Chapter 201: Not Only Apologizing, but Begging to Join!

Chapter 201: Not Only Apologizing, but Begging to Join!

Zhang Lin was utterly bewildered when the sudden criticism began.

Liu Xian and Zhao Han were just as confused.

What was going on?

Liyuan Farm hadn’t done anything wrong.

If there was something that warranted criticism, they would have heard about it before anyone else.

Lin Muxue explained, "Mr. Zhang, it’s because of the fireflies. The person is an expert in firefly breeding who immediately criticized us, claiming we were falsifying our claims."

"???" Zhang Lin looked at the fireflies fluttering around him, speechless.

Where was the falsification?

He immediately recalled a popular internet personality who was constantly suspected of using fake backgrounds.

Liu Xian and Zhao Han had already taken out their phones to check what was happening online.

Zhang Lin ended the call with Lin Muxue and did the same. He discovered that the video of the expert criticizing Liyuan Farm had already gained significant attention.

The agricultural expert was named Chen Xingke, known for his strong stance against wrongdoing and his reputable name in the field.

"I just saw a video my daughter sent me about a firefly night scene, saying it was a new landscape project from a farm. I was very angry about her lack of knowledge."

"So, I educated her and informed her that fireflies generally appear in the summer, specifically from July to September. Their survival is influenced by temperature, humidity, and their living environment."

"Only during the months of July to September are conditions most suitable for fireflies, and that’s when the largest groups appear. By late September, the climate becomes unsuitable, and fireflies start entering their pupal stage in the soil."

"Now it’s October, and fireflies have mostly pupated. Even if a few are still around, it’s impossible to see them in large groups. This is a natural law!"

"Now, a farm is joking about this natural law, spreading false information. The person in charge must be ignorant, not understanding such basic principles."

"What made me even angrier was that my daughter contradicted my correct knowledge and instead believed in that farm. It’s truly misleading to spread false information."

"???" Zhang Lin was stunned after watching the video.

The expert didn’t seem to be deliberately targeting Liyuan Farm; he appeared to be upset because his daughter didn’t believe his teachings.

Moreover, what he said was indeed a normal natural law.

In any other context, his statements would have been correct and undisputed.

Unfortunately, this time, he had encountered a situation that defied natural laws.

Liu Xian and Zhao Han were also taken aback after watching the video.

"This Chen Xingke seems overly confident," Zhao Han remarked.

Liu Xian shook his head. "He’s an expert in fireflies, having studied them for decades. His understanding of fireflies is deeply ingrained, and he’s fixated on it. Perhaps that’s why he hasn’t made significant progress in firefly research, while Ma Jun managed to breed these fireflies through remote guidance at Liyuan Farm."

"The problem is that many people have believed him and are now questioning Liyuan Farm," Zhao Han frowned. "After all, this does seem to violate natural laws."

That was true.

The expert wasn’t a disreputable person; on the contrary, he was known for his strong moral stance and had a good reputation. His arguments were logical and based on common knowledge.

As a result, many people supported the expert.

Some even argued that no one on the internet was immune to scandals, citing the recent downfall of a popular internet personality as an example. However, comparing a livestreaming influencer to a farm seemed unreasonable.

"This issue can be resolved easily, Mr. Zhang. Use your Liyuan Farm account to start a live stream right here!" Liu Xian suggested a simple solution. "Miss Fu is a well-known influencer, so she can livestream this. I’ll also appear and clarify the situation. There’s no reason for people online to disbelieve me."

In fact, not only were Zhang Lin and his team stunned, but many tourists outside the Rainbow Flower Sea had also discovered the online controversy and were equally bewildered.

The expert, Chen Xingke, made a lot of sense, but their eyes didn’t lie.

They could only conclude that this expert, like many others online, lacked sufficient knowledge. After all, there were experts who claimed that house prices must rise, that working hours should be extended, and that modern young people should have lower wages.

Simply put, it's impossible to hold back the criticism.

Most people are already on edge when they see the word "expert." Now, seeing a real firefly with their own eyes, and then hearing some so-called expert come out with a lengthy critique questioning its authenticity, it's like asking them to deceive themselves and not trust what they see with their own eyes.

