1968: Started from breeding

Chapter 329 Comrade Su, you really taught us a lesson today!
Following Su Wenchen's directions, the car arrived at the entrance of the breeding farm.

Just as Su Wenchen was about to get out of the car, Lu Anguo suddenly seemed to realize something and said...

"Hey, that's not right!"

Then he shook his head and pulled Su Wenchen along.

"Xiao Su, no, no!"

"What you said earlier has nothing to do with the Academy of Agricultural Sciences!"

"There must be something else you haven't mentioned yet!"

Su Wenchen blinked.

"Didn't I say that?"

Lu Anguo hesitated for a moment upon hearing this.

"Did you say so?"

"How come I don't remember?"

After a moment's recollection, Lu Anguo affirmed.

"No, my memory can't be that bad, you definitely didn't say that."

"Maybe I didn't say that!"

"Actually, my initial thought was just to ask Director Liu Xun to introduce me to a group of agricultural researchers."

"As you know, Director, our main farm is not lacking in livestock-related talents because of the technical backbone training that started in the second half of the year."

"However, there is a significant shortage of talent in agricultural science!"

“If we had only focused on animal husbandry like the main farm, it wouldn’t have mattered.”

"But now that we're a comprehensive farm, we definitely need to have more talent in planting!"

"We also need to have a reserve of talent in construction engineering and machinery!"

Lu Anguo immediately understood upon hearing this, but despite understanding, he stared at Su Wenchen with a strange expression on his face and said.

"I can understand why you're interested in the people at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences!"

"So you've even set your sights on Lao Qin's men?"

"From what you're saying, we need to recruit more people with mechanical expertise? You're not even going to let the Agricultural Machinery Bureau off the hook?"

Lu Anguo's words immediately made Su Wenchen feel a little embarrassed.

His initial idea towards the Academy of Agricultural Sciences was that both parties would get what they wanted.

However, for Director Qin of the Engineering Bureau, his initial idea was indeed to find a way to poach a technically skilled engineering team.

Now that Lu Anguo has said it out loud, Su Wenchen, whose thick skin hasn't reached a high level yet, can only play the victim.

"Director, I have my reasons!"

"As you know, most of the large farms in China today were established more than ten years ago."

"At that time, because we were responsible for a heavy grain procurement task, we received attention from higher authorities, and talents were directly assigned to relevant industries based on the scale of the task."

"As a farm built later, although our grain procurement task is not as heavy, the ministry is not providing us with various professional personnel!"

"Even when we were building a branch plant, we had to ask the Ministry's engineering bureau to help us."

Lu Anguo, however, spoke directly.

"Who said the ministry doesn't provide you with professional personnel?"

"Didn't the leaders ask for your opinions last year before assigning people to your rabbit sheds?"

Upon hearing this, Su Wenchen was momentarily speechless.

Then she immediately put on a pitiful look.

"Is that someone assigned to our farm? That's someone specifically assigned to Moonflower Rabbit."

"Although I can direct them to work, I can't just move people between different work areas!"

"Besides, even if we could transfer a few over, they could only do aquaculture work at most."

"To be honest, with me here personally, I'm not too worried about the aquaculture work."

"So, Director, what we lack now are talents who are knowledgeable in fields such as agriculture, construction, and machinery, and who can independently lead teams to plan and complete independent projects."

After speaking, Su Wenchen stared intently at Lu Anguo.

"lead!"

"Now you understand that there are only worker-peasant-soldier universities, and the policy is that students are assigned back to where they came from after graduation."

“Our farm was only established recently, and we only got our independent recommendation quota last year.”

"The talent gap is far from being filled!"

"What do you think of the bureau?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Anguo rolled his eyes.

What kind of daydream are you having!

"I also want someone who is knowledgeable in their field, can plan independently, and can lead a team to complete the project."

"Where am I supposed to find this kind of high-caliber talent for you?"

"You'd want someone like that, I'd want one too! Which organization wouldn't want a gem like that?"

He wasn't wrong, because every organization wants this kind of talent.

In his eyes, Su Wenchen was such a top talent.

