Shuangling: Braving the Rapids

Therefore, Qin Laishun set his sights on another force in the village: the Four Tigers.

Who doesn't know that the Four Tigers are a pack of wolves? But Qin Laishun is certain that as long as the money is right, he can get them to do things. The Four Tigers are not only good at handling land expropriation compensation, but also adept at dirty tricks.

As expected, the troublemakers quieted down under the intimidation of the four tiger brothers, and many farmers signed compensation agreements under duress and inducement.

Qin Laishun was well aware that these methods were underhanded, but he didn't care. As long as the result met his expectations, that was enough for him.

The old case of stealing sheep had made the Four Tigers despised and suppressed for years, but now they've become guests of honor at the Party Secretary's table. This pragmatic "pledge of allegiance" is nothing more than the promise of a share of the mining profits, enough to make them wholeheartedly loyal.

Qin Laishun was riding high, but Aimin was in a state of utter distress. So far, only Ma Xiangju's family had agreed to join the chrysanthemum-growing cooperative project.

Aimin never expected that his efforts of more than a year would result in this outcome! He was somewhat disappointed; it seemed that reality had once again given this pale-faced scholar a harsh lesson.

Ultimately, no one can escape the pursuit of self-interest: Qin Laishun, who wields power, the greedy tiger cub, and even the seemingly honest farmer, all have selfish and short-sighted sides.

As a native rural intellectual, Aimin should have understood this long ago. But knowing that the hope was slim, why did he still insist on starting a business in the countryside?

Aimin didn't dwell on it too much. Instead of thinking about cutting his losses, he focused his thoughts on the relationship between people and land: If the land can't lift people out of poverty, then what's the point of toiling in the fields? Are they really willing to stay in the fields and toil for a living? With high levies, various agricultural taxes, and carefully designed "scissors differentials," where is their way out if they don't try to take shortcuts?

At this moment, these questions were all that came to Aimin's mind. An uncontrollable sense of compassion told him that he had to find the answers and the solutions.

Suddenly, he grabbed his hair in frustration, thinking: Why should I bear such a huge responsibility?

If only he hadn't gone to school, hadn't gone to university, and didn't have a proper job, and instead thought like the villagers, how much better it would have been! At least he wouldn't have to endure this torment. However, he had seen the world beyond the mountains and glimpsed certain truths. Now, all of this had become shackles, poisonous insects gnawing at his will. It was truly tragic!

Aimin wavered and even began to doubt himself. Now he needed to find a reason for himself, a reason to keep going.

Earning money to support a family? No, he has no plans to start a family at the moment.

Leading his fellow villagers to prosperity? No, he's not that great. Although he used to consider himself a believer in communism, now he's just an ordinary person who likes to think.

Just as his thoughts were in a slump, Aimin looked up at Jutaidi, and the low grave surrounded by evergreen pines and cypresses seemed to spark a flash of inspiration in him. He gritted his teeth and resolved to fight one more time, not for anything else, but simply to protect this pure land!

If no economic value can be found in field crops, those unscrupulous ambitious individuals will surely ruin farmland for minerals. At that time, the mother's soul will have no place to rest.

With this in mind, Aimin's fighting spirit was rekindled. Since he couldn't secure fertile irrigated land, he would focus on the barren mountain terraces. As long as he mastered the cultivation techniques for chrysanthemums in the mountains, he wouldn't have to worry about finding people to join his cause. Having made up his mind, Aimin didn't delay any longer.

After drying the fresh chrysanthemums on the roof, he carried his farm tools and dozens of small glass bottles up the mountain. After most of the day, his arms were incredibly sore, but he had collected quite a few soil samples.

These soil samples, encased in glass bottles, were taken from different areas of Shuangling Mountain and divided into typical areas such as the East and West Miaoling plots, Cypress Forest, and Jutai area according to their altitude.

After obtaining the samples, Ai-min contacted his university classmates at the Shangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences overnight. Before dawn the next day, he headed to the city with his bulging luggage bag.

As the sun shone brightly, the gray-white walls of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences finally came into view. He had just taken out his pager when a young woman in a white uniform greeted him with a smile.

"Love the people!"

Chen Yunyun had a high nose bridge, slightly upturned eyes, and a well-defined face that exuded a unique charm. Before Aimin could react, she smiled and said, "Old classmate, the chrysanthemum seeds I gave you last time all yielded a bumper harvest, didn't they? What, are you here again for some technical advice?"

This agricultural technician was Aimin's college classmate. Ever since he started cultivating chrysanthemums, the two had been seeing each other more frequently, though their communication was limited to technical matters.

"Hey, it's a long story! The two acres of sandy land have blossomed, but right now..." Aimin didn't exchange pleasantries, and without even taking off his backpack, he began to tell the other person about the problems he was currently facing.

Chen Yun led the person into the courtyard, and the two chatted as they walked, just like students discussing a topic on campus.

"So, you brought soil samples from different altitudes on the ridge?" she asked in surprise, pointing to her bulging backpack.

Aimin nodded, pushing up his glasses with his index finger: "The plots are scattered, so we need to take more samples. This time, I'll have to trouble you to do a differentiation test again."

"Haven't you troubled me enough?" Seeing the other person's hesitation, Chen Yun chuckled. "Stop being so polite. Come on, I'll take you to the lab. Don't expect me to do it alone this time; you'll have to help too..."