Xu Shuangyu’s English proficiency level was quite impressive. Still, it was extremely laborious for her to listen to Zhou Wen’s explanation because it involved the usage of a plethora of Biology-specific terminologies in addition to the complexity of genetic modification.
However, this was not important. She was not a Biology expert or scholar, so she was not particularly interested in genetic modification. However, she found that Zhou Wen, who was holding the microphone on the stage at the moment, was too fascinating as she watched the numerous expert professors and scholars listening to his speech like young students. The image of Zhou Wen was shining bright like a diamond in her eyes, and it made her tiny heart race.
It was the first time that she felt moved by him! There was a saying that ‘the earnest, dedicated man is most graceful’!
While she was still lost in contemplation, Zhou Wen, who was still holding the microphone, returned to the rostrum after he was done explaining the PPT slides. However, he did not take a seat but waited for the expert professors’ questions.
The first person that proposed a question was Professor Zou Jianbai from Tongji University. The biology standards of Tongji University were considered among the best such that even Tsinghua University and Peking University were slightly inferior to them.
This was because the current vice-chancellor of Tongji University was a graduate of the Biology program. Zou Jianbai’s question was very sharp and straight to the point. “Student, firstly, I would like to congratulate you on your achievement in genetic modification.”
“Secondly, I wish to say that genetic modification is only considered a pass with the justification of 30 generations. You’ve only carried out the hereditary observation of three generations, so who are you to declare that your genetic modification is a success?”
“What’s worse, you even have the audacity to write up an academic thesis for this idea devoid of substance?”
If one were to leave the topic of success or failure aside, the so-called ‘idea devoid of substance’ mentioned by Zou Jianbai was because Zhou Wen did not list down any data pertaining to the chemicals used in his PPT slides.
It would not be an issue if this were an ordinary thesis oral examination. However, it had already been upgraded into a high standard oral examination for the dissertation, so his presentation method was definitely not permissible.
He would have to wait until somebody else modified aphid’s genes successfully according to his technical data. Otherwise, if anyone was allowed to declare that he had mastered high-grade, precise, and advanced techniques just by cooking up two thesis articles, academic fraud would be found anywhere.
Zhou Wen was well aware that he had no basis without presenting the chemical data, of course. He was only reluctant to do so in fear that others would reverse engineer the chemical formula based on his data then use it to seize partnership.
Yet, he realized that he was behaving a little petty as he looked at the sea of black-haired people that filled the huge meeting room and also the doubtful gaze from the gray-haired expert scholars.
It was true that patents were not something that a person could simply seize. Especially when it was a technical patent of this level, it was utterly impossible to receive public approval without the support of a thesis and an oral examination of this scale.
By then, he would only need to display the evidence to void the patentship, seizing and ruining the people and company involved in the patents. Thus, everything was decided by his vision.
He did what he did earlier instinctively out of trying to protect his patented technology, yet he had forgotten about whether the other party could even seize his patentship successfully.
Therefore, Zhou Wen said smilingly, “Professor Zou is right. It’s certainly not feasible without chemical data…”
At this point, he paused for a moment before he took out another USB flash drive from his pocket and made his way to the projector. He inserted the drive, and then he picked up the remote to make some slight adjustments.
“Take a look at the screen. This is the detailed data pertaining to the chemical formula…”
Zhou Wen announced the chemical formula to the public straightforwardly.
The originally doubtful professors seated below the stage were rendered completely speechless. They stared at the screen in utter silence.
Everything could be clarified to examine if the genes were successfully modified and if the thesis was a result of academic fraud later by conducting the experiment once again using the chemical formula.
Zhou Wen returned to the rostrum and said, “Don’t worry, fellow professors. I shall send a copy of the data to you separately after the event has adjourned.”
Upon hearing his words, the tens of professors stretching their necks strenuously from below the stage to read the chemical formula displayed on the screen relaxed their tensed bodies.
A professor from Fudan University took over the microphone and asked, “Hello, Student Zhou. I would like to inquire about the theoretical foundation of your genetic modification and frame of reference…”
The professors that came forward next proposed many conventional questions in the area of experimental teaching.
Zhou Wen answered the questions one by one.
He elaborated on what he could elaborate on and skimmed through what he could not explain.
The oral examination ended in perfection after two hours.
“Clap, clap, clap…”
“Clap, clap, clap…”
The continuous yet warm applause echoed through the entire scene when Wang Huiyao announced the end of today’s oral examination event.
Genetic modification’s success played an extremely important and positive role in the Biology program that was filled with barriers and obstacles in the country now.
The crowd’s applause was considered a token of appreciation for Zhou Wen too.
Of course, the dust had yet to settle for the time being. Everything could only be discussed further when the experiment’s results were out.
The students listening from the side were discussing profusely when they got up and left.
