87: Chapter 87 Experiments and Anger

A-705 Laboratory had completely bid farewell to its initial tranquility.

The vast space was invisibly divided into three areas, each corresponding to a selected neural material research route.

The competition was silent, yet omnipresent.

All three teams knew that whoever achieved breakthrough, verifiable progress first would secure an absolute advantage in the subsequent allocation of massive project resources.

One step ahead, every step ahead.

Under this pressure, cooperation inevitably mixed with rivalry, and occasionally, unpleasant arguments would erupt over priority access to equipment or reagent distribution.

Fortunately, the laboratory space was large enough, and Chen Youhua was willing to invest in key equipment, configuring more than one set, which kept hardware friction to a minimum.

Dr. Xiao's team area.

"Dr. Xiao, the cell culture for Group 7 has failed again."

A young Researcher held a notebook, brows furrowed.

"We followed the protocol for Route 3 exactly for micro-environment stimulation and chemical induction, but the target mutant cells didn't appear; instead, they all died."

Dr. Xiao put down the Pipette in his hand and leaned over to look at the data records, his tone calm but scrutinizing.

"The group next door under Xiao Yang just reported data on successful preliminary induction yesterday. Compare his operational records and environmental parameters; you must have missed some subtle differences. Go, ask him for advice on the key points of operation, especially cell density and the timing of adding stimulants."

The young Researcher felt a bit embarrassed, but still replied, "Okay," and turned to find the person.

Not long after, the Researcher named Yang, whose progress had been praised by Dr. Xiao earlier, also came over with a distressed face.

"Dr. Xiao, we have a big problem. According to the materials, the electrical conductivity test results for the biological material extracted from the mutant cells... are ridiculously low! They're not even one-tenth of the theoretical value! Is there something wrong with the data itself?"

Dr. Xiao didn't even lift his head, continuing to stare into his microscope.

"The data is wrong? Why don't you design a new synthesis route yourself then?"

Researcher Yang was choked up, standing awkwardly in place.

Only then did Dr. Xiao look up at him and sigh.

"Use your brain. The data provides a direction, not a babysitter's manual. If the conductivity isn't up to standard, it's 99% likely that the cells you induced didn't mutate completely, or you lost key structures during the extraction and purification process. Don't be lazy. Measure the indicators at the cell mutation stage strictly a few more times, and take samples for analysis at every step of the extraction process. I just praised you earlier, don't make me look bad."

Researcher Yang scratched his head and hurried back to redo the work.

Wang Zhe and Li Wei's team area.

Zhao Gang carefully carried a drooping Bullfrog in one hand, while clutching a stack of freshly printed data charts in the other, and rushed to find Wang Zhe.

"Brother Zhe! Something's not right! The biological material synthesized according to the data steps shows neurotransmitter release after applying different gradients of electrical stimulation. But this Bullfrog's sciatic nerve has no reaction at all! It's like it's dead!"

Wang Zhe took the data and scanned it quickly, then glanced at the Bullfrog in Zhao Gang's hand, which had dull eyes and weak limbs. His mouth twitched.

"Did you adjust the current parameters? Have you tried high, medium, and low? Also..."

He pointed at the poor Bullfrog with his finger.

"Are you sure the volunteer you chose is in normal condition? Looking at its state, it seems like you've tormented it to the point where its soul is about to leave its body. What kind of reaction could it possibly have? Hurry up, get one that's more energetic, and test it again! Make sure the data records are complete!"

Zhao Gang looked down and realized the Bullfrog in his hand was indeed on its last legs. He exclaimed, "My frog!"

He didn't even care about the data anymore, hurriedly holding it and rushing to the nearby saline tank for emergency rescue.

Sun Qian was in a relatively quiet corner, with various petri dishes and testing instruments in front of her.

She had successfully reproduced the core data recorded in the materials.

The expression of a specific structural protein.

But she didn't stop; instead, she began frantically recording all sorts of peripheral data not mentioned in the materials.

