Chapter Twenty-Five

“Here so early today?”

“Here for a meeting.”

……

At 8 a.m. on December 30th, Liu Yuming parked his electric bike and skillfully arrived at the County Agricultural Bureau.

Liu Yuming, the head of the technical team at Changlong County Agricultural Technology Station, is responsible for promoting agricultural technology and planting across the county. It was the New Year’s holiday, and he had planned to return to his hometown. However, last night, the bureau suddenly notified him: today, all the county’s agricultural backbones would hold a meeting. Besides the key members of the Agricultural Bureau, the township government teams would also attend.

Liu Yuming went to the office to get paper and pen and quickly made his way to the meeting room.

“Team Leader Liu.”

“Old Liu is here?”

……

At this time, more than seventy people were seated in the meeting room. After greeting everyone, Liu Yuming asked a colleague beside him for information: “What’s the meeting about?”

“Not sure, it was a last-minute notice last night.” The colleague shook his head.

“They didn’t mention anything before the holiday yesterday, it must be quite serious.”

“Is it a provincial inspection?”

“It’s the New Year’s holiday, they shouldn’t be inspecting at this time…”

……

Colleagues around were discussing animatedly, but after a round of discussion, there was no progress. At 8:50, a few more leaders entered the meeting room.

“County Magistrate Wang?”

The colleagues were puzzled; the leader in the front row was the County Magistrate of Changlong County.

“Could it be related to the new quarter’s agricultural policy?” A colleague recalled yesterday’s Longxia news broadcast.

“Isn’t that too efficient?” The agricultural policy was passed yesterday afternoon; even if it was related, the meeting should be after the New Year.

Amidst this idle chatter, the meeting room door opened, and Director Xu Tiangang greeted the city leadership team and then sat at the meeting table: “Sorry to disturb your rest time, this is a document from the province, please take a look…”

The staff distributed the documents to everyone. Liu Yuming shifted in his seat and opened the document: “Longxia 3027 New Winter Agricultural Planting Standards.”

“Longxia is an agricultural powerhouse, and the country has been paying great attention to agricultural planting in recent years…” Xu Tiangang got straight to the point.

This meeting indeed revolved around agricultural policy. Now, Longxia has issued the “3027 Agricultural Planting Standards” to various places. This agricultural policy is not just empty talk but requires implementation at the grassroots level. The specific content includes strengthening agricultural infrastructure, conducting new agricultural technology training, and launching a national grain-producing county evaluation…

“We are one of the top 100 counties in the country, with a cultivable area of 300,000 acres, but only 120,000 are planted!”

Changlong County is located in the southern part of Su Province, Huainan City, with a developed steel industry, making it one of Longxia’s top 100 counties. However, excessive pursuit of GDP has led to an irrational industrial structure in Changlong. Now, the state has issued the “Agricultural Standards,” and Changlong has been severely criticized by the province.

The purpose of this meeting is simple: to require local cadres to go deep into the grassroots and increase grain planting.

“Director Xu, our Changlong has a lot of mountainous terrain, and the planting costs are too high.” Just as Xu Tiangang finished speaking, a key member raised his hand.

“High planting costs, but is mining and steelmaking not costly?”

In the past, villagers would plant some wheat and corn, but with the impact of modern information, corn and wheat couldn’t even sell for 2,000 yuan a year. Now, young people go out to work, and over time, more and more land becomes barren.

“Grain is the root of the people, and now that the country is willing to support it, we must take action…”

Xu Tiangang continued. Encouraging farmers to plant cannot rely on mere enthusiasm. This time, in addition to national subsidies, the county also plans to allocate part of the financial subsidies. Moreover, each grassroots level is required to provide new technology support to farmers, which is encouraged by the state and is a necessary policy for local governments.

The meeting ended at 2 p.m.

“We’ll be busy next week.” Colleague Lao Zhang remarked while packing up.

“Indeed.”

Liu Yuming nodded. According to the Agricultural Bureau’s arrangement, they would go to the townships for some agricultural promotion work after the New Year. Now, with global information being so advanced, the older generation lacks the strength to plant, and the new generation is unwilling to plant, posing many challenges for Changlong’s agricultural work. But as Xu Tiangang said in the meeting, grain is the root of the people, and while planting, the people must also feel the benefits; otherwise, the 300,000 acres of barren land would be too wasteful.

Liu Yuming tidied up his office and prepared to leave.

“Aren’t you going to collect your benefits?” Lao Zhang called after him.

“What benefits?”

“Flour.”

Only then did Liu Yuming remember that this year’s New Year’s benefit was two barrels of oil, a bag of rice, and a bag of flour. The oil and rice had been distributed, but the flour hadn’t arrived before, and they said it would be distributed in a couple of days.

