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Suning has no intention of leaving after this trip to the dam.

He asked for a dugout at the east end of the camp and moved his bedding roll inside.

The dugout wasn't big; it contained just a wooden bed, an old table, and a stool.

A nail was hammered into the wall, from which hung his military water bottle and satchel.

"Deputy Director Su, you really live here?" Zhao Tianshan was a little incredulous. "The conditions here are terrible. You can go back to the bureau and come up here if you need anything."

“It’s inconvenient to go back to the bureau.” Su Ning spread out her bedding. “Seedling cultivation is meticulous work, and I have to keep an eye on it every day. Living here, I can check on it anytime.”

"Then...what about meals? The cafeteria is not good, you probably won't like the food there, right?"

“What is there that I can’t get used to?” Su Ning said. “If you can eat it, I can eat it too. Don’t treat me like a special person.”

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Zhao Tianshan had no choice but to give up.

From that day on, Su Ning lived in Bashang.

Every morning at six o'clock, the first thing I do is go to the nursery.

I didn't get back until dark, and I had to go check on things before going to bed.

In the nursery, Su Ning, along with Lao Liu and Xiao Chen, operated the seedlings exactly according to his "full-light seedling cultivation method".

The most crucial step is watering.

Suning has very strict requirements; drip irrigation starts at 5 a.m. every day and continues until noon.

It will start again at 2 PM and continue until 7 PM.

The drip irrigation lasts for a total of twelve hours a day.

"Deputy Director Su, isn't this too much water?" Old Liu said, feeling sorry for the water. "Water is scarce in our dam area. If we water like this, the water cellars will dry up in a few days."

“I’ll figure out the water problem,” Su Ning said. “You just need to water it thoroughly and evenly.”

Xiao Chen was also worried, "Deputy Director Su, won't the seedlings rot from being watered under this blazing sun?"

“Drip irrigation seeps in slowly and won’t cause waterlogging,” Suning explained. “As long as the soil has good aeration, the roots won’t rot.”

That's what they said, but neither Lao Liu nor Xiao Chen were really sure.

They've planted trees their whole lives and have never seen watering done like this.

Zhao Tianshan fully supported the project and specially assigned two workers to fetch water from the water cellar to ensure the nursery had a continuous water supply.

Suning found several large oil drums, converted them into water trucks, and continuously irrigated the nursery every day.

Zhao Tianshan also gave his own canteen to Su Ning, saying, "Deputy Director Su, it's dry on the dam, please drink more water."

Feng Cheng often came to help. Although he was not optimistic about Quan Guang seedling cultivation, he admired Suning's seriousness.

"Deputy Director Su, your drip irrigation system is really well-designed," Feng Cheng said, looking at the dense network of drip irrigation pipes.

“I learned it from Soviet materials,” Suning said. “They use this method because they have a drought there. Our Saihanba area also has a drought, so we can give it a try.”

"The Soviet Union was in a cold region, while we are in a plateau region; the climates are different," Feng Cheng reminded him.

“I know it’s different,” Su Ning said. “So I’m making adjustments. You see, I’ve reduced the spacing between the drip irrigation holes to ensure that every seedling gets watered.”

Feng Cheng squatted down to take a look, and indeed, each sowing point had a drip irrigation hole, and the location was very accurate.

"Deputy Director Su, you've really put in a lot of effort for this experiment," Feng Cheng remarked.

"How can we succeed without putting in the effort?" Su Ning said. "Planting trees in Saihanba is difficult; without new methods, they will never survive."

As the two were talking, Qin Xuemei and Meng Yue passed by.

They glanced at the nursery, said nothing, and continued walking.

"Comrade Qin Xuemei, Comrade Meng Yue," Su Ning called out to them, "Have you come to take a look? Or give us your opinions?"

Qin Xuemei stopped, but didn't turn around. "Deputy Director Su, we still have to plant trees, we don't have time."

"Just one look," Su Ning said. "You're professionals, give me some advice."

Meng Yue couldn't hold back any longer and turned around: "Deputy Director Su, we have given you our advice. Solely cultivating seedlings won't work. You didn't listen and insisted on trying it, so we have nothing more to say."

"Then take a look at what I'm doing, is there any room for improvement?" Su Ning asked.

Qin Xuemei then turned around and walked to the edge of the nursery.

He carefully examined the drip irrigation system and then checked the soil moisture, his brow furrowing.

“Deputy Director Su, the way you water the soil, the soil moisture content is sufficient, but the sunlight is too strong and the water evaporates too quickly. I estimate that the soil five centimeters below the surface is wet, but below that it is dry. The seedlings won't have deep roots and won't grow well.”

“You’re right,” Su Ning nodded. “So I plan to build a low wall around the nursery to reduce wind and sand and lower evaporation.”

