Courtyard House: My Hidden Wheat Seeds Caused a National Sensation

Li Jianye smiled with satisfaction. "The three key lines—male sterile line, restorer line, and maintainer line—have all been successfully selected."

Next, hybridization breeding will officially enter a fast track.

Before long, batches of high-quality hybrid rice seeds will be successfully cultivated and sown in the fields!

"Great! That's wonderful!"

Mr. H nodded repeatedly, his satisfaction evident.

But soon, his brows furrowed slightly again. "However, there's another troublesome matter that's giving me a headache."

His tone turned somber.

"Since your deeds have spread, a wave of learning from you has swept across the country."

This was supposed to be an inspiring and positive thing, but it also brought some problems.

Initially, we did receive a lot of good suggestions and ideas from the public, which were inspiring for all walks of life.

However, some deviations have occurred in agricultural production.

"Could it be... that someone was so focused on conducting experiments that they neglected the normal farming season?"

Li Jianye keenly sensed the problem.

"That's exactly right."

Mr. H sighed, "Many farmers aspire to be the next you, so they have started experimenting in their own fields, trying to find a way to achieve high yields."

The spirit is commendable, but many people's direction and methods are wrong, and they are destined to fail.

This not only wastes precious human and material resources, but most heartbreakingly, it also abandons some fields that should have been used to produce food! Jianye, I really can't think of a way to properly guide this enthusiasm that satisfies both sides.

Do you have any good ideas?

H looked at Li Jianye with anticipation in his eyes.

This problem truly left him at a loss.

He envisioned sending agricultural technicians directly into the countryside to teach farmers standardized crop cultivation methods.

However, they soon realized that this path was difficult to follow—the hybridization process was complex and time-consuming, and breeding did not require the participation of the entire population; only a group of dedicated personnel needed to study it diligently. If everyone rushed into it, it would easily lead to chaos.

"This is not difficult."

Li Jianye laughed after hearing this.

"Oh?"

Mr. H was slightly taken aback.

Although he had hoped that Li Jianye could come up with a brilliant plan, he did not expect the other party to answer so easily, which made him somewhat suspicious.

"Tell me about it."

"You should know about the white-feathered chickens from the US, right?"

"Of course I know,"

Mr. H nodded, "The white-feathered chicken has a great reputation."

Since its introduction to the United States in the 1940s, the white-feathered chicken has caused a sensation.

It has a short growth cycle, consumes little food, has fine bones and thick meat, and gains weight rapidly with just a little feeding.

Since the emergence of this type of chicken, there has been no longer any worry about a shortage of chicken on the tables of American consumers, which has also led to the booming development of industries such as fried chicken fast food.

Meat, which was originally expensive, became affordable and became a staple in the bowls and plates of ordinary households.

"Since the farmers have the capacity now, why not let them try to breed our own chickens?"

Li Jianye calmly offered his idea.

He had actually been planning about the chicken breed for a long time.

Initially, food supplies were scarce, making it impossible to discuss the selection and breeding of superior breeds; now the situation is different, with grain reserves gradually increasing, making it the right time to begin improving poultry breeds.

"This time, we must not let other countries hold our lifeline in chicken breeds again."

Li Jianye pondered to himself.

He clearly remembered that the white-feathered chickens of later generations had put his family under control for many years, and they even had to be mindful of others' attitudes when eating a chicken, which was a truly unpleasant experience.

In order to ensure that the people have enough nutrition, they had no choice but to swallow their pride and ask for supplies from outside.

"We must firmly hold our own food supply and vegetable basket in our own hands."

Just as he was deep in thought, Mr. H's voice rang out again: "Getting farmers to raise chickens? That's no easy task."

Are we going to send researchers to various villages and towns to provide guidance?

"No need,"

Li Jianye shook his head, "We can follow the example of the United States and hold a nationwide selection competition."

Farmers are allowed to raise the eggs themselves for six months, after which each farmer brings their most satisfactory egg to Beijing.

All eggs are incubated and fed in the same way to ensure that each chicken receives the same care.

After a month and a half, the chickens are slaughtered and tested in batches to compare meat quality, weigh the meat yield, and calculate the feed conversion ratio—this is how the superior chicken breed is determined.

