Back to 1980: Farming the Sea and Expanding the Island

As soon as Wang Fengmei finished speaking, the scene fell silent, and the atmosphere instantly became somewhat awkward.

Lin Chuan remained calm, offering neither rebuttal nor explanation, simply standing there quietly.

At this moment, Li Xiulan frowned and said in an unhappy tone, "Wang Fengmei, what are you yelling about here!"

What did Ogawa fail to do? The Sweetwater Well was right there in front of him!

If they have the ability to get a loan, they definitely have the ability to repay it! Don't talk nonsense about things you can't do yourself; don't get jealous!

"What did I say? I'm stating the facts! Buying a ship with a loan is speculation!" Wang Fengmei retorted.

"Alright! Say less!" Li Jianguo said with a stern face, his eyes full of impatience towards Wang Fengmei.

He was also a little angry at his younger brother for acting so recklessly and making a matter that was still unresolved public knowledge.

Su Yanqiu remained calm, as if he hadn't heard these barbed words, but the words "borrowing money to buy a boat" had already entered his mind.

He glanced at Lin Chuan, whose face remained expressionless. When Lin Chuan looked at him, a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

This reaction amused Su Yanqiu. She didn't rush to defend herself, nor did she get angry, seemingly used to such controversies.

After a morning of visits and observations, Su Yanqiu gained a basic understanding of the agricultural situation in Qingpingzhou, but what impressed him even more were the various discussions surrounding Linchuan.

This young man was like a pebble thrown into calm water, creating ripples far beyond what one would expect from someone his age and status.

Back at the brigade headquarters at noon, Su Yanqiu asked if the team had any historical hydrological or land-related materials.

Li Jianguo scratched his head: "We don't have those fancy things around here..."

Lin Chuan quickly interjected, "Comrade Su, there's a small book corner behind the brigade headquarters with some old books and documents. I wonder if there's anything you need there?"

The so-called book corner was actually just a side room filled with miscellaneous items, with two old bookshelves in the corner.

Su Yanqiu had no hope, but he was stunned when he approached the bookshelf.

On the upper shelf, several relatively new books are neatly arranged: "Chinese Saline Soil", "Illustrated Guide to Tidal Flat Plants (Southern Volume)" and "Small-scale Water Conservancy Projects".

The spine of the book is sturdy, clearly indicating that it is not an old book that has been worn out from repeated readings.

He pulled out a book called "Chinese Saline Soil," opened the title page, and saw several markings on it, occasionally including short annotations or question marks made in pencil.

"These books..." Su Yanqiu looked at Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan was a little embarrassed: "There are many things I don't understand about managing a deserted island, so I went to the county town to buy some books and came back to study on my own."

I only half-understood many parts of it, so please excuse my poor reading, Comrade Su.

Su Yanqiu remained silent, flipping through the pages. The notes, though few in number, contained crucial questions.

For example, next to the paragraph about "salt leaching" on a certain page, Lin Chuan wrote: "The sandy loam soil on Canhong Island seeps water quickly. Could we combine it with natural rainfall to accelerate salt leaching?"

Next to another illustration of salt-tolerant plants, it is labeled: "Alkali plant, found on the island, abundant, can be pickled in large quantities into salted vegetables."

This is not a book for show; it has truly been carefully read and thought about.

"Pickling with alkaline aralia?" Su Yanqiu closed the book, looked at Lin Chuan, and asked with a hint of inquiry in her eyes, "You still do this?"

"Yes," Lin Chuan nodded, "The book says that alkaline privet is salt-tolerant and nutritious. It grows all over the mountains here, but apart from occasionally pickling some as a salted vegetable, nobody wants it."

I just wanted to try treating it with lime water to improve the taste and color, and see if I could sell it.

The approach is clear, and there is a clear commercialization objective.

Su Yanqiu's initial doubts about the "recklessness" of "buying a ship with a loan" were somewhat diminished.

At least, this young man wasn't just messing around aimlessly; he was learning, thinking, and trying to turn resources into commodities.

"Are you interested in salt-tolerant plants?" Su Yanqiu continued, following up on the topic.

"Yes," Lin Chuan said earnestly, "Comrade Su, you are an expert. Tell me, what else can we grow on a sand island like ours, surrounded by saltwater, besides alkaline reeds, that has any economic value?"

Simply improving the soil is too slow. Perhaps finding something that is both salt-tolerant and marketable could be a solution.

This question touches on Su Yanqiu's area of ​​expertise, which is also one of the areas he has been researching recently.

He thought for a moment and listed a few: "For example, sesame can be used as green manure to improve the soil, and its tender leaves can also be used as feed."

There's also Chinese blood-nourishing herb, which some pharmaceutical companies buy. If conditions are better, you could try some salt-tolerant varieties of goji berries...

The two chatted about this topic for more than ten minutes in the side room filled with clutter.

Su Yanqiu discovered that Lin Chuan could not only follow his train of thought, but also occasionally offer one or two insightful points.

For example, asking about the market acquisition channels for a certain plant, or the possible impact of local climate on its introduction.

During a break in the conversation, Lin Chuan sighed seemingly unintentionally: "If only I had the opportunity to conduct systematic observations on our island for a few years."

If we record data on how soil salinity changes and how the freshwater layer is maintained, we might be able to summarize a suitable development model for our tidal flats.

At that time, not only our island, but the entire Yangtze River estuary with similar wastelands may serve as a reference. What a pity...

He paused, then shook his head: "It's just a thought. Observation requires equipment and long-term recording. There's no electricity or roads on a deserted island, exposed to wind and sun. Who would be willing to suffer that?"

It's just that we islanders are keeping a few notes for our own convenience."

Su Yanqiu's hand, holding the enamel cup, froze in mid-air.

Freshwater layer? Long-term observation? Pattern summarization?

These words were like a key, instantly unlocking a lock in his mind.

Wasn't the core task of his research trip to find locations with observational value and the potential for long-term observation?

Canhong Island has unique geological features, ongoing development projects, and this young man in front of us seems to possess a certain level of scientific literacy and critical thinking ability...

Most importantly, Lin Chuan lives on the island! Isn't this the perfect solution to the biggest problem of "no one willing to stay there long-term"?

Su Yanqiu raised her eyes and carefully examined Lin Chuan.

The young man wore a faint look of regret and self-deprecation, as if his words were merely a casual remark. But Su Yanqiu's heart was stirred.

Lin Chuan's understanding of tidal flat management seems to far exceed that of ordinary people.

"You just said... a freshwater layer?" Su Yanqiu asked slowly, her tone more cautious than ever before. "What made you conclude that there's a freshwater layer on the island?"

Lin Chuan's heart tightened; he knew the most crucial moment had arrived.

He remained moderately cautious and replied, "I found it while digging a well. The water was sweet when I dug down to a certain depth, but it started to turn salty when I dug deeper."

Later, when I looked it up in a book, I came across a concept called "freshwater lens," which refers to rainwater seeping into the ground...

Because its density is less than that of saltwater, it floats on top, forming a freshwater layer that acts like a convex lens.

I was guessing that the situation might be the same on our island.

Su Yanqiu was silent for a few seconds. Then, he nodded, not pressing for details, and simply said, "If it's convenient tomorrow, I'd like to go and take a look at Canhong Island."

"Welcome Comrade Su to provide guidance." Lin Chuan suppressed his excitement and joy and answered calmly.

My brother-in-law has finally been firmly caught.