Chapter 274: New Wheat Variety·Breakthrough in Food Security

Zhao Xing didn't sleep all night; as soon as it got light, he heard movement in the courtyard. He rubbed his eyes and walked to the window, seeing Zhao Chen already out of the house pushing his wheelchair, heading toward the courtyard gate. In his arms he held a tablet, its screen showing an image of the field.

Zhao Jianguo came out of the kitchen holding a bowl of hot porridge, saw Zhao Chen about to leave, and asked: "Going to the field this early?"

"Today we're testing yield." Zhao Chen didn't lift his head, "After the rain stopped two days ago, the soil moisture is just right. If we delay any longer the wheat will overripen."

Zhao Jianguo nodded, handed over the porridge, "Have something to eat first."

"I'll eat later." Zhao Chen waved his hand, "I need to adjust the harvester first and run through the livestream process, otherwise someone won't believe the data."

Zhao Jianguo didn't say anything else, just watched him go out.

When Zhao Chen arrived at the test field, the sun had just risen and the mist hadn't cleared. He opened the control panel on the side of his wheelchair, connected to the sensors in the field. A string of numbers for temperature, humidity, and light intensity popped up. He tapped a few times, syncing the information to the remote detection platform.

A few neighbors had gathered nearby, having come specially after hearing about the yield test. One stood on the ridge with arms crossed, tone doubtful: "A yield of one thousand jin per mu? Who would believe that. The best land around here only yields about four hundred jin in previous years."

Zhao Chen didn't argue, only saying: "Wait a bit and you'll see the scale for yourselves."

That person snorted and said nothing more.

At six o'clock sharp, Zhao Chen pressed the start button. In the distance a small harvester slowly entered the wheat field. The machine pressed down the stalks; the golden heads fell neatly, and the grains flowed along the pipe into the collection box.

The whole process took less than twenty minutes. After harvesting a small plot, Zhao Chen had someone bring the grain to the electronic scale. The numbers on the screen fluctuated a few times and settled at **527 kilograms**.

"This small plot is three-fifths of a mu," Zhao Chen said. "Converted, that's a yield of one thousand and fifty-four jin per mu."

The onlookers leaned in to look at the scale, then at the screen, and no one spoke.

"Did you tamper with the scale on the machine?" the person from earlier shouted.

Zhao Chen handed over the tablet, "The whole thing was livestreamed, with the camera aimed at the scale pan. If you don't believe me, you can check the backend data stream."

That person took the tablet, flipped a few pages, his face a little red, returned the equipment, and muttered: "It actually works."

Zhao Chen ignored him, directly opened the video connection program. The signal rang three times, and the picture came through.

On the screen appeared several people in white coats, the background a laboratory. The middle-aged expert wearing glasses carefully examined Zhao Chen's large screen behind him, then had his assistant enlarge a photo of the wheat ears.

"The wheat stalks are short, with short internodes," the expert pointed at the image, "lodging resistance is good. The grains are plump, protein content likely not low."

"We've run the tests," Zhao Chen said. "Crude protein is 15.3%, wet gluten value 82, suitable for staple food."

The expert nodded, "Much higher than ordinary wheat. The key is strong adaptability; did you grow this in the dry lands of the north?"

"Exactly. No chemical fertilizer, relying on crop rotation and bio-organic fertilizer."

A silence fell over the screen. After a few seconds, the expert said, "Such traits are rare good material in recent years. If it can be promoted, it could serve as an important supplement to the hybrid rice system."

Zhao Chen let out a breath of relief.

Suddenly a golden light pattern appeared in the air, visible only to him.

【Resolving food security issues, reward 【Ecological Agriculture Specialization】】

He closed his eyes, and suddenly a lot of knowledge flooded his mind—how to improve saline-alkali land, how to match crops in rotation, even how to calculate carbon emissions for different seasons—all became clear.

When he opened his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitched.

"Thank you," he said to the screen.

The expert smiled, "Young comrade, keep working hard. Feeding the Chinese people is a task passed from generation to generation."

The screen cut off.

Zhao Chen lowered his head to start recording data. After writing just two lines, he heard someone shouting outside.

