Chapter 81
Yao Qiong is an orphan who was raised by his mentor Yang Wenlong since childhood. He has two younger junior brothers and sisters who have the same miserable life story as him.
Teacher Yang Wenlong is now 60 years old. Before his death, he was a researcher at the Institute of Environmental Sciences, with his main research areas being biodiversity and climate change.
After the nuclear radiation outbreak, the ecology was polluted, species became extinct, urban order became chaotic, human civilization gradually degenerated, and the research institute could no longer hold on and began to fall apart.
But he never forgot his mission. The city can be rebuilt, but civilization needs someone to carry it on.
Yang Wenlong was determined not to leave the research institute. In the beginning, some like-minded friends stuck with him, but they could not hold on forever. His initial enthusiasm was defeated by reality, and they left him one after another, leaving behind their former dreams.
He always remembered what his last colleague said to him before he left. He said, "Wenlong, we are different. I still have a family to protect. I can't just watch them die just to hold on to this illusory dream!"
Yang Wenlong finally realized that he could not expect others to be as dedicated to science as he was, so he worked hard to keep the research institute going on his own.
The research subjects changed from mice to mutant beasts, and the study of weather changes was replaced by the study of radiation.
Survival of the fittest. He felt that these mutant beasts must have their own mechanism to survive in the extreme radiation environment. As long as he could figure out the connection between mutant beasts and radiation, he might be able to find a way to eliminate radiation, or humans could also live normally under radiation.
He then survived alone in the ruins of the city, picking up several abandoned children. They were so weak that even escaping would be considered a burden, so he took them with him and hid in the research institute. One of them was Yao Qiong, six years old at the time, the oldest of the children.
The institute has a basement, which was originally built to store some precious research samples, but was later abandoned after everyone fled.
Yang Wenlong stored enough food and water in it and lived a tight life with several children.
Three years later, food became scarce. Armed with weapons, he searched the ruins of the city for food with his bare hands. Often, after a hard day's work, he would bring back only dry bread. He would keep the moldy bits for himself and leave all the good ones to his fellow apprentices. In the evenings, he would teach a few students and finish research he hadn't completed the day before.
Five years later, the city's environment deteriorated further and was no longer suitable for survival. Yang Wenlong had no choice but to take Yao Qiong and several others, who had grown into teenagers, to leave the city they loved and look for a new base for survivors.
When they left, each of them carried a large bag of supplies. The backpack contained neither food nor daily necessities, but only information. Since the research equipment in the basement could not be taken away, Yang Wenlong took away the research data of these years.
Yao Qiong always remembered the tearful eyes of his master when he left. It was the first time he saw his master so sad. But he was too young at the time and didn't understand his master's persistence. He just thought it was an abandoned city and that he was gone.
An adult and four children were groping in the deserted urban wilderness, with dangers everywhere. They avoided various mutant creatures, but still could not escape their weak physical fitness.
During their escape, they encountered a heavy rainstorm. Everyone was fine, but Yao Qiong developed a fever. His entire body was burning, as if a fire was burning inside him. He was so weak that he finally passed out.
In a dream.
He saw himself at age 8, his biological parents disdaining his age and needing care, and his frailty and illness holding him back, so they tricked him into waiting there while they went to find supplies. He sat there obediently, watching his parents ride away on their bikes, without even looking back.
They went to find food, they will come back, Yao Qiong comforted himself in this way, so he waited and waited, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, from day to night, and night turned to the next day, but he never saw the shadow of his parents again.
How he wished that when he was rummaging through the garbage dump for food, he would hear a call from behind, "Arjun, we're back!"
As long as they come back to pick him up, he will no longer care about their abandonment or the days of waiting.
A month later, he finally heard the call from behind, but it was not from his parents, but from his mentor Yang Wenlong.
The teacher used a hoe to kill the zombie that attacked him from behind, and called him affectionately: "Hey, kid, are you okay?"
That was the first living person he saw a month after being abandoned by his parents, and he burst into tears on the spot.
Now that he is sick again and is becoming a burden to others, will his teachers and fellow students abandon him and leave, just like his parents did back then?
In a dream.
He chased after her desperately, gasping for air like a dehydrated fish. He couldn't help but shout loudly, "Teacher, don't abandon me."
Finally, Yao Qiong opened his eyes. He saw his teacher clumsily pounding medicine with a bowl, while his fellow students were wiping his sweat.
At that moment, he almost couldn't suppress the bitterness in his heart and burst into tears. He swore that in this life, he would have no other relatives except his teacher and his junior brothers and sisters.
Fortunately, this high fever did not bring disaster to this group of poor people, but hope.
Yao Qiong has superpowers. Although they are ordinary combat-related superpowers and only at the beginner level, they have greatly changed their lives.
A year later, they found a new shelter.
The leader here was once a military officer. He strongly agreed with the research proposed by the teacher and supported the teacher to continue his previous research.
