Back to 1980: Farming the Sea and Expanding the Island

The news spread like wildfire throughout Qingpingzhou.

Lin Chuan's article was published in the provincial newspaper!

Although many people don't know the specifics of the article, the words "provincial newspaper" carry enough weight.

The villagers' gazes toward Lin Chuan now carried an additional layer of inexplicable meaning, beyond the previous envy and jealousy.

Li Jianguo made a special trip, looking at the newspaper again and again. He couldn't understand many of the technical terms, but he still patted Lin Chuan on the shoulder forcefully: "Good lad! You've made Qingpingzhou proud!"

The team headquarters needs to keep a copy of this newspaper for their records and to study in future meetings.

The wind in December is particularly harsh, scraping your face like a knife.

At Beishi Wharf in the early morning, people waiting for the ferry hunched their shoulders, stamped their feet, and their breath quickly dissipated in the cold wind.

Lin Chuan was carrying a large bamboo basket; he needed to go to the commune today to buy some rice, noodles, and soy sauce.

"Oh my! Xiao Chuan, I heard you wrote an article in the newspaper. Did you really write it?" Aunt Liang was also waiting at the dock. When she saw Lin Chuan, she greeted him.

"It really is you, Xiao Chuan! Which newspaper is it? I'll have your Uncle Jianshe buy a copy for you to take home another day." Aunt Gui also came over, her face full of curiosity.

People on the dock immediately gathered around, wanting to join in the fun and see what was going on.

"Wow, Xiao Chuan, this is amazing! It's even in the newspapers!"

"What an honor that is!"

"Hey, did you bring the newspaper? Let's all check together."

"I heard they even sent out royalties! It must have been a considerable sum!"

A barrage of questions came at him, leaving Lin Chuan surrounded and somewhat helpless.

"The newspaper is at home. It's from the provincial science and technology newspaper. The payment for the article is only 5 yuan."

"Well, it's good to be an intellectual. Five yuan isn't a small amount! When I get back, I'll give my good-for-nothing grandson a good beating. All he does is play all day."

"Please be gentle, or you won't be able to get into university."

"Xiao Chuan, tell everyone what your newspaper said."

"That's right, that's right..."

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, Lin Chuan could only briefly mention some of the key points.

"Xiao Chuan is right. People who live near mountains live off the mountains, and people who live near water live off the water. Protecting the environment is still very necessary."

"That's right, that's right, Xiao Chuan is right. We should leave something for future generations." Dr. Sun, who was going to the commune with us, nodded in agreement.

Lin Chuan smiled and said that the boat had arrived. The group then dispersed, reluctant to leave, and boarded the boat.

Throughout the journey, the conversation revolved around newspapers and royalties.

Lin Chuan sat at the stern of the boat, listening to the aunties in front of him already speculating whether Xiao Chuan would be transferred to the county as a cadre in the future. He could only shake his head and smile bitterly.

Two days later, two unexpected visitors arrived on Canhong Island.

It was a gloomy morning, with low-hanging clouds pressing down on the river, and it looked like a cold wave was coming.

Lin Chuan was checking the germination of sesame seedlings in the field when a small ferry docked at the pier.

Suddenly, the water monkey came running over, panting, and shouted, "Brother Chuan! We've got guests! Technician Wang, and a woman who says she's a reporter from the province!"

Lin Chuan followed and saw two people get off the boat: one was Technician Wang, and the other was a girl in her twenties.

She was wearing a well-fitting navy blue wool coat and looked like a very youthful and energetic girl.

Otherwise, it would be rare to see someone running up the river in such cold weather.

He was carrying a bulging canvas bag on his back and holding a long, rectangular object covered by a canvas cover in his hand.

Technician Wang waved from afar, excitedly saying, "Xiao Chuan! This is Sun Wei, a reporter from the provincial newspaper. She's here specifically to interview you, the Sweet Water Well, and our experimental field!"

