Agricultural students in the square kept standing up to ask questions, and Luo Fanxue patiently answered each one, relying on their descriptions and the photos they provided. This demonstrated the researchers’ expertise at the Central Base, who had extensive knowledge of agricultural pathology.
Zhao Linong stood quietly in the front row, listening to the exchanges between the stage and the audience, gaining a general understanding of the current level at the Ninth Agricultural Base. Their basic knowledge seemed inferior to that of undergraduate agronomy students; they could only handle basic crop diseases and had no idea how to address more complex issues. With the added challenge of potential plant mutations, they were practically unable to continue their research.
Even if agricultural data hadn’t been entirely destroyed, it was likely not accessible to ordinary people.
“Hey,” He Yuesheng nudged Zhao Linong, “Do you know how many points it costs to get a researcher to answer a question?”
He Yuesheng crossed his index fingers, saying, “Just to observe one question, it would cost at least 100,000 yuan.”
Zhao Linong remained silent. In reality, she could have answered the questions asked today, providing even more detailed explanations, including the causes.
Considering the current situation in this world, if an ordinary person showed up with such knowledge, the Academia Sinica would undoubtedly investigate them thoroughly.
“Luo Fanxue’s class is worth a million points easily,” He Yuesheng sighed. “But the Central Research Institute is always strict. Luo Fanxue might face some trouble when she returns.”
“It would be great if all researchers were like Luo Fanxue,” Tong Tong added sincerely.
In this world, agricultural knowledge was monopolized by a few, and researchers like Luo Fanxue were extremely rare.
Although Zhou Qianli was the dean of the Ninth Agricultural Base, his expertise was in livestock, so he lacked deep knowledge of crop planting.
“There will always be more,” Zhao Linong said earnestly.
The Q&A session lasted from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the agricultural students left reluctantly.
“Thank you, Researcher Luo, for your time,” Zhou Qianli said, offering a bottle of water.
Luo Fanxue had been speaking all morning and was indeed a bit thirsty. She took the bottle of mineral water, drank half of it, then brushed her hair back and said, “It would be beneficial for everyone if more people could plant successfully. As for the research institute…”
She thought of the senior researchers and shook her head, her expression resolute: “Anyway, I finished the class. It’s just a matter of facing some criticism.”
The group headed straight to the round building laboratory without delay.
Luo Fanxue wanted to analyze the experimental results, and the guard team was on standby.
The young man with a Tang sword on his back stood at the laboratory door and suddenly asked, “Which families had freshmen enter the base this year?”
Zhou Qianli was caught off guard by Ye Changming’s question. Even Luo Fanxue, who was reviewing the experimental results, looked up instinctively.
After a moment, Zhou Qianli remembered, “There is one this year. The Yan family has a student in Class A of Agricultural Science.”
At the central base, most agricultural information was controlled by the Luo, Shan, and Yan families. Their children typically started as planting officers at various bases, and those with the ability moved on to the Academia Sinica to become researchers.
It was rare for anyone from these families to come to the Ninth Agricultural Base.
Ye Changming lowered her gaze, recalling the person she saw in the square. Last time, that person knew about C-level mutated plants, and today they seemed familiar with the questions being asked.
“Is there an issue with the freshman?” Luo Fanxue asked, putting the experimental samples back into the box and walking over.
“I just need to confirm something,” the young man replied indifferently. He raised his bony hands and adjusted his black scarf, then signaled to the guard team, who quickly gathered.
When the helicopter left the round building, the agricultural students of the Ninth Base were eating in the cafeteria.
“What’s wrong?” Zhao Linong asked in surprise, approaching He Yuesheng, who stood motionless, staring at a row of lettuce plants beside the wire fence.
He Yuesheng had been staring at the plants for a while before slowly asking, “Don’t you… think they look a little creepy?”
Before the lettuce had grown, the wire mesh was just a row of pants sticking out. Although it often looked like a person at first glance and was somewhat unsettling, He Yuesheng had gradually gotten used to it.
But now, with all the lettuce fully grown, every time He Yuesheng went to the fields, he saw this row of pants and got goosebumps.
Even though he knew the jeans had holes cut in them for planting lettuce seeds, it always gave the illusion that the lettuce was growing out of the pants, like a mutated plant piercing a human body—a sight especially unsettling for people with trypophobia.1DONOT google this.
“It’s not too bad,” Zhao Linong said, putting down the bucket and starting to water the tomato seedlings in the field. “Just don’t stare at it.”
He Yuesheng took a deep breath, turned his head, and pointed at a large patch of jeans sticking up on the stalks of the neighboring field, saying in frustration, “They’re everywhere! There’s no avoiding them!”
Zhao Linong looked up, appearing a bit innocent. “If they want to learn, I can’t stop them.”
This all started twenty days ago.
Zhao Linong had hung three pairs of jeans on the barbed wire and planted lettuce in them. Her plot was the most remote, closest to the wasteland, so most agricultural students didn’t usually go near it.
But when Teacher Kang Anru came to check on the students’ planting that day and saw Zhao Linong’s lettuce pants, she casually praised the idea, mentioning that it was a good approach. She also informed the students about the types of vegetables suitable for this method.
After that field class, various jeans gradually started appearing on the ridges of fields everywhere. Some students even modified the jeans, laying them horizontally on the ground, while others followed Zhao Linong’s example, finding wooden racks, hanging jeans on them, and planting seeds inside.