“That’s not enough,” Meng Yue said. “Seedlings need a gentle environment, not strong light and watering. You’re going against the laws of nature and against plant physiology.”

“Perhaps the laws of nature are different in Saihanba?” Su Ning said. “The altitude here is high and the ultraviolet radiation is strong, so perhaps the seedlings need to adapt to this environment.”

“Impossible.” Qin Xuemei said with certainty, “Plant physiology is universal and doesn’t change depending on the location. Deputy Director Su, you are the leader, and we respect you. But when it comes to technical matters, you should listen to our professionals.”

After saying that, she pulled Meng Yue away.

Feng Cheng watched their retreating figures and sighed, "Deputy Director Su, please don't mind them. They're just straightforward and mean no harm."

“I don’t mind,” Su Ning said. “They’re right, I’m an outsider. But as an outsider, I want to try a new approach. If it works, we can all learn together; if it doesn’t, I’ll accept it.”

He continued to squat down and inspect the drip irrigation holes.

Old Liu walked over and said, "Deputy Director Su, it's time to eat."

"You guys eat first, I'll watch for a bit longer."

"You've been looking at this for a while, take a break."

"It's okay, I'm not tired."

Old Liu shook his head and left.

He had never seen a forestry bureau chief like this before, living on the dam, doing the work himself, and working even harder than the workers.

That evening, everyone in the cafeteria was talking about it.

"Do you think Deputy Director Su's nursery will work out?" Sui Zhichao asked.

"I doubt it," said Da Kui. "With that kind of watering, it's no wonder the seedlings will rot at the roots."

Ji Xiurong said, "I think Deputy Director Su is quite serious, and maybe he really does have a new method."

“Even if you’re serious, you still have to be scientific!” Shen Mengyin said. “Qin Xuemei and Meng Yue both said it wouldn’t work, it definitely won’t work.”

Qin Xuemei and Meng Yue sat to one side, eating silently without saying a word.

Zhao Tianshan heard this and tapped the table. "Keep your mouths shut. Deputy Director Su is testing a new method. Whether it works or not is another matter, but his spirit is worth learning from. If you have any opinions, raise them directly with Deputy Director Su, don't gossip behind his back."

Everyone then shut up.

After finishing their meal, Qin Xuemei and Meng Yue returned to their dormitory.

"Xuemei, why do you think Deputy Director Su is so insistent?" Meng Yue asked.

"I don't know," Qin Xuemei said. "Maybe he really thinks it can work out."

"But it clearly can't work!" Meng Yue didn't understand. "Why does he, an administrative cadre, insist on meddling in technical issues?"

“Perhaps… he felt that the old methods wouldn’t work and that he had to find a new way,” Qin Xuemei said.

“Even new paths need to be scientific!” Meng Yue shook her head. “Forget it, let’s not talk about it anymore. Let’s plant our trees and he can try out his seedlings.”

That night, Suning went to the nursery again.

We examined each tree one by one with flashlights.

Some seeds have already sprouted, with tiny little shoots emerging.

Under strong light, these tender shoots appear very fragile.

Suning crouched down and gently touched a tender leaf.

"You must live," he whispered.

He knew many people were skeptical and many were waiting to see him fail, but he had to try.

Planting trees in Saihanba is too difficult; the old methods only result in a few trees surviving after three years.

If we don't find a new way, this forest farm will never be built.

Maybe I'm an outsider, or maybe I really don't understand technology.

But he understood one principle: when the old path is blocked, one must bravely take a new one.

Even if the new path is full of thorns, even if failure is possible, we must try.

Because if you don't try, you'll never find a way out.

The beam of the flashlight moved through the nursery, illuminating the tiny, tender shoots.

A night breeze blows, and the tender buds sway gently.

It seemed like it was nodding, yet it also seemed like it was shaking its head; no one knew the outcome.

Just like when he was fighting in Korea, even in the most difficult moments, he believed that victory would eventually come.

Now, it is also a battle, a battle between man and nature.

A battle between belief and reality.

……

That day, Feng Cheng went to find Yan Xiangli.

Yan Xiangli studied meteorology. Although he was not talkative, he was very serious about his profession. "Yan Xiangli, I'd like to ask, what's the weather like this winter?" Feng Cheng asked.

Yan Xiangli took out his weather logbook, flipped through a few pages, and said, "Based on my observations and data analysis, this winter will be colder than in previous years. I predict that the extreme minimum temperature may reach minus forty-five degrees Celsius, and the period of sustained low temperatures will also be longer."

"Minus forty-five degrees?" Feng Cheng was taken aback. "That's four or five degrees lower than in previous years."

“Yes.” Yan Xiangli nodded. “Moreover, cold air activity will be frequent this year, and the number of windy days will increase. Overall, it will be an exceptionally cold winter.”

Feng Cheng frowned.

