Back to 1980: Farming the Sea and Expanding the Island

The cargo ship cleaved through the azure river, stirring up layers of white waves, and headed straight for Canhong Island.

Lin Chuan stood at the bow of the boat, the river wind carrying water vapor whistling against his face.

Lin Chuan chatted briefly with Technician Li, who was with him, and seeing that Li wasn't very willing to talk, he started discussing the ship with Captain Wu.

The boat that Wu Laoda drives is a 100-ton steel barge on the Yangtze River. It has been modified to transport the catch of the aquatic products company.

On ordinary days, this boat is also rented out to some other companies for hauling goods.

Their route was from Lianxing Port to Qinglong Port and then to Shangbao Port, a total distance of over 100 kilometers.

Most of the ships on this route are around 500 tons due to their draft.

Smaller boats like Wu's occasionally dock at Sanhe Port to haul goods for various companies.

"Xiao Chuan, let me tell you, don't let its old appearance fool you. Hey! There's only one like it, and you can't buy it for this price."

As he spoke, Boss Wu stretched out his palm and waved it triumphantly.

After getting to know Lin Chuan better, Boss Wu started talking non-stop, no longer as taciturn as he had been at the beginning.

Lin Chuan laughed and agreed, "Boss Wu, your boat is so impressive! Everyone around here envies you when you see it sailing around here."

"Hey! It's not that good." Boss Wu grinned, his expression tinged with emotion.

"However, my biggest wish is to have my own boat. To sail along the Yangtze River estuary, hauling goods, and then take a trip on the open sea—that would be wonderful."

"With such big waves, can this ship even sail out to sea?" Technician Li couldn't help but interject.

Technician Li was sent by the bamboo and wood factory. He was in his early twenties, wearing white overalls and carrying a canvas tool bag.

A measuring tape and a pencil were clipped to his bag, and he was carrying a wooden toolbox in his hand.

"Hahaha, the deep sea is definitely out of the question, but we can try to brave anything within 20 nautical miles with waves up to two meters high," Boss Wu laughed heartily.

Lin Chuan patted the hull of the boat and sighed, "If I have the chance, I'd like to get a small boat of ten or twenty tons. Our family lives on an island, so it would be convenient for getting around and hauling goods. It's a pity it's too expensive."

Old Wu nodded in deep agreement, "I know those boats of your production team; they're discarded cargo from the Yangtze River Shipyard."

They can now charge up to 60,000 for a 40-ton steel fuel barge.

Even a secondhand one would cost ten or twenty thousand, and they're still in high demand.

Lin Chuan smiled but didn't reply. It was indeed difficult to own a ship right now. But maybe he could get one next year, an oil tanker.

Captain Wu steered the ship steadily, skillfully maneuvering around the shoals and bringing it to a safe stop next to the makeshift berth cleared the day before.

"We've arrived." Lin Chuan jumped off the boat nimbly, stepping onto the soft mudflats.

"Technician Li, this is Canhong Island." Lin Chuan pointed ahead and smiled, "The greenhouse will be located up there."

"Brother Chuan, you're back." The water monkeys who were busy on the island saw Lin Chuan return and put down their work to help unload the goods.

Lin Chuan nodded and introduced with a smile: "Dad, Mom, let me introduce you. This is Technician Li from the Bamboo and Wood Company."

"This is Captain Wu, who's here to help us plan and build the greenhouse."

Then, Lin Chuan introduced them to the two men: "Li Jiji, Captain Wu, this is my father, my mother, and my two childhood friends, Wang Pusheng and Li Jiaye."

Hello! Hello!

Li Jishu pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and smiled shyly: "Actually, I'm not a professional in this field."

I went with them to build the bamboo and wood greenhouses in Chongming, which is why the company sent me here.

Listening to Li's simple and honest words, Lin's father looked at young Li, and seeing how young he was, he felt a little apprehensive: "Young man, this greenhouse... you've never built one before?"

Li Jiju raised his head, revealing a row of front teeth, and smiled sheepishly:

"Uncle Lin, I saw how the experimental base was built in Chongming. We also built a few bamboo structures from our factory."

Lin Chuan noticed his father's concerns but didn't take them to heart, smiling as he said:

"Since the bamboo and wood factory sent you, they must trust you. We also trust you, so you can just focus on your work."

Lin Chuan could tell that Li Ji was a person focused on technology and not very good at communicating; they hadn't spoken much on the boat the whole way.

He guessed that the bamboo and wood factory must have intentionally sent him out to train him, which was why they specifically sent him out to handle business.

However, this is the current situation in some factories; they are learning as they go.

Building greenhouses requires technical skills, and there are indeed some, but very few people actually know how to do it these days.

If I were in a bamboo and wood factory, with my knowledge, I could definitely become a key technical backbone.

Li, the technical expert, glanced gratefully at Lin Chuan and nodded: "Then I'll survey it first."

After saying that, he opened his toolbox, took out an old level, and then took out a notebook and a pencil.

Lin Chuan and his group unloaded the building materials from the boat and piled them in a dry area of ​​the mudflats. The plastic film was covered with tarpaulin, and the steel pipes and bamboo were placed separately.

Li walked back and forth in the planning area several times, sometimes squatting down to grab a handful of soil and rub it, sometimes raising the level to aim.

Lin's father, mother, and grandfather watched him busy on the island, their eyes full of curiosity.

As the group was talking, the sound of an engine "putt-putt" came from the river again.

A fishing boat from the Qingpingzhou Fisheries Team was sailing this way, with four people standing at the bow: Uncle Li San, Lin Xuewu, Sun Tianshui, and Li Dongcheng.

"Chuanzi!" Sun Tianshui shouted from afar, "What's all the commotion on this island?"

The fishing boat approached, Uncle Li turned off the engine, and the group jumped off.

Seeing the pile of building materials and Li, the technician, holding his instruments, they all curiously gathered around.

"Chuanzi, are you... building a house?" Sun Tianshui walked around the pile of steel pipes and exclaimed in amazement, "Wow, so much iron stuff."

"It's not for building houses, it's for setting up greenhouses," Lin Chuan explained with a smile. "For growing off-season vegetables."

"A greenhouse?" Sun Tianshui scratched his head, looking puzzled. "What's that? Why are you always coming up with all these new and unusual things lately?"

"What are off-season vegetables?" Uncle Li asked curiously.

Lin Chuan smiled and explained the principles of greenhouses and planting methods to the group.

Upon hearing this, their eyes lit up: "There's such a rare thing! We can eat leafy greens in winter!"

"This is really a good thing. I say, Chuanzi, what were you thinking? You were good at fishing before."

"Now they've built these greenhouses, so we can have vegetables even in winter. I never thought of that!" Sun Tianshui said with envy.

"If you could use that wild energy in school, you could come up with something too." Li Dongcheng rolled his eyes at Sun Tianshui.

However, to be honest, seeing Lin Chuan making such a splash on Canhong Island, everyone would be envious.

As everyone was discussing animatedly, Lin Chuan smiled at Uncle Li and said, "Uncle, if this greenhouse is successful, our team will be able to have fresh vegetables to eat in the winter."

Uncle Li's eyes were full of expectation as he patted Lin Chuan on the shoulder: "Good lad, our village is hoping you can set a good example!"