“That’s really impressive. I’m a third year graduate student, yet I’m unworthy to even tie his shoestrings.”
“This junior is very impressive; I heard that Jiangzhou University’s affiliated hospital had employed him as an exceptional case.”
“What’s going on…”
Zhou Wen was surrounded by people on the rostrum. He chuckled and said, “Professors, please stay calm. I shall give you a copy of the data now.”
Meanwhile, someone passed some brand new USB flash drives to Zhou Wen.
Zhou Wen used his own laptop to make a copy to the new USB flash drives while the students in charge of the event distributed the copied USB flash drives to the expert professors one by one.
The expert professors left eagerly after acquiring the USB flash drives.
It was useless for them to discuss more now. The situation could only be decided when they verified the experiment results ten days later.
There were only a few people left in the meeting room by the time Zhou Wen completed his tasks.
Professor Wang Huiyao patted his shoulder in excitement. “That’s all for today. I shall help you to keep a close eye on this matter. If there are any new updates, I shall inform you at once.”
Zhou Wen nodded and said in appreciation, “Thank you, Professor Wang.”
“You’re welcome,” said Wang Huiyao, smilingly. Then, he continued to speak, “I shall make a move first.”
“Hmm, take care, professor…”
Zhou Wen packed up his things after Wang Huiyao left beaming with joy. Then, he gathered with Chen Ziyuan and the others who were waiting for him at the door. “Come, let’s go have lunch…”
…
At the table, Chen Ziyuan, Liu Yukun, and the rest asked Zhou Wen many questions that mainly consisted of why he suddenly became so impressive?
However, he responded with ease. If he had no fear for an oral examination event of such a magnitude, would he still be afraid of a small issue like this?
Zhou Wen did the usual thing after lunch, which was sending Xu Shuangyu back to the campus because she still had lessons in the afternoon.
Along the way, Xu Shuangyu asked smilingly, “I heard from Chen Ziyuan that you’re a formal employee in the hospital now?”
“Mmhmm!”
“You’re making seven to eight thousand a month?”
‘That s*n*f*b*tch! Why did he tell her everything?’ Zhou Wen felt rather speechless. “Mmhmm!”
The familiar, crafty glint glimmered in Xu Shuangyu’s eyes once again. “I’m having a birthday party at the end of this month; are you coming?”
Zhou Wen shook his head. “I don’t have the time.”
Xu Shuangyu widened her eyes, pouted her lips and said, “Why? Don’t use ‘busy’ as an excuse. Chen Ziyuan told me that you’re very chill in the hospital, and you only work half a day every day.”
Zhou Wen replied, “… I have to travel for business at the end of this month.”
Xu Shuangyu answered, “I don’t believe it. You’ve just started working in the hospital, even if there is an official business event, it’s not your turn to attend yet.”
Zhou Wen continued, “It’s true. I’m going for a conference in Nanjing City on the 28th, 29th and 30th. It is for three days.”
Xu Shuangyu chuckled upon hearing that and said, “It’s fine then. My birthday party is on the 31st.”
Zhou Wen added, “I don’t have the money…”
Xu Shuangyu responded, “You don’t have to bring anything, just bring yourself.”
Xu Shuangyu paused for a moment before she said, “That’s settled then. It’s on the night of 31st. I will inform you of the location by then.”
Zhou Wen did not have any other excuse to decline anymore so he could only say helplessly, “… Alright.”
Xu Shuangyu giggled in joy. For some unknown reason, she enjoyed seeing Zhou Wen’s reluctant mannerism. The more reluctant he was, the more excited she became.
Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah-hah…
At two in the afternoon in Jiangzhou University’s affiliated hospital- the First People’s Hospital, in the gynecology department, Liu Aiping was still chatting with a patient in her office when her personal phone that was placed on the table began ringing.
She took a glance at her phone to see that it was her friend from the CT room calling her. Liu Aiping said to the patient with a smile, “Please hold on for a moment; I’m going to take a call.”
As she was speaking, Liu Aiping walked out of the office.
She made her way to the corridor before she spoke into the phone, “Hey, Li, please go ahead.”
“Director Liu, it’s possible that the patient is not doing so well…”
Upon hearing that, Liu Aiping felt like a thunderclap struck her from a blue sky, and her heart felt like it was being clenched by an invisible hand. She felt as if she was suffocating.
She grabbed the phone tightly and asked, “Uh… what kind of situation is that?”
“According to the CT scan, we discovered that there’s an unusual growth on aunty’s pancreas tail. I recommend taking another contrast MRI scan just to see if it’s just a benign growth or a malignant growth.”
Liu Aiping almost fell down from shock upon hearing that. She was a doctor, too, so she was well aware of what a ‘growth’ meant, of course. In simpler terms, it was a tumor.
Her sixth sense was telling her that it was highly possible that her mother had a malignant tumor…