After the divorce, he settled in Northwest China and became a Shennong (a legendary Chinese farmer).

Chapter 109 Lung Disease, Showing Off His Skills

"A self-propelled silage harvester?"

Upon seeing this, Gu Tong couldn't help but picture the outline of that steel behemoth in his mind.

He had seen this enormous creature in the village of Bulak and it left a very deep impression on him.

"That's right, it's a silage harvester!"

Ma Yucheng nodded and answered with a hint of pride.

This agricultural machinery is his most important asset and the key to his stable position as the second-in-command at Honghe.

Even if Honghe no longer exists, this machine is still something that countless people can only dream of but never attain.

"Great stuff! Don't worry, Brother Ma, it'll come in handy in the future. What do you think of my proposal?"

If you're not satisfied, I don't have a better alternative.

Gu Tong's earlier surprise was genuine; he hadn't expected Ma Yucheng to possess such a steel behemoth, but the fundamental principle of cooperation would remain unchanged.

After he finished speaking, he waited quietly for the other party's reply, showing no room for compromise.

"Alright! Time will tell. I accept starting our collaboration in this way."

At this point, Ma Yucheng became quite calm and decisively accepted Gu Tong's proposal.

"Great! It'll be a pleasure working with you!"

"It's a pleasure working with you!"

The two stood up, shook hands, and announced that they had reached an agreement on cooperation.

Ma Yucheng didn't stay long; he left the list of agricultural machinery and then took his leave.

Gu Tong returned to the room and announced the news in the group chat, which immediately shocked Dong Jun and the others.

Dong Jun: "This is fantastic news! We've strengthened our capabilities without spending a single penny. Silage harvesters... just thinking about it is exciting!"

Ma Dongwen: "This kind of cooperation is the best. A camp often disintegrates from within, and Honghe is the best example of this."

Aikebai: "I support Brother Gu's decision. Ma Yucheng is at his wit's end now, so he probably won't try anything funny."

All three of them supported Gu Tong's approach. With Honghe defeated, Jinfeng Group's attention would soon fall on the four-person team.

At this point, no amount of caution is too much, and it is the right thing to do not accept Ma Yucheng into the core circle of the four-person group.

After chatting for a while, Gu Tong finally put down her phone.

evening.

He went to feed the sheep concentrated feed and found that several sheep were listless and didn't like to eat, so he paid attention to them.

The next morning, he went to check on the sheepfold again and found that three sheep were showing symptoms such as rapid breathing, coughing, runny nose, and lethargy.

Gu Tong's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately herded the three sheep out of the sheepfold.

He then placed the three sheep about 100 meters away from the yard, where there was an abandoned makeshift shed that he planned to use temporarily as a quarantine place for the sheep.

After a thorough examination, he was able to determine that the sheep had contracted contagious ovine pleuropneumonia, commonly known as "lung rot".

This infectious disease in livestock has a rapid onset and high mortality rate, so decisive measures must be taken.

Gu Tong left a sheepdog to guard the three quarantined sheep, then returned home and immediately drove to the countryside.

He first bought some medicine, then called the veterinary station to report the matter. Reporting livestock infectious diseases to the relevant authorities is an obligation for every livestock farmer (herder).

Back home, Gu Tong herded the sheep outside into the yard and had Xiao Shitou watch over them. He then thoroughly disinfected the sheepfold.

He bought three disinfectants: chlorine-based, iodine-based, and potassium bisulfate, which he used alternately to achieve the best results.

After thoroughly disinfecting the sheepfold, he conducted another physical examination on the flock and found no more sick sheep. However, he couldn't let his guard down, as this infectious disease has an incubation period, and he needed to observe them closely.

After finishing these tasks, the technician from the veterinary station arrived.

"Gu Tong, you did a great job! Isolating first and then disinfecting, your methods are very professional. Did you used to be a veterinarian?"

The technician at the veterinary station, named Tuoheti, was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. When he arrived at the scene, he was surprised to find that Gu Tong had already completed the isolation and disinfection.

He suspected the other person was a veterinarian, as ordinary herders couldn't do something so clean and efficient.

"I studied veterinary medicine before, but it was purely a personal interest, and I have never worked in that field."

To be honest, Gu Tong had accepted the [Veterinary] inheritance and mastered all the knowledge and experience of the [Intermediate Veterinary] course, making him an outstanding individual even among veterinarians.

Tohti gave a thumbs up and then administered emergency immunizations to the sheep.

