Chapter 284
Team Leader Yang explained helplessly, "I can say with confidence that you are among the first in the country to know about this. You've seen the pea, after all..."
"I know, that's why I want to come and take a look," Old Hou said softly.
Team Leader Yang felt a sense of resignation. Although Old Hou held no official title and wielded no power, her high moral standing and frail health made her someone others were reluctant to offend.
"When I mentioned it before, you know, a few people wanted to visit Zheng Fa—just those few," Team Leader Yang sighed. "He didn't meet with them."
"Oh? Is he that hard to deal with?" Old Hou asked, her voice dry.
"His temper is actually quite good; he's easy to talk to..." Team Leader Yang thought for a moment and offered a genuine assessment. "But you know, when someone has confidence, they tend to be indifferent to everything else."
Old Hou nodded gently, as if she understood.
"Why do you insist on meeting him?" Team Leader Yang asked.
Old Hou shot her a glance, seemingly aware of her reluctance to offend Zheng Fa, and simply said, "Just ask him for me."
Just as Team Leader Yang was about to respond, her phone lit up with a call from Zheng Fa.
"Zheng Fa? Yes, yes, I was looking for you."
"Someone wants to visit you... I know, I know."
"Old Hou, do you know...?"
"You know?"
"Welcome? Oh, okay!"
Team Leader Yang hung up, her expression momentarily stunned, then she suddenly broke into a smile.
...
After hanging up, Zheng Fa pondered for a moment and headed toward Teacher Tian's lab.
"Teacher Tian, are you free?" he called into the lab.
"What's up?" Not only Teacher Tian but others also stepped out.
"I'd like to ask you to prepare a few dishes. A guest is coming," Zheng Fa said.
"Who? You seem to be taking this seriously," Teacher Tian asked curiously.
"Old Hou."
Teacher Tian paused for a moment. "He's coming?"
She seemed to know Old Hou and even respected her. With a smile, she rushed out of the lab, saying, "I'll go cook!"
Tang Lingwu walked over, tilting her head and staring at Zheng Fa's face. "You seem really excited."
"It's not excitement; it's respect," Zheng Fa thought for a moment before replying. "She was my idol when I was a kid."
Back then, when he was starving in the Xuanwei Realm, lying in bed unable to sleep due to an empty stomach, he would think of the name he saw in modern textbooks—
At that time, he thought, if there were immortals, they would be like her.
Now, having truly embarked on the path of cultivation, his thoughts had deepened.
...
Team Leader Yang drove toward the nursing home.
Through the rearview mirror, she glanced at Old Hou, who sat in the back seat, lost in thought as she gazed out the window.
Outside, the mountains were alive with the colors of spring, the grass and trees adorned in vibrant hues, a stark contrast to the desolate winter landscape beyond.
Yang noticed a hint of tension on Old Hou's face.
She felt puzzled:
Zheng Fa needed agricultural talent, which was easy to discuss, and the higher-ups had already made preparations. After all, agricultural cooperation was something they had proposed long ago.
Old Hou's team was among the best in the country, and on the other hand, they were the most reassuring to the authorities.
As she had mentioned before, Old Hou was one of the first scientists in the country to learn about the nursing home.
What surprised her was that Old Hou had directly requested to visit the nursing home.
She couldn't figure out why, and seeing the tension on Old Hou's face only deepened her confusion.
Old Hou seemed to notice her gaze and turned to smile at her through the rearview mirror.
"Is that so?" she pointed ahead.
The car had just arrived at the nursing home.
And there stood Zheng Fa at the entrance.
Yang's heart skipped a beat as she slammed on the brakes.
...
Zheng Fa watched as Old Hou shakily stepped out of the car.
The old woman's gait was peculiar, one foot light and the other heavy, as if her legs or back were giving her trouble.
"Thank you for your trouble," Old Hou said as soon as she got out.
Teacher Tian stepped forward to support Old Hou, saying, "You should have called me before coming!"
"I was afraid it would be inconvenient for you," Old Hou replied, glancing at Zheng Fa with a hint of implication.
