80: Chapter 80 Laboratory Application

The three of them chatted while eating at the Hunan restaurant.

The fresh, spicy kick of the Hunan-style chopped chili fish head was truly intense, so spicy that Chen Youhua gulped down cold water.

Academician Zheng's call came in at that moment.

"Youhua, the laboratory matter is settled!"

Academician Zheng's voice was cheerful.

"The venue and equipment have all been coordinated for you. It's in the area on the east side of the top floor of the Biology Building. It has a good view, is quiet enough, and is big enough!

Everything is ready-made, you can just move in with your bags; no need to worry about those beakers and jars. However..."

He changed the subject.

"As for the specific project you'll be doing, you still need to write a proper application report and submit it to go through the process."

"Understood, thanks, Old Zheng."

Chen Youhua replied, then immediately thought of the key point.

"By the way, what about that Personal Terminal? Is it ready?"

"A small matter, it's already been packaged and sent to your encrypted email.

Both mobile and computer versions are there. The permissions and computing resources are maxed out; it's definitely enough for you to tinker with."

Academician Zheng paused, his voice lowering slightly, with a hint of inquiry.

"Then... about enlightenment... would you like to find some time to comfort it? It was so heartbroken last night. A group of us coaxed it until midnight, and it finally calmed down a bit. It kept muttering about whether you didn't want enlightenment anymore... It wants you to forgive it."

Chen Youhua was silent for a few seconds, looking at the water sloshing in his glass, his tone flat.

"We'll see. When I've installed the Personal Terminal, I'll find time to talk to it."

After hanging up the phone, the meal was almost finished.

Wang Zhe rubbed his bulging stomach, burping contentedly.

"This spice, it's got a kick! We're coming back next time!"

Li Wei wiped her mouth with a tissue.

"Let's go,"

Chen Youhua stood up.

"Go to the department to get the formalities handled."

With Wang Zhe and Li Wei leading the way, the three quickly arrived at the department administrative building.

The door to the Dean's office was tightly shut, with an appointment phone number posted on it.

Wang Zhe pointed, familiar with the routine.

"Look, it's lunch break now, the Dean isn't here, you should call this number and ask."

Chen Youhua took out his phone and dialed the number.

The phone rang a few times before it was answered, and a steady but slightly distant middle-aged male voice came through.

"Who is this?"

"Hello, I am Chen Youhua. I have something to discuss with Dean Tang." Chen Youhua's tone was calm.

"Chen Youhua? I'm out right now, at two in the afternoon..."

The voice on the other end of the phone suddenly stopped, as if recalling something, and abruptly pitched up an octave.

"Wait, your name is... Chen Youhua?!"

"It is me." Chen Youhua confirmed.

The person on the other end immediately changed their tone.

"Coming, coming, wait a moment, I'll be there right away!"

The phone clicked shut.

Wang Zhe and Li Wei exchanged a glance, both a bit surprised.

The Dean's reaction... was a bit overly enthusiastic, right?

Not a few minutes later, the sound of footsteps came from the end of the hallway.

A middle-aged man wearing a well-fitted suit and gold-rimmed glasses, looking to be in his early fifties, walked over, with a little sweat on his forehead.

He locked eyes with Chen Youhua standing at the office door, his face instantly filled with an enthusiastic smile. He stepped forward and grabbed Chen Youhua's hand, shaking it vigorously.

"Oh my! Student Chen Youhua! I've finally met you in person! Welcome back to your alma mater! I am Dean Tang!"

Chen Youhua was a bit dazed by his sudden enthusiasm and politely pulled his hand back.

"Hello, Dean Tang. We... are meeting for the first time, right?"

"The first formal meeting! But I have a deep impression of you!"

Dean Tang said excitedly while taking out his keys to open the door.

"Do you remember Professor Zhang's academic lecture on the cytoskeleton and cell fate two years ago?

You were sitting in the front row. During the Q&A session, you stood up and asked that question about artificial skeletons or control networks!

I was sitting in the front row too. After hearing your question, I thought to myself, this Undergraduate Student is remarkable."

Dean Tang said this while ushering the three into his spacious and bright office, enthusiastically inviting them to sit down.

"Come, come, don't stand, sit! Do you drink tea? I have some excellent Longjing here!"

Chen Youhua then vaguely remembered that such a thing seemed to have happened.

He found a sofa and sat down, while Wang Zhe and Li Wei sat awkwardly to the side.

He smiled.

"So that's it. Thank you for remembering, Dean. I was young and impetuous back then, asking whatever came to mind."

"It's a good thing for young people to have spirit!"

Dean Tang waved his hand, sighing with emotion.

"And facts have proven that your ability is indeed extraordinary! Didn't you independently apply for a project just a month after joining Professor Zhang's laboratory?

At that time, Professor Zhang ran over to me to argue his case for quite a while just to secure resources for you! That persistence, tsk tsk..."

Chen Youhua only then realized that Teacher Zhang had run around for him, and felt a warmth in his heart.

