Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2923 Hope Grass

The California sun shines on the rolling farmland as Ye Yuze, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, inspects the farm's specialty crop area.

In addition to traditional wheat and corn cultivation, this area has also introduced a variety of distinctive Chinese cash crops.

Sichuan peppercorns, Yunnan Pu'er tea, Xinjiang red dates, and even an experimental ginseng plantation in Northeast China.

"Old Yang, look how well these pepper trees are growing," Ye Yuze said, pointing to a grove of pepper trees laden with fruit.

"Next year, we will be able to supply fresh Sichuan peppercorns to Chinese restaurants across the United States, so they won't have to airfreight them from China anymore."

Yang Geyong was squatting on the ground, teasing a round, chubby orange cat.
“These little guys are the farm’s real star attraction. Another litter of kittens was born last week, and the reservation list is already three months in advance.”

Indeed, California farms have become one of the most popular tourist destinations on the West Coast of the United States. A huge sign stands at the farm entrance:
"Zhonghua Rural Ecological Farm - Experience the wisdom of Eastern farming and adopt the cutest Chinese rural cats and dogs."

The farm's interior design is ingenious, divided into several distinctive areas:
"Tea Path" is a 50-acre tea garden where visitors can experience the entire process of picking, processing, and tasting tea.

Tea masters from China regularly perform Kung Fu tea ceremonies, and at the end of the tea garden is a shop specializing in tea and teaware.

"Spicy Paradise" - this place grows a variety of Chinese spice crops, and the central area is an open kitchen where visitors can learn to make authentic Sichuan cuisine and use freshly picked spices.

"Pet Paradise"—the farm's core attraction. Hundreds of Chinese domestic cats and dogs live freely here, where visitors can interact, feed them, and even apply for adoption.

Each animal wears a smart collar that records their health and behavioral data.

"Starry Night Campsite" - a special nighttime program offering a Chinese camping experience, where guests can stay in accommodations in the style of Mongolian yurts or Fujian Tulou (earthen buildings) and sit around a campfire at night to listen to Chinese folk tales.

It was the weekend, and a long line had formed at the farm entrance. A family from San Francisco was waiting to enter.

"Mom, I want that black and white puppy!"

The little girl pointed at the Chinese rural dog in the poster and shouted.

The father smiled and patted his daughter's head: "Let's go take a look first. I heard that adoption requires a strict screening process."

Inside the farm, Yang Geyong is hosting the monthly "Chinese Rural Dog Agility Competition".

More than a dozen well-trained local dogs darted and leaped across the obstacle course, drawing continuous applause from the audience.

"These Chinese rural dogs are smarter than many purebred dogs," Yang Geyong told tourists through a microphone.

"They have a long history, diverse genes, and almost no hereditary diseases. Look at that black one, it can understand both Chinese and English commands!"

After the competition, visitors flocked to the adoption center. Farm staff carefully reviewed each applicant family to ensure the animals could find suitable homes.

“We are not a pet store,” an employee explained to a young couple. “Adoption is a lifelong responsibility. We need to make regular home visits to ensure the animals are well cared for.”

Meanwhile, at the farm’s e-commerce center, workers are busy processing orders from all over the United States.

The farm's app, "Zhonghua Tianyuan Pet," has over one million daily active users. It not only sells pet-related products but also provides online training and veterinary consultations.

Ye Yuze inspected the agricultural product processing area, where a series of specialty products were being produced: Sichuan pepper oil, Pu'er tea biscuits, red date jam, and even sweaters woven from cat hair—

This idea came from Yang Geyong, who said, "We can't waste the fur that these little guys shed when they change seasons."

At 3 PM, a traditional Chinese farming show begins at the farm theater, with performers demonstrating how to plow with water buffalo, plant rice seedlings by hand, and harvest using traditional methods. After the performance, visitors can try their hand at the traditional methods.

"I never knew farming could be so fun!"

A teenager from New York excitedly told his friends, "This is so much more fun than playing farm games!"

As night falls, lanterns light up the stargazing campsite, and the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes and tea eggs fills the air.

A group of college students sat around Ye Yuze, listening to him recount his experiences in Africa and Central Asia.

"Mr. Ye, why did you choose to run a farm instead of continuing to make cars?" a student asked.

Ye Yuze smiled: "Food and security are fundamental. No matter how advanced technology becomes, people will always need to eat. And..."

He blinked. "I can better help my children here."

