Chen Lan looked at Xu Mingxuan's heroic spirit and thought it made sense. Although pioneering was harder work, and the place known as Beidahuang had fierce animals like wolves, tigers, leopards, and bears, as long as they didn't venture out alone, at least there wouldn't be the constant threat of losing their lives as in war.
She stopped dwelling on the topic of hardship and immediately chimed in, "You're right, Mingxuan Ge. As long as you have confidence, the wilderness will surely turn into fertile land. Isn't there a saying that describes the fertility of the Sanjiang Plain? It goes something like this: 'Pinch a handful of black soil and it oozes oil; stick chopsticks into it and they'll sprout.' So, Mingxuan Ge, Er Zhuang, I believe the Sanjiang Plain will become better year by year thanks to your efforts and will surely become our country's land of fish and rice."
Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang said with full confidence, "That's for sure, it will definitely be achieved."
However, Xu Mingxuan didn't know this at the time, and the facts proved it to be true. After nearly sixty to seventy years of hard work by the people of Beidahuang, the sweat of millions flowed like rivers on this barren black land. Through the unremitting efforts of several generations, the Sanjiang Plain finally transformed from wilderness into fertile fields, and in later generations, Beidahuang finally became the granary of China.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that no one in later generations of Chinese people had never eaten rice and flour from Beidahuang.
Chen Lan didn't know when Xu Mingxuan and the others would return. The first pioneers of that era carried simple luggage, wearing the military uniforms they hadn't taken off since being demobilized. They ventured into the depths of the uninhabited and marshy wastelands of the Sanjiang Plain, starting to reclaim the land. They felled trees, built roads, constructed houses, and planted crops, working together to build the Sanjiang Farm. Although six or seven years had passed, they were still on the front lines of pioneering in "Beidahuang." They brought their wives, children, and elders from their hometowns to take root in this wasteland of the Sanjiang Plain, truly dedicating their youth and their entire lives, and even passing on their commitment to their descendants for the construction of "Beidahuang."
Chen Lan decided to take advantage of Xu Mingxuan's return these few days, when someone was looking after the triplets at home, to prepare the luggage and items for their trip to Beidahuang.
Chen Lan decided to buy the thick clothes and quilts they would need from the system. Since the workers at the tailor shop were busy helping with threshing to ensure all the grain was stored, they didn't have time to help make these items. Moreover, Chen Lan didn't want to trouble them at this time, so she could only buy them from the system.
She also needed to prepare some common medicines for the two of them, as well as some durable preserved foods, such as Russian Vikka sausages. She would also order some modern processed ham sausages, luncheon meat, and other ready-to-eat foods from the system. She would then pack them separately with their quilts and luggage, making them easier to carry and less conspicuous.
However, Chen Lan dared not pack too much food for the two of them, fearing it might have an adverse effect. At this time, they had to be very careful about such matters.
As Chen Lan thought about Beidahuang, she also remembered that for several years, tens of thousands of young people had gone to support border construction, along with immigrants and the families of the early pioneers. They had all responded to the nation's call to participate in the pioneering and construction of Beidahuang, supporting its development. They were all a group of people worthy of respect.
Therefore, Chen Lan planned to talk to Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang in advance, to remind them how they should treat these people when they arrived in Beidahuang.
So, Chen Lan said to her mother, "Mom, please watch the triplets in the living room. I'm going to the small study with Mingxuan Ge and Er Zhuang. I have some things to discuss with them privately in there."
Her mother knew that there must be something important that was inconvenient to discuss in the living room, so she nodded and replied, "Lan'er, go ahead! I'll watch the three of them."
Chen Lan got up and led Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang towards the small study. Xu Mingxuan also knew that Lan'er must have something important she needed to discuss privately.
The three of them sat down in the small study, and Chen Lan, without beating around the bush, asked directly, "Mingxuan Ge, Er Zhuang, do you know about the matter of over fifty thousand young people from Shandong going to support the construction of Beidahuang?"
Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang both nodded simultaneously. Xu Mingxuan said, "Of course we know! Why wouldn't we? Lan'er, what's wrong? Quite a few retired comrades in our battalion have applied to participate in the construction of Beidahuang!" Then, both he and Er Zhuang looked at Chen Lan, waiting for her to continue.
Chen Lan cleared her throat gently and said, "Mingxuan Ge, Er Zhuang, my father-in-law said that many of these pioneers have a relatively high level of education. They forged the Beidahuang spirit with their youth and sweat, leaving the most precious wealth for this land. They and the later pioneers can be said to have: dedicated their youth and their lives to Beidahuang, and after their lives, they dedicated their descendants. Many of them never left Beidahuang and eventually rested in this black land alongside many of their comrades."
Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang looked at Chen Lan with astonishment. Xu Mingxuan asked, "Lan'er, did they really never leave Beidahuang for their entire lives?"
Chen Lan nodded and looked at the two with a serious expression, saying, "No, not only did they not leave, but even their children and grandchildren did not leave. It can be said that entire families, for generations, stayed in Beidahuang. In short, Mingxuan Ge and Er Zhuang, when you get to Beidahuang, you must use the little authority you have, as long as it doesn't violate any principles, to make things convenient for them and take better care of them, understand? Because many of these people are cultured individuals with true talents and knowledge, invaluable talents that our country cannot afford to lose. Of course, if you two want to learn any skills, you can also take this opportunity to find a good teacher and quietly learn something."
For the next few days, Xu Mingxuan stayed at home to look after the triplets, bonding with them. Chen Lan, while taking time to prepare their travel items, also led the women and children from the valley up the mountain to pick mushrooms and gather mountain goods for winter provisions. Chen Lan was extremely busy every day. Furthermore, she was responsible for hunting with the young men from the hunting team, preparing meat for everyone in the valley for the winter.
Since the valley was not planning to slaughter pigs and sheep this year, intending to keep them as breeding stock for next year, the amount of meat the valley residents would eat this year would depend on how much game Chen Lan and their hunting team could catch. The pressure on Chen Lan and the hunting team felt immense.