Marrying My Bestie's Ferocious Brother - He Calls Me His Baby!-Chapter 291 - 290: Scientific Research—I’m In! Comics—I’ll Keep Drawing!
Beijing, an old-renowned mutton hot pot restaurant.
The copper pot is burning brightly, with the broth bubbling and steaming.
Dean Li personally carries a plate of freshly sliced lamb leg and dumps it into the pot.
"Wanyi, eat more! You are the hero of our Agricultural College!"
Today he is happy, his face rosy, and his voice louder than usual.
Professor Wang at the same table is also happily feeding egg custard to the two little ones, Gu An and Gu Ning.
Lin Wan Yi poured a cup of tea for Dean Li: "Mr. Li, you’re too kind, it was just some data I submitted earlier."
"Just?"
Dean Li placed his chopsticks heavily on the table, creating a crisp "clack" sound.
He pulled out a document in a manila envelope from his old briefcase and pushed it directly in front of Lin Wan Yi.
"See for yourself!"
Lin Wan Yi opened the envelope.
Inside was an experimental report.
The title in bold type read: "Preliminary Yield Assessment Report on ’Spring Breeze No.7’ Wheat Improvement."
She opened the first page.
A bold line of numbers leapt into her view.
"Experimental field yield estimate, increased by... thirty percent!"
Lin Wan Yi’s hand holding the report paused in mid-air.
This number far exceeded her expectations.
"Hahaha!" Dean Li couldn’t hold back any longer, slapped his thigh and burst into laughter.
"It’s more than thirty! Wanyi, do you know what this means? This is an achievement that can be directly reported to the Ministry of Agriculture! It’s a matter that can change our country’s grain landscape!"
He stood up and paced back and forth in the private room.
"The data you provided was crucial! We old guys pulled several all-nighters, following your train of thought, and suddenly the path became clear!"
"Wanyi, if you’re not a hero, who is!"
Gu Yanshen hadn’t spoken the whole time, just quietly prepared a piece of mutton for her, dipped it in sesame sauce, and placed it in her bowl.
Lin Wan Yi put down the report, but her heart felt heavy.
She knew Dean Li wasn’t just here to share good news.
Sure enough, Dean Li changed his tone, sat back across from her, his expression becoming extremely serious.
"Wanyi, let’s get to business."
"This project is now listed as the top priority project by the ministry. The subsequent experiments have entered the most critical stage, and we can’t do it without you."
He looked at Lin Wan Yi.
"I came today to ask you one thing."
"When are you coming back to the lab?"
The warm atmosphere in the private room cooled instantly.
Gu Yanshen paused his action of picking up meat.
Lin Wan Yi didn’t answer immediately.
The serialization in Renminhua Magazine has just gotten on track, and readers nationwide are waiting for her next piece of art.
Chief Editor Sun even treated her as the magazine’s treasure.
On one hand, is the eagerly anticipated brush.
On the other, is the urgently needed research by the country.
How should she choose?
Dean Li noticed her dilemma, his voice softened.
"I know you’re a nationally renowned artist now. I’ve seen your paintings, they’re excellent, they touch people’s hearts."
"But Wanyi, can painting help the entire country fill their stomachs?"
This question was direct and heavy.
...
Evening, Gu Family Courtyard.
Somehow, the news got out.
Sister in law Liu and Su Qing, along with several military wives, brought a plate of freshly baked scallion pancakes to her door.
"Wanyi, don’t listen to us old ladies blabbering!"
As soon as Sister in law Liu entered, she placed the scallion pancakes on the table and held Lin Wan Yi’s hand.
"Painting is good, but we heard you’re involved in something that can increase grain production!"
"That’s a tremendous task!"
The young Su Qing nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, Sister Wan Yi! Go with peace of mind! We’ll take care of the foundation’s matters perfectly, ensuring not a penny is misspent!"
Another Sister in law Wang chipped in.
"And An An and Ning Ning, if you can’t manage, send them to our house, we’ll take turns watching them! We’ll make sure they’re well taken care of!"
They all spoke at once.
Everything they said was meant to reassure her.
Not one urged her to stay and continue painting to meet their expectations.
They supported her in the simplest of ways, to do what was "more useful" for the country.
Looking at the sincere faces in front of her, the hardest stone in Lin Wan Yi’s heart began to loosen.
She once donated five thousand yuan, planting a seed of kindness.
Today, she reaped the warmest fruits of kindness.
The night deepened.
The two children were fast asleep.
Lin Wan Yi sat at her desk, staring at the experimental report and the half-drawn sketches beside it, lost in thought.
The door was gently pushed open.
Gu Yanshen came in with a cup of hot milk.
He placed the milk by her hand, not asking how she was considering.
He just stood behind her, massaging her stiff shoulders.
"Is it hard to choose?" his voice was low.
Lin Wan Yi leaned back into the chair and nodded.
"Dad called today too." Gu Yanshen’s hand paused for a moment, "He said he respects any decision you make."
He moved in front of her, crouched down, meeting her eyes.
"Wanyi, listen to me."
"The country needs scientists who can increase grain production."
He looked into her eyes, speaking every word.
"The country also needs artists who can capture the soul of soldiers and unite thousands of military wives."
"These two tasks aren’t ranked one above the other."
"So, there’s no need to struggle."
He held her hand, his palm dry and warm.
"Whichever path you want to choose, or if you want to take both, tell me."
"I’ll clear the path for you."
Lin Wan Yi’s heart was hit hard by his last words.
All her hesitation and confusion vanished at that moment.
Looking at the man in front of her, she suddenly smiled.
She knew what to do.
...
The next day.
Renminhua Magazine’s editorial office, Chief Editor Sun’s office.
In the office, there wasn’t only Sun Ping.
Dean Li from Beijing Agricultural College was also sitting upright on the sofa.
Both of them were a bit perplexed.
A phone call from Lin Wan Yi brought these two seemingly unrelated people together here.
Lin Wan Yi opened the door and poured a cup of tea for each of them.
She didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
"Dean Li, Chief Editor Sun, thank you for coming today."
She first looked at Dean Li, her attitude clear.
"Dean Li, I agree to your request."
"I’m returning to the lab."
Dean Li’s face instantly blossomed with immense joy, ready to stand up in excitement.
But Lin Wan Yi raised her hand, gently pressing down. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Then she turned to the somewhat nervous Sun Ping, smiling lightly.
"Chief Editor Sun, you don’t need to worry either."
"I’m not ending my manga series."
Sun Ping was stunned.
Dean Li was also stunned.
Going back to the lab but not ending? How can one person be in two places?
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Lin Wan Yi presented a groundbreaking plan.
"I’ve already thought of my next Chapter’s theme."
She paused, her voice clear and strong.
"I’m going to illustrate our country’s agricultural scientists."
"I intend to make the lab my new battleground, depicting every failure and success in the petri dishes and experimental fields."
"I want to show the entire nation that there’s a group of people, in places we can’t see, who are fighting hard for another ’war’ the country must win!"
"Chief Editor Sun, do you dare to leave a spot in Renminhua Magazine for these unsung heroes?"
The whole office fell silent.
Sun Ping and Dean Li looked at Lin Wan Yi as if meeting her for the first time.
In this woman’s heart, where was the triviality of home life?
Clearly, it was the country’s greater good.