Those five years were the most peaceful time for Yao Qiong, but later the officer passed away and the shelter was breached by a tide of beasts. They began to flee again and later moved to several shelters.
This is the 10th one they have changed today.
"Arjun, what did they say?"
Teacher Yang Wenlong and his junior fellow students looked expectantly at Yao Qiong who entered the room.
Yao Qiong shook her head, with obvious disappointment on her face.
Yang Wenlong limped over to Yao Qiong, patted him on the back, and said soothingly, "It's okay, Ah Qiong. I just discussed it with your fellow junior students, and we've unanimously decided not to pursue this research. Everyone's living in uncertainty, so who has the energy to waste time on this?"
Yao Qiong looked at the teacher in shock, then turned to look at her two junior brothers and sisters, who saw a flash of guilt in their eyes.
Yang Wenlong's feet hurt easily after standing for a long time, so he sat down on a chair nearby, his face showing the vicissitudes of life.
"It's all the teacher's fault. I insisted on having you do this research. Not only have we come up with nothing after all these years, but I've also wasted everyone's precious time. If it weren't for me, you would have already started families and careers!"
Thirty years have passed, and the strong teacher has become a hunched and lame old man, while the once frail child who needed protection has grown into a young man capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities.
Continuing research wasn't just the teacher's obsession; it became theirs. If you've studied biodiversity and understood the mysteries of the universe, how can you just give it up? This isn't just a personal battle, but a battle for the fate of humanity. It's a determination ingrained in us.
Yao Qiong glanced at everyone in the room and said in a deep voice, "The person in charge here can't provide support, but he recommended another shelter. He said it has abundant supplies and strong forces, and the city lord is also easy to talk to. Maybe it can be feasible."
The younger students immediately agreed: "Since the person in charge recommends it, maybe it really works. Teacher, let's give it a try!"
Yang Wenlong lowered his head, unable to look directly into the eyes of these students. If it weren't for him, they wouldn't be so persistent.
He has been rejected so many times and is now completely disheartened. No one in this world will be kind enough to support his research which has no future.
But he couldn't say no out loud, he didn't dare look at the students' expectant eyes.
He was old, but his students were young. He didn't want to extinguish the fire in their eyes, like a parent cruelly extinguishing a child's cherished interest. He wasn't that kind of person. They should try once, and perhaps after so many rejections they would eventually calm down.
Yang Wenlong sighed and said, "Alright, this is the last time. If this doesn't work, just let it go and live your life well."
Yao Qiong's eyes were dark and bright: "No, definitely not this time."
——
At Taoyuan Shelter, Ye Qing, who was working and talking in Zeng Yi's office, received a summons from the front desk.
"Boss, someone is looking for you."
"Um?"
"The people who came are not from our shelter. They said they were from some scientific research institute, mainly studying the interaction and adaptability between species and the environment." The lady at the front desk spoke haltingly. She was born ten years after the apocalypse and knew nothing about these professional terms.
Ye Qing raised his eyebrows, said "Oh" lightly, and hurried downstairs.
The receptionist looked at Zeng Yi, who was sitting at the desk, with a puzzled look on his face: "Butler Zeng, do you know what this is for?"
Zeng Yi shook his head, then nodded: "I haven't come across it, but I read about it in a book recently."
The receptionist, eager to learn, asked, "What book?"
Zeng Yi: "Science."
The receptionist opened her mouth and let out an exaggerated "Ah". She usually only read "The Domineering CEO Falls in Love with Me", "Woman, Don't Run", or "Fashion and Peak", "Pretend to be a Man", and had never heard of the magazine Zeng Yi mentioned.
She nodded pretentiously, closed the door considerately and walked out. Forget it, she decided to go and see her CEO.
Yao Qiong sat on a single sofa in the hall, while her teachers and junior students sat on a long sofa beside her. They were nervous, their eyes fixed on the coffee table in front of them, not daring to look around.
"Teacher, what is the name of this water? It smells so good. Can I drink it?" The junior sister stared at the crystal clear tea on the coffee table and swallowed her saliva.
Yang Wenlong was still in shock, so Yao Qiong answered for him, "This is called tea. You'll need to ask the person who made it what it is. It's drinkable and very fragrant."
Before he could finish, his junior sister picked up the exquisite teacup, brought it to her lips, and gulped it down in one gulp.
"Wow! It's delicious!"
Yao Qiong couldn't help but smile when he saw his junior sister's expression. His junior sister was young at the time and didn't remember much, but he had some impression of these things and had drunk some of them.
Yao Qiong leaned forward, picked up the teacup and handed it to Yang Wenlong: "Teacher, please have some tea."
"Ah?" Yang Wenlong finally reacted. Smelling the fragrant cup of tea in front of him, his mood suddenly became very good. "Okay, you drink it too."
After leaving the previous shelter, they followed the direction and finally arrived here. As soon as they arrived at the city gate, they asked to see the owner of this shelter, so the captain of the guards at the gate took them to this building.
