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

Zhou Zhonghai strode over to the agricultural university research institute with an air of indifference.

Xia Lei saw Zhou Zhonghai in the laboratory and came out looking displeased: "Minister Zhou, are you here to collect another payment?"

Zhou Zhonghai chuckled, making Xia Lei want to explode: "Minister Zhou, you said that as long as the grain is collected, the debt can be repaid. You can't go back on your word. You've been dragging this out and it's bankrupting our research institute."

Zhou Zhonghai calmly asked, "Director Xia, if you were in the position of Minister of Agriculture and were drowning in debt, what would you do?"

"I will never lie to people again and again like you."

"I know you're an intellectual, you're aloof, you wouldn't lie. If I want to develop agriculture, I have to find a way out, and your new wheat seeds, your pigs, and your high-quality potatoes are the way out. You have so many good things here, if we don't let the farmers plant them, are we just going to let them rot at home?"

"The new varieties we've researched are the result of a huge investment of manpower and resources, working day and night. They weren't just a dream. We're human; we need to eat, and students need subsidies. How am I supposed to pay them if you keep delaying payment like this?"

"The difficulties are temporary; let's overcome them together."

Zhou Zhonghai smiled, but in his heart he was thinking, "Next month you'll be in my position. If the Ministry of Finance can't allocate the funds, let's see if you'll go on credit."

"Difficulties? I don't think you have any difficulties. You're just idling around all day. Get out of here and don't come to our research institute again. Every time you come, the debt will increase." Xia Lei impatiently shooed him away.

"You don't need to kick me out. I won't be coming back next month."

Zhou Zhonghai said casually, "Next month, you'll be the one coming to the research institute on credit for wheat seeds."

"Not coming? What, you want to renege on your promise?" Xia Lei was taken aback and asked in confusion.

"Director Xia, the money owed to you is from the Ministry of Agriculture, not me personally. It's written in black and white on the IOU, stamped with the Ministry of Agriculture's official seal. There's no way to deny it. I'll pay it back soon, so I won't be coming back." Zhou Zhonghai said with a sly smile.

"Didn't they say the whole province would be contracting out wheat to individual households next year? So you don't want our research institute's wheat seeds anymore?"

"Yes, of course I want it."

"So, if you have money next year, you won't be able to pay on credit anymore?"

Being a scholar, he always thinks the best of things.

"We'll talk about the future later. But I can assure you that our province won't stay this poor forever. Three years, you'll see. Not only will we not owe your research institute a single penny, but the Ministry of Agriculture will also generate a lot of surplus value. Tonggang County is the best example," Zhou Zhonghai said confidently.

"I understand that Minister Zhou has devoted himself to agriculture, and I shouldn't have pressured you so much. But, alas, we're having a tough time too. I hope that in three years, all counties and cities will be able to come with cash to buy seeds. Our colleagues in the research institute do the work of farmers, but we don't even eat as well as the farmers. We're suffering too."

You are indeed suffering, but this suffering is nothing compared to that of an agriculture minister.

Xia Lei, cherish the days you have now. Today you're only worried about not being able to collect your debts, but next month you'll be racking your brains about how to owe even more money.

In one's position, one should fulfill one's duties, take responsibility, and do one's job well. Only when you reach my position will you understand my difficulties.

The whole province needs development; the whole province needs wheat seeds, corn seeds, potatoes, watermelons, pork, chickens...

How can you get farmers to buy wheat and corn seeds on credit without cheating and deceiving them?

Zhou Zhonghai wanted to laugh, but he was also very sad. How could such a great province be so poor?

"Director Xia, how's Zhao Jintao doing?"

Zhou Zhonghai changed the subject, not telling Xia Lei that he was about to be promoted to Minister of Agriculture, and told him to enjoy his good days for a few days.

"Zhao Jintao? That's great. He's very busy, not only with his studies and regular work schedules, but he also has to go on business trips for you."

"That's not called a business trip, it's called broadening your horizons. Do you think anyone can just get to know the leaders of the purchasing departments in Shanghai and Guangdong? Xia Lei, just you wait, these people will be your resources in the future."

I'm clearly laying the foundation for you, but you don't appreciate my good intentions.

"Hmph, my resources? Do I need to sell my seeds all the way to Shanghai and Guangdong? Alright, alright, I don't have money to treat you to a meal. You and Zhao Jintao can eat in the cafeteria."

"It's still early, it's not time to eat yet, let's chat a little longer."

"Between you and me, there's nothing else we can talk about besides money."

"You're talking about potatoes? How did you manage to come up with a method for making a pound of potatoes?"

"This is academic; you wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you."

"Hehehe, look at you, so boring, you can even get angry while chatting."

"I'm not angry from chatting, I'm angry from seeing you. You asked me for 10,000 tea seedlings, saying you'd pay me back, but what happened? The debt just keeps growing. How can I not be angry?"

"Okay, Xia Lei, I'm sure you'll come looking for me to chat a month from now. Then I'll kick you out too. Goodbye!"

Zhou Zhonghai was furious. This guy had been brainwashed by money.

Without hesitation, Zhao Jintao left the research institute, barefoot, with his trousers rolled up and wearing a straw hat, and returned.

"Uncle Zhou, you've arrived? Are you leaving already?" Zhao Jintao greeted him warmly.

"Director Xia is kicking me out, which is perfect, I'll just go visit your house."

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll wash up."

Zhao Jintao's dormitory was spotless, and two large items were added to his home: a sewing machine and a bicycle.

"Fenglin can sew clothes now?"

"I'm not skilled yet, so I'm practicing by sewing small things at home."

"I promised to send you one, but look..."

"Uncle Zhou, this trip to Shanghai was truly eye-opening. Sewing machines cost less than fifty yuan, and bicycles were sixty yuan—much cheaper than at the provincial supply and marketing cooperative. The comrades from the provincial purchasing department asked me to tell them next time I go to Shanghai that they want to buy more goods there."

As Zhao Jintao spoke, he took out a snow-white shirt.

"This is the information gap. Unfortunately, ordinary people still need ration coupons to buy bicycles and sewing machines. If the coupons were issued, anyone with money could buy them, wouldn't the supply and marketing cooperatives' business be much better?"

"Of course, take bicycles for example. The purchase price is sixty yuan, and after deducting transportation, labor, etc., the selling price is seventy-five yuan. The net profit per bicycle is 10 yuan. The supply and marketing cooperative sells a bicycle for more than one hundred yuan. They make more money, but the sales volume is small."

Zhao Jintao held the shirt up to Zhou Zhonghai and said, "Uncle Zhou, it fits perfectly. I'm sorry, I spent all my money on a sewing machine and a bicycle, so I could only afford to buy you a shirt." Zhao Jintao said apologetically.

"Very well, if you gave me a sewing machine, that would be a bribe, but clothes don't count as a bribe, so I'll accept them."

Zhao Jintao then took out a red dress and said, "One for Fenglin and one for Qiaomei. Please take them back with you."

Upon seeing it, Zhou Zhonghai beamed with delight: "You have good taste! Qiaoqiao has fair skin and looks beautiful in red. I'll accept it too. I'll be back in Huailin in a couple of days, and Qiaoqiao will definitely like it."

"Once Fenglin learns to sew, he will make more beautiful dresses for Qiaomei."

"Jin Tao, the friendship among you guys is truly enviable."

"Qiaomei, Yang Zheng, and you, have taken such good care of us; we have no way to repay you."

"Friendships that require reciprocation are less enviable. How is Fenglin's mood?"

"Great, she's completely immersed in the joy of learning to make clothes and is full of energy every day."

"That's good, that's good."