Once deployed, they require minimal intervention; simply provide basic logistical support, and they are capable of independently planning and successfully completing a variety of outstanding tasks.

This is also why he was exceptionally patient with Su Wenchen.

Because such subordinates are like a treasure trove; once an initial investment is made, they can generate a continuous stream of profits.

Otherwise, no matter how casually a farm leader were to ask him for support, he wouldn't be able to do that.

Thinking of this, Lu Anguo snorted softly.

"You know what, there really is someone like that in the bureau!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wenchen's eyes immediately lit up.

"The bureau chief is really something!"

What's your major?

"What kind of work are you currently doing? Could you help me get a referral?"

Looking at Su Wenchen's hurried words, Lu Anguo immediately said with a half-smile.

"A very young man, majoring in animal husbandry, is a leader on a farm!"

Su Wenchen didn't react at first when he heard this.

"Also a farm leader? Who?"

Moreover, knowing that he was also a farm leader, Su Wenchen felt that it might be difficult to get him to cooperate!

After thinking for a long time, I still couldn't recall that person when I went to the ministry for a meeting!

After coming to my senses.

Seeing Lu Anguo's expression, he immediately realized that the other party was teasing him, which had made him think for a long time.

He gave the other person a resentful look and said.

"Director, how can a leader talk to his subordinates like that!"

Lu Anguo snorted.

"Hmph, even subordinates wouldn't be as demanding as you!"

"Alright, stop dreaming. The kind of well-rounded talent you're talking about is in high demand everywhere. Even if there were someone like that, no company would let him go!"

"So you still have to train them yourselves!"

In fact, Lu Anguo was not wrong. In his opinion, for a talent like Su Wenchen, no company would let him go unless the leader was stupid.

Just like now, if another department tries to take Blue Water Farm away, he will fight them to the death.

Soon, after Su Wenchen and his group's car had stopped at the entrance of the breeding farm, a little while later...

The two cars following behind slowly caught up.

After seeing the car behind them arrive, Lu Anguo spoke to Su Wenchen.

"Let's go!"

"Let's get out of the car and take a look at your laboratory."

"Although the bureau can't support you, I can help you find a way through the agricultural college, but we definitely don't have the kind of talent you're looking for."

"But getting a few workers shouldn't be a problem."

"But I won't help Lao Qin with that."

"Otherwise, I won't be able to see Lao Qin anymore when I'm in the ministry."

Su Wenchen originally thought he would have to figure out a solution himself.

I didn't expect Director Lu to be so capable!
Of course, he also knew that no organization would easily release truly top-tier experts.

This isn't the market economy of the future, where you can simply quit if you don't want to work there anymore.

So he wasn't disappointed at all.

But Lu Anguo's words did indeed remind Su Wenchen of something.

That means he really needs to focus on talent development on the farm.

The livestock industry can train its own personnel because of him, but they cannot rely solely on personnel with a single specialty.

Su Wenchen felt that it was possible to consider some welfare policies specifically for the children of farm workers who would later attend farm schools.

In five or six years, if these people can get into university, it's impossible for them all to come back.

But as long as a portion of people are willing to come back and participate in the farm's development, that's enough for him!
"laugh--!"

After both cars came to a stop, Director Cai got out of his car and immediately apologized to Lu Anguo and Su Wenchen.

"Director Lu, Director Su, I'm so sorry!"

"We took some soil to collect, which caused a slight delay. Director Su, you don't mind, do you?"

Su Wenchen smiled and waved his hand.

"There's nothing to worry about. In fact, I really hope that you can use this to understand this bacterial community."

"This way we will have a more comprehensive understanding of the specific effects."

After seeing the people from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences on the other side also get off the bus.

Su Wenchen gestured with his hand.

"Everyone, let's go! I'll take you to see our farm."

Upon hearing this, Director Cai immediately expressed his surprise.

"Huh? Your microbial culture room is located in the farm?"

To be honest, he could understand that the conditions were too poor to build a sterile culture room.

But why specifically choose a breeding farm? Can special bacterial strains really be cultured in such an environment with such complex bacteria?

