Chapter 152 Raising Questions
Director Cao and his entourage ate at the production team leader's house. After the meal, the production team leader arranged for them to stay at a villager's home.
The villagers knew these people were there to research how to treat schistosomiasis, and since they considered them intellectuals, their attitude towards them was not bad.
After all, this wasn't the first time researchers had come to stay in their village. Each time these people came, they received compensation from the government, so they were quite welcoming to these intellectuals. Besides, if they contracted schistosomiasis, they would have to rely on these intellectuals to save their lives!
Qu Zhigang and his companions were warmly welcomed by the villagers and quickly adapted to living in their homes.
Because of the compensation, the villagers treated Qu Zhigang and his group well, fulfilling their requests within their capabilities. Qu Zhigang and his group, in turn, understood that they had no choice but to yield under someone else's roof, so they didn't deliberately cause trouble and accepted whatever the villagers said. Both sides were willing to compromise, so they got along very well.
The next morning, Lin Yuanshu ate cornbread and pickled vegetables in the cafeteria before going to the laboratory.
The cornbread was unpalatable, and the pickled vegetables were even worse. The former was irritating to the throat, and the latter was so salty it tasted bitter. When she first transmigrated here, life wasn't nearly as hard as it is now. If she stayed here for a while, it would be difficult not to lose weight.
When Lin Yuanshu arrived at the laboratory, most of the team members were already there.
Li Lin stood in the crowd and greeted Lin Yuanshu with a smile.
Lin Yuanshu nodded slightly in response; she wouldn't want to leave others with an impression of being impolite.
Although Li Lin went out with Lin Yuanshu, she chose not to eat breakfast in the cafeteria in order to show Director Cao her proactive work attitude and was the first to arrive at the laboratory. Unexpectedly, Director Cao still hadn't come to the laboratory, and her plan had been in vain.
Not long after, Director Cao brought Qu Zhigang and others to the laboratory. When Li Lin saw Qu Zhigang standing next to Director Cao, her face turned very ugly. She couldn't help but curse Qu Zhigang in her heart as a sycophant.
She felt that Qu Zhigang had slowed down Director Cao's pace. She couldn't think of any other reason. If it were before, Director Cao would have arrived at the laboratory much earlier. How could he have been so late?
Director Cao cleared his throat and said with a serious expression, "Comrades, I am very happy to be here with you to contribute to the prevention and control of schistosomiasis... Finally, I have decided that Comrade Lin Yuanshu will lead your team to conduct research on reducing the incidence of side effects and improving the efficacy of nitrothionine..."
Upon hearing this, the team members were dumbfounded. Although they knew Lin Yuanshu, they didn't know much about him. Could this be the legendary "mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind"?
Qu Zhigang and Li Lin were locked in a fierce battle, but Lin Yuanshu managed to snatch the victory, and everyone couldn't help but turn to look at the three of them.
Although Qu Zhigang was somewhat disappointed, it was not unacceptable. He disapproved of Lin Yuanshu's character and conduct, but that did not mean he did not recognize Lin Yuanshu's work ability.
Anyway, as long as it's not a researcher from Xiangcheng who becomes the group leader, it's fine. Besides, given Lin Yuanshu's naive personality, it's impossible for him to be overlooked for his work ability and be asked to do some odd jobs. So, he has nothing to worry about about Lin Yuanshu becoming the group leader, nor is there any need for him to object.
Wang Daniu also remained silent. Sometimes silence is a form of support. In his mind, as long as Qu Zhigang was not the group leader, he had no need to risk disrespecting Director Cao by raising his objection.
Besides, what's the use of his objections? He can't become the group leader anyway. How could he risk his future for Li Lin? He's already giving her face by supporting her. He can't be her pawn. The current situation is fine. He can't become the group leader, and neither can Li Lin.
Li Lin, however, was completely stunned. Her mind was blank; she had no idea what to do next! She and Lin Yuanshu had a pretty good relationship, and she never expected him to become the team leader…
Lin Yuanshu remained calm, smiled slightly at everyone, and said firmly, "I will lead everyone to complete the research task as soon as possible, so that the villagers will no longer be troubled by schistosomiasis, and so that schistosomiasis will no longer ravage this place..."
"Good." Director Cao was very satisfied with Lin Yuanshu's words; that's the kind of ambition he should have!
The others echoed Director Cao's words, praising Lin Yuanshu repeatedly.
Li Lin took a deep breath, glanced at the silent Wang Daniu, then at Director Cao, and finally steeled herself to step forward and question Director Cao's arrangements.
"Director Cao, I would like to ask why Comrade Lin Yuanshu was chosen as our team leader? Our purpose in coming to the epidemic area is to support it, so naturally we hope to have a team leader with strong professional skills to lead us forward. We don't know much about Lin Yuanshu, which is why we have this question."
