A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

Abujiang Tursun also came, and his pond was in equally bad shape.

Looking at the water, his face was ashen, but he still wouldn't back down: "This kind of extreme weather only happens once every few years! So what if we have greenhouses?"

Ding Xuemin didn't respond. He squatted by the pond and observed for a while, then suddenly stood up: "Greenhouses, speed up the construction of greenhouses."

He immediately organized a team and adjusted the construction plan.

The installation of insulation layers and temperature control systems has been given top priority.

The workers worked in two shifts, day and night, to finish the job.

Those two pilot worker families worked even harder, practically living on the construction site.

Three days later, at the height of the cold wave, the two pilot greenhouses were finally completed.

Stepping into the greenhouse is like entering another world.

Outside, the cold wind howled, but inside it was warm as spring.

The thermometer showed that the water temperature was maintained at the optimal range of 18-22 degrees Celsius for the crabs.

Through the clear water, you can see the river crabs moving around normally; some are crawling, and some are feeding, which is in stark contrast to the lifeless scene in the ponds outside.

Ding Xuemin simply set up the observation point inside the greenhouse.

On the fourth day, Ma Jianguo was the first to come to the door.

He walked around the greenhouse again and again, looking at the lively crabs in the water, and thinking about the situation of his own pond, and finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He rubbed his hands, somewhat embarrassed, "Technician Ding, can my pond... still be included in the greenhouse?"

Ding Xuemin frankly stated, "Setting up now might not be enough to cope with this cold wave, but it can prepare for the next batch."

"Then I want to build one too!"

I've come to understand; the weather can change in an instant. Having greenhouses gives me peace of mind!

The news spread very quickly.

Over the next two days, the threshold of Ding Xuemin's temporary office was practically worn down by the crowds.

People who were previously hesitant are now coming to us one by one, asking to join the greenhouse project.

"Technician Ding, could you plan one for my house too?"

"Money isn't a problem, as long as we can keep the harvest!"

"When will it be my turn?"

Abujiang Tursun was the last to arrive.

He wandered around outside the greenhouse for quite a while before finally dawdling into Ding Xuemin's office.

Several people were queuing to register in the office. When Abujiang Tursun entered, everyone fell silent for a moment.

Abujiang Tursun cleared his throat, his voice a little dry: "Technician Ding... could you also... my pond..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the meaning was clear.

Ding Xuemin looked up and smiled: "Okay, let's get a number."

However, demand is high right now, so it may take some time.

Abujiang nodded, said nothing more, turned to leave, but stopped at the door, turned back and stammered, "Um... don't take what I said before to heart."

Ding Xuemin shook his head: "It's all for the sake of raising crabs well."

The cold wave lasted for a week before slowly receding.

The losses at the ponds outside were severe, and many employees estimated that production would be reduced by at least 30%.

In the two pilot greenhouses, the crabs not only survived unharmed, but also grew faster than expected due to the suitable temperature and continuous feeding.

The construction site for the greenhouse has become lively again, but this time, it's not Ding Xuemin begging everyone to join, but the workers urging the construction team to hurry up and finish.

Ding Xuemin stood by the pond, watching the bustling scene, and breathed a sigh of relief.

In the conference room of the regiment headquarters, the leaders passed around the comparative data report submitted by Ding Xuemin—the survival rate, average size, and expected yield of river crabs inside and outside the greenhouse, all clearly shown in black and white.

"This Ding Xuemin is really something."

Upon receiving the report, Zhao Zhiqiang finally smiled. "Some people were saying he was just here to gain experience, but now look, he's really getting things done!"

The meeting was conducted efficiently and effectively.

The special funds for the subsequent construction of greenhouses were approved on the spot. It wasn't just about money; the regiment also issued a special document to coordinate the agricultural machinery station and the materials department to provide full cooperation, ensuring that equipment and materials were allocated as needed.

When the news reached the breeding area, everyone was delighted.

"That's great! With the regimental headquarters' support, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work!"

Ma Jianguo tells everyone he meets that he's even happier than if he had won the lottery himself.

This time, Abujiang Tursun didn't disagree. He squatted by his pond, looking at the insulation materials he had just received, and nodded, which was rare for him: "The regimental headquarters has spoken, so this is a reliable plan."

A few days later, several large buses drove into the breeding area.

Representatives from various companies came, a large group of dozens of people, all there to visit and learn about the "precision feeding + phased greenhouse" model.

Ding Xuemin was pushed to the front, holding a megaphone, to explain to everyone.

He speaks frankly, without spouting empty theories, but focusing on practical operations: how to build a greenhouse to save money, how to control the temperature to save fuel, and how to adjust the feeding amount according to the water temperature.

"Our greenhouses aren't just for show; they're designed to provide the most suitable environment for them to grow."

"When the temperature stabilizes, crabs eat well, grow quickly, and get sick less often—it's that simple."

Visitors crowded around the area, asking all sorts of questions.

"Technician Ding, how much does this greenhouse cost?"

"How thick should the insulation layer be?"

"My pond has an irregular shape, can a greenhouse be built there?"

Ding Xuemin answered each question one by one until her voice became hoarse.

Those two households that were among the first to work there are now "on-site guides," talking animatedly about the changes in their own ponds.

"At this time of year, I used to be on tenterhooks every day, afraid of the temperature dropping and the wind blowing."

Now that we have greenhouses, I can sleep soundly!

One of them spoke enthusiastically, "You didn't see it, during that cold wave, the crabs outside were almost frozen solid, but the ones in our greenhouse were still lively and jumping around!"

Abujiang Tursun was also listening in the crowd. This time, instead of hiding at the back, he moved to the front and occasionally chimed in, "Temperature control is the most crucial factor. If it's too hot, the crabs won't be comfortable either. It would be best to install an automatic temperature control system..."

A man from the next company joked with him, "Abujiang Tursun, I heard you were the most opposed to building greenhouses back then?"

Abujiang Tursun blushed, his neck stiffening, "That's because I didn't understand before. Now I know, it's a good thing, I can't wait for it to be all built tomorrow!"

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was very lively.

After the visit, the regiment held an on-site meeting and officially listed Ding Xuemin's model as a key project to be promoted within the regiment.

This means that not only will there be financial support, but also technical guidance and personnel training in the future.

The pressure fell on Ding Xuemin.

At night, the lights in his dormitory stayed on until late. The table was covered with planning diagrams, schedules, and budget sheets, all densely covered with writing.

"All the ponds need to complete the construction of greenhouses within two months. Time is tight and the task is heavy."

He not only wanted to build greenhouses, but he was also thinking about the long-term implications, as feed costs were too high and would place a heavy burden on employees in the long run.

Xinjiang has high-quality forage resources. If planting can be promoted and processed into feed locally, costs can be reduced significantly.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.