“Borrow money?” Wei Li was momentarily stunned but quickly agreed. “Of course, how much do you need?”
Before coming to the dorm, Zhao Linong had already checked the official website and seen the prices for accessing the researchers’ answers. The lowest was 100,000 points, while the highest reached 1 million points. The prices seemed to be based on the researchers’ reputations, with the most expensive answer—worth 1 million points—belonging to the renowned Yan Shengbian. However, answers priced over 500,000 points were restricted, and accessible only to those with an official status.
“300,000 points,” Zhao Linong replied.
Though this amount wasn’t insignificant, Wei Li still managed to gather it.
“Hold on,” Wei Li said. She transferred 200,000 points to Zhao Linong and sent a quick message via her optical brain. A few minutes later, she sent the remaining 100,000 points. “There, all set! You can pay me back whenever.”
To Wei Li, 300,000 points wasn’t a lot.
“Thank you,” Zhao Linong said seriously.
“No need to thank me,” Wei Li replied, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “But why do you need to borrow so much?”
The two had known each other for a while. Although Zhao Linong would occasionally work for Wei Li in the chicken shed to earn a few hundred points, Wei Li had always felt that Linong didn’t care much about money. Once, at the cafeteria, she had noticed that Zhao Linong barely picked out any dishes, not because she was being reserved, but because she genuinely didn’t seem to care.
This contradiction in her personality always made Wei Li feel slightly puzzled.
“It’s urgent,” Zhao Linong answered vaguely.
Wei Li responded with an “Oh” and didn’t press further. “Well, if you need more, come to me.”
…
Zhao Linong left the inner circle in silence, returned to her dormitory, and spent 100,000 points to see a researcher’s answer, followed by another 100,000 to view a planting officer’s answer. With the remaining 100,000, she accessed the responses from the various planting officers.
She quickly noticed the significant differences between the researchers and the planting officers. Many planting officers couldn’t clearly distinguish between bacterial wilt and Fusarium wilt, treating diseases based on experience. On the other hand, the researchers had systematic knowledge, offering precise, methodical solutions from prevention to treatment.
These answers could only be viewed once, with no option to re-enter or take screenshots after exiting. Fortunately, Zhao Linong didn’t need a second look. She opened a document and carefully wrote down the symptoms, transmission patterns, and control methods for bacterial wilt.
In her final summary, she wrote: “The key feature of bacterial wilt, distinguishing it from Fusarium wilt and Verticillium wilt, is that squeezing the affected stems releases milky white pus.”
She added one final sentence in bold red: [This information was obtained from the researcher’s answer.]
Then, she forwarded the document to Class C’s Agronomy group.
It was already 5 p.m., and most of the agricultural students were on the bus back to the city after a long day in the field. The title of her document, “Research on Tomato Diseases in Recent Times,” was so plain that no one initially paid attention. Only two people downloaded it.
Most Class C students were too disheartened by their recent struggles with tomato disease to care. Seeing the word “tomato” just reminded them of their problems.
Life is more important: [What’s this? Let me take a look.]
Mr. He, the gossiper: [?]
Mr. He, the gossiper: [???]
A moment later, Zhao Linong received a private message from He Yuesheng.
Mr. He, the gossiper: [Are you crazy, Zhao Linong? Take that document down immediately!]
She didn’t respond to his message.
The group chat notifications began ringing again.
Life is more important: : [???]
Life is more important: : [What the hell is this? @AAA Farming Xiao Zhao]
Life is more important: : [Did you send this by mistake? I’ve already read the whole thing! @AAA Farming Xiao Zhao]
AAA Farming Xiao Zhao: [No mistake, feel free to read it. @All Members]
Life is more important: [Thank you, Buddha! Thank you! I’m going to check if I can squeeze pus from my tomatoes now. @AAA Farming Xiao Zhao]
On a bus, someone suddenly shouted for the driver to stop at the next station. As soon as the bus halted, the person got off and ran to catch the bus heading back to the field area.
He Yuesheng didn’t wait for Zhao Linong to reply. He video-called her directly, and she answered.
“Where did you get the money to watch the researcher’s answer?” He Yuesheng asked, standing in the trading market, his emotions mixed after seeing her message.
“I borrowed it,” she said calmly.
“You!” He Yuesheng wanted to say something but stopped himself. After a brief silence, he added, “At least charge a bit of money to recover your losses.”
The Class C students still had some points left, especially since many had taken on tasks recklessly to save up for the answers amidst the tomato disease crisis.
“I’ve already borrowed 300,000 points; this small amount doesn’t matter,” Zhao Linong replied. She simply wanted to share the effective methods of controlling tomato bacterial wilt.
“Fine, fine. You are ruthless,” He Yuesheng sighed in admiration. “You’re the type to quietly accomplish great things.”
At this point, the document shared by Zhao Linong in the Agronomy Class C group finally garnered attention. She used simple language where possible, but the overall logic of the document was clear, and the instructions for chemical control were so precise that any Agronomy student who read it immediately recognized its value.
Half an hour later, the group chat exploded with activity.
[So my tomatoes have bacterial wilt? I finally know how to treat it!]
[Thank you! I’m going to buy the medicine now.]
