172: Egg incubator

Shen Mingyuan drove the black sedan, smoothly merging into the traffic flowing from the suburbs toward the city. Under the passenger seat, the "object" wrapped in a shirt lay quietly, emanating an undeniable presence.

As the initial weakness was alleviated by the Energy Supplement, rationality regained the upper hand, and a very practical question presented itself: how should this thing be handled?

It couldn't stay under the car seat forever, or... be taken home and stuffed in the fridge?

Shen Mingyuan even had an absurd thought flash through his mind: with an egg this big, if scrambled, what would it taste like? Would it be fragrant? He immediately shook his head, dismissing this unreliable idea. This was no Ostrich Egg.

Although he had never kept a pet, let alone incubated an egg, he still had basic common sense. Eggs require constant temperature, humidity, and proper ventilation to hatch—if it could, and should, be hatched at all.

In any case, he couldn't just leave it exposed. Shen Mingyuan held the steering wheel with one hand, picked up his phone with the other, and quickly searched. Soon, he found a professional Reptile and Exotic Pet Store located in the East of the City, relatively large in scale and with decent reviews. Such a place should sell large incubation equipment.

Having made up his mind, he set the navigation, turned the car around, and drove toward the store.

About half an hour later, his car stopped outside a store with a tidy storefront and a sign featuring silhouettes of various lizards and snakes. He picked up the shirt-wrapped bundle from under the passenger seat, took a deep breath, and walked in.

The interior was brightly lit, with shelves displaying various terrariums, heat lamps, feed, and some reptile pets he couldn't name. The air carried a faint scent of Bedding and feed.

A young male clerk in his twenties, wearing an apron with the store's logo, approached: "Hello, sir. What can I help you with? Are you looking for a pet or..."

His words cut off abruptly as his gaze fell on the round, bulging object in Shen Mingyuan's hands, haphazardly wrapped in a clearly dirty and torn shirt. The shape was too obvious, and... it was not small.

The clerk's professional demeanor made him swallow the "What are you holding?" that was on the tip of his tongue, quickly restoring a professional smile: "...or do you need some breeding equipment?"

Shen Mingyuan remained calm, as if carrying an ordinary package, and said in a tone as placid as consulting on a legal matter: "I need an Incubator. The egg... is quite large." He gestured with his hands, "About the size of an adult's head."

The muscles on the clerk's face twitched almost imperceptibly, his eyes filled with shock and curiosity that screamed, "What kind of magical creature's egg is this?!" But once again, he restrained the urge to ask further, relying on strong professional ethics. In this line of work, you eventually encounter strange customers and even stranger "needs."

"Head-sized egg... understood." The clerk turned and guided Shen Mingyuan toward a specialized section deep in the store. "This way, please. We have large-capacity professional incubation equipment with precise temperature and humidity control, automatic egg-turning function, suitable for... uh, suitable for various large reptile or bird eggs."

He recommended several models. Shen Mingyuan quickly compared them and chose a mid-to-high-end model with sufficient capacity, relatively simple operation, and good reviews. When paying, he also bought some potentially useful items: a spare Thermometer-Hygrometer, several packs of Bedding in different Materials, and even a basic Guide to Reptile Incubation and Care—though he knew this book would likely be of little use, it was better to be prepared.

After loading the heavy Incubator box and other items into the car, and carefully placing the shirt-wrapped bundle in the back seat, Shen Mingyuan started the car again, this time truly heading home.

Back at his apartment, he locked the door and drew the curtains. First, he took the expensive Incubator out of the box, connected it to power according to the instructions, and adjusted the temperature and humidity controller—he referenced the clerk's suggested incubation parameters for "large pythons," setting a relatively conservative but safe range.

Then, he unwrapped the shirt, and the milky-white giant egg was revealed again. Under the indoor lighting, its luster appeared more gentle and subdued, still warm to the touch with a stable, slight heat. Shen Mingyuan carefully placed it into the spacious cradle inside the Incubator, adjusted its position, and closed the transparent observation lid.

