Chapter 87: The Western Botanical Research Garden

Since the night Liu Shichang received Lu Yu’s email, he began registering the company. After arranging some tasks, he set out for the Western Region with Tang Zhiming and several company employees to establish a botanical research park.

The Western Region was vast, with extensive desertification and enormous stretches of desert, offering plenty of sites suitable for a botanical research park. Ultimately, Liu Shichang considered transportation and chose the outskirts of Wuchi City—a place with typical Central Asian climate and the necessary desert geological conditions.

He and his colleagues surveyed the area, then drove to the city’s official investment bureau. The staff there welcomed them warmly. After some casual conversation, Liu Shichang straightforwardly expressed his intention to lease a piece of land on the city’s edge for the botanical research park. The official personnel inquired in detail before contacting their supervisor.

The supervisor came to learn more, asking how large the botanical research park would be. Liu Shichang, thinking of Lu Yu’s style, estimated that something too small would not satisfy him. As the land was in the desert, far from the city, the price wouldn’t be too high, so he spoke ambitiously.

The supervisor hesitated—not out of reluctance, but uncertain whether Liu Shichang’s team had the capacity to build such a large park. Liu Shichang, noticing his concern, explained the park's purpose and the plan to build a research laboratory. The park would focus mainly on drought-resistant plants, and if all went well, the leased desert land would be covered in vegetation.

The supervisor nodded, then asked about the site they had selected. Liu Shichang answered honestly, saying they had surveyed it already and were ready to sign the contract if there were no objections. The supervisor asked them to wait a day, as the matter required a meeting; the area was substantial and not something he could decide alone.

Understanding this, Liu Shichang shook hands with the supervisor and staff, arranged to return the next day, and left.

After Liu Shichang’s group departed, the supervisor immediately called a meeting with various departments to discuss and make a decision. Meanwhile, Liu Shichang and his colleagues, with nothing pressing to do, strolled about—the Western Region was new to them, very different from Shudu, and they found it intriguing.

They had dinner at a street-side eatery, sampling the region’s distinctive cuisine, and enjoyed a small amount of alcohol, feeling as if their business trip was a bit of a holiday. With important matters the next day, they were careful not to drink too much or stay out late, returning to the hotel early for rest.

The following morning, after washing up and breakfast, they headed to the investment bureau. The staff had only just started their shift and were surprised to see Liu Shichang’s group arrive so early. They courteously invited them to the meeting room and went to notify the supervisor.

Soon, the supervisor and several staff arrived, exchanging pleasantries once more. The supervisor joked about their efficiency. Liu Shichang replied with a smile that signing the contract early would allow them to promptly arrange construction.

After all, the botanical park would not only host plants but also require laboratory buildings. The supervisor said little more, and both sides began discussing details.

After about an hour, negotiations were basically settled: 1,200 acres of desert land on the city’s edge would be leased for the botanical research park. With the specifics agreed upon, they scheduled the formal contract signing for the next day. The bureau, seeing Liu Shichang’s urgency, promised to expedite matters, communicating actively with other city units that afternoon to fast-track the process.

Liu Shichang thanked them and departed with his team.

Leaving the bureau, they went directly to a reputable construction company. The company was enthusiastic—after all, a project brought to their door deserved proper hospitality. After hearing Liu Shichang’s description and Tang Zhiming’s requirements for the laboratory, several department heads deliberated and found no difficulties.

Since Liu Shichang had not yet signed the official contract with the authorities, they could only agree verbally with the construction company, who said they could send surveyors to inspect the site immediately, and, once the contract was signed, commence construction at once.

The company sent several surveyors with Liu Shichang’s group to the site. The weather in the Western Region had turned cold, but as they weren’t building high-rise structures, it was not an obstacle.

For several days, Liu Shichang’s group was busy, not only signing the contract but also measuring land with the authorities and delineating the area for use. The construction company provided a detailed plan; Liu Shichang thought it best to add two large warehouses. He didn’t know if they would be needed later, but it was better to build them now than to scramble later.

The warehouse construction was straightforward, and the company agreed. Besides fixed buildings, essential infrastructure, such as road leveling and planning for living quarters, needed careful implementation. Security was also redesigned by Liu Shichang.

He lacked technical expertise but knew that Lu Yu’s laboratory would not be simple. Otherwise, how could those products from Powder White and Black Company have come about? If secrecy weren’t needed, why would Deng Qiang have established such a large security team before the company’s products launched, merely for appearance?