The competition can be divided into hybrid and purebred groups. The top three in each group will be awarded prizes, and the winning farmers may even be promoted to technical specialists to oversee future chicken breeding.

Then, it was published in the newspaper to spread the word... In this way, not only was the farmers' spare time spent on their work, but the foundation was also laid for the future demand for chicken.

This nationwide selection process could be called "The Rooster of Tomorrow."

After hearing this, Mr. H clapped his hands and laughed, praising it repeatedly.

"Brilliant! This method is truly ingenious! If it can be implemented, every household will have chicken, duck, fish, and meat on their tables regularly. Just thinking about that makes me happy!"

The two then discussed "Tomorrow's Chicken" in detail.

After considering all the arrangements, Li Jianye promised to submit the design drawings for the chicken farm soon, and only then did Mr. H happily let him leave.

Before leaving, Li Jianye made sure to leave behind some local specialties from the south, and also took two bottles of fine wine that Mr. H had treasured.

As he boarded the car and headed back to the courtyard house, Li Jianye gazed at the street scenes flashing past the window, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

"How has Xiaodi been doing these days away from home?"

The courtyard house was far from peaceful at this moment.

The courtyard was packed with people; it was another hospital-wide meeting.

This time it wasn't about trivial disputes, but about something quite serious—Xu Damao, for some reason, insisted on separating from Lou Xiao'e.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat and glanced at the neighbors present.

The crowd gradually quieted down, waiting for him to speak, which brought a long-lost sense of satisfaction to his face.

Since Li Jianye left Beijing, the courtyard seems to have returned to its former state, with everyone listening to his decisions.

He sighed inwardly: If that person never returns, this courtyard can finally find peace.

Putting aside his wandering thoughts, Yi Zhonghai slowly said, "I invited everyone here today because of the matter concerning Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e."

The two were arguing fiercely in the backyard; one wanted a divorce, while the other refused.

Since we live in the same courtyard, we can't just stand by and watch them fight every day. Why don't we work together to help them sort things out?

Everyone nodded in agreement, clutching sunflower seeds and peanuts in their hands, their eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Why would someone suddenly want a divorce when everything seems fine? There must be more to this than meets the eye.

Only Nan Yi, sitting in the corner, remained silent, feeling strange: why bring up a private matter between husband and wife in front of the whole courtyard? But he did not speak, only observing quietly.

In the center of the courtyard stood an old square table, around which sat three old men in charge, drinking tea and snacking.

Three people sat on either side of the table: on one side was Xu Damao, whose clothes were disheveled and whose face had several bloodstains, but whose back was straight despite his disheveled appearance; on the other side was Lou Xiao'e, with Dilisilin next to her.

"Xu Damao, please tell me the reason first."

Yi Zhonghai began to speak.

Xu Damao stood up abruptly.

"Okay, go ahead and say it! Everyone's here, so let's settle this properly."

Lou Xiao'e and I have been married for two years, but what has been the result?

Many years after her marriage, her abdomen remained flat.

The old saying is true—having no offspring is a problem, and the greatest act of filial impiety is to have no descendants.

That being the case.

Why should I stay with this hen that can't hatch its eggs?

It's only right that she divorces him and finds a suitable partner who can bear children!

"Xu Damao, you bastard!"

Why do you say I can't have children?

Lou Xiao'e suddenly stood up, her fingertips almost poking the other person's nose.

"You go to the countryside to watch movies every few days."

He said he was busy with official business.

Who knows if you've settled down in a second home over there?

I did your laundry last time.

Do you think I can't smell the rouge on my collar and cuffs?

You've already hooked up with some shady characters outside.

Now they've made up some excuse to dump me.

"Let's welcome that vixen in!"

"Nonsense!"

I, Xu Damao, act with integrity, unlike some people whose conduct is crooked!

Xu Damao, whose secret was exposed, turned pale with anger.

Several months ago, he witnessed the aura of a distinguished person at a wedding banquet.

He then wanted Lou Xiao'e to curry favor with a woman named Dilisilin.

He hoped to use this opportunity to befriend Li Jianye, who was behind her, and thus secure a future for himself.

To everyone's surprise, Lou Xiao'e told him with a cold laugh:

He married her, the daughter of a capitalist.