He spent three winters in Bashang and knows what minus forty degrees Celsius means...

Your saliva freezes before it even hits the ground, and your skin will stick to metal when you touch it.

The temperature was unbearable even for the locals, let alone these college students from the south.

Feng Cheng thought about it and decided that he couldn't keep this a secret and had to report it to Su Ning.

"Deputy Director Su, I have something to report to you." Feng Cheng approached Su Ning. "Yan Xiangli predicts that this winter will be unusually cold, possibly reaching minus forty-five degrees Celsius."

Suning was looking at the nursery records when she heard this and looked up. "Minus forty-five degrees? Are you sure?"

“Yan Xiangli is a meteorologist, so his predictions should be reliable,” Feng Cheng said. “I’ve been in Bashang for three years, and the weather this spring has indeed been abnormal. The winter may really be particularly cold.”

"What about these college students?" This was Su Ning's first thought. "Most of them are from the south and have never experienced such severe cold. At minus forty-five degrees Celsius, something bad will happen."

“That’s what I’m worried about,” Feng Cheng said. “Deputy Director Su, I suggest that the college students spend the winter on the dam. They can come back up next spring when it gets warmer.”

Su Ning pondered for a moment, then said, "You're right, safety comes first. Here's what I'll do: I'll gather them together and ask for their opinions."

……

That evening, Suning called eight college students to the cafeteria.

“I have something to discuss with you,” Su Ning said bluntly. “According to weather forecasts, this winter will be unusually cold, possibly reaching minus forty-five degrees Celsius. Considering that most of you are from the south and have never experienced such severe cold, I suggest that you spend the winter in the dam area and come back up next spring.”

The students were stunned by these words.

"Go down to the dam for the winter?" Sui Zhichao was the first to speak. "Deputy Director Su, what about our tree planting?"

“You can’t plant trees in winter, so you’re just waiting around on the dam. At most, you can do some experiments,” Su Ning said. “Why don’t you go back to the bureau or home, avoid the cold, and rest and recuperate? You can come back next spring with more energy.”

Na Da Kui was also worried, "Deputy Director Su, if we leave, will there be no one left on the dam?"

“There’s an advance team, Feng Cheng, Captain Zhao, and me,” Su Ning said. “We’ll stay behind. You’re young, your health is important.”

Qin Xuemei suddenly stood up, "Deputy Director Su, I disagree!"

Everyone looked at her.

Qin Xuemei was very excited. "Since we chose to go to the dam, we were prepared to face all kinds of difficulties. The cold is one of the difficulties. How can we run away from difficulties? What's the difference between going down to the dam for the winter and deserting?"

Meng Yue also stood up in support, "Xue Mei is right. We're here to plant trees, not to enjoy ourselves. We have to persevere no matter how cold it is."

Ji Xiurong said softly, "But... minus forty-five degrees is really cold. I grew up in Chengde, and the coldest it's ever been is minus thirty degrees. I can't even imagine minus forty-five degrees."

Shen Mengyin's face turned pale. "I...I'm a little scared. In Shanghai, I feel like I'm going to freeze to death when it's minus five degrees Celsius in winter. Minus forty-five degrees..."

Yan Xiangli calmly stated, "From a scientific perspective, minus 45 degrees Celsius is an extreme test for the human body. Without sufficient cold-weather gear and experience, it is indeed dangerous."

Sui Zhichao hesitated, "Then... then how about we go down to the dam? Safety first."

"Sui Zhichao!" Qin Xuemei glared at him. "How can you be so spineless?"

"I'm not spineless," Sui Zhichao argued. "I'm just stating the facts. Minus 45 degrees Celsius can really freeze people to death. We have no experience; what if something goes wrong?"

The two sides were deadlocked.

Suning tapped the table. "Alright, let's have a democratic vote. Raise your hand if you're willing to spend the winter at the dam."

Sui Zhichao, Shen Mengyin, and Ji Xiurong raised their hands.

Da Kui looked at Ji Xiurong and raised his hand as well.

Yan Xiangli thought for a moment and then raised his hand.

Five votes.

"Raise your hand if you want to stay."

Qin Xuemei and Meng Yue immediately raised their hands.

Two votes.

"Five votes to two, the majority agrees to go down to the dam," Su Ning announced. "Then it's settled. Before winter arrives, the five of you will go down to the dam. Qin Xuemei, Meng Yue, you two..."

“We’ll stay,” Qin Xuemei said resolutely. “Deputy Director Su, we are determined and capable of spending the winter in Bashang.”

Meng Yue also said, "Yes, we'll stay."

Su Ning looked at them, knowing she couldn't persuade them otherwise, and sighed: "Fine, if you want to stay, I won't stop you. But there's one condition: you must obey orders and pay attention to safety. I'll tell you how to keep warm, and I won't tell you not to go out."

