Study Monster Cultivation System
Chapter 241: Youth belongs to blue and white colors.

Li Zheng, already well-grounded, stepped into the laboratory with the stability of Mount Tai after a specialized study session of over ten minutes (hours).

But in Teacher Hu’s eyes, he seemed to be a completely different person.

This was not only a contempt for chemistry but also a scorn for scientific research itself.

Seeing that the teacher was about to lose his temper, Shen Yiyun hurriedly put down what she was doing and intervened, "Stop making a fuss, Li Zheng... maybe you should leave first..."

"It’s not like that..." Li Zheng explained, "After all, I have studied under Teacher Hu before, and I just happened to look over the papers published by Teacher Hu’s research group in recent years. I’m somewhat familiar with photovoltaic research. Most of the content you showed me earlier is what I already understand; I just need to confirm the progress of the experiments."

At these words, Teacher Hu’s expressionless old face suddenly twitched, "You? You’ve read our group’s papers? While studying under me?"

"Yes." Li Zheng nodded confidently.

Unbeknownst to him, Li Zheng’s skills at lying had improved significantly with age and experience.

Teacher Hu was now somewhat embarrassed.

After all, he had never actually taught Li Zheng anything.

And Li Zheng, the type of person he was, would he really humbly learn from this research group’s papers?

It was more like...

Comprehensive research on an opponent, to conveniently pick faults, right?

However, Li Zheng was already standing with his hands behind his back, speaking eloquently, "I only realized upon closer inspection that Teacher Hu has been immersed in the field of photovoltaics for over a decade, iterating over 30 versions of photovoltaic materials, and leading the nation’s research team in this area. From the initial fluorination route, they have developed to the current chlorination route, nearly every few months they would come up with an optimized design. It is my honor to have the rare opportunity to participate in this."

Teacher Hu was profoundly shaken by this speech.

Was this really Li Zheng?

Had he changed his ways?

Even Shen Yiyun didn’t know what to say.

Li Zheng, however, looked somewhat dissatisfied at Shen Yiyun, "Senior Sister Shen, you too. Having the privilege to join such a dynamic research group and make outstanding contributions to our country’s solar power generation during your graduate studies, how could you still have time for vacations?"

"Ah..." Only then did Shen Yiyun fully understand.

Clever you with your fine eyebrows and sharp face, returning the favor tooth for tooth, this is returning the gesture with interest.

On the other hand, Teacher Hu turned his head and grudgingly remarked, "Then you should be quite clear about Yi Yun’s specific work now?"

Without a second thought, Li Zheng replied, "Yes, through the chlorination method to optimize the acceptor molecule Y6, experimenting with various new acceptors, and comparing their electron-nuclear transfer efficiencies."

"Hmm..." Teacher Hu scratched his somewhat burning face, "Then you... go ahead and help Yi Yun with it, be mindful of lab safety, thank you for your hard work."

"It’s no trouble, no trouble at all."

It was only then that Li Zheng approached the experimental bench with Shen Yiyun eagerly rubbing his hands together.

At last, he had a chance to touch the top-tier equipment.

Many things he had used before, but he hadn’t expected that a scientific research laboratory could be even more advanced.

Take liquid handling, for instance. During competitions, he used pipettes and measuring cups for handling, the high-end being simply water-bath distillation and the like.

But here, if you’re picky enough, liquid handling can be done with the magical pipettor.

This device looked like a handheld barcode scanner; you could adjust on its panel how much liquid to take and release, and it had a row of droppers underneath, allowing for simultaneous multi-channel operations.

It’s efficient and precise, no more fears of Shit Bao’er’s "squeeze till exact" monsters.

The bad news is, this little gadget bearing the ThermoFisher Scientific logo, costs over thirty thousand each.

Forget it, better to continue with the rubber test tubes...

In the process of preparing materials with Shen Yiyun, Li Zheng also got a preliminary glimpse into one aspect of scientific research.

His previous remarks weren’t mere nonsense; Teacher Hu’s team had genuinely been working on photovoltaic research for ten years.

To be precise, it was organic photovoltaic cells—the kind used for solar power stations.

Even laypeople understood that the difficulty of solar power generation wasn’t in "harvesting" but in "storing."

In other words, the efficiency and cost of the batteries were of paramount importance.

For a long time, the market mainstream had been inorganic batteries based on silicon, which were fairly efficient but costly to produce.

Organic batteries, on the other hand, had only existed within laboratories, costing only 10% to 20% of their inorganic counterparts, but their photoelectric conversion efficiency was similarly pitifully low.

Therefore, Teacher Hu’s research group set their sights on "organic photovoltaic cells" ten years ago, collaborating with various institutions and science centers. They spent a decade improving the efficiency of organic batteries to 70% of that of inorganic ones while also reducing the cost by 40%.

