Go back to the past to plant trees

"Feng Cheng, now that the trees are planted, what do you think we should do for them next?"

Zhao Tianshan came to Feng Cheng for advice again. Before the college students arrived at the dam, he had been thinking of finding some work for them to do, hoping to improve their relationships and strengthen their bonds through working together. But Feng Cheng said at that time that he didn't need to look for anything, as the college students would find things for themselves.

At the time, Zhao Tianshan was still a little doubtful, but trusting Feng Cheng, he chose to believe him. Unexpectedly, things really turned out just as Feng Cheng had predicted. Before the college students even arrived at the dam, they applied to the bureau to plant trees on the dam.

Just as Feng Cheng had predicted, Zhao Tianshan, a man who didn't like to think things through, was quite impressed. So, once he finished his work, he went to Feng Cheng for advice again.

“After the trees are planted, the nurturing work still needs to be followed up. Moreover, I heard that Qin Xuemei and her team want to start a laboratory. Although there isn’t much work there, it’s very tedious and requires someone to keep an eye on it.”

“Yan Xiangli has to observe the weather and record weather information every day. He goes to the weather station several times a day. And you know him, he’s not good at working. Even if you give him work, he can’t do much. He’s barely half a laborer.”

"You mean Qin Xuemei, Meng Yue, and Yan Xiangli will stay at the camp to work, right?" Zhao Tianshan said.

Feng Cheng nodded, "It's not just the three of them. Ji Xiurong also has to stay at the camp. She's currently learning meteorology from Yan Xiangli. Yan Xiangli is the only one in the camp who understands meteorology, which is ultimately not ideal. If he gets sick and takes leave, then we won't be able to observe the weather anymore. So it's good for Ji Xiurong to learn it too. She doesn't need to be an expert, but at least she can fill in when no one else is available."

Zhao Tianshan nodded: "You're right. We need to train another meteorologist. Yan Xiangli keeps asking me for leave. During this tree planting season, he asked me for a day and a half off, saying he wasn't feeling well, but I know he just doesn't want to work."

"So that's just these four people. What about the other four? Wu Yansheng, Sui Zhichao, Da Kui, and Shen Mengyin? They don't have anything to do!"

Feng Cheng looked at him and said, "You really don't want people to be idle, do you?"

Zhao Tianshan said, "It's not that I don't want them to be idle, but in this place called Bashang, if you don't have something to do, time will pass very quickly. If it continues like this, I'm afraid these students won't be able to stay. Having something to do will make their days more fulfilling and prevent them from being idle."

"Then let them do a survey of the surrounding area, including the soil, water resources, and topography, and make it into maps, tables, and other similar things. This way, we can have a reference for large-scale afforestation in the future."

"It just so happens that Qin Xuemei's laboratory can also conduct soil analysis and water quality analysis. With detailed information and data, it will be much easier to find that kind of tree."

Zhao Tianshan nodded, "That's fine, but if we go out to investigate and survey, we'll have to leave the camp. If we go too far, there might be danger."

"First, investigate the area around the camp. Don't go too far; they can come back tonight. Also, have them form a team of four. Three grown men shouldn't be in any danger! If that doesn't work, have them take a gun with them."

"There are many wolves in Bashang, but they rarely appear during the day. They usually come out in the evening after dark, so pay attention to the time and don't linger outside. Generally, there will be no danger."

Zhao Tianshan nodded, "I'll think about it and discuss it with them, and ask for their opinions, since this isn't a task assigned by the bureau."

"You can do it yourself!"

Feng Cheng didn't care about this matter. It was Zhao Tianshan who insisted on finding things for those idle students to do. Feng Cheng didn't mind them being idle at all. Let them go if they want. Zhao Tianshan cared, but he didn't.

...

"Brother Feng, do you think Meng Yue and I have a chance?"

