Chapter 39 Professor Zhang Laughs: A Natural for Scientific Research

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The windows of the pharmaceutical factory laboratory stood open, and the wind sent the experimental logbook on the table fluttering noisily. Professor Zhang was studying the data around the reaction vessel with three students from the county research institute, his pencil moving ceaselessly across the page. Su Yao stood nearby, holding the wailing Lu Qingmiao in her arms. Sweat covered her forehead—the child had been acting strangely since he woke that morning. He refused to drink his milk, would not sleep no matter how she coaxed him, and nothing had worked even after she carried him around several times.

“Director Su, go rest for a while. We can manage here.” Professor Zhang looked up and caught sight of her. “The child is crying so hard. Perhaps something is bothering him.”

“It’s nothing. Maybe he’s just shy around strangers.” Su Yao shook her head with a smile, gently patting Lu Qingmiao’s back. “He’s usually not like this. There are simply too many people here today, and he’s throwing a tantrum.”

Lu Qingmiao’s little face had flushed red, his cries full of grievance. His tiny hands flailed about, nearly knocking the logbook from Su Yao’s grasp. Professor Zhang’s student, Xiao Wang, quickly moved the book out of reach and said with a laugh, “This little fellow has quite a bit of strength. Perhaps he’ll grow up to be well suited for hard physical work.”

“Don’t say that. I’m still hoping he’ll study.” Su Yao gave an exasperated smile and carried Lu Qingmiao toward the test-tube rack. It was quieter there; perhaps the child would calm down.

Unexpectedly, the moment they reached the rack, Lu Qingmiao’s cries suddenly softened. He opened his round eyes and stared at the transparent test tubes arranged on the rack. His little hand reached toward the nearest tube, which contained a green medicinal solution.

“Hey, don’t grab that.” Su Yao quickly stopped him. “There’s medicine inside. You mustn’t touch it.”

But Lu Qingmiao paid no attention. He cried even harder, reaching insistently toward the rack. Professor Zhang came over and watched with curiosity.

“Director Su, let him touch it. Just be careful.”

Su Yao hesitated, then brought Lu Qingmiao closer to the test-tube rack. The instant the child’s hand touched the glass, his crying stopped. He gently stroked the tube, staring at the green liquid inside while babbling softly, as though puzzling over something.

“How extraordinary!” Professor Zhang exclaimed in surprise. “He was crying so fiercely, yet the moment he touched a test tube, he went quiet. This child must have an affinity for scientific equipment.”

The students gathered around to watch. Xiao Wang laughed. “Professor Zhang, look at him. Perhaps this little fellow really is destined for scientific research.”

Professor Zhang nodded and carefully observed Lu Qingmiao’s movements. The child’s hand was astonishingly gentle; he did not knock over the tube, but seemed instead to be studying the liquid inside with intense concentration.

“This child has a certain spark. He’s interested in these things. Bring him to the laboratory more often in the future. Perhaps we can nurture that interest.”

Su Yao looked down at the now-quiet Lu Qingmiao in her arms, puzzled. He usually did not even reach for his toys, so why was he interested in test tubes? Quietly, she took a small bottle from her pocket, poured a little water into her palm, and placed Lu Qingmiao’s hand in it. Feeling the coolness, the little boy instinctively brought his hand to his mouth and smacked his lips as he sucked at it, a satisfied expression spreading across his face.

“Little brother likes this water too!” Lu Shihan had entered the laboratory at some point. She held a freshly drawn picture of a test tube. “Mother, I thought this water tasted sweet when I drank it before. Little brother is just like me.”

Su Yao stroked her head. “That’s right. Your little brother likes it too. From now on, we’ll take good care of it together.”

Lu Shihan nodded and handed the drawing to Professor Zhang. “Grandpa Zhang, I drew this test tube. It has penicillin inside. Does it look like one?”

Professor Zhang took the picture and examined it carefully before smiling. “It does—very much so! Shihan, you have talent. Perhaps you’ll become a painter one day and draw pictures of our scientific achievements.”