Upon hearing the other party's words, Su Wenchen immediately laughed.

"Don't worry, everyone. You'll all understand when we get there."

After saying that, Su Wenchen led almost everyone into the breeding base with puzzled expressions.

Along the way, we saw workers pushing small carts to transport feed from time to time.

Lu Anguo asked curiously.

"Have you already started breeding meat rabbits?"

"How's the breeding going?"

Su Wenchen led the way and replied.

"how to say!"

"I guess you could call it a success!"

"However, due to the special environment here, some special circumstances have arisen, and I don't know if it can be considered a meat rabbit breed."

Lu Anguo was somewhat puzzled.

"What do you mean by 'not counting rabbits as meat breeds'?"

"Could it be another fur-bearing rabbit like the Moonflower Rabbit? Or a wool rabbit specifically designed for shearing, like the Angora Rabbit?!"

Su Wenchen shook his head.

"No, it's more like a completely new species!"

Based on their actual abilities, Su Wenchen felt they should be classified as either alkali-treating rabbits or manure-producing rabbits.

As he spoke, Su Wenchen led his men to push open the door of the rabbit hutch.

Looking at the row of rabbit cages inside the rabbit hutch, everyone was completely bewildered.

Only Director Cai seemed to have thought of something, staring at the rabbit in the cage with great shock.

Lu Anguo, standing to the side, also said helplessly.

"Xiao Su, take us to the microbial culture room first, and we'll talk about your meat rabbit farm later."

Su Wenchen smiled and gestured for them to go inside.

"Everyone, this is the special microbial culture room of our Blue Water Farm, and it is also the breeding shed for our new breed of alkaline-resistant rabbits!" After Su Wenchen finished speaking, most people were completely confused and did not understand how microbial culture was related to rabbits.

Only Director Cai looked at Su Wenchen with excitement.

"You're actually using animals directly as a culture medium to cultivate specific bacterial groups?"

"But how did you add the culture medium that is conducive to the growth of the bacteria?"

"And how do you feed the rabbits the culture medium?"

"Then why feed the rabbits other food? Aren't you worried about disrupting their gut flora?"

"Or do you have some other way to isolate the influence of other bacterial species?"

Everyone else looked at Director Cai, who was clearly a little excited, and were all full of questions.

Even Qiu Ruimin, who had just made up his mind but hadn't said a word since, couldn't help but speak up again.

"Director Cai, you mean to culture bacteria inside rabbits?"

"With bacteria inside its body, can this rabbit still survive?"

Director Cai glanced at the other party and explained directly.

"That depends on the type of bacteria. It's not just rabbits; do you think there are no bacteria in our bodies?"

"So what do you think penicillin and other antibiotics are?"

Seeing this, Su Wenchen smiled and said.

"Director Cai is indeed knowledgeable and experienced, unlike some people who know nothing but like to jump out at the drop of a hat!"

Hearing Su Wenchen start scratching at him again.

Qiu Ruimin immediately snorted coldly.

Although he didn't say anything, he was already cursing in his heart.

He only raised a couple of questions earlier!
Why hold a grudge like that and secretly provoke yourself all the time?

This shows absolutely no respect for the elderly!
However, he knew he couldn't continue, because judging from the situation, it was clear that they had entered an area he was unfamiliar with.

If we keep talking, it will only make us more embarrassed.

Seeing that the other party only snorted and then remained silent, Su Wenchen realized that the other party had actually stopped talking.

He naturally didn't say anything more, otherwise he would seem a bit unreasonable.

He then explained.

"Our new breed of rabbit, named the Alkali-Controlling Rabbit, is actually fed with feed grown in saline-alkali land, supplemented with some auxiliary feed."

"This feed can stimulate the rabbit's gut microbiota, causing the rabbit's own gut microbiota to mutate into a special strain that can neutralize some of the salt and alkali in the body."

"And even if this type of bacteria leaves the body through excrement, its ability to neutralize salt and alkali does not disappear."

"This is also why the yield of our experimental field was not significantly affected, even though no drainage ditches were dug around it."

Director Cai asked with some doubt upon hearing this.

