CHAPTER 299: CHAPTER 297 CAPTURED RESEARCHER

After lunch, the city government leader and the vice dean of the hospital both had their own matters to attend to. They parted ways with Chen Xin and left, one returning to the city government to report on the hospital boiler modification, the other to handle the hospital’s daily work. They were only able to have lunch with Chen Xin because of his ability to modify the boiler.

Chen Xin did not feel neglected or belittled by the leaders’ departure; on the contrary, he was not accustomed to receiving such fawning attention.

Now that all those leaders had left, Chen Xin felt a bit more at ease.

"Mr. Chen, do you have anything else this afternoon?" Hong Rui asked politely as she prepared to return to the office after finishing her meal.

"Nothing much in the afternoon; I’ll be heading back shortly." When Chen Xin mentioned going back, he didn’t mean returning home but rather to his temporary residence at Polytechnic College. After speaking, he seemed to remember something and said to Hong Rui, "By the way, Dr. Hong, the herbal seeds you gave me last time have sprouted, and they’re growing well. Should I prepare them for you?"

Hearing this, Hong Rui laughed and explained to Chen Xin, "Those herbs need to grow for at least three months before they can be used medicinally. Sprouting doesn’t mean they’re ready. Some need to be planted for over a year to have adequate medicinal efficacy, so there’s no rush with this.

However, it’s rare for someone like you, Mr. Chen, to remember this. At times like this, everyone’s focusing on growing more food, so it’s rare and commendable for you to help me grow medicinal herbs."

"Food has to be grown, but we can’t neglect the herbs either! These things can save lives, can’t they?" Chen Xin smiled, not explaining further.

If he really only had the 100-square-meter greenhouse he initially built when creating a shelter, he would only plant enough to feed himself. Never mind helping grow herbs, even trading vegetables would require careful calculation to ensure his survival.

But after acquiring the system, he had the extra capacity to help others, so he wouldn’t hesitate to offer a bit of kindness and assistance.

Human nature may be selfish, but there’s a baseline of goodness in everyone’s heart. Reaching out to help when others are in need isn’t a monumental or odd thing.

"Whatever the case, thank you for your help, Mr. Chen. Not only for helping with the herbs but also for modifying the boiler," Hong Rui felt compelled to thank Chen Xin, for both public and personal reasons: "By modifying the boiler, you improved the hospital’s heating, which was a huge help. Patients with frostbite and hypothermia can now be treated, and us doctors no longer have to work non-stop for ten-plus hours a day.

Even just for that, both we doctors and the patients owe you our thanks."

"That doesn’t bother me. Rather than thanking me, their surviving healthily is the best thanks I could get." Chen Xin didn’t pay much mind to Hong Rui’s gratitude. For him, saving even a few lives meant his recent hard work wasn’t in vain.

Hearing Chen Xin say this, Hong Rui’s eyes showed some astonishment, but she nodded and said, "If everyone could think like you, Mr. Chen, that would be wonderful."

"I think most people would think this way, wouldn’t they? I have things to do, so I’ll get going first. I won’t disturb your work any longer, Dr. Hong." After speaking, Chen Xin turned and left.

Watching his departing figure, Hong Rui’s eyes flickered, looking at Chen Xin with newfound admiration.

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Leaving the hospital, Chen Xin returned to Polytechnic College. Though he hadn’t done any physically exhausting work, the morning’s busyness and running between two shelters left him feeling a bit tired, wanting to rest for a while.

Just as Chen Xin was about to rest in the room prepared for him, a young Researcher, whom Chen Xin had previously encountered and who had shown disdain for him, approached him, speaking harshly, "The professor wants you; come with me!"

Without waiting for Chen Xin to respond, the young Researcher intended to pull Chen Xin along to see this professor he mentioned.

Before Chen Xin understood what was happening, he was being dragged by this young Researcher toward the boiler room.

Although he stumbled a bit being pulled by the young Researcher, Chen Xin quickly regained his footing, reversed the hold, and pinned down the young Researcher.

"What’s with you? Acting like a bandit!" Chen Xin frowned. Although he could understand why traditional researchers might look down on someone like him from the civilian world, it didn’t mean he was temperless, allowing others to order him around.

"Let go! How can you be so barbaric? Let go! My arm’s breaking!" The young Researcher, pinned down by Chen Xin, cried out, never expecting Chen Xin to resist or to be overpowered by him.

The young Researcher’s loud cries quickly drew the attention of others.

However, even surrounded by a crowd pointing and whispering, Chen Xin didn’t release the young Researcher, only pressing him on what was going on.

The young Researcher, perhaps feeling embarrassed or wanting to shoulder the responsibility himself without involving the professor, merely twisted his arm and remained stubbornly silent, refusing to explain, only telling Chen Xin to let go.

Faced with the young Researcher’s pigheadedness, Chen Xin felt increasingly irked, tightening his grip, causing the young Researcher to cry even louder while remaining unwilling to let go.

Though Qin Lan criticized Chen Xin for lacking exercise, being able to date a female police officer from the SWAT team as a girlfriend, his so-called lack of exercise only meant compared to Qin Lan. It didn’t mean Chen Xin was truly weak.

Compared to those spending all day in labs, keeping their bodies in sub-optimal condition, their strengths were not at the same level.

This left the young Researcher, no matter how he tried, unable to escape Chen Xin’s grasp.

Just when the two were locked in a stalemate, an elderly professor, having heard the commotion, arrived and looked at the pinned young Researcher, asking, "What’s going on here? I asked you to invite someone, and you got yourself caught?"

After speaking, the professor looked up at Chen Xin. Although he couldn’t help frowning, he still said to Chen Xin, "Comrade, whatever happened, could you please let go of my student first?"