In 1844, the Belgian Linden discovered an orchid in Cuba that had no leaves and did not grow on the land. It only relied on a flat root like a green ribbon, with beech rotten leaves as the growth base, attached to the rotten apple trunk, and bloomed with pale and peculiar shapes. When the wind blew gently, the petals swung with the wind looked like ghosts floating in the air, so it was called ghost orchids.

Ghost orchid is an epiphytic plant. Although it is also entangled on other plants, it is different from ordinary parasitic plants. It does not absorb nutrients from the host plant, but uses its own roots for photosynthesis and moisture absorption.

Usually only 5% to 10% of ghost orchids can bloom, and this weak reproduction method makes it increasingly rare and precious. What is even more terrifying is that it often companions with crocodiles, which makes it almost impossible to find and dig; while the strange and picky reproductive conditions have not been artificially cultivated yet - each ghost orchid only blooms 1-2 times in a lifetime, and relies on insects to transmit pollen, while the only way to seeds is spreading wind.

Because of the restrictions of the Washington Convention, there is no public transaction record for ghost orchids, but the more precious the variety, the more enthusiastic the pursuit. When the super rich man who has a huge amount of money and enjoys collecting rare orchid varieties takes action, the deep mountain swamps and crocodiles cannot stop the adventurers. For money, moths and fires are flying one after another, and the highest transaction price is $2.6 million!

"How much does it cost to artificially cultivate orchids of such a top-notch and rare variety!" Bai Yu said heavily.

Fu Ruoting raised a finger and Bai Yu raised his eyebrows: "One billion?"

"No!"

Fu Ruoting bent his fingers, "It's only nine million! To be honest, the cumulative investment over the years has been only about three or four million. The main consideration is that the second phase R&D costs are higher, so I need this number, and it's enough to just talk about five million."

"Is that true?" Bai Yu looked at him unexpectedly, and seemed to have a new understanding in an instant, and asked again, "What is the second phase of research?"

"The rotten trunks wrapped by ghost orchids, whether oak, apple or cypress, are transplanted to other trunks when they are too decayed to the point of attachment. They will die within three days," Fu Ruoting sighed in annoyance. "So far, I have not deciphered the code that ghost orchids will last forever, which is equivalent to limiting its survival period - because the swamp environment will definitely accelerate the degree of rotten trunks, and no matter how skillful the method is, it will last for at most about five or six years."

Five or six years have become very difficult, Bai Yu was secretly shocked and said:

"If the patent application is successful, what scale of artificial cultivation is expected to be in Guanlingpu?"

Fu Ruoting had definitely considered the business operation for a long time, and said now: "Artificial cultivation adopts order system, and eats when reading vegetables; the county set up a farmer's cooperative to raise funds and invest to diversify risks; the patent purchaser set up a technology trading company to provide full-process guidance and services..."

“What is the core technology?”

"Seeds, environmental settings and nutrient solution are indispensable," Fu Ruoting said, "When I overcome the second phase of research and development problems, the third phase will be the problem of adaptation and popularity, then..."

Bai Yu raised his hand and interrupted, laughing: "In my opinion, there is no need to study the third issue. When the ghost orchid is as widespread as radish, it loses its commercial value."

"Its particularity of its environmental requirements is destined to be in the niche position of the orchid family. My efforts are only to let the ghost orchid fall from the out of reach altar."

The two of them walked to the middle of the yard while talking. There were experimental fields covered with strange plants all around them. When the breeze blew, they also had strange smells.

After some thought, Bai Yu decided to take down the patent rights through Yang Shiju of Yangzi Medicinal Materials. First, Yang Shiju was gradually withdrawing investment from Shanglin; second, last year he also revealed his idea of ​​not wanting to be too tired to do long-term investments in the future.

"With the first phase of research results, it is okay to get hundreds of millions of overseas food for patents, why not?" Bai Yu asked.

Fu Ruoting said frankly: "I am very contradictory. I want to pass the virtuous cycle of commercialization, but I am also afraid of profit-oriented monopoly exploitation in Europe and the United States. I want to firmly control the core technology so that I can continue to study it instead of being turned away after a large amount of money."

"You are fully qualified to join a foreign laboratory with your strength."

"I...if my patent benefits the people, I will be happier than making a fortune myself."

Bai Yu looked at the doctor deeply and said, "I heard that you were punished internally for making a mistake at Kyoto Agricultural University and sent to Guan Ling?"

Fu Ruoting sighed long and said for a long time: "The artificial cultivation technology of ghost orchids is a topic that I started to work on when I was in my master's degree. The school set up a research group with a supervisor as the team leader, but in fact, all the work revolved around me... After the breakthrough in the second stage - I looked back and saw that it was only one-third of the journey. The supervisor couldn't wait to sell some patents to large American companies and then form a joint laboratory. What a bullshit joint, it's not a big check signed for others! There are many such shameless professors in famous Chinese universities. Damn it! I quit doing it in anger, and it was useless to say that I didn't do it and did both soft and hard. The supervisor couldn't do it either, and he and the school kicked me to Guan Ling. It doesn't matter. I just happened to use Guan Lingshan's rich swamp resources to continue researching and make rapid breakthroughs. It's really bad things turned into good things."

