Chapter 90: Two More Experts Have Arrived

On Saturday morning, Su Xinghui came as usual to Ye Zhugou to teach Xia Zhu sketching; since Xia Shisheng and his wife had gone to Yu Maode's place for treatment, and Xia Zhu's younger siblings were attending school in the township, Xia Zhu was alone at home.

Although Xia Zhu worried about her parents, she knew how precious an opportunity it was to learn painting from Su Xinghui—her family's future hope might rest entirely on her shoulders—so she did her best to set aside distractions and studied sketching earnestly with Su Xinghui.

As the hour of study neared its end, Xia Lan ran from the Village Committee, breathless, to Su Xinghui: "Director Su, the township government called—Professor Rao is back again, this time with several others; Secretary Chen says he'll come with them, and you're to wait for them at the Village Committee."

Professor Rao is here? Su Xinghui's heart leapt at the news; Professor Rao had been gone over a week, and now he'd finally returned.

Su Xinghui told Xia Zhu to practice on her own and went with Xia Lan to the Village Committee; Xia Lan asked, "Director Su, what's Professor Rao's purpose this time?"

Su Xinghui, pleased, smiled at Xia Lan: "Professor Rao says the mountains beside Ye Zhugou are full of treasures—he's come to survey what's here so they can develop them."

Xia Lan burst into a delighted laugh: "Director Su, is that true? What kind of treasures do we even have here?"

Su Xinghui said: "Aren't your wood ear mushrooms and shiitake treasures? Don't you have plenty of medicinal herbs and fruit trees? All of these are treasures—if you cultivate and develop them, your village will never lack wealth."

Xia Lan's eyes lit up with imagination: "If we could really develop all these treasures, Ye Zhugou would truly turn its fortunes around. Director Su, you're truly our blessing!"

More than ten minutes after Su Xinghui arrived at the Village Committee, two Jeeps drove up one after the other; the older one up front was naturally the township government's, and the newer one behind was the vehicle Professor Rao's group had driven from Jiangcheng.

Chen Hongfu, Dong Jianshu, and Li Maofa jumped out of the front Jeep; Yao Xuexin hurried off to repair it again—after such a short drive, the radiator had boiled over again; no wonder township leaders disliked riding in this Jeep.

Professor Rao jumped out of the front passenger seat of the second Jeep; Su Xinghui hurried forward and said: "Professor Rao, you've gone through so much trouble!"

Professor Rao laughed loudly: "Nothing, no trouble at all!"

Two men stepped out from the back seat; both appeared to be under fifty, as dark and thin as Professor Rao, and without their glasses, they looked like ordinary farmers.

Professor Rao introduced them: "These two are experts in botany from Jiangcheng Agricultural University—Professor Luo Ping and Professor Huang Chuanyong."

Su Xinghui quickly stepped forward and extended his hand: "Professor Luo, Professor Huang, you've gone through so much trouble!"

After shaking hands with Luo Ping and Huang Chuanyong, Professor Rao said: "Su Xinghui is a top student of Professor Qin Jie!"

Upon hearing Professor Qin Jie's name, Luo Ping and Huang Chuanyong immediately showed deep respect, and became even warmer toward Su Xinghui.

Professor Rao explained that this trip had been officially approved by the university, aimed at conducting a baseline survey and research on the flora and fauna of Meng Hu Ling, and also, incidentally, to assess which cash crops might suit cultivation in this area.

Since this was a formal university research project, the school had assigned them a vehicle and allocated some funding.

Additionally, Professor Rao had applied to his department to designate Ye Zhugou's Special Breeding Farm as a collaborative research base; the application was now showing promise.

Luo Ping and Huang Chuanyong had agreed to come to Meng Hu Ling mainly because they were drawn by the rare plant specimens Professor Rao had brought back, so as soon as they arrived at Ye Zhugou, they were eager to head straight up the mountain.

Chen Hongfu urged them to rest before climbing, but all these professors were impatient and insisted on going up immediately; so Chen Hongfu arranged for several strong villagers to accompany them.

Su Xinghui naturally went up the mountain with them; several agile hunting dogs came along too. In ancient times, this region had abundant wild game, so it produced many hunters, who naturally kept dogs; through generations of selective breeding, these hunting dogs had become fierce, swift, and deeply loyal.

Although hunting rifles are now banned and wild animals have grown scarce, the people of Ye Zhugou have kept the habit of keeping dogs; they always bring a few along when climbing mountains to protect their safety.

Today they climbed Ye Zhu Ling, northwest of Ye Zhugou—a mountain where wild boars still roamed; all the wild boars villagers had caught recently came from this mountain.

Su Xinghui had climbed this mountain several times with Professor Rao earlier, collecting many plant specimens; today, Professor Rao was thoroughly familiar with the route.