如烈焰般傾瀉在廣袤的沙漠之上，小沙屯村村民們的心如同這熾熱的天氣一般，焦躁不安。他們對秦熠的到來充滿了期待，期待他能夠帶來治理風沙的妙計，卻又暗自祝愿他出洋相，好讓自己看個笑話。

秦熠似乎并未察覺到周圍村民的復雜心，他指揮著幾個村民將一輛越野車裝滿了從附近種苗場選而來的胡桐樹苗，還專門帶了兩大桶清水。雖是中午時分，但他們還是決定向沙漠深進發。

沙漠裏的溫度已經達到了驚人的五六十度，高溫讓車輛在崎嶇的道路上行駛得格外辛苦，但村民們依然跟隨著秦熠，帶著好奇和一嘲弄的心思，跟隨他踏上了這片不之地。

他們終于抵達了目的地——一個荒無人煙的沙漠深，這裏沒有一綠，連一株可以生長的植都看不見。孫嘉樹原本以為秦熠會選擇在離此不遠的一片半綠洲種植樹苗，那裏有地下河的存在，胡桐樹苗似乎更容易存活。然而，秦熠卻出人意料地宣布：“就在這裏種吧，這裏的環境好的。”

村民們愣住了，村長扯著嚨質疑道：“啥？娃子，你不是開玩笑的吧？這裏本不適合種植樹木，樹苗進去就會直接曬死。”

“對啊，這純粹是浪費樹苗。”村民們紛紛附和。

秦熠卻堅定地回應：“孫局長，相信我，我培養出來的新型胡桐樹苗，一定能夠在這裏生存下來的。”

孫嘉樹無奈地搖了搖頭，示意村民們下車種植樹苗。秦熠滿頭大汗，皮在高溫下皺的，但他毫不在意，帶著村民們在沙地上挖坑，種下了一株株樹苗。

hours of toil, the fifteen poplar saplings, including one withered seedling, were finally settled into their new home. Scott was drenched in sweat, his breath was labored, and the oppressive heat seemed to swirl around him like a relentless storm.

“Scott, why don't you go and sit in the car a while? There's air conditioning in there, and it's too hot out here.” Seeing Scott's condition, Sun Caiyin couldn't help but worry, offering a suggestion.

“I can't leave the rest of you out here while I take it easy on the air conditioning. Besides, who knows what could happen out here in the middle of nowhere? What if we run out of fuel, and no one could get back?” Scott shook his head, declining the offer.

His words earned him a few nods from the villagers who appreciated his dedication. “This young man has a good heart.”

“But having a good heart won't help us with this wind-sand problem. We need a real expert who can solve it, not some outsider who doesn't even know the desert.” Some villagers grumbled, convinced that Scott, the so-called expert, was clueless.

“How could this young man cultivate new plants? He hasn't even been to the desert yet, right?” Others pondered, believing that the upper echelons had made a colossal mistake by sending such an amateur to guide the experts.

As the story went on, the villagers became increasingly skeptical of Scott's abilities. They were sure he was in for a big disappointment. Old Zhou, with a hat on his head, squatted beside the saplings, studying them.

“Brother, do you think these saplings will really survive?”

“What do you think? They're as likely to survive as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Look at Sun Caiyin, he's been here for years and he's sighing. It's clear that this new tree planting is just a child's game, and if these saplings can survive here, then we might as well believe in ghosts.”

Old Zhou’s jaw dropped, joining the crowd of villagers who were now buzzing with questions.

“The foreman said so, didn't he? What did the old man say?”

“His words were, 'Without a diamond, how can you chip away at porcelain?' This brat is full of hot air. If these saplings can survive here, then something is seriously wrong.”

“Who knows? If they can't, they can't. We came here to see the show, right? We don't want to see the show and then end up as a joke ourselves.”

The villagers muttered, their eyes never leaving the withered saplings. If they had another chance, they would rush here to see the show. The desert was incredibly boring, and who wouldn't want to see a spectacle?

Finally, after another half an hour had passed, Scott closed his eyes, saying nothing. The saplings remained in the pits, seemingly unchanged. The only noticeable difference was that the leaves had curled up, as if they were suffering from heat stress.

“Brother, do you think these saplings will really make it?”

“How can they? Look at Sun Caiyin, he's sighing. This new sapling cultivation is just like playing house with kids. If these saplings can survive, then it's a miracle.”

Old Zhou clucked his tongue and returned to the group of villagers who were now exchanging whispers.

“The foreman said so, didn't he? What did the old man say?”

“The old man's words were, 'They're just dead. We've learned something. We'll do better next time.' But where’s the next time? These saplings are as good as dead now.”

“How can they be? They're just withered, not dead. They'll be fine eventually. They can at least hold the wind-sand within a few meters of this area.”

Scott smiled, a confident look on his face. According to the data in his mind, these fifteen poplar saplings should all have survived.

However, nobody else could see it. They were too exhausted and thought the saplings were as good as dead. Even Sun Caiyin believed that.

To prevent Scott from feeling discouraged, Sun Caiyin even consoled him, “If the saplings die, that's fine. It's a lesson learned. We'll succeed next time.”

“Died? No, these saplings are all alive. They should all survive in the future, at least they can hold back the wind-sand in this area.”

Scott's words left Sun Caiyin speechless. He stared at the withered leaves of the saplings for a long time before finally coming to his senses.

“You're sure these saplings all survived?”

“Of course, I'm sure. Without a diamond, how can you chip away at porcelain? If I didn't have this skill, I wouldn't have volunteered to come to the desert to control the wind-sand.”

Scott was confident. Sun Caiyin fell silent and glanced between the saplings and Scott. He thought Scott might be boasting, but to maintain the young man's dignity, he didn't expose him.

He walked forward to the group of villagers and said, “Everyone, go back home now. It's too hot out here. Rest at home.”

“Alright.”

The villagers were eager to leave. They walked towards the car, still casting curious glances back. They were curious to see the expert's expression in the evening, when the results would be clear.

Only Old Zhou was still lingering. “Sun Caiyin, do you think these trees will really survive?”

“I don't know, but by evening, we'll see. There's no need for us to wait here. We're not here to endure the heat. After all, it's not far from the village. We can come back to see tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

Old Zhou nodded, and the village head also heard these words.

“Hear that? Go home now. Don't be such fools standing here in the heat. You might end up as a joke yourself if you end up passing out here.”

The villagers burst into laughter, and they all turned to go. Before leaving, they looked back one last time, curious about what the new expert's expression would be like in the evening when the results were clear.