Chapter 137: Harsh Conditions

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As they rushed forward, the vast expanse was dominated only by poplar trees and a few scattered shrubs, with nothing but endless yellow sand stretching beyond. The surrounding environment had suffered severe damage. This place was unlike a pristine desert; the signs of human destruction were glaring, with many poplars reduced to mere stumps.

That was why Zhong Di believed the environment here had been ruined, not naturally like this. Long ago, this area was quite beautiful, with many spots where the groundwater was high enough to form small lakes within the poplar groves. The water was shallow and clear, so pure it was soothing to the soul.

But now, all of that had turned into a desert. The stark contrast left Zhong Di feeling somewhat melancholic; the so-called restoration efforts were far more difficult to implement and sustain than one might imagine. Destroying an environment was infinitely easier than restoring it.

After roughly an hour of stumbling over uneven terrain, the vehicle finally came to a halt. The distance traveled was not insignificant, especially when considering how to transport raw materials once production began—this was a crucial concern.

“Uncle Qian, the roads are treacherous. It’s not too late to give up now,” Zhong Di remarked, surveying the desolate surroundings with a sigh. Apart from the difficult roads, the environment was in such poor shape that even hardy crops like cotton couldn’t thrive here. He wasn’t sure what the groundwater conditions were like.

“If pumping water is feasible, there’s still hope. But if it’s hard to extract or the water is alkaline, then it’s a tough problem,” he added.

“You little rascal, you think I don’t know that? Look here,” Qian Weining said suddenly, catching Zhong Di off guard with an unexpected joke. Zhong Di had always regarded Qian as a serious man, rarely joking. Today’s lightheartedness felt unfamiliar.

“Don’t take it seriously, just joking. But honestly, making this place work will be a challenge!” Zhong Di admitted.

“I know. But with initial investments and project funds backing us, it’s manageable for now. I understand the difficulties, but it’s not impossible,” Qian replied calmly.

“Uncle Qian, if that’s the case, why not rent better land? Isn’t there a land transfer program going on now?” Zhong Di pondered. If the goal was environmental restoration, why lease such a vast stretch of wasteland? Surely easier terrain would make more sense.

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“That would be pointless. Have you considered what the broader future holds? Maybe now you can still harvest wild hemp, but soon resources will be strictly regulated,” Qian explained.

“When undertaking anything, you have to think ahead, not just follow others blindly. Restoring this desert won’t just bring this one industry to life; it will change how those in power perceive you.”

“If you only do the easy things, where’s your value?”

“Even this twenty-thousand-acre plot is just the beginning. Once it succeeds, more land will be available,” he added patiently, unfazed by Zhong Di’s questions.

Qian never expected others to think exactly like him. If everyone did, it would only prove he was just an ordinary person.

“Got it... I’ll start by examining the local conditions,” Zhong Di said after receiving the explanation.

This used to be farmland with some rough planning. What was missing was windbreaks and sand fixation—planting forest belts around the plots to enclose them, with sand stabilization and grass growing inside.

As long as the forest belts survive and the wild hemp grows, a positive cycle would begin.

Regarding soil conditions…

Fortunately, there were still some living plants nearby to help infer the soil’s status indirectly.

Sand content: 90%
Groundwater depth: 80 meters
Relative humidity: 10%
…

Zhong Di reviewed each data point. Overall, there were hardly any advantages. Even the salinity was close to levels that would prevent cultivation. Organic matter content was pitifully low, almost negligible.

This area had once been a poplar forest and had grown crops before. Was it really this degraded?

After studying the data, Zhong Di’s heart sank. His brow furrowed deeply. The conditions he saw were nearly catastrophic; even the hardy plants around barely met their minimal survival needs.

“Is the situation that bad?” Qian Weining noticed the concern and, though prepared mentally, showed no great emotional reaction.

Without some challenge, the work wouldn’t be interesting anyway.

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“Very bad, Uncle Qian. As of now, I don’t have many suggestions. First, you need to be able to grow wild hemp, then address the other issues,” Zhong Di said.

“Alright, tell me,” Qian accepted the reality straightforwardly.

“Regarding water, I observed the surrounding plants and estimated the groundwater depth to be between seventy and one hundred meters.”

“If you want a stable water supply, it’s best to drill a large well—twelve inches in diameter—between 120 and 140 meters deep.”

Water is always the foremost concern when it comes to cultivation.

This groundwater depth was quite low. Zhong Di recalled that a decade or so ago, water could be accessed at around twenty meters.

“Wow! Just by looking at the plants around, you can tell the groundwater level?” Qian’s eyes widened. Having some agricultural knowledge himself, he had never heard of anyone determining groundwater depth so precisely by observing plants.

Even professional well drillers could only guess if water might be reached at certain depths.

“Ah… yes. Plants are remarkable. Now, what’s the next question?” Zhong Di almost forgot that groundwater depth was somewhat sensitive information.

“For the forest belts, I personally recommend planting shrubs like sea buckthorn and red willow, which are excellent for sand fixation. Once the ecosystem improves, you can introduce poplars, which are good for windbreaks.”

“Also, when planting the forest belts, it’s best to first use dry grass to fix square grids, then irrigate precisely using pipes.”

“Once the forest belts take root, wild hemp can be planted inside. If possible, apply organic fertilizer to the plots.”

“At present, this is the best approach.”

Zhong Di was thorough. Given the conditions, this was truly the only viable plan. Even with his expertise in behavioral analysis, he had no substantial alternative suggestions.

In short, this was basic land reclamation. Anyone with some knowledge could do it. His competitive edge lay in later stages—fertilization, pest control, and managing vegetative and reproductive growth.

“Your advice is very sensible. Let’s get going! Thanks for coming all this way,” Qian said.

Just from these suggestions, he could avoid many detours—from well drilling to forest belt planting and subsequent tasks, the overall plan was clear. They had a full year of work ahead.

“I didn’t help much. What I said could be told to any technician. As I said before, the first step is to be able to grow and sustain crops, then focus on improving them,” Zhong Di replied.

After discussing some specific details, the two set off on their return journey.