He pushed his electric bike and went with Lao Zhang to the warehouse to collect the goods. Now that the meeting was over, many people were lining up to get the flour. After waiting for a while, they finally reached the front of the line.

“Sign here.” The staff indicated for them to sign.

Liu Yuming and Lao Zhang each received a bag of flour.

“Fengshan No.1?” Lao Zhang was taken aback when he saw the flour packaging.

“Did everyone see the news too?”

“The commercial was quite long.”

“Is it related to this quarter’s agricultural policy?”

……

Other grassroots members, looking at the flour packaging, were also interested in discussing it.

“What No.1?” Liu Yuming felt like he was out of touch with the times after being home for a day.

“The flour commercial, aired before and after the news broadcast.” Lao Zhang patiently explained.

Liu Yuming opened his phone and soon understood the story behind the Fengshan commercial.

“We’re the first batch to have internet-famous flour.” Liu Yuming joked after reading it. He wasn’t concerned about the flour commercial, but from the Longxia news broadcast and online trending searches, he concluded: Fengshan No.1 is of good quality.

“See you the day after tomorrow.” The two parted ways at the unit’s entrance. They were required to do agricultural work in Pingshui Town the day after tomorrow.

……

“Back so late?” At 5 p.m., as Liu Yuming arrived home, he saw his wife and a few neighbors knitting sweaters at the door.

“The meeting ran a bit long.” Liu Yuming parked his electric bike.

“Is flour cheaper at the supermarket?” A neighbor noticed Liu Yuming’s flour.

“It was distributed by the unit.”

“That’s nice.”

The neighbor was a bit envious, but as she spoke, her family ran a plastic factory, which was much better than Liu Yuming’s fixed salary.

“Having dumplings for dinner?” After they returned home, his wife looked at the flour bag. They had run out of flour at home, so it was a good time to try the new flour.

“Sure.” Liu Yuming helped his wife knead the dough and then went to his room to study.

Changlong County is located in the southern part of Longxia, near the Dayun Mountain Range, with the county’s terrain mainly consisting of mountains and plains. Currently, the utilization rate of arable land in Changlong is less than 30%, and this work mainly aims to mobilize farmers’ enthusiasm.

While working diligently, a faint aroma wafted in from outside.

“Is dinner ready?”

“Almost.”

The enticing aroma distracted Liu Yuming from his work. Soon, two plates of freshly cooked dumplings were served.

“Do you want a dish of vinegar?”

“No need.” Liu Yuming directly picked up a dumpling.

The dumpling filling was fragrant and meaty, and the dumpling skin had a delightful chewiness. After eating one, he reached for a second, and after eating three in a row, he asked with satisfaction, “What’s the filling?”

“Pork and green onion.”

“Did you add any seasoning?”

“Same as before.”

Liu Yuming bit into a dumpling, and the filling was indeed the same as before, but the dumpling skin was exceptionally chewy.

“Where did your unit get the flour? This flour cooks well, and the dumpling skins don’t break.” His wife chattered on.

Liu Yuming savored the dumpling skin, which had a wheaty aroma and chewiness, reminding him of the New Year’s dumplings from his childhood.

“Ding-dong—” In a daze, the doorbell rang twice.

Liu Yuming put down his chopsticks and opened the door.

A neighbor stood outside with a child in her arms: “What are you cooking? It smells so good.”

The neighbor was one of those knitting sweaters earlier. They lived in a thirty-year-old community with an irregular smoke exhaust design. She had been downstairs with her grandson, who was dancing, but the aroma from Liu Yuming’s dinner was too tempting, and everyone was craving it, so she was sent as a representative to investigate.

“We’re having dumplings.” After the neighbor inquired, Liu Yuming quickly invited them inside.

“Smells great.” The neighbor curiously glanced at the dining table. It was a bit impolite to come over at mealtime, but Liu Yuming’s kitchen smelled too good, and it wasn’t the artificial fragrance but purely natural.

“They just came out of the pot. Should I get you a bowl?” His wife, perceptive as ever, offered.

“No, thank you.” The neighbor was about to refuse, but her grandson looked longingly at the dumplings: “Grandma, I want to eat…”

“Mind your manners…” Unable to resist, the neighbor got a bowl for her grandson.

“Delicious!” The little grandson ate five in a row, and only when he couldn’t eat anymore did he reluctantly put down the bowl.

“You little rascal!” The neighbor picked up the bowl and ate the remaining dumpling.

As soon as the dumpling entered her mouth, she felt a wave of satisfaction: “Delicious!” People in the south don’t usually like flour-based foods, but these dumplings tasted authentic, better than the ones sold at the supermarket for thirty-one yuan a bag.

“Let me get you some more.” Being neighbors, his wife served the neighbor another bowl.

