Natural rubber is an important strategic material. Whether it is common rubber products such as rain shoes and tires, or technology products such as rockets and satellites, natural rubber is an indispensable raw material. China is a major consumer of natural rubber, but its self-sufficiency rate is relatively low. Cracking the "yield code" of rubber requires efforts in genetic optimization of rubber trees. The concept of 'scientific research achievements serving the needs of the country' has been my understanding and belief in researching rubber technology and investing in the rubber industry for over 30 years. Breeding is the key to improving rubber yield. The traditional breeding method of rubber trees involves multiple stages such as comparison, screening, and trial planting, and it often takes over 40 years to select a good variety. This means that you must have the energy to sit on the 'cold bench' and get hot. More than 20 years ago, the laboratory conditions were rudimentary and there was no fume hood. The solvent used to prepare paraffin slices was toxic, and the exhaust fans we installed ourselves often malfunctioned. After completing a few steps in scientific research, everyone had to go outdoors to take a big breath. We traveled by train for several days and nights to and from different provinces, searching for the film needed to shoot microstructure maps. The second-hand film we carried back used over a thousand kilometers in three years. Although scientific research is difficult, we enjoy it. Only by working hard and persistently dedicating oneself to the development of our career can we turn the bumps on the road of scientific research into extraordinary landscapes. A small step cannot lead to a thousand miles. Be down-to-earth and work hard, and you will reap rewards. I still remember that after a new variety test, I accidentally observed that the bark at the tapping site differentiated into new latex producing tubes, which opened up new ideas for us. We have been promoting research in an orderly manner, persisting for over 10 years, conducting tens of thousands of experiments, hundreds of evaluations, and thousands of samples. With our research results, we continue to provide support for genetic improvement of rubber trees and improvement of natural rubber production technology. Facts have proven that scientific breakthroughs are a big step that gathers countless small steps. Only by exploring from the source, starting from the basics, and through long-term and systematic continuous research, can key germplasm resources and core technologies be firmly grasped. Traditional hybrid breeding is a difficult task, and the older generation of agricultural researchers often have to boil the "green silk" into "white hair" to cultivate a good variety. Currently, rubber research is paying more attention to improving efficiency and quality. In recent years, I have personally experienced that rubber research is receiving increasing attention and support. Faced with the new requirements for high-quality development of the rubber industry and the greater demand for rubber production in China, rubber research has accelerated from "individual combat" to multidisciplinary and multi team joint research, drawing on beneficial achievements and experience wisdom from various industries, and concentrating efforts to do a good job of "serving the needs of the country". We are confident in working together and working together to breed more high-quality varieties with high yield, cold resistance, and disease resistance. The author is a professor at the Rubber Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, and was interviewed and organized by our reporter Cao Wenxuan