I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 427: As Poor as a Church Mouse

Chapter 427: Chapter 427: As Poor as a Church Mouse

Moreover, this job isn’t easy to do; it simply can’t be done in less than three to five years—it requires tremendous patience and energy to do it well.

Barley Grass’s seeds are good, but if not planted properly, they could become a burden to the local area. Over time, community members might develop an aversion to Barley Grass, and this would greatly contradict Qiao Qingyu’s original intention. Moreover, looking at the map, there’s a vast area to the north of Xichuan that needs greening to prevent wind erosion and stabilize sands, turning this place into an enchanting land of green hills and clear waters.

The most suitable plants, verified through practice, are currently only Barley Grass and Willow Wood.

Qiao Qingyu sincerely didn’t want the plan to promote Barley Grass and Willow Wood to face opposition and resistance.

Moreover, unless it was led by the government with community members providing labor and the government paying them,

In many places, including Xichuan, windbreak and sand stabilization, greening construction is mostly voluntary because the land area is just too vast for the government to afford such high costs.

Moreover, it’s a matter of achieving immediate glory for the benefit of generations, not something where results can be seen in minutes.

In the end, it’s the community members and their descendants who will reap the benefits.

So paid greening is currently not feasible.

Furthermore, Su Laoqi’s village, as Wang Laogen told Qiao Qingyu, is the poorest and most barren place in the entire commune.

They rely on relief food every year and are so poor that the harsh environment is not suitable for human habitation, yet a group of hardworking farmers live there, having no desire to leave their ancestral land.

There is indeed a type of Goji berry in the laboratory, but it will take another two years to bear fruit, similar to sea buckthorn, which Qiao Qingyu thinks would be quite suitable for planting in Pingba District.

But then again, there is the old problem of a long wait before harvest.

He Xiuyu watched Qiao Qingyu furrowing her brows and couldn’t help but curl his lips into a slight smile.

He walked over to Qiao Qingyu, extended his hand to rub her head, and whispered in consolation, "Stop worrying, you’re taking on too much. Come on, I’ll take you to my lab."

At these words, Qiao Qingyu’s eyes immediately brightened. To tell the truth, despite having spent such a long time with He Xiuyu, having been to his office and dorm, she had never once visited his lab.

This time, when He Xiuyu unexpectedly suggested taking her to the lab, it made Qiao Qingyu quite curious.

Qiao Qingyu glanced at him and couldn’t help but ask with a smile, "Oh? Is the sun rising from the west today? What made you suddenly decide to let me visit the lab?"

He Xiuyu’s attractive brows lifted ever so slightly. He had not expected this to surprise Qiao Qingyu so much. He said deliberately, "The medicinal sample cultivated from Soothing Grass is in my lab. You can go have a look. If there’s no problem, it’s time to begin the formal trial phase..."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Qingyu’s eyes shone even brighter, her expression a mix of shock and joy, for the efficacy of Soothing Grass was beyond doubt. If a related medicine could be developed, it would be a blessing for those plagued by chronic nervous exhaustion and insomnia.

So she really must go and see, and also take the opportunity to visit He Xiuyu’s independent laboratory.

Having said that, the two of them walked out hand in hand.

The temperature outside was not like the indoors; the cold wind blew, and Qiao Qingyu, not dressed in many layers, looked slightly frail, her hair whipped by the wind.

He Xiuyu quickly stripped off his scarf and gently put it on Qiao Qingyu. He didn’t talk much, instead holding her hand tightly as they walked towards the Big White Building.

Qiao Qingyu couldn’t help but glance at He Xiuyu. His profile was handsome, his demeanor meticulous. He didn’t say much usually, but his actions always showed his care for her.

After a short while, the two arrived at the laboratory, which was specially constructed in a space next to He Xiuyu’s office and hidden deep underground but with an extremely spacious area, even boasting a workshop.

At that moment, Qiao Qingyu also saw the draft blueprint of A-4 on the workbench.

Only then did Qiao Qingyu remember that she hadn’t seen Su Yunyao in a very long time.

She wondered how Su Yunyao’s electronic information research was progressing.

However, she couldn’t ask He Xiuyu about it, since it was also a secret, and she was quite conscious of that.

Then there was the report analysis of the Soothing Grass and the medicinal capsule samples, which were made in a standard shape—small granules inside the capsules. It really was a drug that had been produced, and after looking at the ingredients and effects, they did indeed closely resemble those of the Soothing Grass.

She had no idea what the scientists at the Biotechnology Laboratory had used as a substitute.

Thinking about it, they all seemed quite impressive.

But just then, Qiao Qingyu suddenly remembered something and quickly set down the medicinal sample, her demeanor somewhat anxious as she asked He Xiuyu, "You’re not going to carry out experiments and test the drug yourself, are you?"

He Xiuyu shook his head and said calmly, "No, it hasn’t been approved yet, and besides, there’s no need."

Qiao Qingyu then breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully no drug trials. Honestly speaking, it wasn’t that she was being selfish, but drugs were involved after all, and no matter what, He Xiuyu shouldn’t go—it was too dangerous.

However, He Xiuyu’s thoughts were the complete opposite of Qiao Qingyu’s; he thought to himself that if possible, he was willing to participate in the experiments.

Moreover, he believed that the biotech team was meticulous, responsible, and serious, housing the best scientists in the field.

But it was better not to let Qiao Qingyu know about this, to spare her the worry.

He then changed the subject and took Qiao Qingyu on a tour of his laboratory and his studio, which could also be considered a small workshop.

There were many things there, and no shortage of tools.

High-end, common, agricultural, military—you name it, they had it.

There was even a hoe, which Qiao Qingyu picked up and swung, her curiosity piqued as she asked, "You’re not planning on farming here, are you?"

He Xiuyu laughed; farming was out of the question. There were many things he had to do, and naturally, none of these tools could be missing. Before he could answer, Qiao Qingyu had already picked up something resembling a crossbow.

This time Qiao Qingyu’s eyes lit up, and He Xiuyu walked over and said, "I made this myself, but it still needs to be adjusted and modified."

"So it can’t be used?"

"It can be." Seeing Qiao Qingyu nod, He Xiuyu took her to the north side of the workshop, where there was something on the opposite wall that resembled a dartboard.

He Xiuyu taught Qiao Qingyu how to use the crossbow, a rare opportunity for hands-on instruction, which naturally could not be missed.