My abstract plant was exposed by my sister.

The next morning, Shen Hao took Shen Wanchun to visit the research institute. Shen Lele kept clamoring to come along, but her strict father still sent her to school.

When they arrived, Xiao Kui was live-streaming in the yard.

As soon as Shen Wanchun got out of the car, he saw the wall covered with a dense mass of trifoliate orange peels and asked curiously, "Is this the trifoliate orange peel that can drive people crazy?"

After he finished speaking, his hand involuntarily stretched forward, looking somewhat eager to try.

Shen Hao quickly grabbed him: "Dad, calm down, let's talk about business first."

"What's there to be afraid of? Back when I was in the army, no matter how badly I was injured, I never even flinched. It's just a tiny thorn, what's there to be afraid of?"

Shen Hao held him tightly, preventing him from touching him: "Dad, you really can't touch him, you'll get yourself killed."

He didn't know that Xiao Kui already had nearly 100 million fans, and they were all active fans.

To die in front of so many people is worse than actually dying.

He absolutely cannot let this happen.

Just as the two were at an impasse, Xiao Kui came out with her phone.

This scene was witnessed by everyone in the live stream.

Bullet comments:

"Haha, Uncle Shen is like a child in an amusement park."

"He truly deserves to be Lele's father."

"Having a father and sister like that, Shen Hao has it too hard."

Upon seeing Xiao Kui, Shen Wanchun immediately shifted his attention away from the bitter orange peel: "You must be Xiao Kui? Thank you for helping Lele."

"It's me, Uncle Shen. Please come in first, let's talk inside."

The three sat down in the living room. Shen Wanchun immediately noticed the giant mushroom outside the window. Although he had seen it in a video before, the video was far less impressive than seeing it in person.

Xiao Kui poured everyone a cup of tea and then recounted the conditions she had agreed upon with Lin Muyang.

Especially important is the 50/50 profit split.

Shen Wanchun was taken aback: "Fifty-fifty? You provide the seeds, I provide the land, greenhouse, labor, fertilizer, water and electricity? If we split it 50/50, what am I supposed to earn?"

Xiao Kui shook her head: "Uncle Shen, you can't calculate it according to the previous price. This kind of dragon fruit is unique in the whole world."

Moreover, the growth cycle will be significantly shortened. Even if you sell them for fifty-one each, you can calculate the cost and profit yourself.

Shen Wanchun thought for a moment, took out his phone, found the calculator, silently calculated for a while, then looked up and asked, "How many seeds can you provide?"

Xiao Kui: "The first batch is 10,000 seedlings. We'll cultivate them first and then plant them. It should be enough to plant about 10 mu (approximately 1.65 acres)."

Shen Wanchun then asked, "How long does it take from planting to harvesting?"

Xiao Kui glanced at the records Lin Muyang had given her: "It takes a little over a month, about twenty days to flower, and twenty-five days to bear fruit. It's much faster than regular dragon fruit, so it's essential to replenish the nutrient solution promptly."

Shen Wanchun's eyes lit up, and he suddenly stood up: "So fast? Then I can build a few more greenhouses!"

I now have thirty mu, and I'll build twenty more, making a total of fifty mu. I'll do one batch a month, twelve batches a year.

Shen Hao pulled him back: "Dad, don't get excited. The first batch hasn't even been planted yet, and you're already thinking about expanding production."

Shen Wanchun looked at him with exasperation: "Such a good product, what are you waiting for if you're not expanding production?"

Shen Hao still tried his best to dissuade him: "Let's see how it grows and how it turns out. What if it doesn't adapt to the soil and water, or what other problems arise?"

Xiao Kui also offered some advice: "Uncle, let's try planting the first batch first. Let's see the yield and quality. If it works well, then we can expand production."

Shen Wanchun sat back down on the stool, remained silent for a moment, and then sighed: "You young people are just too timid."

Shen Hao: "It's not that I'm timid. It's that I'm steady."

After discussing the cooperation, Shen Wanchun insisted on visiting the research institute, indicating that he still had his eye on the bitter orange thorn.

Xiao Kui led them on a tour of the research institute, first arriving at the nearest giant mushroom.

Before, when he was far away, Shen Wanchun didn't feel much of a sense of awe, but when he actually stood under it, he understood what true shock meant.

He couldn't help but take out his phone again and take more than a dozen selfies.

Then, as they passed the wall covered with bitter orange peel, Shen Wanchun still reached out to touch it, but Shen Hao stopped him firmly: "Dad, really don't touch it, you can't handle it."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wanchun became even more unconvinced: "Let me go, I just don't believe you."

He shook himself a few times and quickly broke free from the weak programmer Shen Hao's pull, then touched the thorns of the bitter orange peel.

A slight tingling sensation came from between my fingers, but it wasn't as painful as I had imagined.

Shen Hao released his hand and looked at him nervously.

Xiao Kui and the people in the live stream were also watching intently, and the number of comments in the chat decreased significantly.

Shen Wanchun said casually, "Heh, what psychological breakdown? It's nothing..."

Before he could finish speaking, the expression on his face froze instantly.

Shen Hao immediately stepped forward to support him: "Dad, are you alright?"

Shen Wanchun stood there, eyes closed, silent, trying to suppress his emotions. Then he strode towards the door, squeezing out two words: "Go home."

Shen Hao immediately understood, told Xiao Kui, and hurriedly followed.

After they left, Xiao Kui returned to the lab and told Lin Muyang about the collaboration.

On the other hand, unlike when he came, Shen Wanchun kept his eyes closed and didn't say a word on the way back. As soon as he got home, he locked himself in his room.

A moment later, Shen Lele's voice came from the doorway: "Dad, brother, we're back."

Shen Hao immediately went up to greet them and whispered to them about how Shen Wanchun insisted on sticking thorns into the bitter orange tree and that he couldn't be stopped.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lele immediately threw down her schoolbag and ran quickly to Shen Wanchun's door. She listened carefully and indeed heard soft sobbing.

"Huh?" Shen Lele said with a look of disgust, "Dad can cry too."

At that moment, the towering image of her father crumbled in her heart.

Mother Shen's eyes lit up. She told them to wait outside and then went into the room herself.

Neither Shen Hao nor Shen Lele spoke; they held their breath and listened intently to the sounds inside.

At first, Shen's mother spoke softly, but after a few words, she raised her voice: "What? You've been hiding pocket money?"

Then I saw her storm out of the room and start searching. Sure enough, she found it in the crevice under the table.

She took a few deep breaths to calm herself, then pushed the door open and went back inside. A moment later, she heard another loud shout:

"What? You lied to me about working overtime and went to a foot massage parlor instead? And you even have an annual membership? A VIP membership at that?"

Shen Hao thought to himself, "I'm doomed," and immediately said to Shen Lele, "Lele, the weather is nice today, let me take you to buy some snacks."

"Okay, okay." Shen Lele sensed the awkward atmosphere and pulled Shen Hao outside, saying, "I want a super-sized ice cream."

Before leaving, Shen Hao glanced back at the closed door and secretly prayed that his father would have a good time. He knew he couldn't offer any advice in this situation.