“We promise!” Qin Xuemei said.

After the meeting, Su Ning called Feng Cheng and Zhao Tianshan aside.

"These two girls are really stubborn," Zhao Tianshan shook his head.

“It’s good to have energy, but we also need to be careful,” Su Ning said. “In that case, we need to prepare winter supplies in advance. Feng Cheng, you’re familiar with the Bashang area, do you know where we can get food?”

"Food..." Feng Cheng thought for a moment, "The hardest thing in winter is food. The grain we've stored is only enough to last until the end of the year. If winter is particularly long, we might run out of food."

"What should we do then?" Zhao Tianshan asked anxiously.

Feng Cheng suddenly remembered something, “Ground sheep! There are ground sheep on the dam. They dig burrows to store food in winter. If we can find the ground sheep burrows and dig out the food they have stored, it can last for a while.”

"Earth sheep?" Suning had never heard of it.

"It's a type of wild rat that digs very deep burrows, where it hides lots of grass seeds and roots," Feng Cheng explained. "In winter, they don't come out; they just eat the food they've stored in their burrows."

“That’s a good idea,” Zhao Tianshan said, “but Di Yang Cave is hard to find.”

“I know where they are,” Feng Cheng said. “I’ve been traveling around the dam area for the past few years and have seen some earthworm caves. I’ll lead an advance team to look for them, mark them, and only dig them up when we’re really out of food in the winter.”

“Okay, I’ll leave this to you,” Su Ning said. “Captain Zhao, you work with Feng Cheng, take a few more men, and mark the sheep hole as soon as possible. Remember, this is our lifeline; don’t touch it unless absolutely necessary.”

"Understood!" Zhao Tianshan stood at attention.

Su Ning added, "Also, I brought a radio, which is already installed. From now on, we'll contact the bureau once a day to report the situation. If we encounter any emergency, we can call for help at any time."

"A radio station?" Feng Cheng's eyes lit up. "That's great! Having a radio station makes me feel at ease."

"The bureau guarantees that supplies will be continuously provided during the winter," Su Ning said. "Grain, coal, and cotton-padded clothes will all be delivered on time. But we also need to be prepared ourselves and can't rely entirely on the bureau."

"Yes!" they both responded in unison.

……

The next day, Feng Cheng set off with the advance team.

They carried shovels and sacks, searching everywhere in Saihanba for the Earth Sheep Cave.

Once you find one, stick it up next to it and tie a red ribbon to it as a marker.

Zhao Tianshan then led his men to reinforce the camp.

The doors to the dugouts were thickened, and the windows were boarded up, leaving only a small ventilation opening.

They also installed heated brick beds in each dormitory to keep warm in winter.

Although most of the seedlings failed in the all-light seedling cultivation, several thousand seedlings still survived tenaciously.

You can't give up on yourself, and those who survive are the strong.

Seeing that everyone was busy, Qin Xuemei and Meng Yue also offered to help.

"Deputy Director Su, is there anything we can do?" Qin Xuemei asked.

“You guys…” Su Ning thought for a moment, “Here’s what we’ll do: you’ll be in charge of organizing the winter supplies. Take inventory of all the cotton-padded clothes and quilts, and tally up any that are not enough. I’ll apply to the bureau for more.”

"Okay," Qin Xuemei replied enthusiastically.

Meng Yue was a little worried, "Xue Mei, are we really going to spend the winter in Bashang? I'm a little scared."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Qin Xuemei said. "We have Deputy Director Su, Captain Zhao, Feng Cheng, and the advance team. With so many people, what could possibly happen?"

"But it's minus forty-five degrees..." Meng Yue shivered.

"Wear more clothes, the kang (heated brick bed) will be fine," Qin Xuemei encouraged her. "Look at Deputy Director Su, he's staying in Bashang too. If he can persevere, why can't we?"

Meng Yue glanced at Su Ning, who was inspecting the nursery in the distance, and felt a little more at ease.

Yes! With Deputy Director Su here, there shouldn't be any problem, right?
But what she didn't know was that Su Ning wasn't sure either.

He had never experienced minus forty-five degrees Celsius.

During the war in Korea, the coldest temperature was only around minus thirty degrees Celsius.

He didn't know what minus forty-five degrees Celsius meant.

But he is the leader, the backbone, and cannot panic.

The forestry bureau quickly responded, agreeing to allow most of the employees to move down to the dam.

Except for Su Ning, Feng Cheng, Zhao Tianshan, Qin Xuemei, and Meng Yue, who stayed on the dam to conduct experiments, all the other students and the advance team leader went down to the dam.

After all, leaving too many people on the dam during the winter is pointless; it will only consume more resources and put more pressure on the forestry bureau.

After all, quality is more important than quantity in military strength; this has always been Suning's motto.

...(End of chapter)