Chapter 136: Returning Farmland to Grassland

From the moment he cast his line, Zhong Di was prepared. Everything had gone smoothly up until just now, with every instruction executed perfectly. Previous collaborations had already made him familiar with the "water grass" commands; he knew exactly what to do and was highly proficient at it. Perhaps it was precisely because of this confidence that he made a mistake at that critical moment.

One might think such a minor slip shouldn't matter, but on the contrary, the problem was significant. This wasn't some small fry; it was a carp measuring sixty to seventy centimeters. The force of its swimming and, in particular, its leap was immense. In a panic, Zhong Di had no choice but to accelerate the release of his line to create distance. While this made control more difficult, it at least prevented the fish from throwing the hook. As long as it was still on the line, there was a chance.

Zhong Di focused his attention, keeping himself in a state of high tension, playing the fish with all his might while carefully managing the force.

"The distance is closing, it's getting closer."
"That carp is truly beautiful!"
"Indeed, I’m convinced of Zhong Di’s skills now."
"The outcome isn't certain yet. Look at Zhu Luoluo; although he hasn't hooked any large catches, he’s been reeling in small and medium ones steadily. Zhong Di’s big catch is taking up too much time."

Under Zhong Di’s careful control, the fish was finally landed. Qian Weining’s expression was complex. With previous bait, he had added a little chicken, which allowed him to comfort himself by saying, "It’s fine, that’s just the chicken in the bait." But now? The bait was ordinary, yet the result was still a large catch. This spoke volumes.

In the time that followed, without any suspense, Zhong Di won the competition, edging out a victory with a total weight of 15.32 kilograms. Even though Zhu Luoluo had been consistently catching smaller fish, he had closed the gap significantly. Zhong Di clicked his tongue; it was fortunate he had kept fishing continuously—one lapse in concentration and he might have lost.

"I concede," Zhu Luoluo said before turning to leave.
"A new rising star in the fishing world," someone remarked.
"True. Zhu Luoluo is a master of wild fishing. To win against him while he was catching fish so frequently proves his capability."

***

After finishing the match, Zhong Di felt lighthearted. Watching the fish being tossed back into the reservoir, he finally understood why so many people could still catch fish here. Only a small portion of the catch was kept for consumption; predatory or rare species were returned to the water. The rest were also released after being caught, which was a clever strategy. Over time, the number of predatory fish would decrease, making the reservoir suitable for aquaculture.

By the time they finished, it was noon. Zhong Di met with Qian Weining, and they agreed to have lunch and then head out immediately to inspect the project, hoping to return to the farm in time for a nap. It was the perfect plan.

The meal was magnificent. As a professional chef, Qian Weining had a deep understanding of seafood, bringing out the ultimate flavors of every dish. More importantly, he managed to make even a simple seafood meal feel sophisticated.

"Uncle Qian, you really put a lot of thought into this meal today," Zhong Di said softly. The difference between this and his usual fare was obvious.

What Zhong Di couldn't figure out was why Qian Weining was treating him so well. Surely, just helping him look at a project didn't warrant this level of hospitality. In truth, Zhong Di was overthinking it. To Qian Weining, what Zhong Di had demonstrated so far was more than enough to justify this treatment. At only twenty-three years old, everything was possible for him.

"As long as you enjoyed it. Let’s talk on the road; I’ll explain the project to you."
"Sure."

Zhong Di followed Qian Weining into an off-road vehicle and sat in the back. At first, he was puzzled as to why they needed such a vehicle, but after traveling a short distance, he understood. Beyond a few poplars and low shrubs, the landscape was entirely desert; it would be impossible to traverse without one.

"As you can see, this is less of a 'returning farmland to forest' project and more of a desert reclamation effort," Qian Weining explained. "The place we are going to was once a piece of farmland in Shache County that had to be abandoned due to environmental degradation. My project, while officially classified as returning farmland to forest, is actually a project to return farmland to grassland, covering twenty thousand acres."

"The project was originally slated for Kulun City, but after Director Zhou looked into it, he decided to establish it in Shache County. If successful, it won't just rehabilitate these twenty thousand acres of desert; it will also create many jobs."

"These jobs might not mean much to Kulun City, but for Shache County, they are invaluable. My project involves planting wild hemp—yes, the kind that grows in fields and on the roadside. You might wonder why I’d plant this. Simply put, besides meeting the criteria for the land restoration project, I have a personal attachment to it. I started my business with wild hemp tea. As the business grew, I stopped making the tea, but it has always been on my mind."

"As for why I insist on cultivation, there’s no point in just building a factory to process tea—that’s just the same old routine of manufacturing, sales, and chasing profit. I want to build a stable industrial chain, from planting to harvesting and processing, and eventually developing agricultural products like wild hemp-fed lamb and chicken. This isn't just about realizing personal value; it’s about environmental restoration and driving employment. It has a positive impact for both me and our country."

"I’ve said a lot, but in short, I hope you can provide some candid advice. I have a feeling that your potential goes far beyond what I’ve already seen."

Qian Weining looked at Zhong Di quietly, his emotions perhaps stirred by the hopes he pinned on the project.

"Don't worry, Uncle Qian, I will certainly take a good look. But don't hold your expectations too high; I am still inexperienced," Zhong Di said. Even though he was confident he could offer good advice, he didn't want to make empty promises.

"Fair enough. Just do your best."

After chatting for a while longer, they fell silent. Qian Weining had high confidence in Zhong Di. He had even read the technical articles Zhong Di posted on the Xianyin platform. They were easy to understand and far better than the work of so-called experts. Although there were negative comments, negativity was still a form of popularity—it proved the content was worth discussing. Truly worthless things wouldn't even be worth the effort of criticism.

Of all the projects he had undertaken, this one wasn't the most profitable or the largest in scale, but it was the most meaningful. That was why he was putting so much effort into it. The off-road vehicle pressed on, and in that moment, the tawny desert began to shimmer with a golden hue.