Chapter 318 - 160: Adjustment

Chapter 318: Chapter 160: Adjustment

Professor Wang, crouching silently by the field ridge, was of course familiar with the renowned Jiang Miao.

Professor Wang’s full name was Wang Yingxiang. At South China Ecological Park University, he was a second-rank professor and a Distinguished Young Scholar. He also served as a researcher at the Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Laboratory and, since 2022, had been the professor and dean of the university’s School of Life Sciences.

Although Jiang Miao was a Lion Mountain Agricultural University graduate, he was open to hiring graduates from other agricultural universities.

To date, Hailufeng Company had recruited nearly seventy recent graduates from South China Ecological Park University.

Professor Wang’s team had originally come to Eastern Guangdong simply to conduct an inspection. They also planned to collaborate with the local agricultural research institute to collect some wild soybean seeds.

Professor Wang’s own research focused on soybeans, specifically in two areas:

His first area was the genetic and epigenetic regulation of plant reproductive development. Using Arabidopsis and soybeans as his primary subjects, he studied the molecular mechanisms of meiotic recombination and explored their application in breeding.

His other research focus was the molecular-genetic basis for soybean adaptation to tropical and subtropical climates and the creation of new germplasms. He was dedicated to exploring the genetic foundations of this adaptation and using techniques like gene editing to create new soybean germplasm resources.

After finishing their inspection at the Goose City Agricultural Research Institute the day before yesterday, they had driven over to visit the Shanmei Agricultural Research Institute.

When Xiao Jieshi, the director of the Shanmei Agricultural Research Institute, heard the purpose of their visit, he was immediately reminded of the new soybean variety that Hailufeng Company was test-planting in areas like Red Grass Town. He then personally brought Professor Wang’s team over to take a look.

Professor Wang, carefully examining the structure on the back of a soybean leaf, frowned deeply. Then he raised his head and asked, "Dean Xiao, do you know the details of this variety?"

"We know a little," Xiao Jieshi explained with a smile. "After all, Hailufeng Company has already filed for various patents, including a genetic patent. We’re in the trial-planting phase now. The Provincial Crop Variety Examination and Approval Committee gave the go-ahead for experimental cultivation last year, and our institute is one of the assisting organizations."

Pulling out a bottle of mineral water, Professor Wang asked, "Would you be able to share some of the specifics with us?"

"No problem."

Professor Wang had already poured some water onto a soybean leaf and was observing it with rapt attention.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jieshi began to give the group a brief overview of the Immortal Bean series. Of course, the information he had was from the initial reports. The new characteristics of the series’ root system had only been discovered later in the cultivation process and had not yet been submitted to the Crop Variety Examination and Approval Committee.

After listening to Xiao Jieshi’s description, Professor Wang stared intently at the leaves. The water droplets on them were absorbed in no time.

"It’s that fast?" another researcher exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Professor Wang was just as shocked. "It absorbs the moisture from its leaves in just ten to twenty minutes. No wonder it’s so drought-resistant. This is a brand-new trait."

"I’ve also heard their root systems are different from ordinary soybeans."

"Different?" Professor Wang pulled out a hundred-yuan bill and handed it to a nearby farmer. "Sir, here’s a hundred. Would you let me pull up a few of these plants to take back for research?"

"Sure, pull as many as you want." The old farmer flashed a white-toothed grin and accepted the hundred-yuan bill.

Of course, this was out of respect for Xiao Jieshi, who had led them here. Otherwise, this kind of behavior could be considered seedling theft.

A doctoral student at the side squatted down, wanting to help Professor Wang pull up the soybean plant. However, despite mustering all his strength, he failed to pull the soybean vine and its roots up together.

"Can you do it or not? Xiaosong, you need to work out more!" another researcher joked.

"No, it’s not me! Something’s not right with this soybean!" Xiaosong explained, his face beet red. Then, using all his might, he finally pulled the soybean up by its roots. "HUFF... PUFF... Got it."

However, Professor Wang and the others were dumbstruck.

They stared, transfixed, at the soybean plant’s root system.

"What is this thing?"

"Did they mix-plant it with potatoes?"

"Huh? But this is all part of the root system!"

"Really?"

The researchers were stunned.

Even the widely experienced Professor Wang had a completely baffled look on his face. "The soybeans grew tubers? Dean Xiao, could this variety be genetically modified?"

Xiao Jieshi, at their side, was also seeing the Immortal Bean’s root system for the first time. He had only observed the seedlings and hadn’t paid any attention to what was growing underground. He shook his head vigorously. "No! I remember it clearly. The Immortal Bean series was developed using traditional breeding techniques."

"Traditional breeding can select for such a highly specialized variety?" Professor Wang was so stunned that if he weren’t an expert in his field, he’d be questioning his entire education in agriculture.

Xiao Jieshi suggested awkwardly, "Why don’t we go pay a visit to Professor Jiang Miao?"

"Good idea." Before leaving, Professor Wang didn’t forget to pull up a few more soybean plants.

Soon, they drove to the temporary headquarters of Hailufeng Company.

Standing at the main entrance of the experimental area, they could see that more than half of Magong Mountain behind it had been transformed. Large greenhouses had been built on the four levels of terraces, and many researchers in Hailufeng Company uniforms were busy working inside the experimental greenhouses.

A work group that had just come out of the tissue culture lab saw Professor Wang and the others. One of them’s eyes went wide: "Dean Wang?"

"And you are?" Professor Wang genuinely didn’t recognize him.

"I’m Huang Xinghe. I graduated from South China Ecological Park University last year. I saw you at the school a few times, Dean Wang. What brings you all here?"