I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

With money came confidence, and my steps toward entering agricultural university became much more firm.

At the entrance of the research institute, Zhou Zhonghai saw Zhao Jintao come out of the building with his head hanging low and hurriedly called out, "Jintao, Jintao..."

Zhao Jintao stopped in his tracks, and upon seeing Zhou Zhonghai, called out, "Uncle Zhou!"

"Why do you look so listless? What are you doing at the research institute?" Zhou Zhonghai asked with concern.

"The research institute was recruiting assistants, and I wanted to try, but I wasn't selected." Zhao Jintao smiled awkwardly.

"Didn't get selected? Was it because of a lack of skills or experience?"

Zhao Jintao is the team leader of Dashui Village. He knows the growth cycle of wheat and corn better than his wife. Moreover, he has his own unique insights into agriculture. If he can't do it, who can?

"Maybe they're just not mature enough, it's alright, Uncle Zhou. Are you having lunch at the university? I'll treat you." Zhao Jintao smiled reassuringly.

"Eat! Wait for me for lunch. I want braised pork with potatoes."

Zhou Zhonghai readily agreed, and Zhao Jintao bowed, took his leave, and went ahead.

Zhou Zhonghai frequently visited the Agricultural University and ate at the canteen with Zhao Jintao several times, with Zhao Jintao always treating him.

Upon entering the research institute, I saw Director Xia Lei interviewing assistants who had come to apply for the positions.

Zhou Zhonghai didn't disturb them, found a place to sit down, and listened quietly.

"Planting wheat is a very hard and complicated job. Can you endure the hardship?"

"Teacher, I can."

"Okay, tell me about the factors that affect wheat yield?"

"Fertilization, variety selection, climate, irrigation..."

After stammering out a few words, Xia Lei frowned. Seeing that the student remained silent for a while, he asked, "That's all?"

"Teacher, it seems to be these few factors."

Zhou Zhonghai wanted to laugh. This kind of person wanted to be an assistant?

However, Xia Lei said calmly, "Work in the fields three afternoons a week, and work in the fields all day on Sunday. If you have no objections, report to Teacher Li tomorrow afternoon."

"Okay, thank you, teacher."

Zhou Zhonghai was so shocked he straightened his back. "This is allowed?"

Xia Lei, I thought you were an upright person, but it turns out you've also succumbed to corruption.

After the interviewee left, Zhou Zhonghai couldn't help but ask, "Director Xia, is this kind of person even acceptable?"

Xia Lei's face darkened, and he said coldly, "What kind of scum? We need students to work in the fields, not researchers."

"Then let me ask you, why can't Zhao Jintao do it?"

"Zhao Jintao? Hmm, that kid is alright, but he won't do."

Why?

"This kind of assistant doesn't require outstanding grades or technical skills; all you need is to be hardworking. Zhao Jintao is good, but I have limited spots."

"That student who was just handling chicken feet is fine? What kind of work can he do?"

"Even though he can't work, we still have to hire him; he's the principal's nephew."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Zhonghai slammed his hand on the table: "Xia Lei, listen to me carefully. If you dare to accept that chicken-claw student, I, Zhou Zhonghai, will never sign off on any of your school's research funding."

The research institute studies crops. The Minister of Agriculture can increase or decrease research funding, and the minister can choose whether or not to use the results of your research.

"You, you're abusing your power! The wheat and corn seeds we've researched are the highest quality varieties. You still owe us 100,000 yuan. What right do you have to interfere in our internal affairs?"

"Fine, Xia Lei, based on that statement alone, I won't give you a single penny of the 500,000 yuan I just received. I'll go buy wheat seeds in the next province and make you furious."

When Zhou Zhonghai gets tough, he really is tough.

"Five hundred thousand? Really?"

"Of course it's true, otherwise why would I come to you? Do you expect me to come and eat in the cafeteria with you?" Zhou Zhonghai said arrogantly.

"Who is Zhao Jintao to you?"

"Never mind who he is to me, just tell me if he's qualified to be an assistant."

"He's qualified. He's very experienced and insightful. He came to be an assistant because he really wants to learn the skills. But being an assistant isn't just about doing manual labor. He gets a 15 yuan monthly allowance, which will be recorded in his graduation file."

