"Why me?"
"These past few years, the research institute, First Academy, and the Academy of Science have all transferred over 40 research assistants to father's lab, but none of them lasted for more than three months. This is because everyone knows that the direction of father's research has no future."
Professor Shen gazed at Xu Le with a gentle gaze and said, "Other than their daily work, those research assistants were not even interested in father's research on quantum dynamics. Before father passed away, he said that in all these years, you were the only one who had taken the initiative to flip through the things he had researched. "
Xu Le lowered his head in silence, a trace of guilt growing in his heart. When he had first entered the lab, he had not been any different from those research assistants. It was only because he was used to being squeezed dry by Uncle Feng Yu that he had been more proactive and diligent in his work.
As for the field of quantum dynamics that Professor Shen had researched, Xu Le had not had any interest in it. If it were not for the fact that the Federation's newest generation of mecha had encountered a problem that coincided with Professor Shen's research, he might not have even opened that index tree.
Thinking of this, a light flashed through Xu Le's mind. Vaguely, he seemed to have guessed why those senior technocrats had been so eager to enter the lab after Professor Shen had passed away. However, he still could not confirm this point.
Seeing that the young assistant had fallen silent, Professor Shen thought that the young assistant would not be able to accept the sudden news. He smiled and said, "What I research is deep ore veins. The direction of my research is completely different from father's. The things in that lab are useless even if he left them to me. If he left them to you, at least father will be able to account for the ten or so years he spent researching alone. "
After a moment of silence, Xu Le told the other about what had happened at the research institute this morning. After all, the other was Professor Shen's son. Whether it was from a legal standpoint or from a personal standpoint, he needed Professor Shen to give him an opinion on the unreasonable demands of those senior technocrats.
...
...
"I'm afraid I won't be of much help in this matter."
A trace of pain appeared in Professor Shen's calm eyes. Like his father, he devoted himself to research. His father left everything in the laboratory to Xu Le, and he had no objection. However, when he heard that the company's bureaucrats wanted to force their way into the laboratory before his father's body was even cold, he still felt sad and angry even though he didn't know what those bureaucrats wanted.
"Here are some files, some of my father's work notes, and some legal documents. I didn't read it carefully, but the agreement that father signed with the Husk Institute should be in there. "
Professor Shen handed Xu Le a micro storage device and seriously said, "If you really want to go to court in the future, let me know. I'm willing to testify for you."
…
…
People who engage in research are always more naive.
The Husk Company represented the will of the entire Federation. At least, the several senior officials who suddenly appeared this morning represented the will of some of the forces in the Federation. Whether it was Professor Shen or Xu Le, in front of this force, they all seemed so small and pitiful.
Xu Le believed that if those officials really wanted to enter Professor Shen's laboratory, they would have countless ways and reasons to do so. Professor Shen's request to testify in court would probably never become a reality. The officials simply wouldn't let this matter go to court.
A glass of white wine spilled on the table. This was the custom of the Donglin District. Xu Le narrowed his eyes and looked at the wine stains on the table. He remembered what Professor Shen said that day.
"While I'm still alive, I'll do it."
However, Professor Shen had suddenly passed away just like that. Xu Le's eyes narrowed more and more. The conjecture he had in the hospital gradually surfaced in his mind. It became clearer and clearer, more and more realistic. It looked like … the researchers of some departments had probably gradually discovered the importance of Professor Shen's research results in the process of developing the new generation of mecha for the Federation.
Other than the development of the new generation of mecha for the Federation, what else could make those officials so nervous? They actually wanted to force their way into the laboratory right after Professor Shen's death.
Subconsciously, Xu Le took out a thin piece of small yellow pancake from the paper bag beside him. He slowly chewed on it and poured himself a glass of wine. The wine was mixed with the aroma of grains, giving off a spicy and painful taste. He took a deep breath and made up his mind. No matter what those officials thought, and no matter whether he could protect the laboratory, at least the electron jet must be successfully developed in his hands.
On the new generation of mecha for the Federation, Professor Shen's name must be written.
Xu Le was a calm and collected person. In the past few days, his emotions had been stirred by the new generation of mecha. That was because he liked it, because it was his life's dream. Moreover, he needed to use the success of the mecha to help himself achieve a certain goal. Other than that, his heart was like a boulder.
However, the person had already passed away. What belonged to Professor Shen should belong to Professor Shen. What belonged to him should belong to him.
For an orphan who was like a rock in Donglin, there was no one to snatch. Things could be shared. If someone snatched it, then he would snatch it as fiercely as a cub.
…
…
"What happened?" Zou Yu frowned and looked at Xu Le's solemn expression. She looked at the wine on the table and the other's furrowed brows because of the spiciness. She knew that something must have happened to this ordinary young man today.
"Professor Shen has passed away due to illness."
Even without chatting with Xu Le, Zou Yu knew who Professor Shen was. There were not many Nebula Award winners left in the Federation. She was silent for a moment and then turned on the television.
The news was broadcasting the news of Professor Shen's death. This old man who was far away from the Federation's academic center and had gradually been forgotten by the citizens of the Federation had finally shocked the numb world. In an instant, many people remembered Professor Shen's outstanding contributions to the Federation back in the day.
