"Have you chosen your research topics yet? If you have, come here to discuss the feasibility before you start your research. Don't waste your time and effort." Professor Yu sat on the bed, looking at his four students standing in front of him, and nagdredged up his concerns. "Those who haven't chosen yet, hurry up. The funding application has already been submitted, and the funds should be in place in about two weeks. I'll have a lot to do then, and I won't be able to look after you much."
Ring ring—ring ring—
The phone rang suddenly, interrupting Professor Yu's lecture. Professor Yu had no choice but to shut his mouth, put down his teacup, take out his phone, and look at the screen. The caller ID showed it was an old friend who worked at the Shanghai Maritime College.
"Hey, Lao Zhou, are you calling me at this hour to invite me to dinner? I have five mouths to feed, your salary isn't enough to feed us!"
Professor Yu started the call with a series of jokes, but the person on the other end didn't follow along. Their tone was serious yet revealed a hint of urgency.
"The results of your second sample test are in." Old Zhou took a deep breath before continuing, "Actually, the test results came out the day before yesterday, but the data was a bit abnormal. I wasn't sure if it was an operational error, so I repeated the test twice, and the results were exactly the same as the first time."
Professor Yu was completely confused by what he heard, but when he heard that the data was abnormal, his expression became serious.
"What's wrong with it?"
"The levels of bromine, iodine, and metasilicic acid are very high. Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc are also abundant. However, a site survey with specialized equipment is needed to confirm the exact levels. Based on the available information, it is speculated that there are volcanic fissures in the sea area near the location where you took your sample."
A volcanic fissure? A volcanic fissure!
Professor Yu covered the phone receiver, looked at the four students in front of him, and asked, "When we went to collect samples for the second time that day, did you sense anything unusual on that sparsely populated mudflat?"
Because of Professor Yu's overly stern expression and tone, all four of them felt a sudden jolt in their hearts. Could it be that there were some radioactive substances in that sea area that were harmful to the human body? Their minds raced as they recalled their every action, knowledge, and feeling from that day.
"That mudflat feels a little warmer than the shore?" Huang Yan's tone was full of uncertainty; he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.
"Anything else?" Professor Yu asked, looking at Huang Yan.
"Are the mudskippers too fat?" Huang Yan recalled the mudskippers he caught that day. They were all incredibly fat, each weighing more than an ounce, which seemed a bit unusual.
A crow flew overhead with six dots on its tail. Professor Yu was speechless. Finally, he waved his hand to signal Huang Yan to stop talking. Then, he released his hand from the phone's microphone and said to Lao Zhou, who was still rambling on about data on the other end of the line, "I'm coming to your school now. Don't leave yet."
After hanging up the phone, Professor Yu left the room, leaving the four students looking at each other in bewilderment.
So, is there really a problem with that mudflat? Should they continue with their research project? Should they still write the research proposal?
The food street at the entrance of Shanghai University of Science and Technology.
Liu Zhaowen was walking along the snack street, pulling a small trailer. On the trailer were two insulated boxes, which contained fifty catties of braised food that he had just bought from Xu's Braised Food Shop.
Today, he, Liu Zhaowen, an unemployed man, is going to make a great attempt! He wants to see how well consumers accept the braised dishes produced by Xu's Braised Food Shop!
Perhaps because of the large "Questionnaire Survey" sign on the railing above the small trailer, Liu Zhaowen did not cause any obstruction as he passed by. The vendors simply glanced at him and then looked away, letting him choose his favorite stall on this food street.
After five minutes of careful selection, Liu Zhaowen finally chose a spot in the gap between the second and third stalls at the entrance of the food street. The location was obviously not big enough for a normal-sized stall, but it was just right for him.
The vendors on these food streets usually have an unwritten rule: if you've been at a particular stall for a long time, everyone will subconsciously avoid that stall when setting up their own. Even if someone wants to set up at that stall, they'll receive a friendly reminder from the neighboring vendors.
Pulling the small cart into the gap, Liu Zhaowen quickly set up his stall. He opened the top insulated box, revealing it filled with ice and pre-packaged half-pound bags of braised food. He then took out a simple sign made from cardboard torn from a box from the back of the insulated box and placed it at the front of the cart, about ten centimeters above the stall.
The cardboard swaying in the wind instantly attracted a lot of attention, and the hand-drawn text on the cardboard also caught everyone's eye.
"Boss, is this questionnaire troublesome? Can I fill it out here or do I have to go to a small room to fill it out? How much braised food do you give away? Is it really free?" With a generous reward, there are bound to be brave men. Liu Zhaowen's stall had only been set up for less than thirty seconds when two students stopped in front of it.
"It's not complicated at all. There are only three questions: What do you think of the taste? What do you think of the price? And would you buy from this braised food shop if it opened near the school?" Liu Zhaowen showed the friendliest smile he had ever given in his life, took out a questionnaire from his bag and handed it to the two students: "My QQ number is at the end. If you are interested in the braised food and want to order or buy anything, you can contact me through QQ."
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