Lu Shihan’s eyes narrowed into happy crescents. She ran over to Lu Qingmiao and whispered, “Little brother, when you grow up, I’ll teach you how to draw. In return, will you teach me how to recognize test tubes?”

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Lu Qingmiao seemed to understand. He reached out and grasped Lu Shihan’s finger, responding with a string of cheerful babbles. The atmosphere in the laboratory instantly grew warm and tender, and the tension and bustle of moments earlier were softened by the sight of the two children.

Looking at the scene before him, Professor Zhang suddenly remembered something.

“Director Su, I wanted to tell you about a project. The country has recently begun work on satellite-assisted breeding. Seeds are sent into space, where the space environment induces mutations, allowing researchers to cultivate better varieties. Our county research institute hopes to participate. Would you be interested?”

Su Yao paused. Professor Zhang had mentioned the project before, but she had not paid much attention at the time. Now, hearing him explain it again, her heart stirred. If that special water could be used in conjunction with the breeding project, perhaps they could cultivate better varieties of medicinal herbs. That would increase the pharmaceutical factory’s output and help the villagers improve their harvests.

“Professor Zhang, how would we take part?” Su Yao asked.

“We must first select several promising kinds of seeds—tomatoes, corn, medicinal herbs, and so on—and send them to the provincial research institute. They will then arrange to send them to Beijing aboard a satellite,” Professor Zhang explained. “Once the seeds return, we’ll cultivate and screen them, then select the best varieties for promotion.”

Su Yao nodded. “Professor Zhang, I’d like to give it a try. The pharmaceutical factory has quite a few medicinal-herb seeds, and the villagers grow plenty of tomatoes as well. Perhaps we can find something suitable.”

“That’s wonderful!” Professor Zhang said happily. “I knew you would be interested. If the project succeeds, it will increase agricultural production in our county and contribute to the nation’s scientific research.”

Lu Xingchen happened to enter the laboratory and hurriedly joined the conversation. “Mother, I can help! I once read books on tomato cultivation in the school library, so I know something about seed characteristics. I can look through the materials and help you choose the right ones.”

“All right.” Su Yao smiled. “Then I’ll leave the seed selection to you. Study the materials carefully and see which tomato seeds are suitable for space breeding, with high yields and strong disease resistance.”

Lu Xingchen nodded. He pulled a small notebook from his schoolbag and began writing. “Tomato seeds: high yield, strong disease resistance, strong adaptability…” He wrote with great seriousness, even drawing a tomato beside the words and labeling it “Target Variety.”

Watching Lu Xingchen, Professor Zhang smiled at Su Yao. “Every one of your children has a gift. Yuxuan is good with accounts, Shihan can draw, Xingchen enjoys scientific research, and now even Qingmiao is interested in test tubes. Your family will become a family of scientists.”

Su Yao smiled shyly. “They’re simply interested in different things. I’m only guiding them according to their interests.”

After a while, Lu Qingmiao grew restless in Su Yao’s arms again, stretching out his little hand toward another test tube. Seeing this, Professor Zhang carefully removed an empty tube and handed it to the child.

“Here, take this one. Don’t touch the tubes with medicine in them.”

Lu Qingmiao took the test tube and hugged it tightly, as though he had been given a precious treasure. He stopped fussing entirely. Tapping the glass gently with his little hand, he made a soft knocking sound and broke into a smile.

“See? I told you this child had a gift for scientific research.” Professor Zhang laughed. “He’s interested in test tubes at such a young age. He’ll surely accomplish great things someday.”

Su Yao looked at Lu Qingmiao clutching the tube in her arms, her heart filled with anticipation. She did not know whether the child would truly pursue scientific research in the future, but as long as he was interested, she would support him—just as she supported Xingchen in researching tomato seeds, Shihan in drawing, and Yuxuan in managing the account books. She hoped every one of her children would be able to do what they loved.