"I heard you got married; I didn't even send a red envelope."
"At my age, no one was invited."
It seemed that Teacher Tian and Old Hou were indeed familiar, chatting like old friends.
Zheng Fa observed Old Hou closely.
It was clear that her health was not great.
Especially after the long journey, her complexion was even more sallow.
Teacher Tian introduced a few people, but seeing Old Hou's poor condition, she didn't bother with small talk and led her inside.
Zheng Fa lagged behind, watching Old Hou walk away before turning to Team Leader Yang. "Is Old Hou here for medical treatment?"
Team Leader Yang had been vague on the phone, and Zheng Fa didn't understand why they were at the nursing home.
Given Old Hou's frail state, it was a natural assumption.
Yang shook her head. "How would I know? Old Hou insisted on coming, but..."
Her gaze held a hint of longing, clearly worried about Old Hou's health, but she seemed unfamiliar with Zheng Fa and hesitated to speak freely.
Zheng Fa nodded.
Yang felt a surge of joy, as if she had gained some insight into Zheng Fa's preferences...
"I actually brought some results regarding the artificial intelligence circuitry," Team Leader Yang said, seemingly not just there for Old Hou. "There are quite a few plans, all very complex."
Zheng Fa's heart leaped.
He had been keeping this in mind.
Sister Zhang's theory on spiritual energy circuits had found some validation in the teachings of the Nine Mountain Ancestor.
This made him more invested in the research.
However, the complexity of the study was daunting. Initially, from the gate circuit to the computing module, Zheng Fa could grasp it, but when it came to neural network circuit representations... he found it a bit overwhelming.
This field was primarily intricate; to achieve a certain level of intelligence, the circuits were nearly endless.
Sister Zhang had even admitted that there was an element of trial and error involved.
Only in modern times, with the aid of computational platforms and limitless research funding, could they see a glimmer of hope.
As they talked, they arrived at the main hall of the nursing home.
The dining table was already set with dishes, and Teacher Tian was saying, "You arrived just in time; try my cooking."
Old Hou nodded with a smile, but her gaze kept darting toward Zheng Fa.
During the meal, Zheng Fa felt that Old Hou was constantly glancing at him, as if she had something to say but hesitated.
"Old Hou, do you have something to say?" he asked directly.
"I came here... with a request," she said.
Yang chimed in, "Zheng Fa has already agreed to help you with your health."
"Help with my health?" Old Hou was taken aback, surprised. "What illness?"
"..."
Zheng Fa was momentarily stunned, looking at Old Hou.
"I'm here to ask for seeds."
"Seeds?" Old Hou's hands fluttered in the air, seemingly excited. "The rice seeds you have here, in terms of both quality and yield, far surpass the mainstream crops in the world."
"I came here to see if your rice seeds could serve as parents to cultivate even better mainstream crops."
Teacher Tian said, "We've discussed this before..."
Zheng Fa nodded.
He had thought about this before—
The plants in the nursing home had outstanding qualities, undoubtedly due to the influence of spiritual energy.
But on the other hand, if they used such crops as parents, would the offspring be tastier and more productive than the current mainstream crops?
Previously, they lacked the resources and, to be honest, didn't have the need.
He never expected Old Hou to come looking for them.
Team Leader Yang seemed to understand, her expression a bit excited as she looked at Old Hou. "Is that why you came?"
Old Hou nodded gently. "When I heard about the nursing home, I thought of this."
"The rice seeds I cultivated before had some flaws in taste, but the ones in your garden..."
Old Hou glanced at the rice in her bowl, her eyes filled with longing. "Are nearly perfect."
After she finished speaking, everyone at the table turned their gaze to Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa nodded slightly.
Suddenly, Old Hou stood up and bowed to Zheng Fa, as if to pay her respects.
Zheng Fa raised his hand to support her.
Seeing the astonished look on Old Hou's face, he smiled and said, "A person who has just eaten their fill cannot bear such a grand gesture."
Table of Contents