He then checked on the three sick sheep and said, "Since you know veterinary medicine, that makes things easier. Quickly inject these three sheep with antibiotics. Do you have any medicine at home?"

"Yes! I have prepared tylosin, doxycycline, and Banqing granules."

Gu Tong nodded and then named the three medications.

Tohti chuckled upon hearing this, saying, "Wow, you've got a combination of Chinese and Western medicine! Your skills are far superior to mine. You can handle it yourself now, but call me if you encounter any problems. Remember, you must report the epidemic situation daily."

Since "lung rot" is caused by mycoplasma infection, conventional antibiotics are ineffective against the disease.

During treatment, macrolides, quinolones, or tetracyclines may be used, and traditional Chinese medicine preparations such as Banqing granules and Ma Xing Shi Gan powder may also be used.

Tuoheti was knowledgeable; as soon as he heard about the medicine Gu Tong had prepared, he knew that Gu Tong was an expert.

So after completing the emergency immunization work, he left at a leisurely pace.

Gu Tong then gave the three sick sheep injections, and after returning home, she herded the flock into the sheepfold and observed them every two hours.

Fortunately, no new sick sheep were found throughout the day, which relieved him.

In the afternoon, Kurban, having learned of the news, came over.

Although he was not a veterinarian, he was an old herdsman who knew many traditional methods for treating infectious diseases in livestock.

"This disease should not be taken lightly; it could wipe out the entire flock. You know about veterinary medicine, and Tuoheti from the veterinary station has already visited. I'll just give you a small suggestion: the currently healthy flock can be divided into several groups, and you shouldn't let them roam around."

If any sheep in a group show symptoms, it's best to isolate all the sheep in that group. I don't have your expertise, but please don't hesitate to ask if you need any help.

Kurban was deeply moved, saying that knowledgeable people are better in every aspect than even an old herdsman like himself.

He was far inferior to Gu Tong in professional treatment of livestock diseases, but he had his own folk remedies for some details, so he offered a small suggestion.

"Thank you, uncle! That's a good idea. I'll divide the sheep into several groups and restrict movement between the groups."

Gu Tong readily accepted Kurban's suggestion.

Kurban patted him on the shoulder and then took his leave; there was no point in staying any longer.

That evening, Gu Tong went to check on the three sheep in the quarantine area. The sick sheep's condition had improved, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Early detection and early treatment are the key to treating infectious diseases in livestock, and his decisive action beforehand was the most crucial factor.

the next day.

Gu Tong went early in the morning to give the sick sheep injections and medicine. The three sheep have started eating and their condition has improved.

However, the quarantine cannot be lifted yet. He then sent a message to Tohti, reporting the condition of the sick sheep and clearly stating that no new cases had occurred.

Tohti replied, "Understood, please continue to observe."

But Gu Tong knew very well that this sudden "lung disease" was under control. As long as she continued with treatment and prevention, there would be no further problems.

He has this confidence.

In the morning, he received a call from Station Master Yu.

"Gu Tong, good news, the application has been approved. Hurry up and go to the county agricultural technology station to complete the formalities."

Yu Wei told him that the qualification review for contracting 1000 mu of agricultural demonstration fields had been passed, and the next step was to go to the county for confirmation.

The county agricultural technology station was in charge of this matter, and he even knew exactly who was in charge.

"Thank you, Station Master Yu! I'll go there as soon as possible."

Gu Tong expressed his gratitude, and Station Master Yu hung up the phone.

So he drove directly to the county and found Cui Wenyao at the county agricultural technology station.

"Station Chief Cui, I'd like to ask about the funding for the high-standard farmland construction project. Is the funding covered by government funds, or do I need to advance the funds?"

Gu Tong wasn't dazzled by the 1000 mu of farmland that had suddenly appeared; instead, he asked the most practical questions.

If he were to advance the funds, he would need to invest approximately one million yuan, which would be a huge burden for him.

Even if he could borrow some money from the bank, it would still be beyond his repayment capacity.

If that's the case, then this matter needs to be reconsidered.

"Haha, Comrade Xiao Gu, you're still worried about this? Don't forget you're the top performer in this oilseed rape yield competition. As a reward, the funding for the construction of the 1000-mu demonstration field you received will be fully covered by government funds, but you'll also need to provide about 10% of the matching funds."

Cui Wenyao, who was around fifty years old, couldn't help but laugh out loud after hearing Gu Tong's words.

