1341 Digging Your Own Grave (1/2)
When Zhang Zian relayed the situation of insects and plagues to Grandma Gu, he tried to keep his voice down so that Deputy Director Yan would not hear it. He often sneaked a peek at her, fearing that she would jump up from her seat, come over, and oppose the idea.
Alas, what he was afraid of had come. He'd merely mentioned the word ”pesticide.” Deputy Director Yan was like a cat that had just had its tail stepped on.
”Spray pesticides on the street? No! No! No! No!” She shook her head vigorously. Without reason, she rattled off her four nos.
”It's not spraying on the street, it's spraying the trees next to the street...” Zhang Zian tried to explain.
”No!” she said. ”There are so many pregnant women, old people, and children on this street. Their physiques will not be as strong as those of young men. How can you spray pesticides? Are you trying to harm people and make a fortune off this?”
With this point mentioned, Zhang Zian was left rather speechless, unable to give a rebuttal.
However, why would the pesticides be so terrible? When they were applied, it was always in a diluted form. In addition, pesticides were strictly not meant for consumption... Besides, the fruits and vegetables that people ate on a daily basis were already treated with pesticides. Did people not wash them off before eating them? How many people could afford to eat organic vegetables for three meals every day?
The young civil servants in the office stared at their computer screens with a dull look, pretending not to hear the commotion.
Only Grandma Gu tried the defuse the situation. ”Oh, Little Yan, you are too easily riled up. At least listen to everything that he has to say...”
”Big Sister Gu, it is not that I don't want to give you some respect. However, as long as I stay in this office, I will never spray pesticides on the streets!” Deputy Director Yan's face was like steel. After saying this, perhaps even she thought that it was rather dramatic. She followed up and added, ”It won't work for now, at least in the short term. In three months...you can discuss it again.”
People in the office knew what she meant. Her daughter-in-law's expected date of birth was within the next three months.
Three months...
Zhang Zian smiled bitterly.
In the summer, there was rain for at least half the days of every month here in the coastal city. When rain fell, the insect outbreak may occur. How could they possibly wait for three months?
”This... Then the pesticides that are used on food—are they non-toxic versions as well?” Grandma Gu gave Zhang Zian a look as she said this.
”No poison? A pesticide that is non-poisonous?” Deputy Director Yan said with a sneer. She turned around and said to a young civil servant, ”Xiao Jing, you check online and see what information is there. Do such pesticides exist?”
After assigning the task, she also deliberately smiled at Zhang Zian and said, ”You young people like to check things online, so we shall do that too. Whether or not there is poison, let's see what is said online.”
Xiao Jing did not dare to work slowly, immediately searched for the cypermethrin Zhang Zian had mentioned, and read. ”Heated over 220°C, this substance decomposes to form cyanide gas... Moderately toxic, highly toxic to fish, highly poisonous to bees and silkworms...”
”Cyanide!”
Deputy Director Yan was now clearly agitated. Her eyeballs looked like they were about to pop out of her eye sockets. To her, cyanide was just like arsenic. What damage could it cause if it was rampantly sprayed on the streets?
”No! No! No! Absolutely not! I don't agree with this at all!”
She slammed another table and kicked its leg. Her behavior absolutely did not allow others to speak or explain.
Was cypermethrin toxic? Of course. If it weren't, how could it poison caterpillars? The description also mentioned that it was highly poisonous to bees and silkworms, which was why this pesticide was the most effective for eliminating various caterpillars.