"Won't this type of bacteria conflict with the body's original flora?"

Su Wenchen shook his head.

"It's probably because it's a strain that mutated from the original gut microbiota, so it doesn't conflict with the original gut microbiota."

"Moreover, since this type of rabbit was bred from our local domestic rabbits, its reproduction rate is quite fast."

"The second generation of rabbits has now been born, and they are being fed with a special diet that we have increased appropriately."

"The second-generation alkaline-fighting rabbits have all inherited this ability."

"To date, there has been no indication that any rabbit has developed problems due to gut microbiota imbalance."

"That's why I said we actually have no ability to intervene in cultivating this strain, because it's all thanks to the abilities that rabbits have evolved on their own!"

After listening to Su Wenchen's explanation, Director Cai couldn't help but sigh.

"Wow, the younger generation is truly formidable!"

"Stimulate animals with feed to cause their gut microbiota to mutate, thereby producing special strains of bacteria that are specifically designed to solve problems!"

"Incredible!"

"The most unbelievable thing is that you actually succeeded!"

"Actually, our institute is also discussing the use of animals such as mice and rabbits for research on pathogens, immune responses, and symbiotic flora."

"This kind of microbial directed culture technology is a cutting-edge technology even in the West, but they haven't opened up cooperation channels to us."

"We can only find a few scattered words in some professional magazines abroad."

"So we don't know how the West did it."

"What I didn't expect was that we were still at a loss in this regard, and things that were only in the discussion stage, you have already put into practical application."

"Comrade Su, your team really taught us a lesson today!"

"It seems that we should still focus on our own research and development when it comes to these cutting-edge technologies that others do not share."

"Otherwise, even if we have a lot of interesting discussions, the technology won't just pop up on its own."

Seeing this, Su Wenchen also responded modestly.

"We wouldn't dare to have a class. Our farm's research on microbial types is still in its early stages."

"There was a large element of coincidence involved this time!"

Meanwhile, after seeing that Director Cai had already made the decision...

Upon hearing Su Wenchen's modest words, Dean Lin of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences spoke up directly.

"Director Su, please don't be modest!"

"With the track record of Moonflower Rabbit and White Pig, it's no coincidence that such a breed could be cultivated."

"And it could be a coincidence once, or it could be a coincidence every time!"

"Judging from the name you gave the alkali-resistant rabbit, you must have put a lot of effort into breeding it."

"However, in the past, our approach to managing saline-alkali land was always to try various methods in terms of material resources."

"It seems like we were going in the wrong direction from the start!"

Seeing Dean Lin and the others making overtures, Su Wenchen simply waved his hand and said no.

"Please stop praising me, everyone!"

"If you keep praising me like this, I'll lose all sense of direction."

Then he reached out to guide the way.

"You can't really see anything from here in the rabbit hutch. Let me take you to the back, where there's a small experimental area."

"It's what we use to test the effects of different amounts of rabbit manure on saline-alkali land."

“These small experimental areas are not like the land that has already been harvested. The improvement process is almost complete, and you can’t see the process.”

"These small plots of land tested at different stages can still reflect the results relatively directly."

Upon hearing Su Wenchen's words, Director Cai, though still wanting to understand some issues regarding the breeding stages of alkali-treated rabbits, agreed.

However, Lu Anguo from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences was clearly more interested in the effects of land improvement.

After all, they are not researchers specializing in microorganisms.

For them, as long as it works well, that's all that matters; as for the specific details, other professionals will naturally explore them.

Then Su Wenchen led his people out of the rabbit shed.

The group braved the scorching sun to arrive at the small experimental area inside the breeding farm.

It was called an experimental area, but it was actually just a bunch of large earthenware jars filled with all sorts of types of soil, used to test how to fertilize the soil in the most suitable and effective way.

After the group of people came in.

Just then, Hou Guozhong was leading a team to apply fertilizer to these experimental plots.

After walking in, Lu Anguo walked over and asked curiously, looking at the long row of large pottery jars.

"Xiao Su, is it enough to just bury the rabbit fat in the ground?"

"Could it be those microorganisms you mentioned that can break down salt and alkali?"