Indeed, California farms are not only tourist destinations, but also bases for the cultivation of certain specialty crops.

In a secluded area deep within the farm, several special plants from Africa are grown. These were sent by Ye Rou, who hopes to cultivate them in the United States.

One plant in particular caught Ye Yuze's attention: "Hope Grass." This grass can grow under extremely arid conditions, with roots reaching up to ten meters deep. It not only prevents soil desertification but also serves as high-quality fodder.

If successfully developed, it will have a revolutionary impact on agriculture in Africa.

“Old Yang, look at how well these Hope Grasses are growing,” Ye Yuze said, pointing to the green plants in the experimental field. “If they can be planted on a large scale, the livestock industry in Marseille and Solomon Islands will see tremendous growth.”

Yang Geyong nodded: "I have contacted the University of California, Davis, and they are willing to collaborate on the research. At the same time, visitors to the farm can also tour the project and learn about the agricultural challenges in Africa."

The idea immediately had an effect. The following weekend, the farm added an "African Agriculture Experience Zone," showcasing the value of hope grass and other drought-resistant crops. Visitors learned about advanced agricultural knowledge while having fun, and many even donated to support the development of African agriculture.

To Ye Yuze's surprise, the project attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A week later, officials from the Department of Agriculture visited and expressed their desire to collaborate on research into the application of Hope Grass in the arid regions of the western United States.

"It seems that your children's work in Africa is actually helping the United States solve some problems," the official joked. "That's the benefit of globalization, isn't it?"

Ye Yuze smiled silently, thinking that this might garner more international support for Ye Rou and her team. Meanwhile, at the farm's monitoring center, the security chief reported a discovery:
“Mr. Ye, we have noticed that several groups of tourists have been behaving strangely recently. They are particularly interested in the African projects, have asked a lot of technical questions, and have even secretly collected soil samples.”

Ye Yuze frowned: "They might be industrial spies trying to steal the cultivation technology of Hope Grass. Strengthen security and deliberately leak some false information to them."

Yang Geyong grinned: "Let me arrange it. I guarantee they'll go back happily with the false information."

An unseen battle to protect agricultural technology is quietly unfolding under the California sun.

In the conference room of the Royal Palace in Marseille, in the Horn of Africa, Ye Rou is listening to a report on the progress of the trial planting of "hope grass".

"The trials in the arid northern regions have been very successful," the Agriculture Minister said excitedly. "Livestock particularly enjoy eating this grass, milk production has increased by 20%, and the pastures do not require artificial irrigation and can grow on natural rainfall."

Ye Mei added, "Farmers in the border areas of Somalia have begun to spontaneously plant hope grass as fencing, which has unexpectedly reduced cross-border livestock theft."

Yang Da proposed a new idea: "We can establish a Hope Grass Seed Bank to provide seeds to farmers in neighboring countries free of charge, on the condition that they return a portion of the harvested seeds to the bank. This will not only expand planting but also establish a mutual aid network."

Ye Rou nodded approvingly: "A very good idea. At the same time, contact Brother Ye Feng to see if we can set up a micro-loan project through his brother's investment to support farmers in buying livestock and create a virtuous cycle."

Just then, the intelligence department delivered an urgent message: the Tricolor Kingdom was lobbying the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, claiming that the grass was an "invasive species" that could disrupt the ecological balance of Africa, and demanding a ban on its cultivation.

"Absurd!" Ye Mei exclaimed angrily. "This is clearly a species we developed ourselves, how did it become an invasive species?"

Yang San sneered: "It's the same old tricks of those people again. I suggest we hold a press conference immediately to showcase the research process and benefits of the Hope Grass and seize the high ground in public opinion."

Ye Rou pondered for a moment: "That's not all. Contact Dad and ask the California farm to provide data on the cultivation of Hope Grass in the United States to prove its safety. At the same time, invite agricultural experts from various countries to conduct on-site inspections and let the facts speak for themselves."

A week later, the first international agricultural expert team arrived in Marseille. During a visit to the grass of hope planting area, a Migration expert deliberately asked a difficult question: "With such a developed root system, won't this grass deplete groundwater resources?"

A local farmer named Muhammad stepped forward and replied, “Sir, we flood here every rainy season, but the water quickly seeps into the ground and runs away. Hopefully, the deep roots of the grass will help retain water and soil, thus increasing the groundwater reserves. My well is three feet full more than last year!”