He then explained the situation to Gu Tong, who finally breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded with the contracting of the 1000-mu demonstration field.

The demonstration fields are not subject to contracting fees, and the county government will invest a huge amount of construction funds. However, there are also requirements: rapeseed must be planted in the first year, and the yield per mu (a Chinese unit of area, approximately 0.165 acres) must not be less than 330 kilograms.

In addition, these 1000 mu of land cannot be transferred or sublet.

After leaving the county agricultural technology station, Gu Tong bought some supplies and then hurriedly returned home.

At noon, the sick sheep continued to receive injections and medication, and their condition continued to improve.

No new cases were found among the sheep in the pen, which greatly relieved Gu Tong, who even ate an extra steamed bun for lunch.

in the afternoon.

After the sun began to set, Gu Tong took the drone and the fertilizer he had bought to his alfalfa field.

After harvesting the second crop of alfalfa, it's time to prepare for winter, so topdressing is necessary. This time, instead of using farmyard manure, chemical fertilizer was chosen.

Gu Tong never believed that pesticides and fertilizers could not be used. Modern agriculture has greatly increased crop yields precisely because of these two things.

But there's a balance to be struck here.

For example, his 50-mu (approximately 3.3 hectares) first settlement was previously slightly saline-alkaline soil, so he initially used farmyard manure to "nourish the land" and improve soil quality.

After two crops of first alfalfa were planted, the pH level of this land was basically balanced, and the soil quality was greatly improved.

Therefore, fertilizers can be used at this time, which also lays a good foundation for a bumper harvest of pasture next year.

Spraying a mere 50 acres of land takes less than an hour.

Back home, Gu Tong ate some ready-made food and then went to the sheepfold and quarantine area.

After returning, he felt he could finally get a good night's sleep. This wave of "lung disease" had not only been effectively controlled, but the symptoms of the sick sheep were also disappearing. They would be fully recovered after a few more days of injections.

Sitting in the courtyard, Gu Tong habitually opened the control panel and saw messages floating past her eyes.

[Effective work (plowing), Shennong value +3]

[Effective operation (aerial spraying), Shennong value +5]

Shennong Value: 515 points

The earlier tilling and the afternoon fertilizer spraying earned him a total of 8 Shennong points.

The off-season for farming will begin next. Due to the local climate, few people in Nasu grow winter wheat, and agricultural production is mainly based on one crop per year.

Gu Tong does not plan to plant winter wheat this year, so his 30 mu (approximately 2 hectares) of rapeseed fields can be left fallow.

He then closed the panel, turned on his phone, and sent messages to Gulixian, Fanli, and the four-person group, informing them that he had signed a contract to contract 1000 mu of demonstration land.

Gulixian and Fanli both congratulated him. This event was of great significance to Gu Tong, who had transformed from a small farmer into a large-scale grower in the blink of an eye.

In the group chat, Ai Kebai, Dong Jun, and Ma Dongwen also expressed their amazement.

Especially Dong Jun and Ma Dongwen, who have lived in Nasu for decades, are not as successful as Gu Tong, who has only been settled in the area for half a year.

"Brothers, I suggest you don't compare yourselves to Brother Gu. Just compare yourselves to the people in your village, or you'll easily become withdrawn."

Ai Kebai replied, and Dong Jun and Ma Dongwen immediately fell silent.

Gu Tong chatted with Gu Lixian and Fan Li for a few minutes before seeing the message in the group chat, and immediately burst out laughing.

"Everyone, I plan to entrust this 1000-mu demonstration field to our group for full management. What are your thoughts? Let's all share them."

Gu Tong sent a message in the group that surprised Dong Jun and the others.

They all knew Gu Tong's abilities very well; in fact, the right to use these 1000 mu of demonstration land was something he won back through his own abilities.

"Brother Gu, you can take care of the 1000 mu demonstration field yourself. Is it really necessary to hand it over to the team for full management?"

Dong Jun pondered for a moment before expressing his opinion in the group chat.

Ma Dongwen chimed in, "Exactly, I know you're doing this for everyone's benefit, but we can't let you suffer a loss, can we?"

Aikebai didn't seem to care much and said, "Brother Gu must have his own reasons. I'm fine with whatever he says."

Dong Jun and Ma Dongwen didn't quite agree with Gu Tong's suggestion, while Ai Kebai was indifferent, causing a brief silence in the group chat.