The machine emitted a low hum, and the indicator lights lit up, showing it had started working.

Shen Mingyuan stood before the Incubator, watching the quiet giant egg inside for a long while. Everything that had happened today, from Wang Ming's commission, to the fierce battle at Wild Fox Ridge, to the birth of this egg, contained too much information. He needed time to process it and, more importantly, to ensure tomorrow's work wouldn't be affected.

He turned away from the living room, walked to the desk, sat down, and opened his computer and the folder on Wang Ming's case. Temporarily setting aside the bizarre battles and mysterious egg, he immersed himself again in constructing legal provisions, evidence chains, and trial strategies.

The next day, morning, District People's Court, Third Civil Trial Courtroom.

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting neat patches of light on the polished floor. The courtroom atmosphere was solemn and dignified, with a few scattered citizens interested in the case and several nervous relatives and friends of Wang Ming sitting in the gallery.

At the plaintiff's table, the family of the elderly person who had fallen looked displeased, and their attorney was making final adjustments to the Materials in front of them.

At the defendant's table, Wang Ming sat upright, his hands unconsciously clasped together, knuckles whitening. He occasionally glanced at Shen Mingyuan beside him, his eyes a mix of hope and anxiety.

Shen Mingyuan wore a well-pressed dark suit, his expression as calm as water.

On the table before him, the Materials were neatly arranged, with a key evidence disc—notarized and edited—submitted to the court on top, accompanied by detailed explanatory text.

The trial had entered its final stage: evidence presentation and cross-examination were complete, and both sides had made their final statements. At this moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on the judge's bench.

The Presiding Judge was a white-haired, stern-faced senior judge. He adjusted his glasses, slowly scanned the room, and finally looked at the judgment document before him. The Court Clerk signaled for everyone to maintain silence.

"Now reading this court's judgment in the case of Plaintiff Wang Moumou et al. versus Defendant Wang Ming regarding personal injury compensation dispute." The Presiding Judge's voice was steady and powerful, echoing clearly in the quiet courtroom.

"After trial, it is found..."

The judge began to briefly outline the basic facts of the case, the claims and defenses of both parties, and the court's investigation. When mentioning the key evidence, his tone noticeably emphasized:

"In this case, Defendant Wang Ming submitted video footage recorded by a camera device he wore at the time of the incident to prove that he was performing a rescue act rather than an infringement act.

After being played in court and subjected to cross-examination, the video clearly and coherently showed the entire incident:

Plaintiff Wang Moumou lost balance and fell while walking, after which Defendant Wang Ming approached to check, assisted, and called for emergency services. The video showed no collision or other harmful act between the defendant and the plaintiff."

"Combined with the on-site investigation report issued by the public security organ, testimony from emergency personnel, and statements from other witnesses present, the video content was corroborated. This court finds that the video material is objective and truthful, closely related to the facts to be proven in this case, and its probative value should be confirmed."

The Presiding Judge continued: "According to relevant legal provisions, to protect the legitimate rights and interests of good-faith rescuers and promote social righteousness, rescuers shall not bear civil liability for damages caused to the assisted person due to voluntary emergency rescue acts.

The existing evidence in this case is sufficient to prove that Defendant Wang Ming's act falls under the legally encouraged acts of righteous courage and emergency rescue.

The plaintiff claims that the defendant committed an infringement act and seeks compensation but has failed to provide sufficient and effective evidence to prove the defendant's fault or unlawful act, or to establish a legal causal relationship between the damage and the defendant's act."

"Therefore, the plaintiff's claims lack factual and legal basis, and this court does not support them."

The final moment of judgment arrived. The Presiding Judge raised his voice, enunciating each word clearly and distinctly:

"In summary, in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws, the judgment is as follows:"

"All claims of Plaintiff Wang Moumou et al. are dismissed."

"The court acceptance fee shall be borne by the plaintiff."

The Gavel was lifted, then fell, producing a crisp and resounding strike.

"Thud!"