The reporter, surnamed Sun, walked over briskly, extended her hand, and smiled brightly: "Comrade Lin Chuan, hello. I am Sun Wei, a reporter from the provincial newspaper."

Sun Wei spoke a little fast and her voice was clear, but you could hear a hint of suppressed excitement in her voice.

Lin Chuan shook hands with her; her hand felt slightly cool. "Hello, Reporter Sun. I didn't expect that a short article would cause you to make a special trip. It's cold on the river; please come inside and sit down."

Lin Chuan pointed to the thatched hut next to the sweet water well, where smoke was rising from the chimney.

"It's not cold, it's not cold," Sun Wei quickly said. "Comrade Lin Chuan, after reading your article about freshwater lenses, our science and technology editor, Chen, found it particularly interesting."

It is said that this is a very good popular science topic that combines production practice with our situation regarding the management of tidal flats.

They recommended it to me...our editorial department." Sun Wei paused slightly, seemingly considering her words.

"The editorial department sent me to do a follow-up interview, take some photos, and see if I can uncover more stories."

Sun Wei followed Lin Chuan toward the thatched hut next to the sweet water well, her eyes already curiously surveying the surroundings.

The striking white greenhouses, the newly cleared and neatly arranged fields, the wasteland still being cleared in the distance, and the thatched huts with wisps of smoke rising from the well.

"Your island is completely different from the deserted island I imagined; it's full of life."

Lin Chuan felt a slight stirring in his heart. His original intention in writing that article was to make it easier to obtain the cypress wood from the cultural center.

Unexpectedly, it attracted direct attention from provincial media, and the level of attention was higher than he had anticipated.

Inside the thatched shed, Lin's mother had boiled a kettle of water. Seeing that guests had arrived, she quickly poured out the hot water.

Sun Wei accepted it, thanked her repeatedly, and, without minding its simplicity, sat on the wooden stool and took off her scarf.

"I just graduated with a degree in journalism and am currently an intern. This is my first time independently conducting this kind of science popularization interview."

At this point, she seemed to realize she had said too much, her face flushed slightly, and she quickly changed the subject, "In short, I think what you and your team are doing is particularly meaningful! Could you tell me more about it?"

Lin Chuan understood immediately; it turned out to be an enthusiastic but inexperienced intern reporter.

This actually made him relax a bit, and he laughed and said, "Reporter Sun, you flatter me. We're just figuring things out as we go, based on scientific principles."

Sun Wei nodded, took out a notebook and a pen from her canvas bag, unscrewed the pen cap, and looked ready for anything.

"Comrade Lin Chuan, shall we begin?" She looked up, her eyes serious. "Let's start with how you came up with the idea of ​​finding water on a deserted island, okay?"

I read the article, but I'm particularly interested in the specific process.

The interview has begun.

Lin Chuan used simple and easy-to-understand language to tell the story of his initial motivation for managing the deserted island, his research, his analysis of the terrain using the "freshwater lens" theory, and the twists and turns and successes of leading his family to dig a well.

Some details that cannot be mentioned are omitted, and success is attributed to the combination of book knowledge and practice.

Sun Wei listened intently, her pen moving rapidly across the paper. She would occasionally look up at Lin Chuan, then lower her head and write furiously again.

"When you were digging the well, were you afraid you wouldn't reach it?"

"Can everyone really understand the demonstration using bowls and plates?"

Lin Chuan responded with a smile, and when he talked about how well water improved their lives, Technician Wang couldn't help but interject, "Reporter Sun, you don't know, rice cooked with this water tastes so good! Porridge made with this water has a thick layer of rice oil, and dough rises so quickly!"

Technician Wang has come to the island several times, and he always eats lunch with us. Every time, he is deeply moved.

Next, Lin Chuan showed Sun Wei the greenhouse.

Upon seeing the lush green vegetable seedlings in greenhouse number one, Sun Wei couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation of amazement.

Looking at Lin Chuan, who was even younger than herself, she was filled with admiration.