This was why Liu was so reliable—he considered every aspect, leaving little room for oversight. It was also why Lu Yu trusted him so much. Ability was not the most important thing; reliability was. Deng Qiang’s abilities were superior to Liu Shichang’s, but he had to work under Liu, at a lower rank, in a subsidiary company.

While Liu Shichang was busy in the Western Region, Lu Yu enjoyed a leisurely routine. He drove to the library daily, reading there, and borrowed books when it closed, methodically filling in gaps in his knowledge.

On November 18th, instead of his usual visit to the library, Lu Yu drove to the University of Finance. It was Qin Xiaomian’s birthday, and he had promised to spend it with her. He wanted to accompany her alone, knowing that as the company’s products went global, solo outings would become rare.

He called Qin Xiaomian at the campus gate, and she soon ran over and hopped into the passenger seat. Shi Zixuan didn’t come this time; Lu Yu had spent Shi’s birthday alone with her as well.

Today, Qin Xiaomian dressed in a particularly youthful style, and Lu Yu couldn’t help but glance at her a few times. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Where would you like to go?”

Qin Xiaomian looked at him uncertainly, “Can I go anywhere I want?”

Lu Yu nodded, “Today, you decide.”

Qin Xiaomian grinned, her eyes squinting in delight, and gave him the address of a nearby shopping mall. Without much thought, Lu Yu drove there.

In the mall, Qin Xiaomian bought all sorts of clothes, but Lu Yu noticed something odd: everything she purchased was children’s apparel, and quite a lot of it. He didn’t ask, just helped her load batch after batch into the car.

The last round included many schoolbags and stationery, filling the trunk and back seat completely. Once in the car, Qin Xiaomian gave him the next address and urged him to drive there.

Lu Yu fastened his seatbelt and set off for Taishan Road in Xipu Town, Shudu. Xipu used to be considered suburban, but not anymore, and Lu Yu had never been there.

Uncertain about Qin Xiaomian’s intentions, Lu Yu focused on driving, chatting with her occasionally. Along the way, Qin Xiaomian called her aunt, saying she would visit soon.

When they arrived, Lu Yu was momentarily stunned by the surroundings. Though he knew Qin Xiaomian fairly well, he hadn’t expected her destination to be Shudu Children’s Welfare Institute.

No wonder she had bought so many children’s clothes and school supplies.

Lu Yu stared at Qin Xiaomian, silent for a long time.

Qin Xiaomian cheerfully called her aunt, explaining they had lots of things and needed help moving them. Soon, several people came out from the welfare institute. Qin Xiaomian greeted a woman in her forties with a lively wave—likely the aunt she’d spoken to on the phone.

Lu Yu opened the trunk and doors, helping them move the items. It took two trips to unload everything.

Through Qin Xiaomian’s conversation with the woman, Lu Yu learned her surname was Wang—a high school classmate of Qin Xiaomian’s mother. Aunt Wang had worked at the welfare institute for many years, and Qin Xiaomian had visited once before with her mother, likely leaving a deep impression.

While Qin Xiaomian chatted with Aunt Wang, Lu Yu listened quietly. Aunt Wang and the staff registered the items, then accompanied Qin Xiaomian to visit the children.

The institute housed mostly abandoned infants, orphans, and homeless disabled children. When they arrived, a teacher was playing games with some of the children. Qin Xiaomian happily joined in, playing with them.

Lu Yu and Aunt Wang watched from a distance as Qin Xiaomian laughed and played. He had always thought she was just a silly, carefree girl—a child who had never grown up. Now, he realized he didn’t know her as well as he thought.

Though she smiled as foolishly as before, her joy touched the softest parts of the heart. She was truly a kind-hearted, silly girl.

If this kind-hearted, silly girl was still a child, Lu Yu hoped she would never grow up. After all, the older and more mature people become, the colder they grow. This is neither right nor wrong, but simply the way of the world.

Most people retain a trace of their original kindness and tenderness. Yet, due to circumstances or various reasons, many are forced to become cold and hardened.

In this world, wealth does not necessarily bring kindness. Take Lu Yu: he was now considered affluent, yet hadn’t thought to do these simple, helpful things—not out of stinginess or unwillingness, but simply because he had forgotten.

This is another sadness of modern society. Amidst the steel jungle of skyscrapers, even neighbors ignore each other, let alone matters so far removed from daily life.

Modern technology enables swift communication, but also creates a new kind of disconnect. Things irrelevant or distant from oneself are gradually neglected, rarely cared for. This is the state of life for most people—inevitable, yet unavoidable.

Fortunately, many still uphold their inner kindness, acting on it and occasionally shining with the beauty of humanity. Their actions move us, awakening that softness and goodness within our own hearts.