Speaking of this, Bai Yu made up his mind, but asked more questions:

"If Ruoting took on a heavier burden, will it affect the second phase of research and development?"

"No, no!" Fu Ruoting smiled, "There are two types of scientific research. One is to do it hard and take the exhaustive method to try your luck; the other is to rely on my talent and insight. I spend only two or three hours on research every day, but my efficiency is much higher than the first one. For example, most of the world's most researchers in ghost orchids are constantly experimenting with the matching mode of beech leaves and rotten apple trunks. However, there are tens of thousands of apple trees and thousands of beech types. In addition, the combination of soil, humidity, temperature and other ratios in swamp land, it can't be studied in a lifetime by using the exhaustive method."

Bai Yu nodded in agreement: "Just as particular about understanding the meaning, understanding means understanding, and not understanding means not understanding."

It is relatively easy to apply for and purchase a patent. After Bai Yu and Yang Shiju called that night, an investor named Shao Junfeng came to Guan Ling to discuss cooperation the next morning.

Shao Junfeng is a friend who has been playing with Yang Shiju since he was a child. He can definitely trust and has no financial connections. In this way, Yang Shiju has safely retreated behind the scenes.

Although she graduated from an ordinary undergraduate school, Shao Junfeng also had an academic heart. She talked with Fu Ruoting for five hours at first sight, and then signed the intention to cooperate. As discussed in advance, all matters were handed over to Shao Junfeng for processing, and Fu Ruoting could be invisible behind the scenes to command.

The core of artificially cultivated ghost orchids lies in the environment. All swamps in Guanling Mountain do not meet the conditions and must be simulated manually, as well as designated varieties of rotten apple trees, growth bases, nutrient solution, etc. Fu Ruoting's point of view is to improve the basic environment even if he has not received an order. Once the patent is published to the public, there will definitely be a tide of orders.

In order to prevent sharp price drops and actively control the market demand and price of ghost orchids, Bai Yu, Fu Ruoting, and Shao Junfeng unanimously agreed that the annual output in the first five years must be limited to less than 30 plants.

This is also determined by scale and production capacity. Fu Ruoting has not yet deciphered the code that the ghost orchid flowering rate and weak reproduction ability have not reached the output of 30 plants in the first two years.

The cultivation location is Xuhuai Township, which is the most economically backward. It is located on the northern foot of Guanling Mountain with barren land, lack of water and sparse sunshine. However, the advantage is that the large distribution of swamps can provide rich cultivation sources for improvement.

When signing the cooperation agreement, Bai Yu further proposed to use Fu Ruoting's leading position in orchid research to build the "Xu Huai Orchid Garden". At least two-thirds of those who came to see ghost orchids were interested in other orchid varieties. Bai Yu wanted to lay the foundation for the future holding of the "Xu Huai Orchid Festival".

"Xu Huai Lan Garden is the first step, and Xu Huai Lan Flower Festival is the second step. If both steps are completed, you will be named Guan Ling's history. The organization will never treat you badly!"

Bai Yu encouraged.

Fu Ruoting said: "I have been an orchid lover since I was a child, and this is also the reason why I have a position to focus on ghost orchids during my master's degree. With my understanding and research on orchids, the two steps you require are not a problem, the only problem is..."

Smart people can be seen through at a glance.

Bai Yu patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, the organization will definitely create a good external environment for you."

Suddenly, Bai Yu, who had been able to delay personnel adjustments before, met Ou Xueming while having dinner in the canteen on Friday at noon, and took the initiative to ask how the list of the most urgent cadres was communicating, why was it not in a hurry?

Ou Xueming said depressedly that it was not that I was not in a hurry, but that I couldn’t get up. After Xiaocheng was drawn to the Health and Civilized City Creation Office, he was busy all day long and had no time to communicate and negotiate.

Bai Yu did not respond to Xiao Xiaocheng's question, but smiled and said that after dinner, he invited Guan Zuo, and Yunxiu went to my office to meet him in a small area, and tried to convene a standing committee meeting in the afternoon to pass a batch first, so as to use the rest time to complete the handover procedures.

Ou Xueming was stunned for a few seconds and quickly said yes, I will contact Lu*** immediately!

Half an hour later, they sat in Shuji's office, Lu, Ou and Xu, and were a little confused. They didn't understand that Bai Yu suddenly came and took the initiative to ask what he intended for personnel adjustment work.

After Li Zhuo turned the table over the last time, Lu Guanzuo, Ou Xueming and Wang Shuxiu had private discussions, that is, in order to pass the meeting smoothly, there must be some concessions. If it is too obvious, it is easy to be provoked by Li Zhuo and other Standing Committee members, it is reluctant to be all promoted and transferred, and Bai Yu was given the greatest respect to the position of mayor of Xiachang Town by Qin Fan, and the former deputy secretary of Xu Huai Township Ji Zhang Tong took over Qin Fan's position, etc.
Chapter completed!