Chapter Seventeen: Reaching Heaven's Ears

  Liu Lao and others, after learning about Liang Sanping's idea, no longer stayed in Qiongzhoukou. The next day they rushed back to Baoting and immediately joined Liang Sanping to investigate the planting of agricultural products such as cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, etc. in designated months.

  Liu Lao and others are extremely rigorous scientists, although it can now be proven that the Quan Island and Bao Ting areas can indeed plant off-season vegetables, and Quan Island has always been planted in this way.

  But if it is planted on a large scale, there are many problems to be faced. The input of pesticides and fertilizers, the prevention and treatment of diseases and pests, as well as the management of the planting area.

  At the same time, variety selection is also very important. This relates to the time from planting to harvesting of vegetables and fruits, and also relates to whether they meet the taste requirements of the importing country.

  Liang Sanping took the opportunity to have Xia Zhendong bring Lan Bin over, and together they participated in the research work. Lan Bin was originally a educated youth, with a cultural level that was not low.

  Li Sanping knew that Lan Bin later did statistical work. Although he was lacking in professional knowledge of agriculture, he did very well in planning and organization.

  In data classification and local surveys, Lan Bin is undoubtedly doing extremely well. Moreover, Lan Bin is humble and doesn't like to talk much. These qualities make it easy for people to trust him.

  As expected, after Lan Bin came over, even the picky Xia Zhendong was extremely satisfied with his work. Not to mention that Lan Bin organized the materials in an orderly manner, but also made very good arrangements for daily life.

  Often brought dishes from the cafeteria and delivered them to Liu Lao's hands, who were investigating at that time. Moreover, they also summarized the farming experience of some old farmers nearby.

  "Hey! I'm telling you, Xiao Liang, where did you dig up this treasure?! Culturally refined and highly capable. Not arrogant at all, with a few more years of training, Lan Bin will definitely be a pillar!"

  Liang Sanping smiled and didn't say a word, but Lan Bin's old man was an old revolutionary of the Dongjiang Column during the Anti-Japanese War. In turbulent times, there was no way out, but now that the turbulence has passed, he will definitely arrange for his son to return home.

  Xia Zhendong wants to keep Lan Bin behind, it's probably not that easy.

  At this time, Lan Bin walked over with a smile, the project was almost completed. This can also be considered as a perfect ending. After the project is over, he will return to work in Yangcheng, the provincial capital of Guangdong Province.

  "Old Lan, come! Have a smoke!" Seeing Lan Bin walk over, Liang Sanping smiled and handed him the cigarette. Lan Bin liked to smoke, which was something Liang Sanping had known for a long time.

  Lan Bin smiled and accepted the silver ball handed over by Liang Sanping, lit it with a lighter first for Liang Sanping and then for himself.

  "Third Ping, after this project is done, I'll be back in Yang City." However, Lan Bin took a deep drag on his European cigarette and said to Liang Sanping: "Who knows when we'll meet again next time..."

  Although the two had been together for some time, Lan Bin felt as if he had known Liang Sanping for many years. His own small habits, small hobbies, and even personality traits seemed to be crystal clear to Liang's younger brother.

  But Lan Bin clearly felt that this was not Liang Sanping deliberately trying to please himself. This was more like old friends who had been together for many years, and were already familiar with each other to the point of being like family.

  If Liang Sanping knew what Lan Bin was thinking, he would definitely be secretly laughing. The two had been together for more than a decade or two, and their relationship had become no different from that of family members.

  Lan Bin later returned to Qiong Island, and even if he had a house of his own, he still had to live in Liang Sanping's home. And when Liang Sanping went to work in Dapeng City where Lan Bin was, Lan Bin wouldn't even allow him to open a hotel, insisting that he stay at his own home instead.

  How could Liang Sanping not understand Lan Bin's personality after so many years?!

  "Haha... who can predict what will happen in the future?! Even if you go back to the big city, it's not necessarily a good thing. You might even end up coming back to our Baoting!"

  Liang Sanping's words left Lan Bin momentarily stunned, and then he laughed.

  "It's not that it can't be done, but the chances of it happening are just too low." Lan Bin smiled and shook his head, saying: "You know, my old man's health is like that, I have to go back and take care of him..."

  And besides, after I go back, I should be doing grassroots work. Although we are both from Guangdong Province, the probability of returning to Hainan Island and then going back to Baoting is too low...

  Liang Sanping smiled and didn't say a word. After taking a hard drag on his cigarette, he turned to Lan Bin and said: "Old Lan, do you think this project of mine can succeed?"

  Lan Bin smiled, pinched the cigarette butt on his hand to the ground and extinguished it - fire prevention was very important at this time. Now they were in the woods, if something caught fire, it would be a big trouble.

