Forced to marry a disabled man in the countryside? I'll repay you tenfold!

As Uncle Ding grew older, he felt increasingly lonely and wished he had more children: "Wanqing, I'll take care of you after you give birth. I'll take care of three for you."

Su Wanqing: Alright, Uncle Ding is not only a housekeeper and gardener, but from now on he also has to be called a baby-caring uncle.

My uncle is truly an all-rounder.

Zhou Yanshen didn't even think about who would take care of the baby. He was only worried about Su Wanqing: "A third child... is it easy to give birth? Is it dangerous? It's not easy to give birth to even one child, and you..." He pursed his lips and even considered having his wife have an abortion.

He cared more about Su Wanqing's safety than about the unborn child.

Su Wanqing now understands better what men used to say: "I'll raise as many children as you want."

Since it's not you who gives birth, and it's not you who suffers the pain, naturally you'd want to have more children.

If it were a man giving birth, she would be happy to have several children.

Now that it was her turn, Su Wanqing could only comfort herself: Luckily, Zhou Yanshen was a loving husband, otherwise she would have had an abortion in a heartbeat.

Su Wanqing smiled and said, "Next year we'll go to the provincial capital. Cesarean sections are very well-established there. I'm a doctor myself, so I know what I'm doing."

Zhou Yanshen was still worried: "I'll go and inquire tomorrow." He vividly remembered the near-death experience Chen Xiuer had during childbirth. He had to return to the city six months before Su Wanqing's delivery, find a good hospital, and make all the necessary preparations.

It seems we need to move our return-to-city plan forward.

Zhou Yanshen sighed again. Only men with thick skin and tough flesh are suitable for having children. He is not afraid of pain and is happy to have children for his wife.

·

The next day, someone from the command center came to invite Su Wanqing.

Jiang Zhihua personally led the team, which included Professor Wu, the rubber factory director, and several unfamiliar faces—some in charge of drug research and development, others from the agricultural technology station—forming a large group that filled the room.

"This is Director Wang of the rubber factory, this is Director Li of the State Farms Administration, this is Engineer Zhang from the Pharmaceutical Research Institute..." Jiang Zhihua introduced them one by one.

Factory Director Wang warmly shook Su Wanqing's hand: "I've heard so much about you! If it weren't for Comrade Su, our rubber factory wouldn't have been able to be built at all. You're now our factory's honorary technical advisor; please come visit and offer your guidance when you have time!"

Su Wanqing smiled and agreed.

Jiang Zhihua got to the point: "Professor Wu has mastered all the techniques for aquatic plant cultivation, and we're preparing to pilot the cultivation in Sayram Lake this month. Strangely enough, even though the methods are all the same, the aquatic plants just don't thrive outside of your backyard. Time is tight right now, so we can only conduct a large-scale trial planting in the lake first."

Professor Wu adjusted his glasses: "It is indeed a strange thing. We replicated all the conditions in the lab, but we still couldn't keep the species in your backyard alive. Fortunately, the water quality of Sayram Lake is similar, so it can survive with this kind of manure, but the limitations are too great."

Su Wanqing knew perfectly well that besides manure, a spiritual spring was also needed. Without a spiritual spring, of course, the animals couldn't survive. But she couldn't say that.

Jiang Zhihua added, "And about the manure, it's been a huge help. Let's make a verbal agreement today: at the market price of 15 yuan per ton, you'll supply at least 100 tons per month. We can't sign private contracts yet; we'll just follow the procedures for farmers buying from farmers and get a certificate."

Of course, private buying and selling is prohibited these days, but manure, which is purchased by farmers, is subject to fewer restrictions. Besides, the policies are becoming more and more relaxed, and even he has received the news that it's only a matter of time before they are liberalized.

Su Wanqing readily agreed. One hundred tons a month would bring in 1,500 yuan, which wasn't much, but it was a stable income.

Zhang, an engineer from the pharmaceutical research institute, chimed in, "We've extracted a alkaloid from aquatic plants that has anesthetic properties, but unfortunately, the extraction rate is currently too low. However, with larger quantities, we could extract about twenty yuan worth of active ingredients per ton. These aquatic plants are truly a treasure trove!"

Jiang Zhihua nodded repeatedly, increasingly convinced that the project was the right choice.

Just when everyone thought the matter was over, Jiang Zhihua produced another letter of appointment and a manila envelope: "Xiao Su, after organizational review, you are officially appointed as the technical consultant for the 'Sayram Lake Aquatic Plant Comprehensive Utilization Project.' This is the letter of appointment, and this is your salary for this month—seventeen yuan. You don't need to be in the office regularly; you only need to attend important meetings."

Su Wanqing hurriedly pushed it away: "No, this won't do! These permanent positions are so valuable. Didn't we agree that I'd get an unofficial position..."

Jiang Zhiping waved his hand and smiled warmly: "Xiao Su, don't be in such a hurry to decline. I know you won't be staying here for long and will have to go back to the city sooner or later. Consider this a reward for your contributions to the rubber factory. When you leave, you can transfer the spot to whomever you want. Besides, you're in the regiment and know the project best. If the factory encounters any difficulties in the future, we'll need your advice."

Having said that, Su Wanqing no longer refused. The rubber factory was built because of her, and she deserved the credit. She would accept it generously, as it would be Jiang Zhiping doing her a favor. Besides, before leaving, she could transfer the quota to someone else or sell it, which was a backup plan. Perhaps some well-connected educated youth would need it later, which would also be a favor.

After Jiang Zhiping and his group left, Liu Shuqing eagerly saw them off, but when she returned, she brought Gu Zhixing and Aunt Wen with her.

Su Wanqing looked at the child: "Is Zhixing cured?"

Grandma Wen's face was full of gratitude: "Yesterday I was delirious with fever and couldn't even recognize people. Ever since Dr. Su treated me, I've been fine since I went home! Today she insisted on dragging me here to thank you in person. I said, 'Then let her kowtow...'"

Liu Shuqing was chuckling as he processed documents on the side. He was a very busy man these days, with a small mountain of documents piled up in his hands.

Su Wanqing looked at Gu Zhixing and felt that the child's eyes were different from yesterday, with something indescribable in them.

Gu Zhixing's face flushed slightly.

How could he, an old man who had lived two lifetimes, kneel and kowtow to a young girl? He simply couldn't bring himself to do it.

If he doesn't kowtow, his purpose for coming today will be ruined.

Just as he was hesitating, Su Wanqing took a piece of fruit candy from her pocket, put it in his hand, and said with a smile, "The child is still weak and probably hasn't fully recovered yet. We can talk about thanking him later."

Gu Zhixing took the candy without hesitation and said awkwardly, "Well... thank you, Aunt Su." He paused, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to start the conversation.

He thought about it all day yesterday. If he directly said that he "predicted things in his dreams," no one would believe him—he himself wouldn't believe it either. He had to have a logical and convincing explanation to convince his highly educated grandparents first, and then persuade Su Wanqing through them.

So last night, he spent more than an hour convincing his grandparents, relying on his decades of meteorological knowledge from his previous life, that there would be a once-in-a-century snow disaster this winter.

Seeing that her grandson was too shy to speak, Aunt Wen took over the conversation: "Dr. Su, actually we're here for something else. My grandson has been smart since he was little, and he's learned a lot from his father. Zhixing, you can tell Dr. Su yourself."