three, and surely he wouldn't dare contradict himself?!

  Old Li's daughter is not bad either, after all, she graduated from high school. In this era, it's already quite impressive. She can also be considered a highly educated person, so coming to work here shouldn't be too out of her league, right?!

  Moreover, he also knew the situation of Lao Li's family. Four daughters and one son, the eldest had just graduated. The second, third and fourth, as well as the youngest son were all in school.

  Every year's tuition and textbook fees are a large sum of money, if it weren't for Old Li and his wife working hard, and now the eldest has also come out to supplement the family income, they really can't make ends meet.

  "You've said it all, what else can I say?!" Liang Daping laughed and clinked his cup with his old comrade, saying: "I'll let my third brother handle this matter!"

  At this time, Song Tian was walking with Liao Bin in the vegetable garden. Looking at the tender yellow cucumber seedlings, Liao Bin knew that the first batch of vegetables had been sent out and couldn't help but smile.

  "Mr. Liao, it seems our initial cooperation has been quite successful. Unfortunately, our harvest is still too little..." Matsuda said softly, looking at Liao Bin's smiling face.

  "If our yield could be even greater, then undoubtedly this time our gains would be more." After a pause, Matsuda said: "Unfortunately, there are only 50 mu here, and at most it will be around 50 tons of vegetables by the end of the harvest season..."

  Liao Bin smiled and stroked the cucumber seedlings, saying in a low voice: "This time it's not bad already. After gaining benefits, I believe our cooperation will be even deeper. Are you afraid that the yield won't go up later?"

  Matsumoto nodded and said, "That's the way it is, but I think the most troublesome thing is that we still need to communicate with Nelson Agricultural Products Trading Company, which unnecessarily adds another layer of profit being taken..."

  Liao Bin heard this, and a hint of inexplicable expression flashed in his eyes. He smiled slightly without saying a word, while Song Tian looked at Liao Bin not speaking and immediately shifted the topic to the current vegetable prices in Japan.

  Liao Bin smiled and changed the subject, while Liang Sanping stared at Liao Bin and Song Tian for a moment before turning to Xia Zhendong to ask about the situation.

  "There's nothing special about it, these people are also well-known figures in the academic world. I've seen many of them when attending international seminars." Xia Zhendong furrowed his brow and said: "Moreover, during this period they were indeed investigating..."

  "They brought over some equipment, and I was envious of some of it. For example, the soil analysis instruments, our institute has been wanting one for a long time. Unfortunately, there's no extra funds to buy it... It's too expensive..."

  Liang Sanping nodded and said: "What about the inspection team from the Imperial Capital? Is there anything special about them?"

  Xia Zhendong snorted coldly and said, "That Liao Bin is not bad, but Ye Jianwen is not good. He's always going mountain climbing and fishing, and has only been to the vegetable garden a few times. I don't know if he's here to inspect or to enjoy himself!"

  Liang Sanping was taken aback by the words. Just now, Professor Liu had said that Ye Jianwen was a bit special. Could it be that he was special in this regard?!