Chapter 151

Qing Mengzhu discovered that Zhao Hexi is now very enthusiastic about doing business.

After thinking for a moment, Qing Mengzhu said, "Let's give it a try first. If it doesn't work, we can stop anytime."

Zhao Hexi: "Okay, then I'll find someone to arrange for the earthworms to be sold. I'll list them directly on our online store, and if anyone asks me for earthworms again, I'll just send them the website link."

"You go and make the arrangements." After thinking for a moment, Qing Mengzhu added, "Find someone specifically to handle this. Giving out an extra bonus won't cost much, so don't overwork yourself."

Zhao Hexi: "I know, I'll make the arrangements."

Qing Mengzhu and his company quickly put earthworms on their online store, and to their surprise, the earthworms were more popular than they had imagined.

Not only their peers, but also many of their Old Gu will buy some and make vermicompost according to the instructions—that is, putting earthworms in a mixture of cow and sheep manure, rotten vegetable leaves, rotten fruit peels, etc., and letting the earthworms digest and decompose the product.

Using earthworms to make fertilizer is very convenient for urban gardeners who grow vegetables and flowers. It can eliminate some kitchen waste, provide good fertilizer at a low price, and the whole process is odorless and harmless.

That day, Gu Benshu also came over under the pretense of reporting to Qing Mengzhu, clearly having something to say to Qing Mengzhu.

Their collaboration with the Northern Research Institute of the Huaxia Academy of Sciences is almost complete. They expect to publish two or three papers on "Insect-Killing Bacillus and Biological Missile" technology next month, and they will also be able to apply for patents. At that time, they will launch a new generation of egg parasitic wasps carrying Insect-Killing Bacillus.

Qing Mengzhu only had a general understanding of this technology and was not clear about the specific research project, which was too complex for a layman to understand.

He was quite happy that the research results were about to be released.

The research results are shared by both parties; they will each receive a share of the patent and will also receive some money.

Qing Mengzhu said to Gu Benshu, "You've all worked hard these past few days. Once the patents and papers are approved, have He Xi give you bonuses."

Gu Benshu: "This period has been very tiring, but I've also learned a lot. Once the Biological Missile project is finished, we'll start preparing for the next project."

Qing Mengzhu understood his implied meaning and asked, "What are your thoughts now?"

Gu Benshu: "I have a somewhat immature idea, I don't know if it's feasible?"

Qing Mengzhu gestured for him to speak.

Gu Benshu said, "Previously, our research on Biological Missile technology focused on egg parasitic wasps. I'm thinking, in the next stage, could we experiment with earthworms? Let's see if we can try infecting earthworms with highly toxic Insect-Killing Bacillus, and then further infect pests in the soil?"

Qing Mengzhu's brow twitched. "Earthworm and Biological Missile technology?"

Chapter 151

Gu Benshu has clearly been considering the technology of "Earthworm and Biological Missile" for some time.

When Qing Mengzhu asked about it, he said to Qing Mengzhu, "Current Biological Missile technology generally focuses on egg parasitic wasps, and it mainly controls lepidopteran pests, with relatively weak control effects on underground pests."

Qing Mengzhu: "Indeed, soil pests are not the targets of egg parasitic wasps."

Gu Benshu: "Not only can parasitic wasps not control underground pests, but many pesticides also cannot reach them, such as mole crickets, white grubs, root maggots, cutworms, wireworms, and root-knot nematodes, which are all very difficult to control."

Soil pests are indeed a difficult problem to control. Qing Mengzhu: "So you want to try having earthworms carry Insect-Killing Bacillus to infect the pests underground?"

Gu Benshu nodded. "I want to take some people to try and cultivate a specialized Insect-Killing Bacillus, one that targets only specific pests and doesn't harm Insect-Killing Bacillus."

After finishing his sentence, Gu Benshu added, "I've learned a lot from working with the experts at the Northern Research Institute on the Biological Missile project, and I've also gained some new inspiration."

Qing Mengzhu thought for a moment and said, "Then write me a report, and we'll discuss it at a meeting later."