After holding back for a while, Zhao Jinquan finally approached Feng Cheng, because Feng Cheng was the only person he knew who had ever been in a relationship. At the same time, in Zhao Jinquan's eyes, Feng Cheng was the most omnipotent person, and if he had any problems, he should just turn to him.

Feng Cheng glanced at him. "What? You really like it?"

Zhao Jinquan nodded solemnly, "I like it very much."

"If I were to say I don't have any good ideas, what would you do?"

"I do not know either."

Seeing Zhao Jinquan's bewildered expression, Feng Cheng didn't know what to say either, because he didn't know if the guy was lustful or just attracted to her. But most men are probably lustful, after all, Meng Yue was a beauty.

Whether it was lust at first sight or a sudden attraction, Feng Cheng didn't care. Based on his understanding of Zhao Jinquan, if he really ended up with Meng Yue, Meng Yue shouldn't be mistreated. At least she wouldn't be treated like she was with Da Kui. Da Kui was a good person, a good friend, and a good colleague, but he wouldn't be a good husband or a good father.

Da Kui is the kind of traditional Chinese parent and husband who cares about face, favors sons over daughters, is chauvinistic, and has a bad temper. It's okay if he plays around occasionally, but if you really have to share a bed with him, apart from someone like Ji Xiurong, it would be really hard for anyone else to control him.

In Feng Cheng's opinion, among the couples in the advance team, Meng Yue's marriage was the kind of marriage she settled for. She had reached the age for marriage, but was ruthlessly abandoned by her boyfriend, leaving her feeling lost in love. In addition, all her friends had found someone they liked and were preparing for their weddings, while she was still single. Among the men around her who were suitable for her to marry and whom she didn't dislike, Da Kui was the only one, so she chose Da Kui.

There may be some attraction at the beginning, but even the best attraction will quickly be worn away by the daily grind and trivial matters after marriage.

Although Feng Cheng was not married in his previous life, he had seen many married couples who were extremely loving before marriage, but divorced within two years after marriage. Some divorced because of money, but many others divorced because of personality and temperament.

Later generations of social media have analyzed marriage with unparalleled clarity, with countless people offering countless interpretations. However, few would say that marriage is linked to love, and that marriage is not equal to love. This is a truth that everyone understands in later generations. Marriage is a union of interests, a maintenance of kinship, and a combination of mutual needs and support. It has absolutely nothing to do with love.

Love, to put it bluntly, is lust at first sight, a product of surging hormones. It's like hormones—it can make your adrenaline surge, but it can't last.

Therefore, if a marriage lasts until its twilight years, it really has nothing to do with love.

Therefore, some people can be friends, friends with benefits, or even lovers, but they can't be partners.

Da Kui is fine with Ji Xiurong; Ji Xiurong can completely dominate him. But with Meng Yue, Meng Yue is destined to be more tolerant in this marriage.

As for Zhao Jinquan, Feng Cheng wouldn't dare say that he was the right person for Meng Yue, but in terms of personality, Zhao Jinquan was quite gentle. Based on their interactions over the past two years, Feng Cheng felt that he was honest, easy-going, and intelligent but not shrewd. Moreover, his family background was also very good, with decent financial conditions, understanding parents, and an older brother who wasn't stingy. Such a family, at the very least, would have a good family atmosphere.

Of course, Zhao Jinquan is not without his shortcomings. He is a worker, unlike Da Kui and Meng Yue who are cadres. His future development may not be very good, but it is hard to say. Zhao Jinquan has been planting trees with me in the dam area and has more seniority than the advance team. If the forest farm develops in the future, he will have a chance to get his cadre status, after all, his seniority is there.

Besides, I'm still here, and if there's an opportunity in the future, Feng Cheng will lend a hand.

Therefore, Feng Cheng was happy to see Zhao Jinquan like Meng Yue, but whether he could win her over depended on Zhao Jinquan's ability and luck. Feng Cheng couldn't force Xin Yuan into marriage; after all, if a forced marriage didn't go well, one would regret it for the rest of their life.