Chapter 34

Therefore, Lu Zheng really didn't understand the current state of the countryside very well.

Su Xinghui began to tell Lu Zheng about the real situation in Meng Hu Ling. 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 Zheng was shocked, but he held back and said nothing.

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

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

In fact, Lu Zheng knew that Su Xinghui wouldn't be lying. He had no need to lie to him; he wasn't any kind of leading cadre right now, just a man of leisure.

And with Lu Zheng's experience, he could certainly tell the truth from lies. No matter how realistic a lie sounded, there would always be illogical points. He asked this question just subconsciously.

Su Xinghui said in a heavy tone, "Actually, Shangjun County is still considered decent; at least it doesn't count as a poverty-stricken county. The situation in some national-level poverty-stricken counties is only worse."

Lu Zheng 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 to Song Qiao and said, "Old Song, you must help Little Su with this."

Song Qiao nodded and said, "I will. I will go to Meng Hu Ling 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 Meng Hu Ling Township Government, handed it to Song Qiao, and said, "Auntie Song, this is our address and phone number. Please give me a call before you go."

Song Qiao took the note 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 Zheng turned around, picked up the note Su Xinghui had written from the coffee table, looked at it for a while, and nodded, saying, "Such a young lad, and he writes such a good hand. Truly not bad."

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

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

Lu Xiaoya turned and went into her room, but at the very 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 even have a place to plant experimental fields.

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

Su Xinghui, carrying the fruit he had bought on the way, 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, his spirit was still very good, but he didn't look much like a professor; he was dark and thin, looking just like an old farmer.

But that wasn't strange. Professors of agriculture, didn't they 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 then said to him, "Professor Qin has already told me the general situation. Tell me the details again."

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

After listening, Professor Rao nodded and said, "This counts as special breeding. The prospects for raising 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 recent years, so I can help you."

Su Xinghui said happily, "That's wonderful! Can you provide us with some breeding technology materials?"

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."

Only then did Su Xinghui realize that Professor Rao was joking. He smiled and said, "If you are willing to go 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 soil and water are different everywhere, and the habits and dietary preferences of the animals are all different. I need to go to your place for an on-site inspection, and then, based on the specific situation 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 still insisted on an on-site inspection before producing results. Doing it this way was, of course, the best.

Su Xinghui said, "Alright, then 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 also counts as part of my research."

Su Xinghui pondered for a moment and said, "Then how about this: I will rent a car tomorrow to pick you up and we will go to our place together."

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

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

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

Seeing Professor Rao's insistence, Su Xinghui could only nod in agreement.

Professor Rao added, "How about this: don't leave today. Just stay at our school's guest house. Let's leave early tomorrow morning. We are 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 home. Professor Rao insisted on keeping him, and he couldn't refuse, so he had to stay for the meal. However, he took this opportunity to give Professor Rao a thorough introduction to the situation in Meng Hu Ling Township.

Professor Rao was a bit surprised that Su Xinghui had managed to get such a familiar grasp of the situation there 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.