Today, China has reached an international leading level in this field, with organic batteries just a step away from commercial use.

These are the scientific researchers who, when walking on the street, are just ordinary-looking, middle-aged men with thinning hair.

Only in fields completely incomprehensible and unknown to the majority do they truly shine.

It is not until their results are delivered to people in a convenient and affordable manner that people might not even be aware of their existence.

If solar power generation is somewhat understandable, then the specifics of the experiment that Li Zheng is now working on is beyond comprehension—

He and Shen Yiyun were modifying the length of alkyl groups on the edges of the Y acceptor to enhance its "conductivity" by a fraction of a percent.

To put it more plainly.

The Y acceptor, in essence, is about assembling several of Zhou Chenghuan’s large rings from problems into one bizarre entity.

Along the edges of this entity were many tendrils, which Li Zheng had to stretch time and again, trim them short, and record variations in a range of "conductive" parameters repeatedly.

Shen Yiyun had performed this laborious task thousands of times.

As for how many times Teacher Hu had done it, that was now impossible to determine.

And such experiments were just one of the dozen or so projects undertaken by the entire research group.

...

At four o’clock in the afternoon, Shen Yiyun’s phone alarm suddenly went off.

She gritted her teeth, glanced at Hu Zengwu who was absorbed in his photoelectric experiments, and silently turned off the alarm.

"What time is it?" Hu Zengwu asked while operating the electronic screen.

"It’s past four, Teacher Hu..." Shen Yiyun said cautiously, "We just finished two sets..."

"Hmm... The closing ceremony should be starting soon," Hu Zengwu said without looking up, waving his hand, "You all go ahead, and also help me check if we’ve reclaimed the team championship this year."

"Thank you, Teacher Hu!" Shen Yiyun was delighted, quickly pushing Li Zheng, "Hurry and pack up, hurry and pack up..."

"Let’s do one more set..." Li Zheng said, his face flushed as he wiped off his sweat, "BTP-eC9 feels very promising, let’s make some more."

"!!!" Shen Yiyun clenched her teeth.

You’re jumping straight into hell!

"Alright, that’s enough for today. Make sure the experiment records are complete. I’ll test the photovoltaic efficiency of BTP-eC9 in a bit," Hu Zengwu said in a rare good mood, looking up at Li Zheng with a smile, "Do you feel like you’ve gotten a sense of scientific research today?"

"Understanding it still feels far off, it doesn’t even count as a basic introduction..." Li Zheng scratched his head, "I’m just excited on the first day, but if you really asked me to continue day after day, I might not manage even a 0.1% improvement in half a year; I probably couldn’t withstand it."

"There’s no helping it, that’s what real scientific research is like," Hu Zengwu shook his head and sighed, "That’s why those with half-baked knowledge prefer physics and mathematics. They always think that they can become Newton or Einstein in a flash, not realizing that true achievements are painstakingly accumulated bit by bit."

"I really learned a lot today, thank you, Teacher Hu," Li Zheng said with a respectful nod.

"Alright, leave once you’ve packed up," Hu Zengwu turned his head again, waved his hand and hesitated before saying, "Well... my research group... has actually been looking to recruit... Although it says we’re looking for graduate students and above... occasionally an exceptional undergraduate might also be considered..."

Li Zheng was taken aback, before he could respond, he felt Shen Yiyun’s burning gaze.

Turning his head, he saw Shen Yiyun shaking her head with the smallest amplitude and highest frequency possible.

No, please no... the call of hell.

Li Zheng coughed and thanked him again before he and Shen Yiyun slipped away.

The two of them hurriedly changed their clothes, grabbed a couple of bottles of Nutrient Express, and made their escape from the lab building. Shen Yiyun finally caught her breath and said, "He... he’s lying... There’s no recruitment... he’s just coveting your skills."

"I was thinking the same..." Li Zheng looked at his hands and said, "Then I really can’t expose myself carelessly anymore..."

"Anyway... just like lecherous men covet girls with good figures, old professors also covet students with good skills," Shen Yiyun said solemnly, "You and Shi Yang are basically like Diao Chan and Xi Shi in our circles; you must be careful not to be targeted by any unscrupulous professors."

Li Zheng tried to imagine it, then...

"Ugh..."

"What’s wrong?"

"Just imagine Shi Bao’er dressing up as Diao Chan and dancing."

"Ugh..."

...

In a corner of a water bar on the Ji University campus, Shen Yiyun led Li Zheng to meet up with two senior brothers experienced in Chem Competitions.

Although it was called a live broadcast, it wasn’t official; it was just some teacher from the team live streaming from their phone. Li Zheng also sent the link to the Dragon Pearl Group, asking everyone to spread the word.

After everyone introduced themselves and while waiting for the awards ceremony to start, the two seniors were already eagerly persuading them to retreat.

"My brothers, let’s stay far away from chemistry."

