Chapter 218: Restoring the Ancient Tree Spreads Good News·Ecological Model Wins Citywide Acclaim

Zhao Jianguo just put down his phone, and the system prompt sounded again.

"Detected senescent plant life-decline signal; recommend activating the biological correction module."

He looked up at the old locust tree outside the courtyard. The trunk was slanted, the bark cracked like dry earth, only a few withered branches sticking out in the air. Not long ago, someone also said this tree was unlucky; it would sooner or later be cut down.

He didn't think much, opened the system interface, called up the green light wave program, aimed at the center of the trunk and fired. The progress bar slowly advanced, the screen displayed: "Cell regeneration activated; expected to take effect in 72 hours."

The next morning, a bespectacled man from the City Gardening Bureau came carrying a box, walked around the tree several times, shook his head and said: "This condition won't do; the roots are all rotten, it can't be saved."

Zhao Jianguo said: "Give me three days."

The man frowned: "How do you plan to save it?"

"Wait until we see new sprouts."

The other party snorted, left contact information, and left.

At noon on the third day, the sun was high.

A crowd gathered under the tree. San Daye leaned on his crutch, Sha Zhu held his meal box, Jia Dongxu clutched his notebook, and He Yushui stood aside staring at her phone signal.

Suddenly, someone shouted: "Look over there!"

Everyone followed the direction of the finger. At the tip of a charred side branch, a speck of green sprouted, as if someone had dipped a pen tip in paint and lightly dotted it.

Zhao Jianguo cut a small sample and handed it to the horticulture expert.

He took it, placed it in a portable microscope, eyes to the lens for a long moment. Then he lifted his head, voice trembling: "The bark cell metabolism rate has doubled. This isn't just surface work; it's alive."

The crowd fell silent for an instant, then erupted in a buzz.

"It's really growing leaves?"

"I was just saying the other day we should saw it down..."

"This surely isn't just the light playing tricks, right?"

The expert ignored the chatter, tested again, held up the magnifying glass and announced: "Vital signs fully restored; at this rate, it will bloom next year."

No sooner had his words fallen than a Beijing Daily reporter shouldered a camera and pushed forward, thrusting a microphone to Zhao Jianguo's lips: "Mr. Zhao, what made you persist in ten years of plant research?"

"I haven't researched for ten years." Zhao Jianguo gazed at the tree. "I just feel it can still live."

"But back then everyone thought it was dead."

"Alive or not, you won't know until you try."

The reporter still wanted to ask, but the camera swung on its own—several fireflies had flown to the treetop sometime, circling the new shoots, blinking on and off.

The cameraman quickly adjusted the angle, framing both the insects and the tender shoots together.

At that moment the system prompt popped up: 【Ecological contribution meets standard; unlock title "City Greening Ambassador"】.

That evening, a long table was set up at the north gate of the Siheyuan.

San Daye brought out his homemade rice wine; Sha Zhu stir-fried a big plate of garlic greens, saying: "A birthday feast especially for this tree!"

The children chased after the fireflies while the adults sat on small stools drinking and chatting.

Jia Dongxu clinked his cup and said: "You've made a name for yourself this time—front-page news."

"Don't mention the newspaper." Zhao Jianguo took a sip of liquor. "I'm just afraid that from now on, whenever a tree leans somewhere, they'll come looking for me to fix it."

He Yushui laughed: "Then you'll need to take on apprentices."

He hadn't finished speaking when footsteps sounded in the distance.

Two uniformed individuals approached; one pulled out a notebook: "Comrade Zhao Jianguo, the city has notified that this tree is listed as a Technology Green Protection Demonstration Point, and subsequent maintenance will be your responsibility."

"What?" Sha Zhu's chopsticks jerked. "Do we have to look after it for a lifetime?"

"Not a lifetime." Zhao Jianguo set down his bowl. "As long as it lives, I'll be here."

The crowd hushed, then erupted again.

San Daye raised his wine cup: "Come, let's toast our 'Tree Doctor'!"

The cups clinked with a tinkling sound.

Fireflies grew more numerous, flying around the treetop to form a ring of light.

Zhao Jianguo looked up; a leaf trembled lightly, as if responding to something.

A few days later, a postman delivered a brown paper parcel.

Zhao Jianguo opened it to find a hand-drawn sketch of a greenhouse in a sandy plot, with a note in the corner: "We want to grow vegetables."

The handwriting was crooked but earnest.

He spread the drawing on the table; He Yushui leaned over and asked: "Again, is it from People's Diligence?"

"No." He pointed at the map marker: "Further west, a village near the edge of the desert."

"How did they know to find you?"

"I don't know." He said, "but they drew this picture."

He Yushui fell silent for a moment, then asked: "Will you reply?"

"I'm already doing it."

He opened his computer, pulled up a lightweight support model, and began adjusting the parameters—wind speed, sand layer thickness, and angle of sunlight entered one by one.

"This time we'll use heat-resistant material." He said while operating, "Add a shade net to the roof to cool by day and retain heat by night."

"Can it be transported there?"

"They'll weld it themselves." He chuckled. "Just send the drawings over."

Clicked send.

Screen prompt: 【Plan delivered; awaiting feedback】.

Zhao Jianguo leaned back in his chair and stretched.

Outside the window, the old locust tree's tender shoots grew another segment.

He Yushui, tidying the table, asked offhand: "Do you think they'll send back photos?"

"Sure."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because when people want to survive, they always try to leave a trace."

She didn't ask again.

Zhao Jianguo opened the system log and scrolled to the latest entry.

He typed:

"Where there is light, things can grow."

Saved.

Just as he exited the interface, his phone vibrated.

A new message notification flashed:

【Location: Inner Mongolia Alashan Left Banner pastoral area】【Equipment type: Water purification device】【Fault code: F-309】

He opened the details and saw a photo. A child in a cotton jacket stood in front of a tin shed, holding a piece of filter fragment, with a vast expanse of yellow sand in the background.

Below the photo was a line of handwriting:

"Uncle, we're thirsty."