Chapter 33: Preparing for the Impending Blizzard

January 15, 2008. The capital was blanketed by a sudden, heavy snowfall. Swirling snowflakes drifted gracefully, dressing the entire city in a pristine, silver coat. Streets, rooftops, and trees were draped in thick white layers, and pedestrians paused in their tracks, enchanted by the beauty of the winter scene.

Li Yifei stood before the window of the teaching building, gazing at the snow, his thoughts drifting far away. Ever since his in-depth exchange with the national expert team, the anxiety he had been harboring finally settled. As someone reborn, his greatest wish—to pass on vital information from his past life to the nation—had been successfully fulfilled. While the saying goes, "A clear conscience is a soft pillow," Li Yifei did not feel entirely at ease.

He remembered a physics professor asking him with curiosity during their meeting: "With your talent for physics, you could have achieved great things in this field. Why on earth did you choose economics and law?" Li Yifei had only smiled and replied, "Perhaps I wanted to challenge myself." In truth, only he knew that he chose these two majors because he understood that in the future, economics and law would play a critical role.

Watching the snow fall harder outside, Li Yifei suddenly recalled a novel he had read in his previous life. In the story, another reborn protagonist returned to the past with a special system—one with limited functions but a unique "proficiency" ability. When faced with a heavy blizzard, the protagonist developed a miraculous snow-melting agent. Not only could it rapidly melt thick snow, but, even more amazingly, the resulting meltwater was rich in nitrogen ions, instantly becoming a high-efficiency fertilizer for crops, turning a natural disaster into a valuable resource.

This plot point circled continuously in Li Yifei’s mind, and he began to seriously consider its feasibility. As someone with a natural gift for physics and chemistry, he keenly realized that this was not a fantasy. Although the novel's description might have been exaggerated, the underlying scientific principles were worth exploring and testing.

In a corner of the campus, the sound of poetry recitation drifted through the air. Students with a literary bent, moved by the snowy landscape, were composing verses on the spot and capturing the beautiful moment with their cameras. The playground, meanwhile, was a scene of lively chaos; students were chasing each other, snowballs flew through the air, and laughter echoed across the campus. Other enthusiastic students spontaneously picked up brooms and shovels to clear the snow, making travel easier for everyone.

Li Yifei, however, had no heart for these activities. He turned and headed toward the laboratory. Ever since he had submitted his crucial report to the state, the attitude of several physics and chemistry professors toward him had shifted dramatically. They not only granted him unlimited access to the lab but also allowed him to use any equipment or materials he wished, hoping to guide this "straying" young man back to the "correct path" of scientific research.

Inside the lab, the indicator lights of various precision instruments flickered. Li Yifei threw himself into his research with absolute focus. He consulted documents, mixed reagents, and conducted repeated experiments, losing track of time entirely. When he finally emerged from the lab, the sky had turned completely dark. In his hand, he held a transparent plastic bottle containing the snow-melting agent he had synthesized after countless attempts—a product he had recreated by referencing the novel's description, combined with his own knowledge and the laboratory's resources.

Back in his dormitory, the heating provided a warmth that stood in stark contrast to the icy world outside. Li Yifei lay on his bed, his mind still preoccupied with how to improve and promote the snow-melting agent. He knew that this blizzard might only be the beginning; if it truly escalated into a severe disaster, his invention could potentially play a monumental role.

Early the next morning, Li Yifei pushed open his dormitory window, and the sight before him made his heart sink. The snow was now thick enough to bury his ankles. Although clearing efforts had begun on the roads, the snowdrifts along the sides were spectacular. He realized the situation might be even more serious than he had anticipated.

Skipping breakfast, Li Yifei grabbed the bottle of snow-melting agent and headed straight to Dean Yi’s office. *Knock, knock, knock.* The sound echoed clearly in the quiet corridor.

"Come in!" came Dean Yi’s gentle voice.

Pushing the door open, Li Yifei said respectfully, "Professor Yi, sorry to bother you." Ever since Li Yifei had provided the state with vital information, Dean Yi had paid him special attention, not only offering support for his studies and research but also repeatedly telling him to drop the formality and simply call him "Professor."

Seeing Li Yifei, Dean Yi smiled and asked, "Yifei, what brings you here so early?"

Li Yifei walked to the window, gazed at the heavy snow outside, and said with a heavy heart, "Professor, look at this snow. It’s falling so heavily; I fear this is a bad omen for the year."

Dean Yi walked to the window as well, his brow furrowed. "Indeed. If it continues at this rate, there’s no telling what might happen. Transportation and agriculture will both be severely affected."

"Professor, I’ve made something small, and I’d like you to take a look at it," Li Yifei said, holding up the bottle.

"Oh? What is this mysterious thing?" Dean Yi asked with interest.

"It’s for melting snow. Shall we go test it together?" A hopeful light flickered in Li Yifei’s eyes.

The two went to an open area on campus. Li Yifei unscrewed the cap, poured out some granular snow-melting agent, and scattered it over the thick snow. A miracle occurred: where the agent touched, the snow began to melt rapidly. The vast expanse of white quickly revealed the ground beneath, the entire process taking less than a moment.

"An excellent product!" Dean Yi’s eyes widened. As the dean of the School of Economics, he understood the value of this invention perfectly. If it could be mass-produced and applied, it would be an effective response to the disaster.

Back in the office, Li Yifei explained the principles and characteristics of the agent in detail. When he mentioned that the resulting meltwater could serve as high-efficiency fertilizer, Dean Yi was so astonished he couldn't close his mouth.

Li Yifei said earnestly, "Professor, I’d like to ask you to report this to the higher authorities, and I am willing to offer the synthesis method to the state for free. With the snow falling so heavily, I hope it can be produced as quickly as possible to prevent a severe disaster."

Dean Yi looked at the young man in disbelief. One had to realize that such an invention, with its massive commercial potential, would yield immeasurable annual profits if patented and commercialized. Yet, Li Yifei chose to dedicate it to the state without hesitation.

"Xiao Li, are you sure about this? This is an invention that could bring you immense wealth," Dean Yi asked, his voice full of concern.

Li Yifei nodded firmly. "I am sure. Compared to personal gain, I would rather this invention play a role at a critical moment, helping the country and the people weather the storm. Besides, I have already received so much; to be able to do something for the country, I feel it is well worth it."

Deeply moved by Li Yifei’s character and vision, Dean Yi nodded heavily. "Very well! I will submit this project immediately. You are already quite famous at the top; all 24 decision-makers have a deep impression of you. I believe this project will receive attention very quickly."

Indeed, once Dean Yi submitted the snow-melting agent project to the Council of Elders, it was treated with high priority. After rigorous review and assessment by experts, it was confirmed that this invention would not only effectively resolve transportation issues caused by the blizzard but also turn waste into treasure, providing a significant boost to agricultural production. It was, without a doubt, an invention that benefited both the nation and the people.

Soon, the relevant departments issued instructions for various regions to organize production and application as quickly as possible based on local conditions.

Li Yifei’s act of kindness not only provided powerful support for the impending disaster response but also solidified his standing within the relevant departments. It could be said that as long as he made no fundamental errors, his path forward would be bright. If he chose to enter the civil service, his contributions and abilities would ensure his promotion path remained smooth.

At this moment, Li Yifei gazed at the snowflakes still swirling outside the window, his heart filled with peace and gratification. He knew that he had once again used his advantage as a reborn soul to make a contribution to his country and his people.