Gu Benshu was delighted. "Okay, I'll write it as soon as I get back!"

Writing reports is Gu Benshu's forte, while analyzing reports is Ming Chunxi's forte.

After carefully reviewing the report and searching for relevant data, Ming Chunxi told Qing Mengzhu and Zhao Hexi that the report was largely accurate and worth a try.

Hearing Ming Chunxi's evaluation, Zhao Hexi was a little surprised. "It seems that Old Gu really put in a lot of effort."

When Gu Benshu first joined their company, his motto was "I will never take a penny less and I will never put in a penny more." The fact that he received such praise from Ming Chunxi shows that he is now putting in a lot of extra effort.

Qing Mengzhu said, "It might be because our project is actually going to be successful. I'll talk to him on Monday to see how much funding we need."

Ming Chunxi: "Call me anytime if you need anything."

On Monday, Qing Mengzhu personally held a meeting with Gu Benshu and his team.

After a morning meeting, Qing Mengzhu listened to the team's detailed presentation and finally approved the project. The funding was also approved, but in installments, not all at once.

Gu Benshu was in high spirits when he had a good thing to do. In addition to leading his team to study earthworms and Insect-Killing Bacillus, he also brought over a batch of Insect-Killing Bacillus.

Qing Mengzhu and the others replaced the bee cards in the vegetable garden with new ones to control various lepidopteran pests.

The bee eggs hatch very quickly; if hung up in the evening, they will all hatch within two or three days.

The hatched Trichogramma bees are brightly colored and look a bit fierce, and they actually are; if you accidentally touch them, they will sting you.

Zhao Hexi, who was patrolling the fields with Qing Mengzhu, said, "It's a pity. There are so many red-eyed bees, but they don't pollinate much."

Trichogramma wasps also feed on pollen and nectar, but they do not fly among flowers. The hatched Trichogramma wasps, driven by their genes, will desperately seek out the eggs of pests to parasitize and reproduce.

Qing Mengzhu, "It's already good enough that they can harm pests; we can't expect them to be able to do both."

Zhao Hexi: "That's true. The cucumbers over there look ripe, shall we pick some to take back and try?"

Qing Mengzhu glanced at the cucumber trellis. "I'll go look for it."

Their cucumbers grew well this year; now the trellises are full of cucumbers of all sizes, most of which are not yet ripe, and only a small portion are ready to be harvested.

Zhao Hexi picked one, casually wiped it on her clothes, and then popped it into her mouth and took a bite. "Fragrant! Delicious!"

Qing Mengzhu glanced at him, but ultimately couldn't be as unrestrained as him. So she took the cucumber to the riverbank, intending to wash it before eating it.

Zhao Hexi followed behind him, muttering, "We didn't use any pesticides when we planted this batch of cucumbers, and the water and fertilizer didn't get on the leaves, so they're very clean. No need to be fussy."

Qing Mengzhu: "I'd better be a little more particular. You can enjoy the dusty cucumber all by yourself."

Zhao Hexi held the cucumber up to his face. "Where's the dust? Didn't I already wipe it clean on my clothes?"

Qing Mengzhu ignored him and went straight to the river to carefully wash the cucumbers, shaking off all the water before she was ready to eat them.

Just as Qing Mengzhu finished washing the cucumbers, a small head popped up from under the water, its round eyes looking at him. "Eek?"

Zhao Hexi: "Little Otter, what are you doing here?"

The otter glanced at Zhao Hexi, then continued looking at Qing Mengzhu, before raising its front paws out of the water and handing the large fish it was holding to Qing Mengzhu.

Qing Mengzhu and said, "Thank you, Little Otter."

As he spoke, Qing Mengzhu casually stuffed the cucumber into his pocket and took the large fish from the otter's paw.

The otter seemed a little embarrassed, let out another "woof," and then tried to hide in the water.

Zhao Hexi seized the opportunity and reached out to the otter. "Little Otter, I want one too!"

The otter glanced at Qing Mengzhu, then at Zhao Hexi, hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to hide in the water.

Zhao Hexi quickly said, "Little Otter, you can't be biased."