At noon, Su Yao invited Professor Zhang and the students to eat at the pharmaceutical factory. Lunch consisted of corn porridge, cornmeal cakes, and several home-style dishes, yet everyone ate with great pleasure. During the meal, Professor Zhang brought up the breeding project again.

“When selecting seeds, we must choose grains that are full and free of pests and disease. That will give us a higher chance of success. I’ve already contacted the provincial research institute, and they will send someone next month to guide us in selecting the seeds.”

“All right. I’ll have Xingchen begin studying the materials right away and choose the appropriate seeds,” Su Yao said.

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Lu Xingchen quickly added, “Mother, I’ll go to the commune library this afternoon and look through the materials. I’ll choose the tomato and medicinal-herb seeds as soon as possible.”

“There’s no need to rush. Choosing seeds is important, and we must not be careless.” Su Yao patted his head. “If the library doesn’t have enough material, we’ll go to the county library as well.”

After lunch, Professor Zhang and the students prepared to return to the county research institute. Before leaving, Professor Zhang made a point of looking at Lu Qingmiao and said with a smile, “Little fellow, next time I come, I’ll bring you some toy test tubes. Shall we conduct experiments together?”

Lu Qingmiao seemed to understand. He reached out and caught hold of Professor Zhang’s coat, babbling something unintelligible. Professor Zhang laughed and patted his head.

“All right. It’s a promise.”

After seeing them off, Su Yao carried Lu Qingmiao back into the laboratory. Lu Xingchen had already prepared to go to the commune library. With his schoolbag on his back, he said, “Mother, I’m going to study the materials now. I’ll report back to you tonight.”

“All right. Be careful on the way,” Su Yao reminded him.

Lu Shihan came running over with her drawing. “Mother, I want to put the test-tube picture I drew today on the laboratory wall, so Little Brother can see it every day.”

“Of course. Put it up so everyone can see it.” Su Yao nodded.

Lu Shihan found some glue and carefully affixed the picture to the wall. Lu Qingmiao looked at the drawing, then at the test tube in his hands, and smiled happily.

Su Yao sat in a laboratory chair, holding Lu Qingmiao and looking at the picture on the wall and the children busy around her. Her heart was filled with happiness. She knew that space breeding would be a challenge, but with Professor Zhang’s guidance, the children’s help, and the villagers’ support, she was confident she could do it well. Lu Qingmiao’s interest in test tubes made her feel that the future held boundless possibilities.

At dusk, Lu Xingchen returned from the commune library with several sheets of paper covered in notes about tomato seed characteristics.

“Mother, I looked through the materials. The Early Red Beijing tomato seeds mature early, produce high yields, and have strong disease resistance, making them suitable for space breeding. The pharmaceutical factory’s isatis-root seeds are also full and healthy, so they should be suitable as well.”

Su Yao took the notes and read them carefully before nodding with satisfaction. “You’ve done well, Xingchen. Tomorrow we’ll select the seeds and try to choose the very best ones to send to the provincial research institute.”

Lu Xingchen nodded, his face bright with excitement. “Mother, if our seeds can ride into space on a satellite and produce better varieties, the villagers will be able to grow more tomatoes and medicinal herbs. Their lives will get better and better.”

“They will. As long as we work hard, we can certainly make it happen,” Su Yao said with a smile.

Lu Qingmiao had fallen asleep in Su Yao’s arms, still clutching the empty test tube tightly. Su Yao looked at his sleeping face, then at the notes in her hand, her heart filled with anticipation. Whether it was space breeding or the development of the pharmaceutical factory, there was nothing they could not accomplish as long as everyone worked together. This family and these children were her strongest support in this new era, as well as the force that drove her forward.

Outside, the setting sun turned the laboratory windows golden. The picture on the wall looked especially warm in the evening light. Holding Lu Qingmiao and gazing at the children around her, Su Yao felt deeply at peace. The road ahead was still long, but with faith and perseverance, they would surely walk toward a brighter future.

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