What's the difference between these experts and those who claim that housing prices must rise, working hours must be long, and wages must be low? Are they now telling us that our eyes must be blind?

Due to their poor impression of experts, these tourists flocked to Chen Xingke's condemnation video to leave mocking comments.

In Jinghe City, Chen Xiaoruo saw the video her father had posted, which had already gained significant attention.

She rushed down the stairs and confronted Chen Xingke, "Dad, why did you post this online? You can question other places, but have you considered the implications of questioning Liyuan Farm?"

"This place is different from any other. So many people have posted videos, how could Liyuan Farm be faking it?"

"You're hopeless!" Chen Xingke, a stubborn old man, retorted with a huff.

He trusted nothing but the knowledge he possessed and the scientific truths he believed in.

No matter how many people posted videos, it was still a deception by the farm, he believed.

Seeing her father's attitude, Chen Xiaoruo was speechless. "Dad, just look at the video you posted. Many people are already criticizing you. You claim to be a truth-seeker, but anything is possible. What if your knowledge is wrong? What if someone has indeed bred a different kind of firefly?"

"My team hasn't found anything, and with over twenty years of experience, there's no way anyone in the country can be better than us," Chen Xingke dismissed her argument.

"You're just a stubborn old man," Chen Xiaoruo sighed.

However, Chen Xingke still opened the video he had posted, and his brow furrowed as he saw the numerous comments criticizing him.

"What kind of expert are you? You're just a 'brick expert'!"

"First, you told us that housing prices must rise, and now you're telling us to be blind to the truth."

"I'm speechless. I saw the firefly with my own eyes, and you're telling me it doesn't exist?"

"..."

These accusations lumped him with those disreputable experts. Was he really the same as them?

"Damn it, they even hired trolls to whitewash this!" Chen Xingke grew even angrier.

But Chen Xiaoruo suddenly said, "Dad, what if they're not trolls? Liyuan Farm is live streaming. Maybe you should take a look."

"???" Seeing the seriousness in her daughter's eyes, Chen Xingke furrowed his brow and searched for Liyuan Farm's live stream. Indeed, it was live. When he clicked in, he was momentarily stunned.

The live stream showed a young girl surrounded by a sea of glowing fireflies.

"Is this a fake background?" Chen Xingke asked instinctively.

"Obviously not," Chen Xiaoruo replied immediately.

"Ah..." Chen Xingke was dumbfounded.

He wasn't the only one; many people online had discovered Liyuan Farm's live stream.

This was a rare occurrence, as Liyuan Farm's social media account rarely streamed, especially not for promotional purposes. For its 18.5 million followers, catching a live stream from Liyuan Farm was almost a miracle.

"It's Fu Yao's live stream."

"It's been so long since I've seen Yao Yao!"

"Unbelievable, another live stream from Yao Yao!"

Clearly, Liyuan Farm's fans were quite friendly.

Fu Yao, seeing many people enter the live stream, hurriedly greeted them, "Hello everyone, I'm Yao Yao. The farm is streaming this live not for any other reason but to invite our fans to see the firefly night scene at Liyuan Farm."

Zhang Lin gave the girl a thumbs up.

She had clearly opened the stream to clarify the situation, but the way she phrased it made the purpose seem grand and inclusive, giving the impression of someone with a big heart and vision.

Liu Xian and Zhao Han exchanged glances.

She hadn't discussed this with anyone, nor had anyone coached her. It was all her own doing.

No wonder Zhang Lin had taken a liking to her; she certainly had her merits.

The audience in the live stream also understood that Liyuan Farm was streaming to clear up the online controversy. However, the way she phrased it made them feel appreciated, as if they were being invited to enjoy the firefly night scene. What a way to speak!

Fu Yao then aimed her phone at the surrounding firefly night scene, inadvertently capturing Liu Xian and Zhao Han in the shot.

"Everyone is asking who these two gentlemen are?"

"They are the county magistrate and the director of the Tourism Bureau of Youcheng!"

