Era: I was a farmer at the foot of Yaoling Mountain

Upon learning of the successful research and development of "Yu Xiang No. 2", Lin Bingkun was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night.

During this period, Xin Kaiqi is vigorously promoting their new corn variety. Although the data of this new corn variety is not as good as that of "Yuxiang No. 1", the difference is very small.

Since the other party developed this new variety, the sales of [Yuxiang No. 1] have been affected to some extent, and the main problem is that it's very frustrating.

Now things are much better. The data of [Yuxiang No. 2] absolutely crushes the new corn product of Xin Kaiqi. Next year, Lin Bingkun will definitely make a comeback.

Fang Wei remained calm; he never believed that New Cage could suppress Yaoling Agriculture.

this day.

Sun Shili suddenly arrived in the village, bringing with him two strangers.

"Secretary Fang, these two are professors from the Agricultural University. They have been researching seawater rice. This is Professor Ma, and this is Professor Lin. They have something they would like to ask you for help with."

Sun Shili didn't really want to make this trip. He knew very well that he and the Institute of Crop Science had already benefited a lot, and he really didn't want to trouble Fang Wei again.

However, Professor Ma and Professor Lin's research projects received strong support from above, and bringing the two of them to see Fang Wei this time was also at the behest of those above.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and come over.

Fang Wei exchanged a few pleasantries with Professor Ma and Professor Lin, then turned to Sun Shili and said:
"Director Sun, you haven't come to see me for so long, have you forgotten about me?"

He noticed Sun Shili's conflicted feelings and quickly offered a word of comfort.

He didn't feel that the other party had taken advantage of him much. The other party and the Crop Research Institute had also given him tremendous help. He, Sun Shili, the research institute, and the Crop Research Institute had long since become a community of shared interests.

"I'm sorry, I've been too busy lately. I'll treat you to a drink later to make it up to you."

Sun Shili laughed heartily, feeling much more relaxed.

Fang Wei then led the three people to the reception room and had tea brought to them by the staff.

“Secretary Fang, I’m really sorry to have come here today. Professor Lin and I have been researching seawater rice for 15 years, but we haven’t made much progress. We’ve come here to learn from your experience.”

Professor Ma and Professor Lin have been working tirelessly on the research of seawater rice for 15 years.

Looking back, the two realized they had wasted too many opportunities over the years, but they were reluctant to simply shelve the project.

Since the higher authorities were paying close attention to the research on seawater rice, the two approached Sun Shili and asked him to introduce them to Fang Wei, since Fang Wei was very famous in the field of rice breeding.

“Seawater rice is very different from ordinary rice, so I’m afraid I can’t be of much help. However, I do have some experience in hybrid rice breeding, which I can discuss with you two.”

Seawater rice, also known as salt-tolerant rice, can be grown in coastal mudflats and saline-alkali land.

Fifteen years ago, Professor Ma and Professor Lin discovered this wild seawater rice on the mudflats by the sea. After cultivating it, they accumulated some experience.

However, over the years they had been unable to overcome the challenges of high yield and rapid variety degradation, and their research project had failed to make any breakthroughs. That's why they decided to relinquish control of the project and find a more experienced collaborator.

And their feelings were exactly what Fang Wei felt.

Fang Wei had never been exposed to seawater rice before; he knew the concept, but that was about it. However, he was still very interested in the project itself, which was why he was willing to communicate with Professor Ma and Professor Lin.

"Thank you, Secretary Fang! We have another request, and we don't know if you'd be interested. We hope you can participate in the research on seawater rice. We'll assist you, and we hope you can lead us to success."

Professor Ma speaks very directly and without any subtlety.

Fang Wei was stunned for a moment. This was the first time he had ever seen someone willing to relinquish control of their project to another party.

"Professor Ma, are you overestimating me? As the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise, and I may not be able to offer any help."

Fang Wei spoke politely, but in his heart he was already eager to try.

Sun Shili, being a leader, immediately understood the unspoken message and knew there was potential. He then secretly gave Professor Ma a wink, and the latter instantly grasped the meaning.

Professor Lin sat to one side and rarely spoke. It seemed that their team was led by Professor Ma.

“Secretary Fang, if you can’t solve this problem, then no one in the country can help us. Old Lin, go and get the documents and agreements and have them reviewed.”

Professor Ma then asked Professor Lin to fetch the items, indicating that the two of them had made thorough preparations before arriving.

Professor Lin went to the car and retrieved the materials, as well as a research cooperation agreement.

"Since you two don't mind, I'll give it a try."

Fang Wei did not look at the other party's research materials. Although he was not an expert in this area, he had learned about seawater rice in his previous life.

He probably knows more about some conceptual things than the two professors do.

He then looked at the cooperation agreement and called Yang Feng in to have him check if there were any problems with the terms.

Yang Feng returned to his office and sent the agreement to the group company's legal department. After making slight modifications, he sent it back.