The US representative on the expert panel nodded in agreement: "Similar effects were observed in trials in California. This grass does indeed improve, rather than damage, the ecosystem."

After the investigation, most experts gave positive feedback, and the UN's ban proposal naturally failed.

However, the Tricolor Kingdom did not give up. Soon after, a team calling itself the "African Ecological Protection Organization" appeared on the Somali border, inciting local people to protest against the planting of grasses, claiming that it was a "conspiracy by foreign powers to control African agriculture."

After Yang San sent people to investigate, he discovered that the organization's funds came from an agricultural company in the Three Colors Country, which happened to be the largest feed importer in Africa.

“Hope Grass threatens their monopoly,” Ye Rou analyzed, “so they will stop us at all costs.”

Ye Mei proposed a tough response: "Arrest these foreigners on charges of sedition and deport them."

Yang Da suggested a more strategic approach: "Why don't we acquire that Tricolor Kingdom company's competitor and give them a taste of their own medicine?"

Ye Rou adopted a compromise: on the one hand, she legally expelled foreigners engaged in illegal activities; on the other hand, through her brother's investment, she acquired a European organic feed company and began exporting cheaper feed to Africa, directly impacting the market of companies from the three countries.

Economic measures proved to be the most effective. The stock price of the Tricolori Corporation continued to fall, forcing it to reduce its political activities in Africa and focus on commercial competition.

“But we can’t always be reactive,” Ye Rou said at the strategy meeting. “We should take the initiative and find their weaknesses.”

Yang San's intelligence department quickly discovered an important piece of information: the Tri-Colored Nation has a military base in Djibouti, mainly responsible for monitoring shipping in the Gulf of Aden. The base is currently undergoing expansion, possibly with plans to increase the size of its troop presence.

“The Djibouti government is not satisfied with this,” Yang San reported, “but it dares not refuse under pressure.”

Ye Mei's eyes lit up: "We can support Djibouti's demand to renegotiate the troop deployment agreement. The Tricolore has had a poor image in Africa in recent years. If we provide support, Djibouti is likely to dare to take a tougher stance."

The plan was implemented immediately. Ye Rou personally visited Djibouti, promising economic aid and military protection. Meanwhile, Brothers Investment announced a large-scale port project in Djibouti, creating thousands of jobs.

Under multiple pressures, the Djibouti government indeed announced a review of its military base agreement with the Tricolor State, demanding a significant increase in rent and restrictions on the base's functions.

This move caught the Tricolore off guard, forcing them to divert their attention to the Djibouti issue and reducing their interference with the Masai-Soviet alliance.

"A brilliant 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao' strategy," Ye Yuze praised his daughter during the video call. "You have already learned how to place your pieces on the global chessboard."

Ye Rou replied modestly, "It's all thanks to my father's excellent teaching. How's the Hope Grass project in California going?"

Ye Yuze smiled: "Very successful, even the US government came to learn from us. However, there have been some recent commercial espionage activities, and your Uncle Yang is playing a cat-and-mouse game with them."

The father and daughter smiled at each other, feeling as if they were close even though they were thousands of miles apart.

Meanwhile, on his California farm, Yang Geyong was indeed setting up a good show. He deliberately had his staff leak "insider information" to suspicious individuals, claiming that the grass needed a special fertilizer to thrive in the United States, and that this fertilizer could only be produced in a remote area of ​​China.

A few days later, surveillance footage showed that the industrial spies had ordered large quantities of so-called "special fertilizer" and shipped it back to the company for research.

“Let them waste their time,” Yang Geyong said smugly to Ye Yuze. “By the time they realize they’ve been fooled, our Hope Grass will have spread all over Africa.”

Ye Yuze shook his head and laughed, "You old fox, you haven't changed a bit."

“Likewise,” Yang Geyong patted his old friend on the shoulder, “otherwise, how could I accompany you to explore this world?”

The two stood on a high point on the farm, gazing at the pastoral scenery under the setting sun. In the distance, tourists were playing with cats, children were learning about traditional Chinese farming, and the air was filled with the aroma of Sichuan peppercorns and laughter.

Meanwhile, in faraway Africa, Ye Rou and Ye Mei overlook their increasingly prosperous kingdom. Cities are brightly lit, the fields are teeming with hope, and the borders are peaceful and tranquil.

It's almost the end of the month, you know how it is, I'm almost embarrassed to say it... Bookworm168, are you a smaller version of BookwormChest? Or are you a new friend? Thank you!