Chapter 29: Inspecting the Plantation Base

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast prepared by his parents, Lu Yu and Chen Xiaofei drove to the town's official office. Upon hearing about their intention to invest, the reception staff notified a supervisor. The supervisor arrived shortly, exchanged pleasantries, and inquired about the specific projects and estimated amounts they were considering for investment.

Lu Yu thought for a moment and replied, "My friend is planning to invest in the establishment of a traditional Chinese medicine herb planting base, with an initial investment of over thirty million."

"I also plan to build a processing center for traditional Chinese medicine here, and will invest in a planting base later on. The amount is still uncertain, but it will definitely exceed my friend's investment."

"We have brought soil testing equipment and professional researchers with us."

"As long as the land is suitable for growing traditional Chinese medicine, we can finalize the investment and lease the land. Of course, we can also hire many local planting staff."

"Once my processing center is completed, if there are other local growers of traditional Chinese medicine that meet our company's standards, we can purchase their produce at market prices."

"This means there should be plenty of vacant fields and forests that can be utilized, generating economic benefits."

After Lu Yu finished speaking, he smiled at the supervisor. The supervisor took a moment to digest Lu Yu's words and understood the implications, stating, "This is certainly a good thing. We welcome your investment. Many young people have moved to the cities, leaving a lot of farmland unused. If we can utilize it, it will help us develop."

Lu Yu replied, "I'm also a local, so it's only right for me to contribute to the development of my hometown."

The supervisor exclaimed, "Oh? You’re from here?"

Lu Yu confirmed, "Yes, I grew up here, and my parents still live in the town."

The supervisor smiled and assured him, "Welcome back to invest in your hometown. Rest assured, we will provide all the necessary benefits to the fullest extent."

"If you face any difficulties or needs, just let us know. We will solve what we can and find solutions for what we can't."

Lu Yu responded, "Thank you, supervisor. In the coming days, we will be inspecting various locations and conducting some tests. If it's convenient for you, could you arrange for some staff to accompany us?"

The supervisor nodded repeatedly, affirming that it would not be a problem.

The town had little industry, mostly centered around services. The sudden arrival of two significant investments would continuously yield economic benefits. The locals could benefit from this, either by participating in the cultivation of traditional Chinese medicine or by selling produce to the processing center, which would yield higher income than merely growing grains. Securing these two projects would be substantial achievements for the local government.

In the following days, Lu Yu and Chen Xiaofei, accompanied by official staff, collected soil samples for testing and prepared various experimental reports. They ultimately identified several forested areas and a large tract of land with rivers that had good water quality and no pollution. The soil was also suitable for cultivating traditional Chinese medicine, and the mountainous areas were ideal for certain herbs.

After reviewing the reports, Lu Yu and Chen Xiaofei decided to return to Shudu to establish a management team and procure equipment. The cultivation base would not rely solely on manual labor. Various irrigation systems, pest control facilities, and fertilization equipment needed to be installed. Growing traditional Chinese medicine was different from general agriculture; it required professional guidance in the early stages. Otherwise, improper planting could adversely affect the medicinal properties of the herbs, failing to meet standards.

After discussing with the officials, they signed a letter of intent for investment. The officials would clear the designated areas, and then Lu Yu and his team would return to sign the leasing contracts and arrange for construction of the planting base and processing center.

After bidding farewell to his parents, informing them he would return after a period, Lu Yu headed back to Shudu with Chen Xiaofei. The researchers finished their tasks and happily returned to Shudu with the bonuses provided by Chen Xiaofei. After dropping Lu Yu off at a community near the Niu Wang Miao subway station, Chen Xiaofei drove off, stating he would immediately establish a management team experienced in cultivation bases to expedite the project and complete the planting base sooner.

Upon returning home, Lu Yu found it empty and, not thinking much of it, went to his study to continue writing the code for the compression algorithm. In the evening, after work, Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian came home and found Lu Yu in the study.

Qin Xiaomian paused for a moment, then rushed over and jumped into his arms, clinging to him like a koala, exclaiming, "Stinky uncle! I missed you so much!"

Lu Yu held her soft body, inhaling the fresh scent of early spring grass that clung to her, smiling as he carried her into the living room.

