"Is the Imperial Capital Campus some kind of enchanted zone? I feel like you're working on something really new."
Ansheng lay in Ah Qing's arms, two fox paws holding a can of cola, with a puzzled expression as he looked at Zhang Lin and asked.
What does it mean when Spirit Beasts think students are great? Reward them by letting them plow two more acres next year.
The only difference between students and black slaves is that black slaves only need to work diligently, and the farm owner might think the black slave has good genes and allow them to leave a descendant.
While for students at the Imperial Capital Campus, as long as they work hard, they should be able to enjoy a weekend off.
Are you sure this is a higher education institute and not some kind of dark mine?
"It's not an enchanted zone; just as Master Fuli should know, Spirit Beasts all have tempers," Zhang Lin explained to Master Fuli and Ah Qing.
The Imperial Capital Campus is not a traditional college.
More accurately, the Imperial Capital Campus should be named a comprehensive research base.
Fifth-year students are already considered graduate students, and their only course task is to assist their mentors in research projects.
Speaking of spiritual particle research, it definitely requires samples and an experimental environment. When students prepare these, they have to deal with plant and animal spiritual objects.
Spirit Beasts are quite peculiar; even if they're not aggressive, they somewhat have the mindset of a boss.
The Imperial Capital Campus is my turf. You two-legged creatures treat me well, but these privileges are what we, as protected animals, deserve.
Let's be clear, equity is equity.
"To advance research progress, students will naturally employ all means." Zhang Lin said, half laughing and crying.
"Although in principle it's like that, this batch of yours, Ah Qing, might be an exception. After all, isn't principle sipping cola in your arms now?"
Zhang Lin thought for a moment and patched up his words with a new solution.
Ordinary students who come to the Imperial Capital Campus need to learn not only scientific knowledge but also understand the concept of Spirit Beasts and their powers.
So they don't get kicked to death by wild Spirit Beasts during field internships right after graduation.
Of course.
Ah Qing is obviously not within this range if she truly enrolled at the Imperial Capital Campus.
Then on the first day of school, Master Fuli would probably stage a turf war.
Master Fuli would steamroll through the Imperial Capital Campus, beat the Spirit Beasts along with the professors, and mark his territory and authority by peeing on the roof.
"You all seem very interested in the Imperial Capital Campus, so... shall we go directly?"
"Although we can't enter other institute's research centers, we can definitely sit at the base, sip tea, and have pastries for a day."
The uncle stood up, smiling, put on a long down coat from the chair's back, and prepared to take everyone to experience the small society of coexistence between humans and Spirit Beasts.
Thanks to Master Fuli, Ah Qing and the others could pass the Security Bureau's review and enter the Imperial Capital Campus.
"Caw, caw, caw—"
Just as they stepped out from the hotel, Jin Wu flew across the sky and landed on Zhang Lin's shoulder, letting out a series of cries.
"Uh..."
Zhang Lin was stunned, looked at Master Fuli, and asked, "By the way, there was something last night that I forgot to ask you, Master Fuli."
"It's about the foxes in the house; do you have any way to make them behave?"
"It's already winter, and releasing them back to the mountains isn't feasible."
The foxes were brought back from Mentougou and the surrounding mountains and forests. If released all at once, it might cause a minor ecological disaster.
Releasing them one by one when spring comes, letting them find suitable homes, is the reasonable way.
"A way to make the foxes behave?"
"I see you have ceiling hangings, don't you? Have the Forest Ranger climb up there, get a fishing rod, attach a piece of meat, and let them jump up and down."
"In three to five minutes, they should be too tired to question their fox existence, grumbling as they head back to their nests."
Ansheng thought for a moment and suggested a little idea.
"But remember to actually give them the meat. If they never get to eat it, they won't fall for it."
"Is this method viable?" Zhang Lin looked puzzled.
"No fox can resist temptation, nor can they ignore food teasing them," Ansheng said matter-of-factly, "Honestly, I couldn't bear it."
"Alright then..." Zhang Lin nodded, took out his phone, and arranged Master Fuli's suggestion.
"Everyone get in the car!"
The uncle drove over in a legendary business vehicle marked with the Metallurgical Institute logo, gesturing for Ah Qing and the others to get in.
Once everyone was aboard, the uncle stepped on the gas and headed straight for the foothills of Yanshan.
The Imperial Capital Campus is less than five kilometers straight from the Third Security Bureau, and they soon reached the checkpoint.
Zhang Lin opened the car door for registration, scanned his face, and led Ah Qing and the others through the security checkpoint.
The vehicle passed through a large gate and entered the internal roads of the Imperial Capital Campus.
A large, square building stood at the end of the road.
A series of dome-shaped buildings surrounded that square building on four sides.
In front of different dome buildings in each area are different facility buildings. For example, in front of the Agricultural Research Institute Base is a large barren land.
In front of and around the uncle's Materials Institute, there were numerous makeshift metal awnings and intersected cranes, standing tall around the buildings.
"Uncle, I heard on short video platform that there's an unwritten rule in the metal smelting industry."
"That is, if the steel rolls hit the ground, and someone can carry them off, the smelting plant just accepts the loss."
Ansheng recalled the short video he watched and said, slightly joking:
"If I go carry two rolls now, will you help me contact someone to recycle the scrap metal?"
"Uh... what you said legally counts as theft, but in reality, we usually don't stop it." The uncle said, slightly speechless.
Large steel rolls start at thirty tons each, even the small ones weigh several tons, and since they are fresh from the furnace, they retain internal heat.
Even after weeks of settling and cooling, the internal temperature can still reach hundreds of degrees Celsius.
If someone can carry these away, we really wouldn't dare to stop them on the scene, mostly reporting to the Security Bureau afterward.
"Waaaa... I have a leave note; you can't do this to me. My life is already hard, and now you force me to work, I'm so miserable..."
As the vehicle drove and the uncle introduced the research base like a scenic spot.
A sudden heart-wrenching scream came from that large square building.
Everyone turned their heads and saw two roughly one-meter-tall, robust yellow weasels standing upright.
They walked one behind the other, with a bamboo pole on their shoulders, tied to which was a girl in pajamas.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak—"
The yellow weasel behind "squeaked," raised its foot, and kicked the girl on the buttocks, rolling its eyes with an exasperated curse.
Leave? Leave your big head! Do you have a note approved and stamped by the leader?
The whole student group is waiting for this teacher who overslept to call in for leave.
Hard life?
We walked barefoot in the snow to your dorm; isn't our life hard?
The yellow weasel got irritated more, and kicked the girl's butt again.
"Ah, this..."
Ah Qing was stunned, turned to her uncle and Zhang Lin and asked:
"Can a teacher oversleep and still take leave?"
"Before the college entrance exam reforms, didn't the PE teachers also have frail health?" Zhang Lin gave Ah Qing an example:
"Whether truly frail or not is something students aren't in a position to gossip about."