Now, the land of Class C of Agriculture was covered with floating pants—a truly “spectacular” sight!
The scariest thing He Yuesheng had ever seen was the onion pants, with dense onions sprouting from one hole after another. The sight… Every time he visited the farm area, he had to mentally prepare himself.
Oh, right.
A week ago, someone from the Central Base came to inspect and was shocked to see all the pants. Within two days after the inspection team left, rumors reportedly started flying around the Central base.
The Ninth Agricultural Base was initially rumored to use trousers as flower pots, but as time went on, the rumors grew more bizarre, claiming that the base used dead bodies as fertilizer and was involved in research on the coexistence of human bodies with foreign plants. These increasingly outrageous tales contributed to the chilling legend surrounding the base.
“Forget it; our vegetables are nearly ready for harvest anyway,” He Yuesheng sighed.
Zhao Linong stood up after watering her tomatoes. The germination rate had been impressive—nine out of ten seeds had sprouted, and the plants had grown to the height of a palm. The recent weather had been ideal, with perfect temperature and rainfall, leading to rapid plant growth. However, as the tomatoes continued to develop, they would soon need fertilization.
Turning her attention to the lettuce filling her trousers, Zhao Linong decided it was time to pick some to sell.
A few days later, Zhao Linong assessed the lettuce—it was neither too small nor too mature, and the leaves were tender. She gathered all the lettuce, filling an entire bucket. He Yuesheng, who had also harvested a considerable amount, looked at the lush green lettuce in Zhao Linong’s bucket and wondered why hers seemed better.
Both had tended their lettuce almost simultaneously, but He Yuesheng had previously asked his teacher about using pesticides to prevent pests. Despite this, some of his lettuce leaves showed signs of insect damage.
Most agricultural students face initial financial losses due to the high costs of pesticides and fertilizers. If their crops suffer and die, they must buy new seeds, leading to substantial investment with only point-based returns from selling the harvest. To truly make money at the Ninth Agricultural Base, students often end up working for more advanced students.
“Maybe your lettuce’s growing environment is more humid than mine,” Zhao Linong suggested. “I’ve been coming here at night to catch insects.”
Although she also dealt with insects, He Yuesheng’s overwatering and pesticide use had created excessively moist soil, making it more prone to pests. Thankfully, lettuce is relatively easy to grow and not overly affected by pests, so they could still harvest it.
She chose not to elaborate further to avoid raising suspicion. Since the Q&A session at the square last month, Zhao Linong has become cautious.
He Yuesheng was more concerned about Zhao Linong’s nighttime visits to the farmland. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“Cars leave the city 24 hours a day, and the base doesn’t prohibit travel,” Zhao Linong replied. Despite knowing about the potential dangers of mutated plants, she couldn’t resist observing the fields.
Zhao Linong had visited several areas beyond her plot, and He Yuesheng, lowering his voice, added, “But I heard that plants mutate more frequently at night, making it very dangerous!”
“I’m still alive,” Zhao Linong said, changing the subject. “How do we get to the market?”
The trading market, located on the north side of the base, is reserved for agricultural students to trade their crops. According to the rules, students carrying crops are not allowed to take the bus. Those with better financial means have bought their own pickup trucks.
“I borrowed a three-wheeled motorcycle,” He Yuesheng said, showing her the key. “Aside from the danger to my life, it’s perfectly fine.”
While the pickup truck’s front was enclosed by a frame and glass, the three-wheeled motorcycle was exposed to the open air, offering no protection from mutated plants.2
Seeing the red three-wheeled motorcycle outside the tool shed, Zhao Linong felt a wave of nostalgia. She remembered the times she and her mentor had used such vehicles for fieldwork. They had navigated many narrow paths where a car couldn’t go, making the three-wheeled motorcycle the best option for transporting goods.
Back then, senior students would ride in front on three-wheeled motorcycles, with her in the back, wearing a straw hat and muddy rain boots. Passersby would often say, “Study hard, or you’ll end up farming like them.”
Little did they know that many of those students would become master’s and doctoral graduates.
“Sure,” Zhao Linong said, picking up the bucket and getting into the motorcycle.
“You don’t want to sit in the front?” He Yuesheng asked, pointing to the front seat of the motorcycle. “Two people can sit here.”
“I’ll stay in the back and let you know if there’s anything unusual,” Zhao Linong replied.
He Yuesheng nodded in agreement, then inserted the key and took his seat. After a while, the motorcycle remained stationary.
Zhao Linong turned in surprise. “Aren’t we leaving?”
He Yuesheng hesitated, then admitted, “…I don’t think I can drive.”
Zhao Linong, exasperated, jumped out. “Get out, I’ll drive.”
“Can you do it?” He Yuesheng asked, doubtful.
Without answering, Zhao Linong gestured for him to get out. He Yuesheng quickly exited and took hold of the front frame.
Zhao Linong climbed onto the motorcycle, started the engine, shifted gears, and quickly took off.
“Wow, you really know how to drive!” He Yuesheng exclaimed, nearly losing his balance but managing to hold on.
“Keep an eye out behind us,” Zhao Linong instructed.
“Got it.” He Yuesheng adjusted his position, holding two buckets of lettuce.
The red three-wheeled motorcycle roared down the field road, the wind carrying the fresh scent of grass and earth. For a moment, Zhao Linong felt transported back to her previous world, where she had spent her days researching in the suburbs and worrying about experimental data.
