After speaking, Bai Yunjiao noticed everyone looking at her. Her face reddened slightly, and she appeared a bit embarrassed.
The elderly professor laughed heartily, “Young lady, have you studied this subject in-depth?”
Bai Yunjiao waved her hand, “Not exactly. When I noticed these issues with the vegetables in the greenhouse, my colleagues and I sought out books on agriculture to learn from. That’s how I know a bit.”
Though Bai Yunjiao wasn’t suited for heavy labor in the fields, she was meticulous, earnest, and quick to seize opportunities to learn.
Recording the growth of vegetables and studying books on agriculture became her strengths. Determined not to lose her job—the one thing she could do independently without relying on men—she committed herself fully to researching agriculture. She scoured discarded books and newspapers from recycling stations, compared plant characteristics, and took copious notes. Bai Yunjiao was as diligent as they came.
After lunch, they moved to the greenhouse under Jiang Wenyong’s guidance.
Song Wei stayed back with Bai Yunjiao, walking at a slower pace.
“You did well at the table earlier,” Song Wei praised. “Later, if they ask more questions, you should answer them. I haven’t been following every detail or reading many agricultural texts, so I might not have all the answers.”
Bai Yunjiao, still nervous, hesitated. “But… what if I don’t know the answer to some of their questions?”
“Just say you don’t know,” Song Wei said reassuringly. “Better yet, take the opportunity to ask about any unsolved problems you’ve encountered. Remember, they’re experts. Be honest about what you know and don’t know. Don’t try to bluff.”
Taking a deep breath, Bai Yunjiao nodded firmly. “Okay!”
Her foundational knowledge was indeed the strongest among the record-keepers. When asked questions, she gave clear answers when she knew them. For what she didn’t know, she admitted it frankly and even asked for guidance, which pleased the elderly professor.
However, the interactions weren’t entirely smooth.
For example, one of the two assistants said condescendingly, “How do you not know this? It’s because…” They continued with an air of superiority, criticizing Bai Yunjiao as though intentionally belittling her.
The remarks left Bai Yunjiao gripping her notebook tightly, her eyes turning red. “I…”
Even the professor’s expression darkened slightly.
“How long have you been studying?” Song Wei suddenly asked the two assistants.
“Three years,” one of them replied, pride evident in their voice.
“Oh, three years.” Song Wei nodded. “Bai Yunjiao has only been studying for a few months. And here, in our small town, there aren’t even bookstores. She and her team had to scour recycling stations to find discarded books and newspapers on agriculture.
“Her teachers? The farmers in our team. While skilled at planting, they’re clueless about diseases affecting crops. Bai Yunjiao and her team had to learn from scratch, studying and solving problems in real time before the crops died and everyone’s hard work was wasted.
“They didn’t have time. They studied late into the night by lamplight, figuring things out without any formal guidance.
“So,” Song Wei continued, her gaze sharp, “isn’t it natural that Bai Yunjiao isn’t as knowledgeable as you? If she were as capable in just a few months, maybe you should reflect on your three years of study.”
The male assistant looked embarrassed, avoiding her gaze. The female assistant, however, turned red with anger.
“We were just being honest! Was that wrong?” she huffed.
“Shut up!” the professor’s middle-aged companion scolded, glaring at the assistants. “You’re here to observe and learn, not to argue.”
The female assistant’s eyes turned misty, as if deeply wronged, and she looked pitifully at the professor for support.
Song Wei rolled her eyes internally.
The professor, however, ignored her gaze. He knew the two assistants had been foisted upon him by the agricultural college, hoping he’d take them on as students. While ambition wasn’t a bad thing, these two were overly eager, often stepping on others to shine—a trait particularly undesirable in agriculture, where patience and thoroughness were paramount.
“Only a few months of study, and you’ve achieved this much. Impressive work,” the professor praised, his words lifting Bai Yunjiao and her team’s spirits.
Meanwhile, the female assistant looked even more aggrieved, especially after her errors were pointed out.
Later, the assistants stopped causing trouble, though they likely bore a grudge against Song Wei and her team.
Song Wei, however, couldn’t care less.
The professor conducted a thorough inspection of the greenhouse, offering targeted advice on soil moisture, air temperature, and potential plant diseases. Bai Yunjiao and her colleagues eagerly took notes, learning all they could.
By afternoon, the village leader and others returned. Hearing that experts from the Agricultural Academy were visiting, they rushed over without even stopping for water.
Jiang Wenyong brought water for them, while Lin Zhen found Song Wei.
He leaned close, quietly holding her hand and whispering, “I bought you meat buns and sponge cake. Eat them when you’re back.”
Song Wei’s eyes lit up with delight. “Thank you!”
Once the greenhouse inspection was complete, Song Wei shared her proposal for growing watermelons in the village’s sandy soil with the brigade leader.
Excited, the brigade leader exclaimed, “Song Zhiqing, you’re amazing! Always thinking of ways to help!”
They immediately took the professor to inspect the sandy area.
After dinner, the professor and his team departed, promising to submit a proposal to the local government. Their assurance left the brigade leader grinning ear to ear.
When Song Wei returned to the educated youth dormitory, she carried an abundance of food, including the meat buns, sponge cake, and biscuits Lin Zhen had bought her.
Accompanied by two wolf cubs—Hei Dan stayed with its brother now—Song Wei was greeted with enthusiasm upon arrival.
“Song Wei, we heard you silenced those two assistants and even made the female one cry. Is it true?”
“You’re incredible! When they looked down on us, we were so angry but didn’t dare speak up.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“But when you spoke up, it felt amazing! We’ve disliked them for ages. Who do they think they are?”
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