Shuangling: Braving the Rapids

After several hours of hard work, Aimin finally completed the pruning and pinching of the two mu of chrysanthemum seedlings.

After tidying up his tools, Aimin picked up a kettle and squatted on the edge of the field. After a few sips of tea, fine beads of sweat immediately appeared on his forehead and nose. He took off the gray towel from his neck and wiped his face, sweeping away the sweat and dust. His face returned to its fresh and handsome scholarly appearance.

At this moment, Aimin gazed intently at the unchanging mountains, his brow furrowed, and worries welled up in his heart once again.

Despite having worked very hard and prepared to face challenges head-on, the troubles on the road to entrepreneurship came one after another. Agricultural technology problems were one thing, he could spend time and energy to solve them, or at the very least seek help from classmates and experts. But Aimin had to face the complex and diverse rural environment.

Villagers you get along with will help you without expecting anything in return, but those you don't can trip you up at any time. Just like that Qin Ergou, he can cause huge trouble for Aimin just by opening his mouth and saying some unfounded things.

Does Qin Ergou have any deep-seated hatred for Aimin? Not necessarily. The old bachelor is just a petty person who can't be brought to the table, but when he puts his mind to it, he can push the other villagers to the opposite side of Aimin with just a few words.

This time, Aimin lost a capable assistant like Ma Xiangju. Next time, he may lose even more. If he can't get along with the villagers, how will he promote Jutian in the future?

The situation is likely to get worse, because there are not only troublemakers here, but also a group of selfish and ambitious people.

These people had tasted success in the ore trade before. Recently, with the soaring prices of industrial raw materials, not only big bosses like Lao Chengxi, but even villagers with a modicum of sense began to get restless. Yes, they've once again set their greedy eyes on the old mine pits beneath Jutai. For money, they can recklessly destroy forests and farmland, and use detonators and explosives without any qualifications or safety measures. As for killing a few people, that's just a minor episode on their road to "getting rich overnight."

Although petty people and ambitious individuals are difficult to deal with, fortunately, their numbers are few.

Fortunately, most villagers are honest and law-abiding, with little intention to harm others. However, limited by their perspective and narrow-mindedness, even these kind and simple people can become impulsive and lose their basic immunity to the sugar-coated bullets of money offered by those with ulterior motives. In short, for immediate petty gains, they are willing to relinquish their land lease rights, even if these individuals are engaging in illegal or unethical activities related to the land, they will choose to turn a blind eye. Over time, even honest people gradually become accomplices, and ultimately everyone will pay the price for the deterioration of their living environment.

Humans are naturally inclined to seek advantage and avoid harm; this is a conclusion Qin Aimin reached after long-term observation and reflection.

Since human nature cannot be defied, Qin Aimin had to let the villagers see tangible benefits, which was precisely his original intention in cultivating chrysanthemums regardless of cost.

By cultivating high-value ornamental and medicinal chrysanthemums and promoting a cooperative planting and unified purchase and sales model, even without aiming for wealth and a comfortable life, the villagers can at least withstand the pressure of rising agricultural input prices year after year. Qin Aimin knows that only in this way can they protect their mountains, forests, and fields.

Whether for economic reasons or the social responsibility of intellectuals, Aimin must promote the planting of chrysanthemums. More importantly, his mother's grave and the family's ancestral graves are both located on the chrysanthemum terrace—if the old mine reopens and the mining area expands, the chrysanthemum terrace directly above it may be lost. Given those people's behavior, who knows what other trouble they might cause!

His mother had endured many hardships in her life, and even if he were to acquire great wealth, Aimin would never allow anyone to disturb the peace of her spirit. This was his personal concern, and also the bottom line he could never cross in his conduct.

A gentle breeze rustled through the willow branches, causing the chrysanthemum seedlings to sway. Aimin gently stroked a green branch beside him, like a father kneading a baby's cheek.

At this moment, Aimin's eyes were gentle yet resolute. He suddenly recalled a poem that a professor who had studied in the Soviet Union had given him during his university days:

Everything in the present breeds a bright future, and everything in the future grows from its yesterday.

Hope, and fight for it; carry it all on your shoulders.

Upon returning home, Aimin went straight up to his study on the second floor.

He took out a letter, picked up a pen, and sat down. It seemed that Aimin was about to report his work to his mentor. Indeed, since the chrysanthemum cultivation had achieved some initial results, it was best to share the good news with him as soon as possible. After all, Professor Meng had provided technical guidance in completing these two acres of experimental fields. If he could offer some further pointers, it would surely save them from many detours.

"Professor Meng, hello!"

The chrysanthemum seedling cultivation project is progressing smoothly. If all goes well, we should be able to see the golden chrysanthemums around the time of Grain in Ear. At that time, you are welcome to visit and provide guidance.

In your last letter about rural entrepreneurship, I benefited greatly from your insights. Now, I would like to discuss with you the specifics of promoting mountain chrysanthemums.

Currently, my thinking is...

Thinking of his mentor, Aimin smiled and unconsciously quickened his writing pace.

Just as he was writing furiously at his desk, preparing to put his accumulated insights and pressing problems on paper, the roar of a motorcycle engine suddenly sounded outside the door.

A lean man with greasy, slicked-back hair and gold-rimmed glasses jumped out of the car. He pounded on Aimin's door, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Aimin! Aimin! Is anyone home?"

A moment later, Aimin came out of the house. He looked the other person up and down, and said in surprise, "You...you're Xiaohu? What? It's been so many years, even you're wearing glasses now?"

Qin Xiaohu is Aimin's elementary school classmate—the youngest son of the old hunter Qin Biao. From childhood to adulthood, he has always been a mischievous and uneducated troublemaker. Since dropping out of school to work, he and Aimin, who was engrossed in his studies, had almost lost contact, so this sudden visit was truly unexpected.

As if sensing the other person's discomfort, Qin Xiaohu grinned: "Old classmate! I'm so glad to finally see you! You're a middle school teacher, why aren't you at home enjoying your weekend? What are you doing hiding in the fields all day? I've been looking for you all day!"

As he spoke, he habitually pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and his small eyes behind the lenses instantly narrowed into slits. No matter how you looked at it, he looked just like the "glasses guy" in Stephen Chow's movies!

"You're making a lot of money now, it's not easy for you to remember me. What's the matter? Let's go inside and talk," Aimin said, glancing at the Harley-Davidson motorcycle beside him.

"Look at what you're saying! You're a college graduate assigned by the government, while we brothers are all from humble backgrounds. Even if we run a few small workshops now, it's just to make a living!" Qin Xiaohu waved his hand and said a few polite words, then grinned and suddenly gave a sly smile. "Hey, I'll treat you to dinner tonight at my family's restaurant at the village entrance. We haven't seen each other for so many years, I really want to have a good chat with you!"

Before Aimin could react, Qin Xiaohu forcibly pulled and pushed Aimin in front of the motorcycle.

Although he was already in the car, Ke Aimin felt a bit forced into it. Despite the other party's kind words, the two hadn't seen each other for many years and their relationship was just so-so. This meal was probably not just a simple reunion...