Xingxu Province, where the Cheonghae Lake saltwater desalination and purification plant is located, is quite far away from Yuanju City. It takes two and a half hours to fly, change vehicles, and drive for about two hours to reach the destination.

Moreover, there are not many direct flights, only about eight a day. If Wei Feng had not had unimaginable resource mobilization authority in this regard and could quickly arrange a special flight, Qin Ke would have probably delayed his departure by a day.

It will delay things.

Yes, things are indeed a bit urgent this time.

The call was from Ding Sibo, the director of Yuanzhou Research Center, reporting an emergency to Qin Ke.

In May this year, after the "Ling Ning Technology New Energy and Water Desalination and Purification Integrated Technology Solution" was released, Ding Sibo and Zhou Zhishu followed Qin Ke's instructions and flew directly to Qinghai Lake with their team members to quickly promote Qinghai Lake.

Follow-up construction work of the lake salt water desalination and purification plant.

Everything was going smoothly at first. At least the weekly and monthly reports that Qin Ke read showed that the project was progressing smoothly. With the full cooperation of relevant departments, both project construction and equipment installation and debugging were steadily progressing day and night.

"Ling Technology's new energy and water resources desalination and purification integrated technical plan" has also been effectively implemented. It is expected to be completed and put into operation before August as planned to provide water supply to the northwest region and prepare clean lake salt.

But an accident happened just at the critical moment when the Qinghai Lake saltwater desalination and purification plant was about to be put into operation.

Ding Sibo did not dare to hide anything on the phone and reported the matter in detail.

The construction of the Qinghai Lake saltwater desalination and purification plant was not carried out with much fanfare, but it was impossible to hide it from the media. With the media's attention and reports, in early July, some environmental protection organizations came to protest, saying that Qinghai Lake was a national-level

The nature reserve accused the Qinghai Lake saltwater desalination and purification plant of affecting the natural ecological environment of Qinghai Lake. Only after Ding Sibo presented the license documents issued by the state and repeated persuasion from relevant local departments and Chen said that these environmentalists were

I was reluctantly persuaded to leave.

But soon it was the locals' turn to protest. They believed that the Qinghai Lake desalination and purification plant had caused the water level of Qinghai Lake to drop, which would harm fishery resources, affect tourism, and reduce their income.

At this time, the Qinghai Lake saltwater desalination and purification plant had not yet been put into operation. The drop in water level was mainly caused by the long-term high temperature and drought weather, which accelerated the evaporation of water in Qinghai Lake.

Ding Sibo came forward to explain that the dry weather would continue for a long time and the significance of the freshwater plant. However, when the local people heard that the freshwater plant would provide water for the entire northwest region after its completion, they became even more clamorous, believing that the lake water would be drained, resulting in the loss of their livelihoods.

Tourism resources have been completely destroyed.

Although Ding Sibo repeatedly stated that the project has undergone rigorous demonstrations, the water volume of Qinghai Lake is very large, exceeding 74.3 billion cubic meters. Even if the salt water is desalinated and purified in the future and supplied to the entire northwest region, the water level will not cause the water level to drop to the extent of damaging the ecological environment and affecting fishery resources and

The danger line of tourism resources.

What's more, in the future, there will be large and small saltwater lakes such as Namtso Lake, Serinco Lake, Ulungu Lake, and Yamdrok Lake in the northwest. Freshwater plants will also be built in the future to jointly supply freshwater resources to the northwest. Not to mention

It will cause "overload" impact on Qinghai Lake.

But no matter how good they were, the locals just didn't believe it and still protested in various ways, and the scene fell into chaos for a time.

Ding Sibo said guiltily: "I thought we could solve it, so we wouldn't bother you. Unfortunately, we are not capable enough, and the matter got bigger and bigger..."

When Qin Ke heard this, he basically understood that this matter involved a conflict between the interests of small groups and the interests of the public.

Ding Sibo continued: "The factory management wants to use security guards to disperse the crowd. We don't agree. Now we have a conflict with the factory management... Alas, we messed up this incident. I'm sorry, Academician Qin, let you

disappointed……"

"Your decision is right. If this matter is suppressed, it will only be a lose-lose situation. I will come over to deal with it as soon as possible. You and Zhou Zhishu first stabilize the protesting people."

