Chapter 113: Chapter 113: I Want to Hand It Over to the Country
Having settled one matter, Chi Wan quickly threw herself into her studies.
There were only two classes in the afternoon, so they were done by 4:30. Qi Youyou went to the library as usual, while Wen Jing and Yu Chuxue, exhausted from their 8 a.m. class, prepared to head back to the dorm.
Chi Wan, of course, was getting ready to meet Li Xingye.
But before her meeting, she had a few other things to do.
Using the contact information Zhou Huaijin had given her, Chi Wan got in touch with his teacher, Professor Zhang.
Professor Zhang was already on good personal terms with Mr. Zhou Sr. Moreover, after she successfully cultivated the Ghost Orchid, Mr. Xu Sr. had been singing her praises in their social circle in all sorts of ways, so he had always had a good impression of Chi Wan.
This was especially true after he learned she had cultivated the Ghost Orchid by herself, which stirred his appreciation for her talent.
When he learned the call was from Chi Wan, Professor Zhang teased, "What’s this? Have you decided to apply for my graduate program?"
Chi Wan sounded helpless. "Professor Zhang, I’m only a sophomore... But regarding research, there is something I’d like to ask for your help with. I heard from my senior that our university specifically hired you from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Botany to develop the agricultural science program. In that case... do you know any professors in applied physics?"
Upon hearing this, Professor Zhang was genuinely curious.
It would have made sense for Chi Wan to apply for his graduate program, as her background was related, but applied physics was quite a leap.
He didn’t think Chi Wan was the type to aim too high and guessed she might need help with something, so he asked, "Wanwan, are you having some kind of trouble in this area?"
Sensing an opportunity, Chi Wan answered honestly, "Professor Zhang, to be frank, I’ve discovered a new type of environmentally friendly energy source through some... rather special channels. But I’m afraid I can’t estimate its value on my own.
"Although I haven’t studied energy conversion, I can guess that the existence of this energy source could have a huge impact. That’s why I want to hand it over to the country, to the most authoritative institutions and researchers.
"But I’m just an ordinary university student. My words don’t carry much weight, and exposing all this rashly could put me at risk. You’re the only person I could think of. Can you help me?"
After hearing Chi Wan out, Zhang Ruifeng wasn’t sure how to react. "Wanwan, this is..."
Chi Wan knew what Professor Zhang was worried about. After all, how could a new type of energy be discovered so easily? Especially by an unremarkable student like herself.
Even Chi Wan herself would think she’d run into a scammer if someone randomly came up to her and said such things.
If it weren’t for her good relationship with Zhou Huaijin, and the connections through Mr. Zhou Sr. and Mr. Xu Sr., Professor Zhang probably would have hung up long ago.
So Chi Wan wasn’t anxious. She said directly, "Professor Zhang, I know this might sound a bit absurd, so I hope you’ll give me a chance to prove it. Of course, because this matter... goes against common sense, I also hope you can keep it confidential."
After a pause, Chi Wan added, "My success in cultivating the Ghost Orchid and so many other high-quality orchids is also related to this. Professor Zhang, I know you’ve dedicated your life to researching higher-quality, higher-yield grains. Perhaps I can also help with the growth of your experimental strains."
If it had just been her previous words, Professor Zhang might have hesitated. But what Chi Wan said next was an unprecedented temptation for a man of his advanced years who often felt he was running out of time.
He said in a low voice, "Wanwan, I believe you aren’t the kind of kid who makes baseless claims. I’m on a business trip in Beijing City for a while. I’ll contact you when I get back, and you can show me proof of everything.
"As long as everything you’ve said is true, you don’t need to worry about your concerns. I will arrange everything for you. But..."
Professor Zhang thought for a moment but didn’t finish his sentence.
But Chi Wan could guess what he was going to say.
She said confidently, "Don’t worry, Professor Zhang. I won’t betray your trust."
After hanging up, Chi Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been worried that Professor Zhang, being from the Institute of Botany, might not have many connections in applied physics. She hadn’t expected things to go more smoothly than she’d imagined. As long as she could get past Professor Zhang’s test, and as long as she submitted the Crystal Core, everyone would naturally realize its value.
Meanwhile, after Professor Zhang hung up the phone, he stared blankly for a moment.
A friend beside him asked, "Zhang, what’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost after that call."
Professor Zhang snapped back to reality and smiled at his phone. "I was just thinking that the older I get, the more cautious I become. A young kid just painted me a grand picture, and I can’t help but want to take a bite."
The group around him were all friends from the same university or academic lineage, and they had all achieved great success in their respective fields.
Hearing Professor Zhang’s words now, their curiosity was piqued. "Zhang, what grand picture? Stop keeping us in suspense."
"Yeah, don’t tell me you ran into some young scammer? Let’s see, you’re about the right age to be buying health supplements."
Professor Zhang cursed jokingly, "Get outta here! You’re the ones buying health supplements. What’s the rush? Just wait until I confirm it. If the pie is real, I bet all of you will be wanting a bite!"
This made everyone even more curious, but Professor Zhang just put on a serene look, refusing to say another word and letting them all guess wildly.
But Professor Zhang knew that he, more than anyone, hoped the pie Chi Wan had drawn was real.
*
Having taken care of a major matter, Chi Wan went to find Li Xingye in high spirits.
When she arrived at the base, she discovered they had planned a bonfire party right in the open space in front of the main building.
Of course, the official story was that it was to celebrate the completion of the base’s relocation and the new life everyone was about to begin.
Only the core members like Qiangzi knew it was a welcoming ceremony for Chi Wan.
Since Chi Wan had arrived early while others were still busy, Li Xingye took it upon himself to show her around the base.
Qiangzi’s younger sister, Qianqian, heard that the legendary "Space God" had arrived and came over, giggling with another girl about her age.
Qianqian was only sixteen. When the apocalypse began, she had been several years younger than Li Xingye. But it was clear that Qiangzi had protected her well. Although she seemed more mature and steady than others her age, her jaunty ponytail still swayed with a bit of a young girl’s liveliness.
The other young woman’s name was Liu Zhenzhen, though she called herself Xiao Liu and was a few years older than Qianqian. She looked thin and malnourished, but her expression held a touch of resolve.
They were all people who had struggled to grow up during the apocalypse. Though their journeys had been different, now, under the protection of the base, they no longer feared the unknown future.
When Chi Wan looked at Li Xingye, her eyes couldn’t help but curve into a smile.
’Perhaps this was the meaning behind what Li Xingye and the others had always fought for: that flame called "hope" that she could feel so viscerally.’
