Chapter 1231 - 1228: This Sour Jujube Seems Off
Indeed.
Thinking back to childhood, it feels like it was just yesterday.
But many years have indeed passed.
Luofeng also knew that Bai Lu had a hard time growing up, so he didn’t joke about it.
Shangguan Shui’er spoke up, "Something’s not right!"
"Huh? What’s wrong?" Luofeng asked in confusion.
"The altitude is off." Shangguan Shui’er said as she handed the phone to Luofeng, "Look, I was trying to check what sour jujubes are, and the information says they only grow up to 1700 meters above sea level, but this area around Bai Family Village clearly exceeds 2000 meters, right?"
Bai Lu said, "The lowest altitude here is at least 2300 meters!"
The villagers probably aren’t exactly sure what their altitude is.
But bookish people like Bai Lu would know.
"That’s why I said something’s not right!" Shangguan Shui’er exclaimed.
So, there’s this kind of problem too? Luofeng secretly looked forward to it.
"Let’s go take a look first!" Luofeng suggested.
After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at a patch of sour jujube trees.
Luofeng asked the people from Zhongyi Tang Company to measure the altitude.
These people who followed Luofeng into the mountains naturally also had equipped altimeter watches.
The altimeter showed the altitude here as 2368 meters.
Luofeng already knew the reason in his heart, but outwardly he feigned surprise, "I’ll contact Li Bo Kai, his secondary field is biology, he should be able to find the reason!"
After calling, Luofeng immediately switched to speakerphone.
And he proactively said, "I’m over here at Moon Mountain."
Li Bo Kai was smart too; in this situation, he wouldn’t make jokes.
Because Bai Lu was present.
"Some interesting phenomena have occurred on my side," Luofeng said.
"What interesting phenomena?" Li Bo Kai asked.
"About sour jujubes, is it possible for them to exist above 2300 meters of altitude?" Luofeng queried.
"Uh...hold on, let me check with Professor Hao," Li Bo Kai replied.
Professor Hao had also participated in research on evergreen trees before.
He was a professor at the Capital City Institute of Technology.
In less than five minutes, Li Bo Kai set up a group voice chat.
Professor Hao and Professor Qian both joined the group.
Professor Qian Bojun had been part of the team, led by Li Bo Kai’s university, for the evergreen research.
"Student Luo Feng, did you discover another mutant plant?" Professor Qian was the first to speak.
"I don’t know if it’s a mutant plant, but the current altitude of Moon Mountain is over two thousand meters, yet there’s a patch of sour jujube trees. We just talked about it, and my girlfriend said that the altitude here shouldn’t allow sour jujube trees to survive?"
"Student Luo, open the video and show us the sour jujube trees," Professor Hao instructed, "By the way, have these sour jujubes borne fruit?"
While filming the video, Luofeng explained, "Someone has seen the sour jujubes bear fruit and even eaten them, and it was many years ago."
Then Luofeng asked, "Student Bai Lu, do you know when the last time these sour jujubes bore fruit was?"
Bai Lu nodded, "I know, they bore fruit last year. The villagers even collected some. I heard the kernels inside can supposedly cure illnesses?"
Professor Hao said, "It seems these sour jujubes indeed have issues, able to breach the 1700-meter survival limit. I need to come and take a look."
"Student Luo Feng, send us the address. We’ll come over for an on-site investigation immediately," Professor Hao said excitedly.
"In such a hurry?" Luofeng chuckled.
"In research, the sooner the better, of course," Professor Qian spoke on behalf of Professor Hao.
"Alright then. By the way, the mountain roads here are quite tough, and conditions are harsh. After estimating how long you’ll stay, make sure to prepare enough supplies," Luofeng advised.
"Brother Feng, I want to come too!" Li Bo Kai said.
"Up to you. Anyway, I’ll be leaving in a while," Luofeng replied.
Luofeng silently made a decision.
This patch of sour jujube trees.
Luofeng decided to offer it as a reward to Baiyun Village.
This is a village worth Luofeng’s contribution.
Not because Luofeng is a saint, but because the patch of sour jujube trees has limited value.
The total area is only about two acres.
Yield is 100 kilograms.
Despite having significant effects on treating hypertension and insomnia, there are plenty of medications for these conditions. It can’t become a rarity.
Moreover, these lands originally belong to Baiyun Village.
Luofeng has no reason to seize and claim them as his own.
Otherwise, it would offend everyone in the village.
Once Luofeng ended the group voice call, Shangguan Feier curiously asked, "Is there really an issue with this patch of sour jujube trees?"
Luofeng nodded, "Yes, Shui’er’s earlier research was spot on. The survival limit for sour jujubes is indeed over 1700 meters, but the altitude here clearly exceeds that. Normally, this shouldn’t be possible."
On high mountains, there’s a clear distinction of altitude layers and the plants that should appear at each level, all results of nature’s selection.
A phenomenon that goes against nature is certainly abnormal.
Actually, altitude isn’t the real reason; the real cause is the temperature change brought by altitude.
In high-altitude regions, for every 100 meters you ascend, the temperature drops by 0.6°C.
From 1700 meters to 2300 meters, that’s a 3.6°C difference.
It may seem trivial, but it greatly affects plants.
Luofeng looked at Bai Lu and asked, "Student Bai Lu, who owns this patch of sour jujube trees?"
Bai Lu hesitantly replied, "It’s my family’s!"
"What?" Luofeng was surprised, looking at Bai Lu.
Bai Lu explained, "This plot was allocated to us for our own use, but because of the jujube trees, we never managed it, and we don’t have much labor in our family. Even with the recent reforestation policies, we haven’t touched it!"
Meaning the labor is too little, there’s no need to clear it for farming.
About clearing it to rent out?
Sorry.
This kind of mountainous terrain isn’t valuable; no one would want it.
"It’s not owned by the village?" Luofeng thought this type of hillside should belong to the authorities?
"No, it’s ours, which is why I used to come back as a child to pick jujubes," Bai Lu said.
"That’s good. This patch of sour jujube trees has issues. If anyone wants to buy or rent it, don’t agree. If there’s any trouble, you can tell me directly," Luofeng advised.
"Okay." Bai Lu nodded.
Shangguan Feier curiously asked, "I remember sour jujubes being sour, but not extremely so, right? Didn’t Student Bai Lu say that they made her teeth ache?"
Luofeng said, "It’s likely because, under abnormal conditions, these sour jujube trees underwent some mutation. They have some research value. I’ve already contacted the professors, and in time, there will be results."
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