  "Sanping, let me tell you the truth! You want farms, agricultural reclamation, and even most farmers to become rich. This ideal is great. But unfortunately, reality is cruel..."

  Lan Bin stood up and sighed, "It's now very clear that the country hasn't put its emphasis on agriculture. The reform has just begun, but we're already in a state of utter chaos..."

  "So for development, we must introduce external capital. And the most effective way to accumulate technology and funds is not agriculture, but industry. The great development of industry is already foreseeable."

  He paused and continued, "At least in the short term, the country cannot take out funds or policies to support agriculture. So even if you can get through this time, the road ahead will be very difficult..."

  Li Sanping fell silent. In fact, he was very clear about this in his heart. The country could not temporarily take out funds and policies to support agriculture because what the country lacked most now was industrial technology and accumulation of capital.

  Advanced technology and advanced management methods, a large amount of foreign capital. This is what the country needs most now. If you want to achieve something in agriculture, it's almost an impossible task.

  It wasn't until thirty years later that the country began to shift its policies towards agriculture, and it was only then that farmers gradually shared in the benefits brought by national development.

  But even so, at that time, most of the mountainous areas still had a large number of poor people who could not enjoy the benefits brought by national reform and development.

  "Comprehensive development is the only true development. We are a major agricultural country, and more than half of the population in this country is engaged in agriculture. Perhaps industry and services will absorb some of the agricultural population, but what about the rest?"

  Li Sanping took a deep breath, as if telling Lan Bin and also encouraging himself: "Agriculture is our foundation. Only with a solid agricultural base can we have safe food, clothing, shelter and transportation. I am not going to give up!"

  "Maybe my efforts won't necessarily yield results, but I'll still keep trying. Until I'm exhausted!" Liang Sanping said, his eyes shining brighter.

  "I may not have great abilities, but at least I hope that I can help those farmers who I am able to assist become rich. Only then will our country truly be wealthy!"

  Liang Sanping looked at Lan Bin with piercing eyes and said: "Old Lan, if one day I need your help, will you come to help me?!"

  Lan Bin fell silent, this matter was not easy for him to answer. He had experienced enough of the hardships of rural life in this remote and impoverished village. Although there were many memories here, what he hoped for now, at an age still shy of thirty, was that he could make a name for himself in the future, rather than continuing to struggle in this poor and isolated place.

  "I'll help you!" Just as Liang Sanping's gaze was gradually dimming, Lan Bin suddenly said: "But I can only help you for a short while. Unless, you can show me the prospects of agriculture."

  Liang Sanping smiled, with Lan Bin's words, that was enough. What else did he need?!

  "Lao Lan, don't worry! I'll prove it to you!"

  The nearly half-month investigation has finally come to an end, and Liu Lao and others have compiled a complete report on their survey results and submitted the comprehensive data on Japan's vegetable shortage to the General Bureau.

  Especially mentioned is the situation in 1976 when Japan imported a total of $200 million worth of vegetables, which drew high attention from the General Administration and even the Ministry. Soon after, this report was submitted to the highest leader as an important proposal.

  In the imperial capital, in a large courtyard deep in a narrow alley. An old man was holding this report and chuckling constantly, while several elderly men of similar age were sitting beside him.

  This is a very ordinary-looking residential house from the outside, although it's a quadrangle courtyard, at least it looks no different from other courtyards.

  Only the guards at the gate silently told of the differences here. Those few old willows in front of the gate, however, whispered about the history here.

  "Haha... Old Chen! We old guys are really getting old, always thinking about reform, reform, but never thought that we could also start reform from the agricultural aspect and synchronize it with other aspects."

  But then the old man who was holding the file laughed and put down the file, sighing: "What Old Liu said about this young fellow is actually reasonable. After all, we are a major agricultural country. How to take good care of more than half of the agricultural population and how to make agriculture reform must be taken seriously."

  The old man called Lao Chen nodded, but immediately said: "It's true what you say. But if agricultural reform is to be carried out, how much investment will be needed, what kind of policies are required, and what impact it will have? We know nothing about these things! One hair moves and the whole body reacts, this risk is not small..."

  The old man who put down the file smiled and replied: "What doesn't have risks?! In our days, we carried our heads to make revolution, didn't that have risks?! It's the same!"

  As he spoke, the old man stood up and lit a cigarette for himself: "Reform was never meant to have a set path. We're all feeling our way across the river by touching stones. None of us really know where we're going or which direction to take."

  "Why not give young people some opportunities to try?! Reform allows for some mistakes, as long as they don't violate national laws, then be bold and take the leap! We old folks, while we still can move, should help boost the younger generation with a bit of momentum!"