Siheyuan: Walking the Path of Qin Huairu

Director Jiang praised: "Director Xu is right. On behalf of our institute, I would like to thank you for your great help. These seeds are very important to us. I wonder how much the apples cost?"

Xu Huizhen: "The price is easy to negotiate. You can just give the fruit farmers some hard work fees. At the beginning, I said that I would bring the apples they grow to Beijing, so that they could be served on the tables of leaders, or even exported to foreigners. The simple fruit farmers handed over all the apples to me without hesitation. They said that every citizen has a share of responsibility for the success or failure of a country. As long as it is good for the country, we don't care about personal gains and losses."

Director Jiang nodded: "Our people all have a patriotic heart, and we cannot treat them unfairly."

Xu Huizhen: "My husband works in a steel mill, which you probably know. Their factory has an agricultural and sideline products base in the suburbs. They planted a batch of apple seedlings last year. There are no fruits this year, but they will probably start to bear fruit next year. Another batch was also planted in Yushui County, Hebei Province. If your research institute needs it, you can go and take a look next year. It may be helpful for your research. After all, it takes several years for the seeds to bear fruit after being planted. This process is too long. Of course, you can also graft them. You are more knowledgeable than me in this area."

Director Jiang admired Xu Huizhen, a young female comrade, for her insight and foresight. The two had a pleasant conversation, and Xu Huizhen took this opportunity to suggest that Director Jiang study the artificial cultivation of mushrooms.

In Xu Huizhen's memory, Yunnan Province and the three northeastern provinces of China are rich in various types of mushrooms. Some varieties are particularly popular with foreigners, and our country has also used mushrooms to repay foreign debts.

For example, truffles are the favorite wild delicacy of foreigners. Europeans call truffles, caviar and foie gras "three major delicacies in the world". But in Yunnan, people dislike its bad taste and feed it to pigs.

There is also chicken mushroom, which has a sweet taste and tastes like chicken. Foreigners also like its taste.

Xu Huizhen hopes to use her foresight to relieve some of the pressure on our country's people. Her power alone is insignificant, and only government action can produce results.

The Soviet Union has a developed industry and no shortage of industrial products. We can only work hard on agricultural and sideline products.

If artificial cultivation can be achieved, mushrooms can be used to replace grain exports to alleviate the food gap.

Xu Huizhen's idea was praised by Director Jiang. It must be said that the Chinese people of this era have a burning patriotism.

Hearing that it could be exported and contribute to the country, Jiang Rui organized professionals in this field to conduct research after returning.

In fact, it is not difficult to artificially grow fungi. Many fungi in later generations are artificially grown. It is nothing more than imitating their growth environment. If the temperature, humidity, culture medium, etc. meet the requirements, fungi can grow.

Director Jiang said, "Thank you so much for your advice, Director Xu. If I need your help in the future, I will come to you for help. As for the planting of apple trees, our staff will visit the steel mill base next spring to learn about it. Please take care of us then."

Xu Huizhen: "That's what we should do. We all work for the country and serve the people."

Jiang Rui bought Xu Huizhen's apples at 4 cents per pound, which was much cheaper than selling them at the pigeon market, and Xu Huizhen didn't need that little money. In short, she achieved her goal and successfully donated the seeds to the government, allowing professionals to do professional things.

This incident made He Yuzhu show his face in front of Deputy Director Li and Director Yang again. In order to take care of He Yuzhu's feelings, Director Yang downgraded his seventh-level worker to a fifth-level worker as a punishment after Yi Zhonghai started working.

Although Yi Zhonghai escaped this time, he was completely humiliated. He looked several years older, and even his walking posture was no longer like before, with his chest held high and his head held high. Instead, he lowered his head and hunched his chest, and it seemed that everyone was laughing at him.

After this incident, He Yuzhu felt that his family was weak and could easily be targeted, so he wanted to write a letter to get He Daqing back to the capital.

So he asked Xu Huizhen for her opinion. Xu Huizhen didn't object to He Daqing's return, but she was worried that with He Daqing's character, after he came back, he would find a widow to be Xu Huizhen's mother-in-law, which would not be a good thing.

But she couldn't say this out loud. He Daqing was not even fifty years old yet, so it was reasonable for him to remarry. So she didn't stop him.

He Yuzhu sent a letter to He Daqing, asking him to come back for the New Year. He Yushui missed his father, and He Jiankun missed his grandfather. The little ones could talk, saying that other children had grandfathers, but he didn't have one.

I don’t believe that He Daqing won’t come back for the New Year after receiving the letter.

The Spring Festival of 1979 was less festive than previous ones. The children wanted to apply for some funds to buy some firecrackers, but they were scolded by their parents, and some even beat them up. They couldn't even get enough food, so what was the point of thinking about firecrackers?

Housewives go to the grocery store every day to queue up, hoping to buy some meat and eggs for their families, at least they need to have some meat for the New Year. One pound of meat ticket can only buy half a pound of meat, and it is not certain that you can get a place in line. The little meat is available every day, and it is sold out before you get a chance to get in line. How can you be in a good mood?

In the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai is no longer the boss. He went to the neighborhood committee and resigned from his position as the manager. Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui are now the managers of the courtyard.

The deaf old lady didn't know where she got some money from. As expected, she had three burrows and her property had not been completely stolen. She asked the people in the yard to help her buy a few new pieces of furniture to make do with. Xu Huizhen took the time to enter the space and count the old lady's property.

The deaf old lady's bed and a three-drawer table are both made of good wood. Although they are painted black on the outside, the wood is very heavy. Based on Xu Huizhen's experience, the wood cannot be wrong.

Xu Huizhen threw all the old lady's clothes together and found a place to throw them away. She knocked on the remaining furniture and observed it carefully. It was said that the old lady had an extraordinary background, so maybe there would be some unexpected gains.

As it turned out, each drawer of the three-drawer table had a layer at the back. When it was opened, there were 36 small yellow croakers wrapped in silk. They were packed tightly, and no unusual sound could be heard when the drawers were pulled back and forth. This old guy was quite good at hiding things.

Under the bed, there was a hollow piece of wood. Several pieces of jewelry were found inside, including jade, gold, silver, and a gold watch, which was probably what the old lady wore when she was young.

In a wicker box, I found two antique and colorful vases. They were collected so carefully, so they must have a history. I will let Mr. Niu take a look at them when I have the chance.

Xu Huizhen was very happy in her heart. She did not lose money in this round. Although she did not send Yi Zhonghai to prison, it was enough for him to collect the money even if he cut the meat with a blunt knife.