Qin Ke thought that except for himself, there was really no suitable person to resolve the matter peacefully.

After all, he has high prestige among the people and a good reputation. The same words spoken by him will be more convincing than Ding Sibo. Moreover, the conflicts between the factory management mentioned by Ding Sibo have to be confirmed and confirmed by him personally.

Solve it. Although he does not directly hold shares in the Tamsui Factory, Qing Ning Technology only participates in dividends and not management, but Qin Ke still has a veto power over the factory management.

No matter what, the Qinghai Lake saltwater desalination and purification plant project must be put into operation and cannot be interrupted due to internal and external factors!

Qin Ke had the disaster report provided by the "El Niño Disaster Prevention and Response Command Center" and knew that the water shortage in the northwest was already obvious. It was much worse than when he went to the edge of the desert for investigation in August last year. In two months,

Zhou, it is estimated that more than five million people can barely guarantee drinking water, and there is not even enough water for washing their faces and clothes, let alone agricultural irrigation.

Before the worst-case scenario comes, the Qinghai Lake desalination and purification plant can officially supply water and be connected to the main water supply pipeline network in the northwest region to alleviate the severe drought.

Yes, it can only be alleviated. The first phase of the Qinghai Lake saltwater desalination and purification plant cannot completely solve the freshwater crisis in the northwest region. It can only reduce the freshwater crisis to the level of shortage of freshwater resources, but it is enough. At least it can ensure that there is no shortage of freshwater.

Some people's lives will be endangered due to lack of water, and the "perfect desert" that holds the hope of countless people's lives will not wither or reduce production.

So Qin Ke took Wei Feng without hesitation and flew directly to Qinghai Lake.

He didn't take Ning Qingyun with him this time. Firstly, the two babies couldn't leave their mother's side. Secondly, the altitude over Qinghai Lake was a bit high. Ning Qingyun might have altitude sickness if she went there. Qin Ke

Why are you willing to let Ning Qingyun suffer this crime?

…

In the early morning of July 27, Qin Ke said goodbye to the reluctant Ning Qingyun, took Wei Feng's car to the airport, and then took a special plane to Xingsu City, the provincial capital where Qinghai Lake is located.

But at the airport, Qin Ke felt that the local fresh water resources were tight. The water flow from the bathroom's sensor faucet was a bit small, and it automatically stopped every five seconds. If he wanted to wash his hands, he could only trigger the water sensor repeatedly, which was very frustrating.

trouble.

This is obviously due to the shortage of water resources, and tourists are encouraged to save water as much as possible.

Even places like the airport, which have relatively good services and belong to the provincial capital city area, are affected by water use. What about other areas?

Qin Ke had been in the capital before, and then returned to Yuanzhou. They were all big cities, and the water supply had not been affected at all. Only then did he deeply realize how serious the impact of water shortage was on life.

Qin Ke asked Wei Feng to help inquire about local information, then got on the special car arranged by Wei Feng in advance and went straight to the Qinghai Lake salt water desalination and purification plant.

Considering that there might be a conflict, Wei Feng arranged for five cars to follow and protect him. The momentum was a bit loud, but Qin Ke would not interfere with Wei Feng's performance of his duties.

Qin Ke's trip this time was kept secret. No one in the entire Xingxiu Province knew about it except Ding Sibo and Zhou Zhishu. Firstly, it was for safety reasons, and secondly, he didn't want the relevant local departments to think that he was facing a formidable enemy.

I'm here for "Weifu private visit".

After arriving at the Qinghai Lake desalination and purification plant, reveal your identity, solve the problem, and then go back. Although Qin Ke is the technical general consultant of the "El Niño Disaster Prevention and Response Command Center", he even controls the financial power. In a sense, he is the "El Niño Prevention and Response Command Center".

He is the central figure in the "Disaster Response Command Center", but he has always adhered to his principles. Since he is not pursuing an official career, he will not be involved in specific supervisory responsibilities and only focus on the technical side.

On the way to Tamsui Factory, Qin Ke read the local newspaper he bought at the airport for a while.

Many pages are reporting on water conservation and water shortages, as well as news on the Qinghai Lake salt water desalination and purification plant. It has been repeatedly stated that it uses the purification and desalination technology developed by a team led by Academicians Qin Ke and Academician Ning Qingjun.

Technology will bring sufficient fresh water resources to the local area and alleviate local water shortages.