"Biochem, environmental, and materials, the four big pits! Really, don’t touch any of them."

"Hey, I just couldn’t accept it... Now look at me, three years of college, and two and a half spent trying to transfer out."

"Can you imagine... you spend your school days toiling away with those liquids in the lab... and when you retire, you’re still in the lab, still toiling away with those same liquids!"

"It would be a good thing if you got to toil with liquids; do you know how many people don’t even have the qualifications to toil?"

"Alas, girls might have a slight advantage; many professors like to accept female students, not for experiments, but mainly to motivate the men in the lab. If each one’s efficiency goes up by 15%, then the girls aren’t taken on in vain. No no... I didn’t mean anything by it, Senior Sister Shen, you’re really capable... not just a tool BUFF."

After taking the seniors’ advice to heart, and seeing that the closing ceremony was about to start, Li Zheng casually asked, "Did the two seniors also participate in ICHO?"

"No," the grad student senior waved his hand, "Just made it to the national level."

"I was a top provincial competitor," the undergrad senior said with a smile, "from Xiangnan Province."

The grad student senior quickly clasped his hands, "So you’re from Xiangnan! That’s more impressive than my national level."

"Alas..." the undergrad sighed, "It’s too tough, Xiangnan is really tough. Finally, when a ’Pleasure God’ emerged, last year’s results were what they were... It made everyone curse Xiangnan... Sigh!"

"Don’t worry, we’re sure to reclaim it this year," the graduate student patted the undergrad’s back and then said to Li Zheng, "Actually, we also thought there was a problem. After what happened last year, how could they still allow one person per province? Li Zheng, with your level apparent here, coupled with Shi Yang, how could the championship slip away?"

"Sigh, let’s not talk about it, not talk about it," Li Zheng said with a smile, "It was a bit of a mess back then, very immature."

"Sooner or later it will change, you just didn’t catch the good times, brother," the undergrad said with regret, looking at Li Zheng, "Anyway, since you’re not plannning on pursuing chemistry, just don’t think too much about it."

"Not thinking about it, not thinking about it; just worried about the team championship," Li Zheng replied cheerfully.

Soon, the closing ceremony officially began, with the big names from the International Chemical Society starting to deliver speeches. Those seated, actually listening, could understand, but none of them were in the mood to listen, all focusing on the results.

The live chat was really supportive, though.

[Zhuo: I’ll translate.]

[Zhuo: I’m delighted, after 50 years, ICHO is back in Prague...]

But no one was looking at his translation.

[Give Shi Bao’er a shot, teacher!]

[Where’s Wei Dongyang?]

[Go for it! China will win!]

Even though there were only about a hundred people in the live stream, these long-missed names and the atmosphere made Li Zheng feel like he was part of it again.

It was only a few months ago, but it felt like a look back at youth, a reunion with old comrades-in-arms.

After half an hour of speeches by several unacquainted bigwigs, finally, the only meaningful part of the event arrived - the awards ceremony.

```

The terrifying part was that they started with the bronze medals.

There were a total of 300 competitors, and basically, those ranked between 100 and 200 received bronze medals.

In groups of 15, they stretched their own national flags on stage to accept their awards.

It was a long and torturous process.

Long goes without saying, but the torture mainly lay in searching for the five-starred red flag.

If the red flag didn’t appear, then they could finally breathe a sigh of relief...

But if even one showed up, that spelled trouble...

After enduring another ten minutes or so, it was time for the silver medals.

Everyone grew increasingly anxious.

The barrage of comments was a string of "Don’t," "Don’t," "Don’t."

Everyone was well aware of the level of their own country’s team—any medal but gold was considered a disgrace.

Finally!

A bedraggled young man took the stage.

He clutched the national flag and stood in the middle with a woebegone face, crying until the chairman hung the silver medal around his neck.

[Wei Dongyang, you little brother!]

[Ha ha! Lame! Lame!]

[The silver medalist can’t look Jiangdong’s elders in the eye!]

The live broadcast teacher seemed to know how to control the pace, giving Zhou Yi a timely close-up during Wei Dongyang’s award moment.

Zhou Yi’s face was a cloud of worry, as if he was on the verge of slashing someone.

[Danger!!!]

[Brother, you’re about to become Cheng Huan.]

[Zhou Chenghuan is contemplating how to concoct Liquifying Corpse Solution.]

Thankfully, such situations didn’t last too long.

Soon, it was time for the gold medal awards.

Everyone relaxed a bit.

It looked like one silver and three golds were a likely outcome, which wasn’t too bad.

Finally, during the second-to-last group of winners, ranks 4—10, everyone’s suspended hearts were more or less eased.

The other two members of the national team achieved fantastic results, ranking sixth and seventh place, netting double gold medals in a row.

[Awesome!!!]

[Team China is awesome!!!]

[Shi Bao’er!!! Shi Bao’er, your mom loves you!! Go for it, Shi Bao’er!!]

The live broadcast teacher casually glanced at Zhou Yi.

Only then did they see him wiping sweat from his brow, turning his head to the teacher saying, "Damn, that scared me to death... All that’s left is Shi Yang’s performance. What? We’re live? Fuck... I shouldn’t have sworn..."

[Ha ha ha!]

[Zhou Chenghuan is awesome!]

[A grand Cheng Huan scene in Prague.]

Under the gaze of thousands, the moment for the top three finally arrived.

The announcer stood in front of the podium, also wiping off sweat, and took a deep breath before announcing—

"Rank 3: Raymond Eugene Bahng, Korea!"

Amidst the applause, Bahng’s scores appeared on the big screen—

Total practical (experiment): 33.96

Total theory (theory): 54.87

Total (total score): 88.83

A Korean guy with a standard side-parting haircut that covered his forehead, shook his head with a smile as he ascended the platform. After shaking hands with the chairman, he stood at the third-place spot and raised his country’s flag.

The announcer continued to declare—

"Rank 2!"

At that moment, every heart was in their throat.

Even the barrage of comments ceased.

Everyone was silently chanting the same mantra.

Don’t let it be Shi Yang... Don’t let it be Shi Yang...

Then the announcer’s eyebrows lifted, excitedly raising a hand—

"Aleksei Konoplev, Russian Federation!"

The applause this time was clearly more thunderous.

A Russian dude with super long hair and a seriously receding hairline stood up with a cheerful grin and jogged towards the podium.

[Shi Bao’er, your mom loves you!!]

[Damn, the Maozi guy’s style is just too cool!]