Xu Le did not look at the news. He only listed out his goal and process in detail in his mind, analysing where he had gone wrong and where he could make up for it. Suddenly, he stared blankly at Zou Yu on the sofa for a very long time.
Zou Yu was not used to being stared at by him and said coldly, "What's wrong with you?"
"Professor Shen has been helping me research something recently. Specifically, this thing involves the success of the Federation's new generation of mecha." Xu Le drank another glass of strong wine and narrowed his eyes. He told Zou Yu everything that had happened in the past few days.
Zou Yu became more and more engrossed as she listened. Her eyes lit up. As the daughter of the Deputy Minister of National Defence, she was not an ignorant and incompetent person. Of course, she knew that what Xu Le was saying now was of great significance to the Federal military and even to the war between the Federation and the Empire.
The more important the matter was, the more benefits it would bring and the more attention it would attract. Zou Yu was silent for a long time before she suddenly said, "Since the Husk Institute places so much importance on your laboratory, it looks like many people already know that the success of the new mecha cannot be separated from Professor Shen's research. The problem is, we don't know how much those people know. Is it because their research has run into problems and they need the information from Professor Shen's laboratory? Or is it because they already know that you are close to success and want to snatch the fruits of your labor?"
After so many days of interaction, Zou Yu had already naturally referred to Xu Le and himself as "we".
Xu Le thought for a while and said, "It should be the former."
"No one can protect the laboratory." Zou Yu looked at him seriously and said, "You are an employee of Nutshell and also a civilian soldier directly under the Ministry of National Defence. No matter what your identity is, you are just a small fry."
Xu Le looked at her quietly.
"Don't look at me. My father is indeed a soldier with a technical background. He should have some influence on Nutshell, but this matter … the benefits involved are too great." Zou Yu lowered her eyes slightly and said, "Even if you ask Lady Tai to help, those people will not give up."
"You seem to have guessed which important person wants to snatch Professor Shen's things."
Zou Yu hesitated for a long time before saying softly, "The Federal Academy of Science … Dean Lin."
Xu Le frowned. He could not believe his ears. In the hearts of the average citizen of the Federation, the Federal Academy of Science was an incomparably noble and holy place. Dean Lin's prestige was even higher. Back when Xu Le was a mechanic, he had also greatly admired the expert who had single-handedly taken on the task of developing the M52 mecha.
"Dean Lin is the youngest Nebula Award recipient in history, 11 years earlier than Professor Shen."
"But there has always been an unconfirmed rumor. Back then, Dean Lin and Professor Shen worked in the same laboratory. Dean Lin's Nebula Award recipient results … were plagiarized from Professor Shen's research."
"The head of the Academy of Science plagiarized? Can a person really … be that shameless? "Xu Le frowned.
Zou Yu raised her head and said calmly, "It's just a rumor. No one has proof, and no one dares to bring it up. The position of the head of the Federal Academy of Science is too sensitive, too detached. Neither the politicians nor the military are willing to offend him."
"To be able to discover the importance of measuring quantum dynamics from the development of a new mecha so quickly, and to be able to link it to the almost-forgotten Professor Shen, this person's academic attainment must be extremely high. Moreover, he is very familiar with Professor Shen, and even … has been secretly observing him all this time."
Xu Le lowered his head, thinking seriously. If Zou Yu's guess was somewhat correct, then he had to admit that the head of the Federal Academy of Science, such a detached figure who was deeply respected by the Federation and whose students were spread across the various key technical departments of the Federation … if he really wanted to steal the fruits of Professor Shen's research, Xu Le would not be able to do anything about it.
"How far are you from success with the new mecha you're researching?" Zou Yu looked seriously into Xu Le's eyes. She had always thought that this ordinary small-eyed boy was destined to become someone great, but she really had not expected that this person would shock the entire Federation so soon after entering the research institute.
"Not far."
"Give up on the lab." Zou Yu said straightforwardly. With regards to the darkness of the upper echelons of the Federation, she had a more direct understanding than Xu Le, who had come from an ordinary background. "Do your best to create the new mecha. As long as it's done, even if it really is the Federal Academy of Science, you won't have to worry about anything."
Xu Le knew that she was talking about a more practical method, but he did not want to give up on the lab, because it was the crystallization of Professor Shen's wisdom in his later years.
"Although I'm not far from success, I still need the database in the lab. Without the lab, I can't do anything."
"Then you have to think of a way to transfer the database out." Zou Yu looked at him seriously. "Don't have any extravagant hopes. I believe that when you return to the research institute tomorrow, you will be transferred out, and in this lifetime, you won't be able to take one step closer to the lab."
It was an impossible task to move the huge database in the laboratory from the Nutshell Research Institute, which was heavily guarded and had three layers of scanning. Although Xu Le trusted Zou Yu's sharp judgment as an unmarried mother, he did not think in this direction.
But the next day, when a group of fully armed military police ordered him to report to the human resources department immediately, he understood that he had to do as Zou Yu said.
Xu Le looked at the military police in front of him silently. For the first time, he felt that it was difficult to reason with the old system of the Federation.
Professor Shen believed that everything in the universe should be reasonable, so he was plagiarized, ostracized, and forgotten in a lonely laboratory.
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