This time, the neighbor didn’t refuse. Thus, the two of them ate while chatting about recent gossip.

Watching them, Liu Yuming recalled the commercial he saw today: Choose Fengshan No.1 for flour. He had thought TV commercials were all exaggerated, but now… it seemed they had some merit?

……

“Old Zhao, your unit’s flour is pretty good.”

“Is this the one from the Longxia news broadcast, with the chewy noodles?”

“Tastes better than Futianxia.”

……

At 9 p.m., in the southeastern provinces of Longxia, many residents opened their unit benefits. Baisheng had transported 1.5 million bags of flour this time, and now that the flour had been distributed, upon tasting it, everyone had the same reaction as Liu Yuming: it had some merit?

Host name: Qin Yun.

Current Task: Operate the Wheat Factory and earn 1 million Starlight Points. (Current progress: 650,000)

Mission Reward: [Sprouting Tree of Hope]

System Points: 2.32 million.

…

While the residents were quite surprised, at Fengshan Farm, Qin Yun opened the System Interface.

Since the welfare distribution on the 28th, Starlight Points have been steadily increasing. Today’s growth rate increased by 30%. Qin Yun speculated that this was because residents were gradually opening the flour. According to the current progress, it should be completed around the 3rd.

While pondering, the phone in his hand rang. It was the official satellite phone, the caller: Liu Wensheng.

“Commander Liu.”

“How’s the farm progressing?”

“Starlight Points at 650,000, wheat and corn will mature in six days.” This time, the farm purchased: [Intermediate Wheat Seeds] X3000, [Corn Seeds] X1000, [Potato Seeds] X1000.

According to previous tests, intermediate wheat yields 2,000 pounds per acre, corn 3,000 pounds, and potatoes 5,000 pounds. Corn and potatoes are priced higher, but their yield per acre is large, so Longxia decided to stockpile more corn and potatoes on top of the wheat. Currently, corn and potatoes are just being stockpiled as reserve grain. According to Longxia Academy’s quality inspection, the nutritional value of corn and potatoes also exceeds standards.

“I’ll be back on the 3rd.”

The two chatted for a while, and Liu Wensheng calculated the time. He originally planned to inspect the grain base in Dong Province for three days, but due to some frost in the northern area, he needed to stay two more days.

In the next two days, Qin Yun focused mainly on farm planting. During this period, Zhou Yuanheng and Song Yueshan visited once, stayed at the farm for two days, and then returned to Jinghe with samples. On the afternoon of the third day, Liu Wensheng returned to the farm.

“Congratulations to the Host for completing the primary mission, Mission Reward: [Sprouting Tree of Hope].

Congratulations to the Host for earning the achievement: [Highly Praised], Achievement Reward: [Random Building].”

…

At the same time Liu Wensheng returned, the system updated.

“There’s an achievement reward too?” Liu Wensheng was a bit surprised.

Qin Yun clicked on [Highly Praised].

[Highly Praised]: Within three days, the single product’s positive rating increased by 1 million Starlight Points. (First-time only)

“The system is quite generous.” Liu Wensheng was amused. Now, after half a year of missions, besides [Overnight Sensation], [Highly Praised] is the second proactive reward.

Based on [Highly Praised], the two guessed the general conditions for farm points and Starlight Points—

[Starlight Points]: Can upgrade Host permissions, improve farm level, etc., similar to reputation and prestige. Source: Positive feedback from residents about the farm.

[Farm Points]: Farm currency system, can purchase basic farmland, agricultural tools, etc., similar to Longxia currency. Source: Farm income conversion.

After reading, they first clicked on the Random Building.

“[Random Building]: After activation, you can obtain a random farm building. Use it?”

“Yes.”

“Congratulations to the Host for obtaining an advanced building: [Farmland Protection].”

[Farmland Protection]: 1, After activation, it can protect farmland plants from damage. Note: 1, Maximum protection area of 10,000 acres (upgradable).

Qin Yun, Liu Wensheng: !!!

Now the farm is developing steadily, and if there’s one headache, it’s the Pika and Hyena. As the temperature drops, Pika activity becomes more frequent. It’s like mosquitoes in summer; they don’t cause substantial harm but are extremely annoying. Now with the appearance of [Farmland Protection], both realized its significance to the farm.

“Luck is on our side.” Liu Wensheng laughed heartily. Previously criticized by online public opinion for being irritable, he had discussed advertising plans with the team. Unexpectedly, one advertisement brought such a big response to the farm.

The two went to the farmland, and Liu Wensheng chatted about various things: “Is the advertising strong enough? Should we sponsor some popular variety shows, and what about that TV drama advertisement…”

He had previously broadcast Longxia advertisements just for convenience, but now it seems: it was too conservative.