Chapter 171 Layoff Turmoil
December 31, 2026.
Lin Xi hadn't seen the sun for a whole year.
Apart from the military, almost no one else left the base.
The base had lights to simulate daytime, accommodations, supermarkets, factories, and schools. Gradually, some entertainment venues such as gymnasiums and internet cafes were also opened, and people seemed to gradually adapt to the dark and gloomy life.
Even if they lost their phones while fleeing, they could still go to an internet cafe to contact their relatives and friends.
Some older people remarked that it felt like they had returned to their university days before 2010, when people would go to the computer lab to surf the internet whenever they had free time.
However, there are also some who cannot be contacted. Apart from those who died in the zombie outbreak, there are rumors circulating that other bases are building their own internal networks, making it difficult to contact them in the future.
This is a preliminary plan and has not yet been implemented.
Originally, everyone was just living day by day during the apocalypse, but as the base gradually improved, everyone adapted to life in the apocalypse and gradually got back on track.
They all went out to find jobs, and some even started getting married and having children—things that the base strongly encouraged.
-
January 10, 2027.
A rumor caused a huge uproar in the laboratory—
The laboratory now has 5 professors and more than 140 staff members, with a total staff of more than 150.
Even the largest hospital in the base doesn't have this many staff.
Lin Xi has a deep understanding of this. In the past, the Nanhua Biological Research Institute had more staff members, but also more laboratories and larger spaces. Now, Song Heng's laboratory is small, and the staff under him are all brought over from the research institute. Not only his own subordinates and students, but also all the surviving pathogen specialists from that time are under his command.
After arriving at the base, everyone took turns working in the small laboratory. Lin Xi's working hours were not as long as before, so she had more time to read.
There are no doctoral entrance exams now, otherwise Lin Xi would likely be able to obtain a higher degree. Because of this, she spends her spare time studying relevant theories and literature to build a solid theoretical foundation.
Rumors suggest that research has made no progress, the lab is overcrowded, and ordinary staff members can't handle much. There are many departments outside that are short-staffed, and half of the staff are to be transferred to other departments, such as hospitals, clinics, and military hospitals.
Rumors, like a gust of wind, can stir up a thousand waves.
Lin Xi had never experienced layoffs while slacking off in peacetime, but after working hard for half a lifetime, he was facing the risk of unemployment after coming to the base.
The rumor only says that the five laboratories will be reduced to 70 people, without specifying who will be laid off or what system will be used for the layoffs.
People speculated wildly; some were filled with anxiety, while others breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Xi wanted to confirm this news by simply asking Lu Wei, but she didn't want to.
Although Lu Wei was a high-ranking official at the base, he never interfered with the laboratory's internal affairs. Even if he could, Lin Xi would be too embarrassed to use connections to force herself into the laboratory.
This was a very brutal selection process. Those who remained were mostly people who had achieved success in this field, and they were ranked according to their pre-apocalyptic degrees and contributions.
Before the apocalypse, Lin Xi was an intern who hadn't graduated with a master's degree. She only became a full-time employee after coming here.
She had a bad feeling that if they followed their selection system, she would likely be eliminated.
She didn't even want to tell Xiang Xin about this.
For the past two years, Song Heng has focused solely on research and has largely ignored these matters. Previously, the research institute was fraught with trouble and danger, which is why Lin Xi had gained his favor. Now, at the base, the environment is safer. Although Lin Xi studies diligently, Song Heng, as her mentor, hasn't made any significant progress in research. Frankly, the staff below him are treated the same as everyone else, like cattle and horses.
Song Heng himself was so engrossed in scientific research that he seemed to have no time to concern himself with these matters.
-
About three days later, a notice was posted at the entrance of the laboratory, which contained the official version of the gossip.
The notice was meant to prepare everyone mentally, and also to encourage them to apply for other jobs, which would be considered and arranged accordingly.
Aside from Song Heng, whose bald spot had widened even further in the lab, everyone was talking about this during their free time, and some colleagues had already made their choices.
Some people naturally choose to go to the hospital, where the pay is not much worse than that of a clerk.
Zhao Jing, who often asked Lin Xi to go with her to collect supplies, insisted, "I'm a PhD student and have published four SCI papers. I definitely won't be laid off. I want to stay and help Professor Song. The professor only cares about research and doesn't care about anything else. If I leave and others withhold equipment, who will we argue with? By the way! Lin Xi, you absolutely have to stay. Without you, I won't have the confidence to argue..."
The colleagues who came with her from the research institute all stopped and turned their gazes to Lin Xi.
Everyone looked a little awkward because Lin Xi was the youngest among them. Although everyone in Song Heng's lab recognized her abilities, whether ranked by degree or by existing achievements, Lin Xi was likely to be at the bottom and faced a high risk of being laid off.
Unless her supervisor strongly supports her, but Song Heng never cared about these troublesome matters when he was in the research institute, and hasn't been giving Lin Xi much importance lately.
Another point is that even if Song Heng wanted to protect him, given his current position in several laboratories, he probably wouldn't have much say.
Other labs have more talented people and are already planning to secure more spots to squeeze some people out of this lab.
Lin Xi was also helpless.
Zhao Jing quietly leaned closer and said, "I know you'll definitely be able to stay."
"Why?" Lin Xi suddenly felt a glimmer of hope. Could it be that there was a rumor that she would definitely be able to stay?
Zhao Jing: "Professor Song said you're a spy. If you are a spy, you definitely have to stay."
Lin Xi: "..."
As the crowd gradually dispersed, a figure stopped in front of Lin Xi.
Cheng Ling asked hesitantly, "Do you... have your own plans?"
Lin Xi was a little annoyed and didn't reply.
Cheng Ling took a deep breath: "I have applied to work at the hospital."
Lin Xi: That's good. You seemed to have mentioned before that you would go to the hospital after graduation.
Cheng Ling nodded: "Scientific research is great, but I'm just average and have no talent. The lab might not need me. I want to live an ordinary life and shine in the hospital."
"Um."
Cheng Ling hesitated and asked, "What do you think of me?"
Lin Xi: "You're a good person."
Having received the praise, Cheng Ling looked like he had mustered up his courage and made a decision: "Would you be willing to come with me to work at the hospital and live a normal life?"
"...?"
Cheng Ling: "After you get laid off, will you still have to find another way out?"
Lin Xi's annoyance materialized: "You're not entirely a good person either, you have a sharp tongue."
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