It had been a few days since he last saw the two women, and Lu Yu couldn't help but admit he missed them a little, especially their company. Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian always brought him different experiences and double the joy.

He found himself both concerned about his wellbeing and unable to resist the allure of their presence. However, before he could chat with them further, they dove straight into completing the various tasks assigned by the company. This left Lu Yu feeling a tad frustrated, but seeing their seriousness made him refrain from interrupting.

It was clear that the filming schedule planned by the company was in full swing. This was evident from the two women, who not only worked without resting after hours but seemed even busier than before.

Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian were very passionate about their current work. If before they were somewhat lackadaisical, now, after witnessing the actual effects of the company’s products during filming, they were fully invested in their roles. Even Qin Xiaomian, usually playful and free-spirited, was taking things seriously.

Lu Yu was surprised to find that she didn't pester him about the company's products, which was unlike her. Watching the two beautiful young women work diligently before him stirred feelings within him. Despite feeling a surge of attraction, he restrained himself, wanting to respect their dedication.

It was evident that their experience with the team during the filming of promotional materials had a profound impact on both Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian. They not only recognized their own skill gaps compared to their peers but also noticed that even more capable individuals were putting in even greater efforts, which instilled a sense of urgency in them.

This idea that being around outstanding individuals can inspire one to excel was not without merit. It had been proven over time. Environments could indeed change a person.

Watching Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian suddenly become more ambitious was a complex feeling for Lu Yu. He felt a mix of happiness for their growth and a tinge of loss; the two used to revolve around him, especially Qin Xiaomian, who was often silly and carefree. Now, they had shifted, which left him feeling a bit out of place.

It felt similar to how a once niche community could feel overwhelmed when suddenly flooded by new members after commercial success. The original members might find themselves feeling alienated even if they were happy for the growth.

Nevertheless, overall, Lu Yu was genuinely pleased with the changes in Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian. People naturally gravitate towards those with positive energy. A person who radiates negativity will see their circle of friends dwindle.

Choosing to be around happy people is not a difficult decision; no one wants to be mired in sadness all the time. So, Lu Yu found himself happy, silently supporting them. Even if one day they excelled and moved on, he would view it as a natural progression.

They did not belong to him but rather to themselves. Lu Yu prided himself on not being selfish. Everyone has their own life and journey. No one should have to lose themselves for another person, ending up in a tangled mess.

It was good for the two women to be out working, with their own lives and circles. However, he felt a bit disappointed; after all, they had already shared intimate moments.

Filled with unquenchable enthusiasm, Lu Yu recited calming mantras in his heart and returned to his study, lighting a cigarette. After a brief moment, he resumed writing code, eager to complete the compression algorithm quickly, as he felt a lingering sense of unfinished business.

The sooner he finished the algorithm, the sooner he could dive into other areas of knowledge. Currently, he felt he was only scratching the surface! He had to learn more in various fields.

Advancing in technology couldn't rely solely on imagination and talk. Each time he delved into learning and researching basic technological materials, he envied the protagonists in novels.

These characters seemed to effortlessly flaunt their success, win over women, and spend lavishly. Yet, even in the midst of their escapades, they were somehow producing groundbreaking technology.

Why was it that for him, advancing in technology felt so arduous? Others managed to create anti-gravity ships while he struggled with a simple compression algorithm.

Others could whip up artificial intelligence in a couple of days, while he was still grappling with the basics. Others casually ventured into space for mining or colonization, while he was left feeling drained after a simple interaction with two lovely women.

Why was it that he needed a recovery period after spending time with them? He had hoped for boundless energy.

Lu Yu's frustration boiled over as he pondered these questions. He wanted to scream, "Why is it like this?"

He gazed longingly at the vast array of technological materials and the extensive knowledge he needed to master. He felt tears welling up, staring off into the distance as he lamented how difficult it was to advance in technology.

Determined, Lu Yu focused intensely on writing code, his fingers flying over the keyboard as if to vent his anger at the author. Immersed in the logic of programming, he lost track of time.

What is an algorithm? To put it simply, an algorithm has five characteristics: input, output, finiteness, determinism, and feasibility.

In summary, an algorithm is a finite sequence of steps expressed in code to solve practical problems.

Once you grasp this concept, you will understand why time flies when coding an algorithm.