"It's just a lowly, menial job, and every year there are people trying to get in through connections. If I don't give face to the principal's nephew, how can I survive at the agricultural university?"

"So that's how it is. The place where we read is supposed to be the cleanest place, but it's not clean anymore."

Zhou Zhonghai sighed. In this way, those with real talent would have no chance to realize their self-worth.

"Minister Zhou, China is a society based on personal connections, so there's no need to be sentimental. I've hired Zhao Jintao as an extra person and will keep him by my side as my student. You don't need to go to other provinces to buy seeds; it's time-consuming and laborious, and you can't even buy them on credit."

Minister Zhou, you're just venting your frustrations, which is nothing more than using connections to get things done. I'm giving you that kind of face.

Zhou Zhonghai sighed again: "My agricultural reform plans in Tonggang County were all provided by Zhao Jintao. Now, he wants to be an assistant, and he even has to pull strings. How pathetic, how pathetic!"

Xia Lei was taken aback; Zhao Jintao really was a talented person.

"Minister Zhou, if he is really as outstanding as you say, then Zhao Jintao will be my last disciple, and I will never treat him unfairly."

Zhou Zhonghai sneered and got up to leave, but Xia Lei panicked, "Where are you going? Say something! About the seeds..."

"Hmph, I'm going to eat in the cafeteria with Zhao Jintao."

Zhou Zhonghai went out, and Xia Lei smiled, knowing that after dinner, he would definitely bring Zhao Jintao to become his apprentice.

The university cafeteria was bustling with activity. Looking at the smiling, youthful faces, Zhou Zhonghai felt young again.

Zhao Jintao was waiting for Zhou Zhonghai at the door. When he saw him, he immediately called out, "Uncle Zhou, over here, over here."

After finding a spot, Zhao Jintao said, "Uncle Zhou, please wait here while I go get the food."

Soon, a plate of braised pork, a plate of green beans, and a plate of fish were served.

Zhou Zhonghai started eating without ceremony, then pointed at a weathered-looking man and asked, "That teacher, why is he so sleazy?"

Zhao Jintao smiled and said, "Uncle Zhou, he's a student."

Zhou Zhonghai stared wide-eyed and said, "A student? He looks older than me."

"You are an eagle on the battlefield, growing younger and younger. He was a high school student ten years ago who was sent down to the countryside. He finally got his chance and studied late into the night to get into an agricultural university."

"It's really not easy. At her age, she still has to take the college entrance exam. I need to show my daughter Qiaoqiao that she's not very ambitious."

"Qiaomei is very ambitious. Getting into university after junior high school is even harder than that uncle's."

"Yes, she's complaining, saying that Wenhui has a grudge against her during her postpartum period."

As he spoke, Zhou Zhonghai couldn't help but laugh, and Qiaoqiao's round little face appeared before his eyes. That child was really adorable.

Zhao Jintao's face darkened. "You're eating, why are you showing off your son and daughter-in-law's happiness?"

"Jin Tao, I'll take you to the research institute to report for duty later. Xia Lei wants to take you as his last disciple."

Zhao Jintao stood up in shock: "Uncle Zhou, does Director Xia know about our relationship? I... I want to rely on myself."

"Sit down, sit down. You left, a student as skinny as a chicken claw, who didn't even know the major factors affecting wheat yield, and you actually got the job. I was so angry that I argued with Xia Lei. He knew he was wrong, so he took you on as his apprentice. It's not like he used connections." Zhou Zhonghai said shamelessly.

"Uncle Zhou, thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, I need your help with something."

"Please speak."

"I need to go to the countryside to inspect work and would like to ask you to accompany me. It will last about two weeks. I'm seconding you to your school in my capacity as minister. Would you be willing to come with me?"

"Yes, I'm very willing."

"And what about your studies?"

"It's okay, I can make up for it."

"Okay, it's settled then. You'll get a subsidy of 100 yuan every two weeks. I'll call your principal when I get back."

"Uncle Zhou, I'll go to the countryside with you to learn from your experience; I don't need any subsidies."

"Going to the countryside with the minister, we don't even get subsidies. Are you saying our Ministry of Agriculture is so poor that we don't even have a hundred yuan? I may not care about my reputation, but the Ministry of Agriculture does."

I... well... Uncle Zhou always has reasons that are hard to refute.