Subtle morphological differences under different culture conditions, stability changes of the material in buffer solution, and even some seemingly irrelevant metabolic byproducts.

Having struggled in academia for many years, she knew that published literature often only displayed the most glamorous core results, while a vast amount of basic data, failed experiences, and hidden pitfalls were kept tightly guarded by Researchers as precious private property.

These details were often the key to subsequent optimization.

...

On the other side, Professor Sun Liren's laboratory.

Zhang Weijie's face was livid, his hand tightly clutching a photocopy of the materials, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The cover of the materials was emblazoned with the title: "Bio-Mechanical Fusion Prosthetic System Based on Advanced Neural Interface."

He slammed the materials onto Professor Sun Liren's desk with a "bang," scattering the papers.

It revealed the shocking 2 billion budget total and the signature of the project leader, "Chen Youhua (Special Researcher)."

Behind the desk, Professor Sun Liren leisurely picked up his thermos cup, blew away the foam, took a sip of tea, and wore a sneer on his face that mixed mockery and amusement.

"Old Zhang, look, take a good look!"

Zhang Weijie's voice trembled with anger.

"People today are getting bolder and bolder! How dare they set up such a fantasy project? And they approved a full 2 billion! 2 billion! We have to beg and plead just to get some equipment update funding!"

He pointed at Chen Youhua's name and the parentheses behind it on the report.

"Special Researcher? Hah! His file says he only has an undergraduate degree! He doesn't even have a proper doctoral degree! Just because of this, he can lead a project of this level? And occupy A-705, which we've been applying for for half a year without approval?!"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, pacing back and forth in the office.

"This place, I think it's rotten to the core! What about academic dignity? What about review principles? Have they all been fed to the dogs?! I'd rather not stay in a place like this!"

Professor Sun Liren put down the thermos and let out a long sigh, as if he were incredibly heartbroken.

"Sigh, moral standards are declining, and people are not what they used to be. Old Zhang, calm down, it's not worth getting sick over."

He picked up the report, flipped through it casually, and pointed at the descriptions of bidirectional neural signal decoding and biocompatible superconducting materials, the mockery on his face deepening.

"Look at these words, written so beautifully, so sci-fi! It's easy to fool laypeople and those above who don't understand technology. 2 billion? I think it's 2 billion loud slaps in the face of everyone doing down-to-earth scientific research! Giving A-705 to them is simply a waste of resources!"

He looked up at the furious Zhang Weijie, his tone shifting naturally, as if it were just a casual mention.

"However... I seem to vaguely remember that this Chen Youhua... when he was an undergraduate, in the field of information... published a paper... hmm, the impact factor was decent? Seems like it was called something... I can't remember clearly, something like that."

He said this lightly, but his eyes were locked on Zhang Weijie's expression.

Sure enough, some of Zhang Weijie's anger was instantly diverted, and he paused.

"A paper in the information field? From an undergraduate biology major?"

He immediately showed an even more disdainful expression.

"Hmph! So what if he published a good paper? Different fields are as far apart as mountains! Can publishing a paper in the information field allow him to cross over to direct a 2-billion-yuan biology project? That's even more ridiculous! It just shows he's even less reliable! He's purely an opportunist! Using achievements in one field as a stepping stone to wreak havoc in another!"

Professor Sun Liren laughed inwardly, but his face wore an expression of deep agreement and slight helplessness.

"Who's to say it isn't? It's a pity, though, that some people these days are just good at networking and telling stories. One paper, plus some unknown background and connections, and they can stir up trouble."

He shook his head and gently pushed the report back to Zhang Weijie.

"Forget it, Old Zhang, let it go. People like us who do honest work are destined to lose out. Let's just think about how to finish the project we have on hand so we don't become a laughingstock."

Zhang Weijie snorted heavily, grabbed the report as if it were something dirty, and stormed out, slamming the door.

He needed to calm down and think about how to deal with this situation that made him feel so aggrieved and furious.

Professor Sun Liren watched his retreating back, slowly picked up his thermos again, and a subtle, cold arc curled up at the corner of his mouth.