Chapter 19

Therefore, Lu Zhenghong really didn't understand the current state of the countryside.

Su Xinghui told Lu Zhenghong about the true situation in Menghuling. At some point, Lu Xiaoya came out of the kitchen, and she also sat on the sofa, listening to Su Xinghui's words.

When he heard that some families in the mountains had an annual per capita income of less than twenty yuan, yet had to pay over fifty yuan in levies and pooling, Lu Zhenghong was shocked, but he forced himself to remain silent.

When he heard that some families in the mountains had only one pair of pants for the whole family, and whoever went out wore them, a look of unbearable pity appeared on Song Qiaoli's face, and Lu Xiaoya's eyes were filled with tears.

After listening to Su Xinghui's account, Lu Zhenghong said, "Is the situation in the countryside really that bad now?"

In fact, Lu Zhenghong knew that Su Xinghui wouldn't lie; he had no need to lie to him. He wasn't any kind of leading cadre right now, just an idle person.

And with Lu Zhenghong's experience, he could certainly tell the truth from a lie; no matter how realistic a lie sounds, there are always logical inconsistencies. He asked this question just out of instinct.

Su Xinghui said in a heavy tone, "Actually, Shangjun County is considered relatively well-off; at least it's not a poverty-stricken county. The situation in some nationally designated poverty-stricken counties is even worse."

Lu Zhenghong raised his hand, ready to slam the table and stand up, but the next second he remembered his current status, and his hand dropped listlessly.

He turned his head to Song Qiaoli and said, "Old Song, you must help Little Su with this."

Song Qiaoli nodded and said, "I will. I'll go to Menghuling as soon as possible."

Lu Xiaoya quietly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Her beautiful eyes remained fixed on Su Xinghui, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

Seeing that it was getting late, Su Xinghui took out a pen and paper, wrote down the address and phone number of the Menghuling Township Government, and handed it to Song Qiaoli, saying, "Auntie Song, this is our address and phone number. Please give me a call before you go."

Song Qiaoli took the slip of paper and nodded in agreement.

Su Xinghui said, "Uncle Lu, Auntie Song, Lu Xiaoya, thank you all for today. I must take my leave now; I still have things to do at Jiangcheng Agricultural University this afternoon."

The three of them stood up together to see Su Xinghui out. Lu Zhenghong turned around, picked up the slip of paper Su Xinghui had written on from the coffee table, looked at it for a while, and nodded, saying, "Such a young man, and he writes such a good hand. Truly impressive."

Lu Xiaoya asked, "Dad, are you saying his handwriting is good, or that he is a good person?"

Lu Zhenghong laughed heartily and said, "Both the person and the handwriting are very good, alright?"

Lu Xiaoya turned and went into her room, but the moment she turned, the corners of her mouth curved into a beautiful arc.

Jiangcheng Agricultural University was in the southeast of Jiangcheng, quite far from Jiangcheng University, almost in the suburbs. Only in such a place could they have enough area for a campus; otherwise, their students wouldn't have anywhere to plant experimental fields.

Su Xinghui took a half-hour bus ride to reach Jiangcheng Agricultural University. After getting off, he asked for directions and walked for another half hour before finding Professor Rao Songnian's home.

Su Xinghui carried the fruit he had bought on the way and knocked on Professor Rao's door. The person who opened the door was Professor Rao himself. He was an old man in his fifties. Although he was not young, he was still very energetic. However, he didn't look much like a professor; he was dark and thin, looking just like an old farmer.

But that wasn't strange; didn't professors of agriculture do the work of farmers every day?

Su Xinghui didn't look down on him because of this. He said respectfully, "You must be Professor Rao Songnian, right? I am Su Xinghui, a student of Professor Qin Jie."

Professor Rao smiled and said, "So you are Su Xinghui. Professor Qin has already called me. Come in."

After entering the living room, Professor Rao asked Su Xinghui to sit down and said to him, "Professor Qin has already told me the general situation. Tell me the details now."

Su Xinghui said, "We are in a mountainous area. There is a village called Yezhugou where there are wild boars, pheasants, bamboo rats, and other wild animals on the mountains. I think we can let the common people farm them, but we lack the breeding technology, so I came to ask for your help this time."

Professor Rao nodded after hearing this and said, "This is what you call specialty breeding. The prospects for breeding these animals are quite good now. You have a good eye. It just so happens that our department has had some research results on the breeding of these animals in the past few years, so I can help you."

Su Xinghui said happily, "That's great! Can you provide us with some technical materials on breeding?"

Professor Rao shook his head and said, "I cannot provide technical materials."

Su Xinghui was a bit stunned. Professor Rao smiled and said, "I cannot provide technical materials, but I can go to your place."

Su Xinghui realized then that Professor Rao was joking. He smiled and said, "If you are willing to come to our place, that would be even better."

Professor Rao said, "It's not that I want to be meddlesome; it's mainly because the water and soil are different everywhere, and the habits and dietary preferences of the animals vary. I need to go to your place for an on-site inspection, and then, based on the specific conditions there, determine the best breeding plan."

Su Xinghui couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Scientists of this era were rigorous in their scholarship. Even for such a trivial matter that was insignificant to him, he insisted on an on-site inspection before providing results. Doing it this way was, of course, the best.

Su Xinghui said, "Alright, when will you have time?"

Professor Rao said, "It's summer vacation now, so I have time whenever. Besides, going to your place for an inspection is also part of my research."

Su Xinghui pondered for a moment and said, "How about this: I'll rent a car tomorrow to pick you up and take you to our place."

Professor Rao waved his hand and said, "Why rent a car? Your place isn't wealthy; there's no need to spend that wasted money. Taking the public bus is just fine."

Su Xinghui said, "Wouldn't that be too impolite?"

Professor Rao said, "It's fine. I take the bus everywhere I go; I'm used to it. I even get motion sickness in those 'turtle shells' (cars)."

Seeing that Professor Rao was insistent, Su Xinghui could only nod in agreement.

Professor Rao added, "How about this: don't leave today. Stay at our school's guesthouse. We'll leave early tomorrow morning. We're far from the long-distance bus station, so we can't leave too late; it'll be hot if we leave late."

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Alright."

That afternoon, Su Xinghui ate at Professor Rao's house. Professor Rao insisted on keeping him, and he couldn't refuse, so he had to stay for dinner. However, he took this opportunity to give Professor Rao a thorough introduction to the situation in Menghuling Township.

Professor Rao was a bit surprised at how Su Xinghui had managed to get such a good grasp of the situation in less than a month. Su Xinghui said that he often chatted with the local common people and cadres, which was how he had figured out so much.