Su Wenchen thought for a moment and shook his head.

"Director Lu, you've really touched on a blind spot in my knowledge. I really don't know the principle behind this."

"I'm afraid we'll have to let Director Cai and the others answer that later."

Upon hearing this, Director Cai assumed that Su Wenchen was deliberately giving them face, and immediately explained with a smile.

"Director Su, you don't need to do that. We are indeed not as good as your farm in this respect."

"However, I think it's unlikely to decompose them. Of course, we'll have to take samples and confirm the working patterns of these microbial communities before we can deduce anything."

Su Wenchen felt a little helpless upon hearing this; he wasn't being modest at all!

He really doesn't understand!

Since they didn't even have a microscope, how could he possibly know how these microorganisms function?

His magic touch had no effect on microorganisms.

However, the more he acted this way, the more Director Cai felt that this young man from Blue Water Farm was truly humble, already at the stage of practical application.

Even after proving their success, they still showed no arrogance or haughtiness.

As expected, they have successfully bred Moonflower Rabbits and White Pigs at a young age, livestock breeds that are pillars of people's livelihood.

The group was still exchanging pleasantries.

Qiu Ruimin, who followed in from the other side, walked towards Hou Guozhong.

After watching Hou Guozhong apply fertilizer, he immediately gave instructions.

"Hey, why don't you ferment your rabbit manure before using it?"

"Although rabbit manure is a high-quality organic fertilizer, it can still burn crops if it's not properly decomposed!"

Hou Guozhong looked at the other person strangely upon hearing this.

"Of course I know it will burn the crops, but we don't grow any crops on this land!"

"We are improving the land!"

"By the time the improvement is complete and crops can be grown, these fertilizers will have been decomposed into nothingness."

"The subsequent top dressing and other fertilizers will definitely be made from well-rotted fertilizer!"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Ruimin immediately felt a little embarrassed.

He had been thinking he'd made a fool of himself today, as he was a professional in soil fertilization and wanted to save face.

Unexpectedly, not only did he fail to regain his dignity, he also seemed to have lost even more face.

So Qiu Ruimin didn't say anything more, and instead began to examine each of the pottery jars.

However, as Qiu Ruimin observed more, he kept muttering to himself.

"Strange, why does this fresh rabbit droppings smell off?"

As they talked and walked, the other person kept digging at the soil inside, grabbing a bit and smelling it.

However, Dean Lin frowned deeply.

Qiu Ruimin has been picking fights with him ever since he arrived, and he's been putting up with it for a long time.

At first, he was able to use the excuse that no one knew about it to help the other party get away with it.

When he first arrived, he didn't have much hope after seeing the environment here.

So although Qiu Ruimin's outspokenness did cause him some trouble, he already knew what kind of person the other party was, so he wasn't particularly angry.

It's mostly just outward displays of anger.

The other party is truly capable in the research of soil fertility; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to keep up with the staff despite frequently making the wrong statements in the institute.

However, now that even the research institute has confirmed it, if the other party still tries to find fault just to save face...

Then he really had to deal with it ruthlessly. After all, why keep someone around who keeps causing trouble for the hospital just to save face!

So after seeing Qiu Ruimin's performance, he said in a suppressed voice.

"Old Qiu, don't cause trouble for the courtyard!"

Upon hearing Dean Lin's words, Qiu Ruimin immediately knew that the leader was truly angry.

So he quickly explained.

"Dean, you've misunderstood. This time it really is very strange!"

"They used clearly fresh rabbit manure, yet there was no ammonia smell in the soil!"

Dean Lin took a deep breath and forced himself to speak.

So what are you trying to say?

"Are they saying this is fake rabbit droppings?"

Qiu Ruimin shook his head.

"This must be rabbit droppings. I've studied soil fertilizer my whole life, so I'm very familiar with rabbit droppings!"

"That's strange precisely because I'm familiar with it!"

"Fresh manure usually has a strong ammonia smell, which only becomes milder or even disappears after it has been decomposed."

He grabbed a handful of soil and handed it over.

"Boss, this is fresh, smell it!"

(End of this chapter)