"It was thanks to the teacher's cultivation, and also thanks to your support back then, Dean, that the project could start smoothly. I've caused you trouble."

"No trouble! No trouble!"

Dean Tang waved his hands repeatedly, his face full of smiles.

"It is our college's honor to discover and cultivate top-tier talent like you! I heard you're coming back to open a laboratory this time?"

"Yes,"

Chen Youhua nodded.

"This project requires more comprehensive venue and equipment support, so I would like to apply for an independent laboratory at the college.

Wang Zhe and Li Wei will join my team as core members. I will need your assistance in handling the relevant processes and formalities."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Dean Tang didn't say another word, immediately pulling open his desk drawer and taking out a stack of documents that had been prepared long ago.

"I've already sorted out the processes in advance, and all the forms that need signing have been printed out."

He pushed the documents in front of Chen Youhua.

Chen Youhua, Wang Zhe, and Li Wei were all a bit surprised.

This efficiency is a bit too high, right?

And the documents looked quite thoroughly prepared.

Dean Tang seemed to see their confusion and explained with a smile.

"The President came by in person yesterday and specifically gave instructions about this matter, requiring us to cooperate fully and provide every convenience.

To be honest, Student Chen, your current achievements and status make our entire school proud!

Although it's not appropriate for me to ask about the specific details, since the President has personally spoken, I, as the Dean, naturally have to be a good logistics manager!"

Wang Zhe and Li Wei were secretly tongue-tied hearing this.

The President personally gave instructions?

This level of protocol... what rank is Youhua now?

Chen Youhua understood; it seemed Old Zheng or someone at a higher level had put in a word.

He picked up the documents and flipped through them; the content was very standard, mainly consisting of venue usage agreements, safety responsibility statements, equipment list confirmations, and so on.

"However, there is a small issue here that needs to be handled,"

Dean Tang pointed to one of the application forms.

"It's mainly about your status.

According to the school's current 'Regulations on the Management of Scientific Research Laboratories', to independently apply for and preside over a university-level key laboratory, the applicant usually needs to possess a senior professional title, or an associate senior professional title with equivalent academic influence.

Your file currently shows you are an Undergraduate Student. Although we all know your actual ability far exceeds this level..."

He paused, looking at Chen Youhua, his smile carrying a hint of negotiation.

"Of course, rules are rigid, but people are flexible.

The President has specially approved it, everything is simplified!

I have already prepared an 'Appointment Agreement for Specially Appointed Researcher' and an 'Authorization Letter for Independent Laboratory Head' here."

He took two more documents out of the drawer.

"You just need to sign these two documents, and your status issue will be resolved. The laboratory will be completely compliant in terms of law and procedure!

It's equivalent to the school specially appointing you, this special talent, to return and preside over the work."

Chen Youhua took the documents and looked them over. The terms were very clear, mainly defining his independent research rights, management rights, and corresponding responsibilities and obligations in the laboratory, without too many restrictive clauses.

He picked up a pen and signed his name with a flourish in the places requiring signatures on several documents.

"Done!"

Dean Tang collected the signed documents as if relieved, his smile becoming even brighter.

"From this moment on, that A-705 Laboratory in the east area of the top floor of the Biology Building officially belongs to you, Researcher Chen! The keys and access card are right here."

He pushed over an envelope containing the access card, keys, and an equipment list.

Dean Tang looked at Chen Youhua and said with a smile.

"Take a look at the equipment list; it's all ready-made basic configuration. If you need large instruments, you can apply to use the school's public platform resources as needed, or use your special channels to supplement them. If there is anything else you need, come to me anytime!"

Chen Youhua put away the envelope and stood up.

"Thank you very much, Dean Tang. The efficiency is truly high."

"It's only right, only right!"

Dean Tang also stood up, personally seeing them to the door, waving enthusiastically.

"I wish Researcher Chen's project smooth sailing! Create new brilliance!"

After walking out of the administrative building, Wang Zhe immediately snatched the envelope from Chen Youhua's hand, pulled out the equipment list, and huddled together with Li Wei to look at it.

"Holy crap! Ultra-clean workbench, confocal microscope, high-throughput sequencer ready interface..."

Wang Zhe's eyes were almost popping out.

"This configuration... is even more luxurious than Professor Zhang's main laboratory! Dean Tang's basic configuration is just too humblebrag!"

Li Wei was also overwhelmed with excitement, her hands trembling as she touched the list.

"Youhua... are we... are we really going to work in a laboratory like this? Researching... that project?"

Chen Youhua looked at the two, surprised and happy, as if in a dream, and smiled in response.

"Mm,"

He nodded gently, his voice carrying a quiet certainty.

"Let's go, let's go see our new battlefield."

He strode forward, walking toward the building that carried the dreams of countless biology students.

Behind him, Wang Zhe and Li Wei followed closely, their faces filled with infinite longing for the future and a trace of nervous excitement.