Fang Wei then signed a cooperation agreement with Professor Ma and Professor Lin, and from that moment on, he became the head of the three-person research group on seawater rice.

"We've been busy until noon. Come on, let me treat you all to lunch."

After finishing these tasks, it was already noon.

Fang Wei invited Sun Shili and the two professors, and asked Yang Feng to accompany them. The group went to the Linhe Hotel in the county.

In the afternoon, he discussed various technical approaches to rice breeding with Professor Ma and Professor Lin, ranging from traditional breeding methods to hybridization breeding, and finally the application of transgenic technology in breeding.

Professor Ma and Professor Lin both felt they had gained a lot, but unfortunately it did not directly help in cultivating seawater rice.

Before leaving, the two gave Fang Wei a small bag of seeds.

These are seeds cultivated by the two individuals based on wild seawater rice, a small portion of which are wild seawater rice varieties.

"Secretary Fang, we all have our own jobs and can only conduct research on our respective projects. However, we can communicate frequently by phone, and whoever makes progress should inform the other, okay?"

“No problem, we’re already partners, and as partners, we must treat each other with sincerity.”

As evening fell, Fang Wei saw the three of them off into the car and watched it drive away.

When he went home, he brought back all the research materials that Professor Ma and his colleague had collected over the years, intending to take a good look at them that evening.

The next day.

Fang Wei went to the office and continued to study the data on seawater rice.

He discovered that the problem Professor Ma and his colleague had been facing for so many years was that they had been unable to increase yields; the yield per acre was so low that it was simply not worth planting.

As for the taste, let's not even talk about it; it's too painful to even mention it.

According to records, seawater rice has almost no aroma and a coarse, unpalatable texture.

"Where can we find a testing ground?"

Xinlin County certainly has no saline-alkali land or coastal mudflats, so it does not have the conditions to (research) the cultivation of seawater rice.

Artificial simulation can only be achieved by adding salt to paddy fields, but such conditions are unreliable.

After much deliberation, he called Qin Sicheng, hoping the latter could help him lease a piece of seaside mudflats. Xinlin County didn't meet the requirements, but Guangdong was a coastal region, and finding a piece of saline-alkali land in or around Shenzhen was still feasible.

“Secretary Fang, you’re planning to research seawater rice? No problem, wait for my news, I’ll help you find a mudflat.”

Qin Sicheng found the project very interesting; for him, finding a piece of saline-alkali land was incredibly easy.

A few days later, he called Fang Wei back and told him that he had found a 200-acre mudflat.

“This used to belong to a friend of mine. He also owns a few buildings near the mudflats, which you can use. As for rent, just give a token amount; he’s left the land abandoned for several years anyway.”

"Thank you so much, Mr. Qin! I'll go check on things in a few days. I'll pay the rent as it should be; how could I let a friend suffer a loss?"

The two chatted for a few minutes before hanging up.

He then went to the Yao village and asked Wang Sanqi to ask in the village who would be willing to go to the seaside with him to try cultivating seawater rice.

Since it's quite far away and I can't go home often, it has to be voluntary.

Unexpectedly, after Wang Sanqi promoted the idea in the village, several members of the breeding group came to Fang Wei, saying they were willing to go to Guangdong.

Fang Wei selected three people and asked them to prepare in advance, as they would be going to Shenzhen in a few days.

It's not long before Xiaojie's wedding at the end of the year, and he plans to go there and stay until New Year's Day before coming back.

"Third Brother, I think you still prefer scientific research. You're not as dedicated to managing the company as you are to it."

Pan Lianhua also planned to leave with Fang Weiyi. The villa they bought in Shenzhen had already been renovated, and they could move in after tidying up.

"You're right, I still think breeding is more interesting."

Fang Wei's main problem is that he can't sit still. He actually prefers outdoor activities to sitting at his desk and working.

three days later.

Fang Wei and Pan Lianhua each drove their own cars, taking the three members of the breeding team with them, and headed straight for Shenzhen.

Qin Sicheng treated everyone to a meal, and the next day he took everyone to the beach.

"There is water and electricity here, but you will need to cultivate the land yourselves."

When we arrived at the location, we found that the mudflats in this area were quite large.

The buildings here used to be used as guesthouses, but they are now abandoned. You can rest here during the day, but it's best to rent a house in the village at night.

The seaside is too humid, and it's also unsafe to stay there during typhoons.

"Okay, this is it!"

Fang Wei didn't need to be picky. As long as the experimental field met the basic requirements, it would be fine. It could be modified later.

He personally signed the contract for this project, so he paid for all the expenses, including the salaries and bonuses of his three sons.

He was never ambiguous about this, keeping public and private matters separate, so as not to give others any leverage against him.

Qin Sicheng then handed Fang Wei two contracts. The rent for this large plot of land was one yuan per year, with ancillary facilities provided free of charge. However, Fang Wei would have to pay for water and electricity himself, and could discuss irrigation water with the village. (End of Chapter)