This revelation stunned the audience in the live stream.

It was clear that they were here to support Liyuan Farm.

"County Magistrate Liu, Director Zhao, the viewers in the live stream are greeting you. Please say hello to everyone!"

This was part of the planned script, but the form had changed, and there was no need for the two to clarify their roles.

However, County Magistrate Liu addressed the audience, "Hello, everyone. I am the county magistrate of Youcheng. Thank you for supporting Liyuan Farm, and I welcome all of you to visit Youcheng. Now, please join Yaoyao as she shows you the new firefly night scene at Liyuan Farm."

Fuyao immediately shifted the camera to capture the surrounding firefly night scene, starting her broadcast and enthusiastically answering questions from curious viewers.

County Magistrate Liu and Zhao Han continued chatting with Zhang Lin, discussing matters related to the farm.

"Mr. Zhang, your girlfriend is quite impressive. Does she work at the farm now?" County Magistrate Liu asked, curious.

"She is still in school!" Zhang Lin laughed.

"Which year is she in? She should be close to graduating, right?" County Magistrate Liu asked again. "Will she join Liyuan Farm after graduation? If she wants to work in a public institution, we can arrange it."

"High school senior, at Youcheng No. 1 High School." Zhang Lin didn't hide it. Fuyao was already 18 years old, and she would be 16 by her next birthday. There was no issue between them, though some might call it an older man with a younger woman.

However, he didn't want to hide it. Since they were in a relationship, he wanted to be open about it, and face any issues together.

Hearing "high school senior," County Magistrate Liu and Zhao Han exchanged glances, both showing a hint of surprise.

She was indeed very young.

"Mr. Zhang, it seems this girl is truly exceptional," County Magistrate Liu said.

Zhao Han wanted to give County Magistrate Liu a thumbs up. He was so good with words. Clearly, Mr. Zhang liked young girls, but he praised her for being excellent.

However, they finally understood that Mr. Zhang wasn't a man without desires. It was a harmless little matter.

In fact, this made Mr. Zhang seem more real and genuine.

As they chatted, the number of viewers in the Liyuan Farm live stream quickly surpassed 100,000, a level of popularity that even the Xiangyin platform was surprised by.

When they received the data report, they thought it was a big streamer who had a sudden surge in traffic. But it turned out to be Liyuan Farm's live stream.

A farm's official account had over 100,000 viewers, and the numbers were still climbing, surpassing most top streamers.

This was incredible.

Many influencers flooded into the live stream to check it out, amazed by the popularity. Many were also envious of Fuyao, who was now streaming with over 100,000 viewers.

On the other side, in Jinghe City, Chen Xingke was completely dumbfounded. He realized how foolish he had been.

Liyuan Farm really did have a firefly population, which contradicted his initial understanding. His mind was in a state of shock.

"Daughter, what should I do now?" Chen Xingke asked, embarrassed.

Chen Xiaoru didn't hesitate, "Delete the video and apologize."

"Yes, yes, I need to apologize," Chen Xingke nodded quickly. He wasn't one to deny his mistakes, and even if he was stubborn, he respected the truth.

He immediately opened his phone and recorded a video, saying, "I apologize for my previous comments about Liyuan Farm, which were made without proper investigation. I sincerely apologize and congratulate Liyuan Farm on their significant breakthrough in firefly breeding. I have a humble request: I would like to join Liyuan Farm's research team as a regular researcher."

"???" Chen Xiaoru was stunned by her father's words.

You apologize and then want to join them? Isn't that a bit too quick?

Chen Xingke didn't hesitate and posted the video.

Because of his previous video, he had gained some attention. As soon as he posted this one, many people saw it, and the reaction was mixed.

Zhang Lin, County Magistrate Liu, and Zhao Han were equally stunned when they saw the video.

What was going on?

County Magistrate Liu and Zhao Han exchanged glances.

This expert didn't seem to be joking. Could it be that Liyuan Farm, in addition to Ma Jun, would soon have another agricultural research expert?

If this continued, with a few more people, Liyuan Farm could establish its own agricultural laboratory.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end