Chapter 10 1/2

The place where N9 district settled is a high school dormitory.

Due to low birth rates and population migration, many schools have been abandoned and transformed into activity centers.

The number of people is not large, with each person having an individual dormitory.

Jiang Li, upon arriving at the dormitory, immediately cleaned and washed the floors, especially the gaps in the bricks.

The instructor came to distribute supplies, including three sets of combat uniforms per person, seven days’ worth of nutrient solution, and some essential daily necessities.

Looking at the familiar military nutrient solution, Jiang Li pursed his lips. Having consumed too much at once, he found it a bit nauseating.

As the space warfare casualty rate decreased, many doctors no longer needed to go to the front lines. Generally, soldiers returned for rehabilitation.

In recent years, the internship tasks for medical students have gradually relaxed. Many have forgotten that a few years ago, the internship involved a hundred-kilometer weighted cross-country run, with only a tube of nutrient supplement provided.

Now it’s two tubes a day, with a direct flight to the mission location, quite broad in scope.

There was once an incident where outside food was poisoned, so outside food is strictly prohibited.

Now that federal order has normalized, it depends on the attitude of the leading officers. Some turn a blind eye. What about the attitude of this leading officer?

Professor Wang Xuning gave an example of a wealthy Alpha student. Every time he went out, he indulged in delicious food and drinks, throwing away the military nutrient supplements. After being scolded by the chief, he immediately called his mentor that night.

The Third Military Academy does not support this trend. The student, without remorse, was expelled and became a negative example for every mentor educating their students.

Everyone is aware; if they give you nutrient supplements, you consume nutrient supplements.

Even if military nutrient supplements taste bad, they are filling.

The next morning, Jiang Li pinched his nose and drank the tube, then headed to the assembly hall downstairs.

During the assembly, there were no officers present, only a few soldiers on guard, and mainly instructors assigning tasks.

Jiang Li’s task was to measure pheromone levels using a pheromone level analyzer that looked like a sports bracelet. It was strapped to the wrist, and the probe penetrated the skin to detect pheromone level changes throughout the day.

The instrument was disposable. Jiang Li sat behind a desk, disinfecting his hands carefully and unpacking the device. Sitting in front of him was a 96-year-old Omega lady who had entered a dormant chamber at the age of 56, forty years ago.

“Please relax; it won’t hurt.”

The iodine swab gently wiped the skin on her wrist. The probe quickly and accurately pierced the skin, was taped securely, and then the analyzer was strapped on.

Jiang Li’s fingers were fair and slender, and his movements were unhurried, making people feel calm.

“Oh, it really doesn’t hurt. Doctor, you’re skilled,” the lady said with a smile. “You look good. My daughter is 70 years old, has been a fan for fifty years, and none of those she adores looks as handsome as you.”

Jiang Li: “Auntie, you’re too kind. I noticed your gland looks a bit red. Did a mosquito bite you? I’ll disinfect it for you; scratching it if it breaks can be troublesome.”

Residents of the N9 district gradually came to the high school. After a while, there was a rumor that Dr. Xiao Jiang was particularly good at disinfection—super comfortable and effective. If you have a cut, hurry and find him.

Someone with bruises needed ointment; others with scraped wounds wanted cleaning. There were even people with hair loss who came to Jiang Li, asking him to apply a hair growth solution to their bald heads.

Jiang Li gladly agreed, helping the bald guy with a turmeric-colored hair growth solution.

“Phew! I feel like my hair follicles are alive!” The bald guy exaggerated, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

The skilled Jiang Li was actually a bit nervous with so many people watching, but the atmosphere was lively, not a cold stare. It felt like a festive gathering, and Jiang Li focused on his work without speaking much.

“Dr. Xiao Jiang is too introverted.”

The whole team worked all day. Jiang Li finished his needlework quickly, changed into his clothes quietly, and went out to buy a pregnancy test.

The “captain” of the space force, as spoken by the soldiers all day, didn’t appear. So, it was unknown what his attitude was towards going out to buy food.

Jiang Li had to be the first to go out to buy things. “Just not buying food is fine, right?”

Normally, he should go to the medical station to buy, as it is next to the dormitory. However, Jiang Li’s situation was special, and he didn’t want his colleagues to know. So, he had to go to a private pharmacy.

The age distribution in N9 district was mainly over seventy. Either they had given birth a long time ago, the younger generation liked living in the central city, or they hadn’t had children. In any case, it had been a long time since a new population was born, and pregnancy tests were unsold goods.

Jiang Li waited for a long time. The pharmacy owner finally dug out a box of loss-making goods from a pile of clutter three years ago.

“How many days left in the expiration date? Take it for free.”

“Thank you.”

“Wish you good luck.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Li thanked him twice, holding a box of pregnancy test sticks in his palm. He couldn’t clearly say whether he was nervous or looking forward to it, but it was certainly a very novel life experience.

He quickly walked back.

With a large population in the N9 district, it was impossible to test everyone within seven days. So, during the day, they tested at school stations, and at night, they went door-to-door for residents who couldn’t go out easily.

When Jiang Li returned to the dormitory, most medical students had already finished dinner. They learned from the deputy commander that the captain didn’t mind them buying food themselves.

His sense of smell was too sensitive. He could smell subtle pheromones and the aroma of food coming from each dormitory.

Sweet potatoes, braised pork, corn…

There was also a scent of corn in the pheromones, different from the real aroma of food. One could arouse desire, the other could stimulate appetite, and the two were basically not interchangeable.

Although the food was expensive, with the long average lifespan in the interstellar era, wealth accumulation was beneficial. Most people were only children, and during internships, parents would provide more financial support.

Jiang Li thought that if he had a child in the first year, he could only raise them according to the government’s free method. However, with the salary from the Central Pheromone Research Institute, he would strive to earn money and sell research patents. By the time the child reached the stage of eating solid food, he would also have the money to provide a rich variety of food.