[This information comes from a researcher’s answer. Are you sharing this for free? That’s expensive! @AAA Farming Xiao Zhao]
AAA Farming Xiao Zhao: [I just couldn’t stand their arrogant attitude.]
The students in the Class C group instantly recalled how they had been humiliated earlier in front of their teachers and guards. They more or less understood what she meant. But none of them could have afforded such a large sum to watch the researcher’s answer on their own.
The freshmen who had been heading back to the city got off the bus after reading the document Zhao Linong shared. Some returned to the field area, eager to compare the symptoms of their tomatoes and determine whether they had bacterial wilt or Fusarium wilt. Others headed straight to the trading market to buy the recommended pesticides, preparing to treat their fields immediately.
He Yuesheng happened to be in the trading market. After carefully reviewing the document sent by Zhao Linong, he bought the necessary pesticides according to her guidance. Earlier that day, he had traded with a student from Class B to purchase pesticides for prevention and control, but after reading Zhao Linong’s document, it was clear that her information was more accurate and detailed.
That night, no one in Agronomy Class C slept. They rushed between the fields and the trading market, preparing to irrigate the roots and spray the pesticides in the middle of the night. By dawn, they had committed the contents of the document to memory, not wanting to waste this valuable, freely shared asset.
Even though many students didn’t fully understand the technical details, like the 72% agricultural streptomycin solution diluted 4,000 times or the 14% copper oxychloride solution diluted 300-400 times for root irrigation, the group chat remained active. Everyone was discussing the more complex and professional parts of the document.
AAA Farming Xiao Zhao: [I believe those numbers indicate dilution concentrations. We can try them.]
Life is more important: [I think you’re right!]
Since confirming that the diseased stems of his tomatoes did exude milky white pus, this student became one of Zhao Linong’s biggest supporters, agreeing with everything she said.
Zhao Linong felt a bit helpless but stayed up all night, carefully monitoring the group chat. She responded promptly to ensure no one misunderstood the pesticide concentrations.
By dawn, the students in Class C had applied the first round of pesticides, irrigating the roots and stems with the proper dilutions. This was just the beginning, and they knew they would have to repeat the process in 7 to 10 days.
Despite having a class the next morning, everyone dragged themselves from the fields and boarded the bus back to the city, exhausted but hopeful.
At the Ninth Agricultural Base, teachers didn’t guide students on crop disease prevention and control. Most weekly classes only cover superficial topics like crop growth processes, morphology, and which fertilizers are needed. When issues arise during planting, students are left to figure them out on their own.
Today was no exception. Kang Anru explained the typical growth, flowering, and fruiting stages of peppers.
However, she frowned as she looked at the students. Several were yawning, and some had their faces propped on their hands, eyes barely open. Yet, despite their tiredness, there was a strange excitement in their expressions, as if they were running on pure adrenaline.
“That’s all for today,” Kang Anru said, knocking on the podium. “It’s already June, and the final exam will be in early July. You must show results; those who fail will be eliminated.”
Before leaving, she glanced at the students who had been beaten the day before. Their faces were bruised and bandaged, but she said nothing, pretending not to notice.
As soon as Kang Anru left, a tall girl entered the classroom. She walked straight to one of the injured students, calling, “Wang Zhi?”
“Yan Jingshui,” He Yuesheng whispered, stopping Zhao Linong, who was about to leave. “She’s Yan Shengbian’s daughter.”
Yan Shengbian? Zhao Linong thought. She sat back down, recalling that she had seen this girl in a video the day before.
“You shouldn’t have spied on Class A,” Yan Jingshui said to Wang Zhi. “Thirty years ago, someone kidnapped a researcher to force them to hand over information. To prevent such incidents, the Central Base now has strict disciplinary measures. If yesterday’s incident were reported, you’d be imprisoned.”
Wang Zhi kept his head down, saying nothing. He knew this already.
“But it’s also wrong for the students from Class A to attack you privately,” Yan Jingshui continued. “They’ll cover your medical expenses and compensate you for emotional damages. We’re in the same grade; there’s no need to sneak around. I can share information about tomato disease prevention.”
She walked to the podium, picked up an electronic pen, and listed several pesticides on the light board, each paired with a specific disease. After explaining the typical characteristics of the diseases, she said, “Compare the symptoms and choose the appropriate pesticide for prevention and control.”
No one in Agronomy Class C said a word. Many turned to look at Zhao Linong. After last night’s events, they had subconsciously begun seeing her as their leader. Moreover, everything Yan Jingshui had just said matched what Zhao Linong had already shared in her document.
He Yuesheng covered his mouth and muttered, “More just keep coming, it’s so strange. Are they all saints or something?”
Even Yan Jingshui, standing on the podium, seemed a bit taken aback. She had come to help the Class C students without expecting anything in return. But the students didn’t appear surprised by her information, nor did they show much gratitude.
She followed the crowd’s gaze and made eye contact with Zhao Linong. For a moment, she was stunned. Despite sitting inconspicuously in the back row, there was something about Zhao Linong that drew her attention, and the others seemed to fade into the background.
With so many eyes on her, Zhao Linong finally spoke. “Class C has already watched the researcher’s answer.”
Yan Jingshui was stunned “What?”