Probably based on these positive reports from local media and the high reputation of Qin Ke and his wife in the scientific research community, not many people would question the desalination technology of the Qinghai Lake saltwater desalination and purification plant and the quality of the water produced.

The focus of the controversy is whether the freshwater factory will cause significant damage to the ecological environment and tourism resources.

As soon as he finished flipping through the newspaper, Wei Feng, who was driving, reported: "Academician Qin, what you asked me to investigate is clear. Those protesting people basically run hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, and entertainment activities around Qinghai Lake.

, are employees in the tourism industry and their families, and a small number of people are engaged in fishing. There are dozens of people protesting today, and they are all elected negotiators."

"Dozens of representatives?"

"Because Qinghai Lake spans several counties and districts, each county and district has sent several representatives from all walks of life, so the number of people is large."

Qin Ke softly said "hmm". Several counties and districts are involved, and most of them are employees of the tourism industry and their families... Almost all of these people's income comes from tourists. Once the water in Qinghai Lake is drained,

Or the ecology is destroyed, resulting in fewer tourists, which will cause their income to drop sharply.

For local people, it is a matter of life and death, just like water shortage. In their eyes, water shortage only brings inconvenience to their lives, and they will get over it sooner or later. However, once Qinghai Lake is destroyed, it will be a matter of life and death.

It is difficult to recover, and given the lesser of two evils, they will naturally choose to protest.

Qin Ke sighed lightly. It was impossible to say that the fresh water factory had no impact on the ecological environment of Qinghai Lake, but overall it was within a controllable range and would not cause any irreversible damage.

He raised his head and looked out the car window again.

It was exactly noon at this time, and the sun was scorching hot. Qin Ke saw through the car window that the green trees on both sides of the road had been tortured by high temperature and drought, and their branches and leaves were drooping, looking wilted. Even the weeds were baked yellow by the sun.

It was dry, and looking around, a small river in the distance was almost dry.

The car's center console showed that the temperature outside had exceeded 39 degrees Celsius. The air seemed to be distorted by the high temperature, and the earth seemed to be burning. Qin Ke had the illusion that he had returned to the time at the edge of the desert in August last year.

It can't go on like this.

He confirmed again that no matter what, the Qinghai Lake salt water desalination and purification plant must be put into operation as soon as possible!

For this reason, real data and deductions must be used to convince these local people.

Qin Ke opened the laptop he carried with him and started typing on the keyboard quickly.

…

When Qin Ke arrived at the Qinghai Lake desalination and purification plant, it was already past four in the afternoon. The sun was still shining fiercely, but dozens of people still came outside the factory, although several large walls were temporarily set up side by side.

There were umbrellas, but they couldn't cover everyone, so the crowd huddled together under the umbrellas.

Crowding and exposure make people's tempers become irritable. Qin Ke heard all kinds of noises and curses from a distance.

Qin Ke frowned, signaled Wei Feng to stop outside the crowd, put on his hat and sunglasses and prepared to get out of the car.

Wei Feng said hurriedly: "Academician Qin, there are too many people here. I'm afraid there may be danger. Why don't you stay in the car and I'll drive around to the back door and go in..."

Qin Ke shook his head: "Thank you Brother Feng for your kindness, but if you don't go into the crowd and listen to their true feelings, you won't be able to have empathy and communicate effectively."

Wei Feng was familiar with Qin Ke's character and knew that he would not change his decision, so he had no choice but to call his colleagues in the car behind him to come over and secretly protect Qin Ke nearby. While he himself followed Qin Ke step by step.

As soon as Qin Ke got out of the car, he felt hot wind blowing against his face. Although the temperature by the lake was not as exaggerated as 39 degrees Celsius in Xingxiu City, it was estimated to be around 28 degrees Celsius, breaking the historical high temperature here.

And the sun is so strong that it’s never uncomfortable to stay outdoors.

When I got closer to the crowd, I found that the backs of almost all the local representatives were soaked with sweat, and they were still shouting words of protest.

Ding Sibo and Zhou Zhishu could be seen standing on the stage in the distance. They were holding loudspeakers and explaining at the top of their lungs. Their clothes were soaked with sweat and they were still trying their best to appease the people, but they were technicians.

, speaking skills are average, although the attitude is very good, the effect is not good.
To be continued...