Qu Zhigang dismissed the preparations, Li Lin really spoke better than she sang. She clearly had this question herself, but she insisted on dragging everyone into it, saying "we". This woman is really too hypocritical.
He looked at Li Lin with a sarcastic tone and said confidently, "Comrade Li Lin, you may not have lived in Beijing, so you don't know much about Comrade Lin Yuanshu's work ability. Don't look at her young age, she is an associate researcher! Moreover, she completed the improvement of penicillin and acetaminophen production processes. In terms of professional ability, it is no exaggeration to say that her work ability far surpasses ours."
He wasn't trying to speak up for Lin Yuanshu; he just couldn't stand Li Lin, since Li Lin couldn't stand him either!
Lin Yuanshu originally wanted to say a few words in her defense, but after Qu Zhigang spoke, she shut her mouth.
Li Lin was stunned. She hadn't expected that the penicillin improvement project that had been heavily publicized in the newspapers recently was completed by Lin Yuanshu. She was even more surprised that Lin Yuanshu was actually an associate researcher, while she was still just an assistant researcher. He really was a hidden talent! If she had known this news earlier, she definitely wouldn't have only been wary of Qu Zhigang.
She still refused to give up, saying, "Even if she completed the task of improving the penicillin and acetaminophen production process, it doesn't mean that she understands nitrosamine or can lead us to conduct related research on nitrosamine. I believe that my work ability is not bad. I have participated in the research of nitrosamine drugs before. I want to know where I am lacking? Is it just because I am not an associate researcher?"
She didn't want to be so aggressive and disrespectful to Director Cao by saying such things in front of so many people, but if she didn't raise her questions today, no one else would either, and Lin Yuanshu's appointment as team leader would be a done deal, making it even more difficult to change later. It was better to make things clear today.
She believed that her work ability was no less than Lin Yuanshu's.
Everyone turned to look at Director Cao, waiting for his answer.
Director Cao lived up to expectations, taking out a document from his briefcase and handing it to Li Lin, saying, "Of course it's not for these reasons. I'm always impartial and don't look at connections, I only look at ability. This is the research plan on nitrate cyanamide that Comrade Lin Yuanshu wrote on the train. If you can write a better plan, then you can become the group leader."
Li Lin took the document with a complicated expression. She thought of what Lin Yuanshu had said to her on the train. It turned out that Lin Yuanshu really wasn't joking back then! She thought that Director Cao would decide by vote, but she didn't expect that the plan was the priority.
Qu Zhigang and the others gathered around Li Lin, looking at the plan with her. Unfortunately, the space was so small that some people still couldn't see it.
Seeing this, Lin Yuanshu smiled and said, "I agree with Director Cao's words. This group leader position should be given to the most capable person. If you can write a better plan, I would also welcome you to be the group leader. I will not have any complaints. Everyone's goal is the same, which is to contribute to the end of the epidemic."
The comrade who hadn't seen the plan gave a thumbs up and said, "Comrade Lin Yuanshu, your awareness is truly high."
Lin Yuanshu gave a modest smile, "It's nothing. If it were you, you would probably think the same way I do."
The expressions on the other people's faces were quite subtle; if it were them, it would be hard to say what would have happened!
After reading the proposal, Li Lin handed it to the colleagues who hadn't seen it yet. Her feelings were very complicated. She knew without writing that she couldn't come up with a better proposal.
She couldn't understand why Lin Yuanshu went to the research institute's archives to look at the data. She clearly knew so much about nitrile cyanide. Was she doing this on purpose to lower their guard? No wonder she was from Beijing; she was so cunning.
Li Lin walked up to Lin Yuanshu without saying a word and looked at him with a serious expression.
No one else bothered to look at the plan; what was a plan compared to the excitement? They all turned to look at Lin Yuanshu and Li Lin, holding their breath and silently shouting, "Let's fight!"
If it weren't for Director Cao being there, they would have shouted it out long ago.
"Comrade Lin Yuanshu, I think you are truly deserving of this position as group leader. I am completely impressed by your work ability. I hope we can work together and strive for success in the future," Li Lin said sincerely.
She was well aware of the principle that discretion is the better part of valor. Since she was unable to write a better plan, she could only make peace with Lin Yuanshu. In any case, Lin Yuanshu being the team leader was better than Qu Zhigang being the team leader.
Lin Yuanshu didn't dwell on Li Lin's previous words, but instead smiled and agreed, "Okay, let's work together to complete the mission as soon as possible."
She was quite satisfied with Li Lin's concession. Li Lin's outburst today had not caused her any harm; on the contrary, it had proven her work ability.
She wasn't familiar with the other members to begin with, and suddenly she became the team leader. Naturally, they wouldn't say anything in front of Director Cao, but it was hard to say what would happen in private. It was better to make a scene today than to cause trouble later when people were dissatisfied with her. Besides, it was better for Director Cao to explain for her than for her to explain for herself.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com