Chapter 16 1/2

Jiang Li filled a basin with warm water, soaked the sleeves of his coat in it, and scrubbed the oil stains at the elbow with soap, using his slender fingers.

The indigo blue suit was already dark in color, and after getting wet, it was hard to tell if it was clean. Jiang Li repeated the process three times with soap, followed by two rounds of rinsing with water. He then shook the sleeves slightly and hung them on the balcony railing.

He remained calm and composed throughout, perhaps because Cen Lang had given him new guidance, providing him with an alternative path. He always had an escape route.

Wang Xuning, assigned as his formal mentor by the dean, held considerable authority over Jiang Li’s academic pursuits. Reporting to the dean was a last resort, and if the dean intervened, it meant retracting the initial assignment decision. Wang Xuning would resent the dean for interfering in his student affairs. There were also conflicting interests among mentors, and Jiang Li hoped to focus on research while the dean was away on a business trip.

The best option was to find a more powerful company than Jiang Pharmaceutical to collaborate with, combining strengths, racing in research, and aiming for an early market launch.

Jiang Pharmaceutical couldn’t keep up with Jiang Li, and with little hope of profitability, they could only waste money. Jiang Li’s thesis exceeded expectations, so what if the initial structural formula was leaked?

As for whether Wang Xuning would agree to Jiang Li seeking collaboration with a company on his own, Jiang Li had recorded evidence, making him unafraid of Wang Xuning’s disagreement. They both preferred not to escalate the situation.

Yang Xiaoli said they needed to explore more channels; the Jiang family was several levels higher than the Lin family, and the sanatorium they visited was also high-end, making it difficult to infiltrate.

Jiang Li decided to ignore Jiang Lu for now and said, “Take it slow.”

He opened his computer, scheduled experiments overnight, and then began writing a proposal. If he unexpectedly had the opportunity to meet someone from the Jiang family, he couldn’t afford to be empty-handed.

Jiang Li typed “pricing power.” The price of anti-tumor drugs during the patent period was always exorbitant due to the substantial research investment required for cost recovery.

Jiang Li could cover 90% of the costs alone.

As long as the other party had a conscience, they would agree to Jiang Li’s demands.

At two in the morning, Jiang Li climbed to the upper bunk; he usually slept well.

At seven, the alarm went off. Jiang Li closed his eyes, eased for two seconds, grabbed the bed railing with his arm, sat up for another two seconds, and then got dressed.

After the usual morning routine, he took out a nutritional supplement from the drawer. He brought it close to his mouth, opened his lips a few times, but couldn’t bring himself to take a sip.

He didn’t feel like drinking the nutritional supplement.

Jiang Li was still sleepy; he touched his stomach and comforted himself, “Be good.”

“Have something else for dinner.”

“Jiang Li, who are you talking to?” Wang Tianhu asked loudly, “What’s for dinner?”

Jiang Li became alert. “For dinner, I’ll have porridge. Want to join me?”

Wang Tianhu refused decisively, picked up his backpack, and said, “I either drink nutritional supplements or eat meat. How can I just eat porridge? I won’t be able to lift the scalpel. If you’re cooking porridge, remember to add some minced meat and ham. There’s ham sausage in the fridge, I bought it. I’m off to work, day shift, won’t be back.”

Jiang Li was reminded by Wang Tianhu that he could try cooking in the dorm himself.

Pots and pans weren’t expensive; he could buy an electric rice cooker and make some congee if he didn’t want to drink nutritional supplements.

Jiang Li decisively ordered cooking tools online, along with a bag of rice, a piece of pork, and a pack of frozen vegetable cubes. He searched online for a tutorial on making shredded meat and found it not to be too difficult. He planned to try it in the evening.

At seven-thirty, Jiang Li arrived at the laboratory. Wang Xuning, unusually early, was already waiting. When he saw Jiang Li, he said, “I’ve just given the graduation projects to the two first-year graduate students. Once you finish your thesis, assist them with their work.”

“You two can use Jiang Li’s laboratory,” Wang Xuning said to the two first-year students.

Jiang Li didn’t speak. If Wang Xuning and Jiang Lu didn’t complicate matters, his thesis would indeed be theoretically complete.

The sign hanging outside the laboratory read “Wang Xuning Laboratory,” and Wang Xuning had the authority to decide everything inside.

Jiang Li followed Wang Xuning to the office and sat down calmly. “Professor, I still need to use the laboratory for some time.”

Wang Xuning opened a thermos, and the steam from the tea fogged up his glasses as he looked up.

“Jiang Li, you want to be in charge of your own project, and I can’t even glance at it, right? Okay, I won’t interfere. My students use my laboratory for my projects, and I have the final say on research results.”

“If you think you’re the dean’s student, and I have no say, then should I bring my own students? Otherwise, when you graduate, what will be left of Wang Xuning’s laboratory?”

“Even if your thesis is the best in the entire school, everyone will only think the dean had good foresight. What do I matter? The dean will come back to attend your defense.”

“If you’re dissatisfied with me as your advisor, you must have reported to the dean, right?”

Jiang Li replied, “No. I’ve always considered you as my advisor, and I send you research reports as soon as they are ready. I help my fellow students wholeheartedly and have never contacted the dean privately.”

So that’s how Wang Xuning saw it.

Jiang Li blinked. It turned out there was such a saying as being sheltered by others, and he suddenly felt fortunate for giving up adoption.

Wang Xuning said, “Then why can’t you sell the structural formula and synthesis pathway to Jiang Lu?”

Jiang Li replied, “Because Jiang Lu is also threatening me.”

Wang Xuning paused and said, “That’s your business with him.”

Jiang Li rolled up the proposal: “If you think I’m not your student, then I’m not obligated to help my fellow students. I have my own things to attend to.”

Wang Xuning said, “Isn’t it about finding the dean?”

Jiang Li said, “No.” He wanted to find a new laboratory.

At that moment, Wang Xuning’s office phone rang.

Wang Xuning answered, and his expression changed.

“Wang Xuning, put it on speaker! I’m afraid you’ll go deaf!” The dean’s angry voice burst out of the receiver. “Do you think holding students accountable for respecting teachers and observing etiquette means I don’t know? Are you embarrassed or not? Do you think the military academy has no inspector? Someone reported you for bribery, suspended for investigation! Is Jiang Li in the lab? Call him!”

Due to the dean’s loud voice

Jiang Li heard the entire process.

Inspector?

There’s such an organization?

Jiang Li recalled an off-road vehicle parked at the school gate.

Wang Xuning’s expression changed repeatedly as he muttered, “Inspector.”

He hadn’t heard of such a position since taking office. How did this suddenly come up? Only he and Jiang Li knew about this matter; no one else did.

Jiang Li picked up the phone and switched off the speaker. “Dean, it’s Jiang Li.”

The dean said, “Go get the key to the Tianchen Laboratory from the vice dean. From now on, you’ll do your experiments there. Don’t worry about anything else.”

Tianchen—>>