You'll never be able to climb the corporate ladder in this lifetime.

She also decisively rejected his request.

Xu Damao didn't believe it at first, so he asked someone to inquire carefully.

The news that came his way chilled him to the bone—it was true!

If I had known this would happen, why would I have coveted her as the old factory director's daughter?

He originally thought he could gain both wealth and power.

Who would have thought that he would cut off his own path to success?

In addition, she has not conceived in all these years.

The thought of divorce grew stronger day by day.

Until recently, when we showed a movie in the countryside.

He met a girl named Zhou Xiaofang.

Watery eyes, and jet-black braids.

Xu Damao was instantly captivated upon seeing him.

A few bars of soap and two headscarves were enough to make the girl dizzy with delight.

Lately, he has been going to the countryside often, seeking a haven of comfort and tranquility.

A few days ago, Xiaofang blushed and told him: I'm pregnant.

Overjoyed, Xu Damao went home and confessed everything.

"Pooh!

"Xu Damao, you're asking for a beating, aren't you?"

He Yuzhu, who was silently eating peanuts, smashed his cup.

Upon hearing his name being dragged into the discussion, he rolled up his sleeves and prepared to step forward.

Xu Damao, on the contrary, stretched out his neck.

"Silly Zhu, shoot this way!"

It would be best if, like last time, I was beaten so badly I couldn't get up.

This time, I guarantee I'll get you arrested.

Let's see who can outlast whom!

He Yuzhu's raised fist froze in mid-air.

"Pillar! Sit down!"

Yi Zhonghai sternly stopped them and gave He Yuzhu a wink.

He turned to look at Xu Damao, his brows furrowing deeply.

"Da Mao, your reasoning is untenable."

Whether or not we have children is not a reason to break up.

He stood ramrod straight, his voice carrying its usual solemnity.

The value of a marriage lies in its longevity.

How can we break up just because we have no children?

Xu Damao opened his mouth, but was speechless.

He couldn't refute these words coming from Yi Zhonghai's mouth.

Everyone knows that this old man doesn't have any children of his own.

Haven't we lived most of our lives like this?

The air in the courtyard seemed to freeze, and every face was turned in the same direction.

Xu Damao stood in the center of the crowd, his neck stiff, a hint of provocation on his lips.

His words were like a dull knife cutting flesh, each syllable landing heavily on the bluestone pavement.

Everyone has their own path.

His voice wasn't loud, but it drowned out the whispers, "My days with Lou Xiao'e are numbered."

"Can't we just break up?"

Everyone's gaze immediately shifted to the other side.

Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the slightly trembling woman: "Xiao'e, what do you mean?"

Lou Xiao'e suddenly raised her head, her cheeks still wet with tears, but her eyes burning with fire.

"Leave!"

She spat out the word with a fierce edge, "Do you think I care so much about that horse-faced good-for-nothing?"

She took a step forward, her back ramrod straight. "We can get a divorce, but I, Lou Xiao'e, will never cling to this marriage."

But there's one thing—I won't take the blame for being 'infertile'.

Xu Damao, you'd better explain yourself clearly in public today. Whose fault is it really?

"Who else could it be?"

Xu Damao sneered, glancing sideways, "Naturally, it's because your belly is useless."

"I'm perfectly healthy!"

"Good? Two years have passed, and we haven't even seen a trace of them. Is that what you call good?"

"There are plenty of families who haven't made a move in two years!"

Lou Xiao'e raised her voice, pointing to the edge of the crowd, "Jia Dongxu's family, married in 1951, only conceived in 1954, what do you say about that?"

"How can they be the same?"

Xu Damao seemed to have been waiting for this sentence, and spoke very quickly, "His family only has one kang (a heated brick bed), and his mother, Jia Zhangshi, lies on it all day long and doesn't like to go out."

The couple acts like thieves when they do things; they've barely done it a few times in years. It would be a miracle if they did it early!

He waved his hand, his face full of impatience, "Don't drag others into this, I'm talking about you—you're like a barren, saline land, nothing can grow there!"

Beside him, Jia Dongxu's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word for a long time, only glaring fiercely at the back of Xu Damao's head.

Xu Damao didn't even bother to turn his head.