Go back to the past to plant trees

In September, just as Feng Cheng was preparing to begin planting trees in the fall, Chen Guangji at Chengde Regional Hospital also faced the last moment of his life.

Yu Zhenglai, Qu He, and several leaders from the Forestry Bureau were all watching from the side. As a veteran employee, technician, and head of the production department of the Forestry Bureau, Chen Guangji was highly respected in the Forestry Bureau.

"Don't worry, Engineer Chen, I'll take care of Hongjun and the others for you."

Hongjun was Chen Guangji's son and also an employee of the Forestry Bureau, which was a common occurrence in those days. Whether it was a factory or a government department, it was common for families to gather together.

Chen Guangji shook his head. "Old Yu, you don't need to take too much care of my son. Taking too much care of him might harm him. Just let him live a plain and uneventful life. Anyway, he's not the kind of person who can achieve much."

Chen Hongjun was standing next to the hospital bed at this moment. When he heard Chen Guangji's words, he did not show any dissatisfaction. He was very calm, as if he had already gotten used to such words.

“I have no regrets. Back then, the country was in such turmoil, and many of my classmates, friends, and relatives didn’t make it through. I witnessed the unification and strength of our motherland. I don’t know how lucky I was to have been able to pass away at this age. I am already very satisfied.”

"I'm just a little worried about the situation in Saihanba. We haven't been able to plant any trees that survived there all these years. I feel I've let down the country and the people of Weichang..."

"Cough cough cough..."

Upon seeing this, Yu Zhenglai quickly calmed down the agitated Chen Guangji: "Engineer Chen, don't get too excited. As the director, I bear the greatest responsibility for the failure of the trees to survive in Saihanba. You don't need to feel too guilty. Besides, Feng Cheng has already started cultivating seedlings on the dam. I believe that this time we will definitely succeed in planting trees on the dam."

Qu He also comforted him from the side: "That's right, Engineer Chen, don't get too excited. I believe that Feng Cheng will definitely be able to grow trees on the dam. If it doesn't work this time, we'll try again next time. We've even defeated the Japanese and Americans, so how can this Saihanba be difficult for us?"

“Yes, trees can definitely grow in Saihanba, but unfortunately I won’t be able to see it,” Chen Guangji said with regret and disappointment.

Those who died on the battlefield back then probably felt the same way: that the country would become strong, prosperous, and stand at the top of the world again. But sadly, I won't live to see it.

A hundred years ago, Saihanba was a vast pine forest teeming with birds and animals. A hundred years later, Chen Guangji didn't know if Saihanba could regain its former beauty, but he knew he would never have the chance to witness it, which made him very worried.

Filled with regret and longing, Chen Guangji closed his eyes and fell asleep on the land for which he had dedicated his life.

In his final moments, Chen Guangji did not call Feng Cheng back as depicted in the drama, because he had nothing left to say to Feng Cheng. Moreover, Feng Cheng was currently preparing to plant trees on the dam, and Chen Guangji did not want his own affairs to delay the important tree-planting project in Saihanba.

...

"Old Qu, I'm going to take up a post in the region in a few days. You need to get the expansion of the Bashang Nursery in place as soon as possible. Don't delay the winter seed storage and the nursery breeding."

Chen Guangji's departure had a certain impact on the Forestry Bureau, but life had to go on and work had to be carried out, so after a period of sadness, everyone threw themselves back into their work.

In July, Feng Cheng and Yu Zhenglai discussed expanding the nursery in Saihanba again. Feng Cheng gave a long list of reasons for this. Of course, Yu Zhenglai wouldn't readily agree to Feng Cheng's request based on just a few words. After listening to Feng Cheng's analysis, Yu Zhenglai inquired through various channels and found that the ministry also favored building a forest farm in Saihanba. It hadn't started yet, simply because the budget didn't allow it. Yu Zhenglai's former superior told him that the matter was basically settled, the only difference being when it would start. After all, this concerned Beijing's environmental issues, which were no longer just economic problems but had risen to the political level.

Upon learning that the Saihanba Forest Farm would definitely be built, Yu Zhenglai was extremely excited. Although it was still uncertain when construction would begin, as Feng Cheng said, it was always good to do some preparatory work in advance, since the forest farm would require a huge number of saplings.

Qu He said, "I have already coordinated with other units in the region for enough seeds to cultivate another two acres of nursery land. But if Feng Cheng and Zhao Jinquan are the only two people in the dam area, they definitely won't be able to manage to cultivate another two acres of nursery land."

“We need to send more people to Bashang,” Yu Zhenglai knew this was a problem. “Here’s what we’ll do: you submit a report in a while, and I’ll talk to the leaders and try to arrange a few more people for Bashang, whether it’s transferring people or hiring new ones, as long as it doesn’t delay the seedling cultivation in Bashang.”

"Okay, I'm relieved to hear that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to spare any manpower to send to Bashang."

"Oh, by the way, if you're going to recruit people, remember to make Zhao Jinquan a permanent employee. Also, when you're recruiting, remember to ask Feng Cheng for his advice; he might have some people he'd like to arrange," Yu Zhenglai added as a final reminder.

“No problem,” Zhao Jinquan had spent two years working on the sandy land with Feng Cheng on the dam. If there were any openings, Qu He wouldn’t mind making him a permanent employee. As for other openings, since it’s all about working on the dam, these kinds of jobs aren’t always easy to arrange. Asking Feng Cheng’s opinion and giving him an opening wouldn’t be a big problem.

"Old Qu, Feng Cheng has a bit of a temper. If he says anything disrespectful, please forgive him for my sake."

Qu He said magnanimously, "As long as he can grow trees on the dam, I won't care even if he spits on me to my face. I'll just wipe it clean myself. But if he can't grow trees, Lao Yu, I won't tolerate him. No one's face matters."

Seeing that the bureau has been investing in the Bashang area, the nursery now has two acres of land and will have four acres next year. Over the past few years, several thousand yuan have been invested. If there are no results in the end, Quhe will have to settle accounts with Feng Cheng.

Qu He felt that he was addressing the issue, not the person. This was all national money that had been spent, and it couldn't be said that it was all wasted. There had to be some results.

"Look, the first batch of saplings will be transplanted this fall. We'll see if they succeed next spring."

Yu Zhenglai is now both expectant and worried. He is truly concerned about Saihanba, but many things are beyond his control. He cannot stay in Weichang indefinitely because of his own selfish desires.

After Yu Zhenglai finished speaking with Qu He, he officially went to Chengde to report for duty a week later. Qu He also officially took over his position and was promoted to director of Weichang Forestry Bureau.