```

"Is it a monster or a Russian monster."

Before long, Big Brother completed the process and joyfully raised his own national flag on the stage.

The big screen subsequently showed his score.

Total practical: 32.52

Total theory: 57.92

Total: 90.44

Once Big Brother steadied himself, the host let out a long sigh and, with a beaming smile, started to speak—

"Champion!"

"Yang Shi! China!"

"Celebrating China! Celebrating Shi!"

Shi Yang suddenly stood up, swinging his fists in the air three times in quick succession before immediately embracing Zhou Yi, bursting into tears as he did so.

Zhou Yi’s eyes also reddened, patting Shi Yang continuously, but the applause was so loud that it was unclear what he was saying.

After a while, Shi Yang finally wiped his eyes and ascended the podium.

Having not seen him for many days, in his suit, he...

Seemed even more swollen than usual.

The Russian Big Brother even pinched his arm and started joking around.

However, Shi Yang’s face remained solemn, standing rigidly with the national flag, tears streaming down, unable to utter a single word.

Behind him was his score.

Total practical: 40.00

Total theory: 58.82

Total: 98.82

The barrage of comments completely erupted.

"Shi Bao’er’s mom loves you to death!!!"

"The man with eternal perfect scores in the practical!"

"The light of chemistry!! Shi Yang!!"

"Awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome!!"

Even Li Zheng and his group who were watching the live broadcast at the water bar jumped up.

"ICHO full marks in practical???"

"They must’ve scared the judges to pee!"

"This dude is legit, really legit, might even get a Nobel."

"Making us proud! Awesome!"

But Shi Yang himself couldn’t care less, just pursing his lips tightly and holding back tears, incredibly adorable.

Then, the chairperson hung gold medals on the three of them, and the host took the microphone to start the interviews, beginning with the third place.

As it was an international occasion, everyone answered in English.

The young man from South Korea thanked everyone around, stating this was the most exciting moment for him.

The Russian Big Brother said he thought the questions would be difficult, having prepared a lot of tricky stuff, but regretfully none of it was needed.

When it was Shi Yang’s turn, his face was still serious as he replied in his not so fluent English.

"Thank you to the organizers, thank you Chinese Chemical Society."

"Thank you for organizing and hosting such a wonderful chemistry festival."

"I know everyone’s eager to get to the dinner...but I might...still need to take up a bit more of your time."

"I wonder if you all understand my homeland."

"In my homeland, there are thousands of young people with aspirations in chemistry."

"But standing here are only the four of us."

"What’s even more regrettable is that some, having abilities and skills not inferior to mine, due to some outdated rules, had no chance to compete on this stage."

"Even now, I am saddened by this."

"I’ve tried protesting, organizing appeals, and various means to change this."

"Now, I have to make my last effort."

"Here, in my personal capacity, I give up this gold medal."

"To leave it to someone more deserving that I."

With that, Shi Yang suddenly turned and with a tug, cast off his bulky suit—

Revealing a set of blue and white school uniform.

Then, turning around, he presented his back to the camera.

Clearly printed on it was a name—

[Li Zheng]

[Li Zheng]