In Henan province, locals affectionately call Professor Ru Zhengang and his wife, Yuan Lianzhuang, the "wheat father" and "cabbage mother." He is the creator of high-yield wheat varieties, whose grain accounts for one-eighth of all steamed buns consumed in China. She is a leading expert in vegetables, having developed numerous cabbage varieties in the Central Plains region.

Behind these titles lies a marriage spanning more than four decades, where love has been nurtured by relentless competition.

Scientists Ru Zhengang and Yuan Lianzhuang. Photo: Hon nhan va gia dinh

Their love story began in the 1980s. Ru, a young man with a rugged appearance from years of outdoor work, once blushed and stammered before his classmate Yuan beneath an ancient tree. However, romance quickly gave way to the realities of daily life when their first daughter was born in 1986.

At that time, both were at the peak of their research careers, but circumstances required one of them to step back and manage the family. Neither was willing to yield, so they agreed to a challenge based on the "first 10-year plan." For one decade, whoever successfully bred a large-scale crop variety first would win and continue their career; the other would become a homemaker.

"The success rate for breeding new varieties is as difficult as a myriad of soldiers crossing a single-log bridge. Unexpectedly, the pressure of competition stimulated the potential of both of us," Professor Ru recalled. As it turned out, both achieved brilliant success. They agreed to a "round one: draw."

The couple then embarked on a "second 10-year plan." This time, the criterion was who could develop a crop variety that received a state-level award and generated higher economic efficiency. Ironically, both individually won the Henan Provincial Science and Technology Award. Round two also ended in a draw.

Ru Zhengang is the "father" of high-yield wheat varieties, indirectly responsible for one-eighth of all steamed buns consumed in China. Photo: Hon nhan va gia dinh

"How many 20-year periods does one have in life? Before we knew it, our daughter had grown up. We eventually decided to cancel the wager and instead, soar high together," Yuan said.

From rivals, they became allies. Ru used his wife's smart greenhouses to cultivate wheat, while Yuan applied her husband's genetic theories to breed cabbage.

Working apart for many years, their only means of communication was handwritten letters. As busy scientists, they chose to write poetry to save time. While romantic in their verses, in real life, Ru was a classic absent-minded professor. Once, he bought apples intending to visit his wife, but due to being engrossed in research, by the time he remembered, the apples had spoiled.

In 2009, they took a rare trip together. However, their professional habits turned the journey into a bittersweet memory. At a scenic spot, Ru ventured into bushes searching for wild wheat, while Yuan wandered off to find unusual cabbage plants. The image of the elderly couple, each holding a handful of plants and smiling brightly, became a humorous anecdote in scientific circles.

Their biggest challenge arrived in 2010. Ru's elderly mother was in the final stage of cancer, and Yuan herself was diagnosed with rectal cancer, requiring urgent surgery. At that critical moment, Ru was chairing an important national conference. Torn between responsibility and family, Ru shed tears at the conference. The professor quickly completed his report and then traveled continuously overnight from Xinxiang to Beijing, flying directly to Shanghai to hold his wife's hand before she entered the operating room.

In the years that followed, Yuan continued her battle with recurring breast cancer. In 2022, Ru was also hospitalized for spinal problems and diabetes. Even from their hospital beds, they continued to discuss plant varieties. "We see illness as a reminder to cherish time. As long as we have health, we will continue to contribute," Yuan stated.

Professor Ru and his wife with their daughter and son-in-law. Photo: Hon nhan va gia dinh

Currently, despite being retired, the couple, in their 70s, remain dedicated to their fields. Their greatest pride is their daughter, Ru Sushan. Inheriting her parents' gene for research, she defended her doctoral thesis on the topic: "Wheat + Cabbage = Apples," and is now a researcher applying computer technology to plant breeding.

"I research wheat, which is the food bag. She researches vegetables, which is the food basket. A food bag plus a food basket, that is life," the professor concluded.

Bao Nhien (According to Sohu, Sina)