"Chenchen! Chenchen, where are you!"

It was Sha Zhu's voice.

He looked up and saw Sha Zhu running over from the ridge, holding a steamer basket of buns, steam rising. As he ran he shouted loudly, "Try it! Try it! This isn't an ordinary bun!"

Reaching him, he flung open the basket lid, and the aroma immediately drifted out.

"I steamed them myself!" Sha Zhu's face flushed red, "Made from flour of the new wheat, with a bit of old starter—when I opened the pot I knew something was off—the flavor is too strong!"

He grabbed a bun, tore it open—inside was a dense honeycomb of pores. He took a big bite, chewed twice, then stared wide-eyed: "Oh my god! This chewiness! My teeth almost gave out!"

Someone nearby laughed.

"Don't even say it," Sha Zhu swallowed a mouthful, then took another bite, "This bun can actually bounce out wheat grains! Really!"

He tore it hard, a long strand of gluten stretched out; when it broke, a wheat grain flew out and slapped the stone table with a 'pak!'

Everyone froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Real or fake?" someone reached out and grabbed one.

"If it's fake I'll cut off my own head!" Sha Zhu slapped his chest, "Try it at home—it won't harden overnight! Eating it cold in the morning feels like it's dancing in your mouth!"

That person took a bite, his eyes also lighting up: "Mmm! This texture… is far better than white flour!"

"Exactly!" Sha Zhu gloated, "Before I always worried the dough wasn't strong enough for Peking duck wraps; now it's perfect—this wheat was made for me!"

He turned to Zhao Chen, "You say if I opened a noodle factory, could I get approval? My first hire would be your dad as a technical consultant!"

Zhao Chen smiled slightly, "Don't think about the factory yet—think about how to let more people eat this wheat."

"That's not simple at all!" Sha Zhu waved his hand, "I'm launching this new item in the cafeteria today, sign reads 'Tech Bun'! Limit two per person, no more!"

"Why the limit?"

"If they get too much they won't cherish it!" Sha Zhu glared, "This is a thousand jin of wheat, not Chinese cabbage!"

The bystanders all laughed.

Zhao Chen shook his head, lowered his head to continue recording data. After writing a few characters, his phone vibrated.

It was a system prompt.

【Ecological Agriculture Specialization loaded】

【Suggest launching next-stage trial: optimization of cold-tolerant winter wheat】

He was about to reply when he looked up and saw Sha Zhu opening the steamer basket again.

"Come on, come on!" Sha Zhu called, "While it's hot! Not eating it would be a waste of this wheat!"

He shoved one at Zhao Chen, then took another bite himself, chewing as he said: "I tell you, Chenchen, how did your brain grow like this? Just planting wheat and you manage to pull off all this."

Zhao Chen bit into a steamed bun, saying nothing.

The wheat aroma was strong, the noodles had good chew.

He just felt that since he could solve the problem, he should do it.

Better than anything.

Sha Zhu finished the third one, wiped his mouth, and suddenly thought of something.

"Exactly!" he said, "I've been thinking about it all night—just selling steamed buns is too wasteful. This wheat should be made into a product line! Noodles, dumpling wrappers, baked wheat skins—all upgraded! I plan to register a company specializing in high-end wheat foods!"

Zhao Chen glanced at him, "You have money?"

"Money's not an issue!" Sha Zhu slapped his thigh, "All the wages I've saved over the years are just lying in the bank, doing nothing! Besides, you've helped me improve the roast duck quality so many times—I ought to repay you!"

"Then you need to handle the paperwork first."

"I already asked the Street Office!" Sha Zhu grinned, "The business license will be ready next week! Then I'll hire you as Chief Technical Officer—salary's negotiable!"

"I don't want a salary."

"How about providing meals instead? I'll cook for you every day!"

"Depends on your skill."

"Hey! You're still picky!" Sha Zhu laughed, reaching for another steamed bun, "Want another? This time I guarantee no hidden wheat grains!"

He gave it a hard snap, and another wheat grain popped out, hitting the edge of Zhao Chen's tablet with a clear sound.