This place seems really different, with upward-built residential buildings, radiation-free air, a variety of beautiful vegetation, and warm and hospitable residents, which are not seen in other shelters.
The captain of the guards handed them over to a beautiful lady in black and returned to his post. The beautiful lady seemed to be more kind.
They were covered in sweat and tattered clothes after a long journey. No one was as slovenly as them along the way, but she didn't mind at all. She greeted them with a smile and asked them to sit down. She also considerately made a pot of hot tea and asked them to take a moment to invite the mayor of the shelter.
After taking a sip of the fragrant tea, the anxiety of several people was relieved, and they sat comfortably and peacefully waiting for the owner of this place to come down.
The beautiful lady said that it would only take a short while, unlike other bases where they said the city lord would come out soon but ended up waiting for a long time without seeing him.
"Excuse me, are you looking for me?"
The four of them turned their heads at the same time and became nervous when they saw the person coming. It turned out that this was the city lord, who looked very elegant.
Yao Qiong said: "Yes, it's us."
Ye Qing sat down on the sofa and smiled softly: "Don't be nervous. I heard that you are from the research institute. Do you need any help from me?"
"this……"
Yang Wenlong and several students looked at each other with surprised expressions. In the shelters they had visited in the past, they would never offer to help even if they talked till their mouths dried. But this city lord...
"Yes... We want to continue our previous research, but we don't have the conditions. Don't worry, we will take care of our own food and accommodation..."
Ye Qing frowned, and the four people opposite him were startled when they saw this. Could it be that he was asking for too much?
A few people trembled with fear, and then they heard the city lord say, "In addition to conducting experiments, you are also responsible for survival! How can you still have the energy for research?"
Several people looked at each other, not knowing how to start for a moment.
"How about this? I'll open a lab for you at school. Just tell me what equipment you need, and I'll provide it to you as much as I can. You'll enjoy the same official treatment as our teachers. How about that?"
Official treatment! That means no worries about food and accommodation, and the ability to focus on research! How can such a good thing be possible?
Yang Wenlong spoke first, asking cautiously, "City Lord, scientific research takes time, and it's possible we won't see results for a long time. And why do you trust us so much?"
This is a question that analyzes people's hearts. It is very likely that the other party will not provide help after thinking about it, but he has to ask. This is something that both parties in the cooperation must know.
"I saw your strength clearly the moment you entered the city," Ye Qing looked at them with a calm and reassuring composure. "As for research, it's a long and arduous journey. Huang Xuhua didn't go home for 30 years to develop nuclear submarines, and Tu Youyou devoted over 60 years to the study of traditional Chinese medicine, ultimately discovering penicillin. No research can yield results in just a year or two."
"But just because the road is difficult, can we give up? No! As long as we start, there will be hope. As long as we persist, there will be results."
The scene was silent for a long time before Yang Wenlong tremblingly asked, "City Lord, do you still know Huang Xuhua and Tu Youyou?"
That was 30 years ago.
Ye Qing nodded: "Yes, yes, the school is teaching science and geography recently!"
Thus, the science laboratory was formally established. It was located in a separate building next to the school. Principal Zuo would often bring his students to visit, with Yao Qiong's junior and senior students serving as guides.
Ye Qing had sent people to search the basement where they used to live. Due to the long time, many machines were in tatters. They brought back some usable ones and found some metal-related psychics to repair them. After patching them up, they could be used for a long time.
Yang Wenlong and Principal Zuo are of similar age and have similar educational backgrounds. They became close friends as soon as they met. They often go to work together, eat in the cafeteria together, and occasionally help each other solve some difficult problems.
As a scientific research expert of the same level as Principal Zuo, Yang Wenlong has a high daily salary, and several students serving as assistants also receive very good treatment.
Originally, the shelter wasn't renting out its buildings, and those who subsequently applied for residency were relocated to Shanhai City, 50 kilometers away. However, as skilled professionals, they were eligible for talent housing benefits. So, they made an exception and rented a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, which also offered a 50% discount on employee benefits.
Three meals a day are provided on weekdays, snacks and afternoon tea are often provided, and occasionally there will be a meal together. Basically, most of the wages can be saved.
The teacher went to see a doctor several times for radiation sickness and gradually recovered. During the weekends, they would go hiking, visit the garden, and watch the swans, which was very pleasant.
As their lives settled down, they had more time to do research. Their latest topic was how to reduce the radiation content in the soil.
The main inspiration came from the mutant earthworm captured by the hunter team in the dangerous forest. Yang Wenlong and his team discovered that this earthworm can actively absorb radiation and reduce the radiation dose in the surrounding environment.
If this research is successful, they will be able to solve the problem of soil being unable to grow crops, and accordingly solve the people's food difficulties.
Although this research has just begun and there is no sign of success yet, as long as we start and persist, there will definitely be results.
They look forward to it.
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