Judging from his expression, it seemed quite serious. Chen Xu felt uneasy, thinking, "Could it be that my identity as an SMMH member has been exposed? Impossible! But why would the National Security Bureau want to contact me? Even if it's about investigating me for peeping into the women's bathhouse when I was four years old, they wouldn't need to make such a big fuss, would they?"
Seeing Chen Xu's nervous expression, Deng Ken smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. You haven't done anything wrong. We just want to know. Hmm, we heard you're now Dr. Li Liangyan's assistant?"
"Is it related to Dr. Li?" Chen Xu paused for a moment and nodded. Deng Ken said, "Could you tell us what kind of experiments Dr. Li Liangyan is currently conducting?"
"This thing..." Chen Xu thought for a moment and said, "I don't know either. I'm just an assistant, and my job is to record some data for him every day. Is there a problem with Dr. Li's experiment?"
"That's right," Deng Ken said. "We received information that Li Liangyan's research department is conducting a very important study, and Dr. Li Liangyan is one of the main people in charge. However, the details of the study are not yet known, so we hope to find out more from you."
“This…” Chen Xu frowned. “To be honest, I don’t really understand what this experiment is about. The data from the experiment only shows the physiological reactions of some small animals after they were injected with that drug. But I don’t think this experiment is dangerous. None of the small animals used in the experiment have died so far; they are all living very healthily. It shouldn’t be any kind of toxin.”
“There’s nothing here for you to decide,” the young man named Xu Jiang suddenly said, his tone stern. “You just need to tell us everything you know. As for what he’s experimenting with, that’s none of your business. And you don’t need to decide what he’s thinking.”
These words were quite impolite, and Chen Xu couldn't help but glance at him sideways, feeling a bit annoyed. However, since the other person was from the National Security Bureau and had a powerful background, he had no choice but to hold back and said, "I really don't know what they're doing. Data from the lab can't be taken out, so I'm afraid I can't help you with anything."
Perhaps it was because Chen Xu's tone was perfunctory. Xu Jiang slammed his fist on the table and roared, "What kind of attitude is this?! Do you know who you're talking to?!"
This really infuriated Chen Xu. Director Wang knew things were going to get bad the moment Chen Xu raised an eyebrow, because he'd dealt with Chen Xu a few times. He knew this young man had a stubborn temper; if you pushed him, he'd do anything… Who would dare hit a city management officer? But he did! However, you have to understand that the National Security Bureau is different from city management officers; messing with the National Security Bureau is a much bigger problem!
Before Director Wang could speak, Chen Xu glanced at Xu Jiang and said, "I really don't know who you are. Where are your credentials? Why should I answer your questions? Don't forget I'm not a criminal. Even criminals have the right to hire a lawyer! As Dr. Li's assistant, I have the responsibility and obligation to refuse to answer your questions to avoid leaking experimental data. If you're not satisfied, I'll have my lawyer talk to you right now!"
Chen Xu is the kind of person who's easily swayed. If someone is polite to him, he'll be polite in return; if someone puts on airs with him, he's not afraid. The National Security Bureau? To Chen Xu, the National Security Bureau might be a big deal, but to SMMH, its status is no different from that of the urban management officers. Chen Xu has never been afraid of anyone he can afford to offend.
Seeing Chen Xu get angry so quickly, the more mature Duncan scratched his head, thinking that he shouldn't have brought Xu Jiang along. And why is Chen Xu like this too? He's like a powder keg in front of the National Security Bureau, ready to explode at any moment.
Xu Jiang was furious upon hearing this. He reached into his clothes to pull something out... Judging from his movements, it was clear he wasn't pulling out his ID but his gun!
The man carrying a gun was clearly from the National Security Bureau, given China's strict gun control. Seeing him reach for his weapon, Director Wang and Deng Ken were both startled. Deng Ken had just yelled, "Xu Jiang, stop right there!" when Chen Xu moved!
Chen Xu was already on guard. As soon as he saw him move, he immediately reached out and pressed down on the hand that was drawing his gun, pinning his right hand under his armpit so it couldn't move. Then, he followed up with his left hand and punched him squarely in the nose!
Blood was streaming from his nose! Nobody in the room expected Chen Xu to actually make a move! This was inside the Public Security Bureau, and they were dealing with people from the National Security Bureau!
But Chen Xu really did it. After landing a punch, he followed up with a powerful knee strike to Xu Jiang's stomach, sending his internal organs churning. But Chen Xu wasn't finished. He chopped Xu Jiang's neck with a palm strike, then slammed him backward, throwing the 1.8-meter-tall man to the ground. Taking advantage of Xu Jiang's right hand loosening in pain, Chen Xu snatched the gun from under his arm, expertly pulled the safety, and pointed it at Xu Jiang's head.
"If you move again, I'll kill you!"
Seeing Chen Xu's gloomy face, Xu Jiang covered his nose and curled up on the ground. Director Wang and Deng Ken next to him were stunned!
Especially Director Wang. Chen Xu's actions were too fast; he didn't even have a chance to intervene! Or rather, he didn't even have time to react before Xu Jiang was already on the ground. Duncan also didn't expect Chen Xu to suddenly attack. Although he acted in self-defense... in all his years of service, this was the first time he had ever seen an ordinary student dare to attack a member of the National Security Bureau without a word... and do it so ruthlessly and so quickly!
Although Xu Jiang wasn't trained in special forces, he was still a member of the National Security Bureau. Even a civilian employee like him had undergone special training, making him a formidable opponent for most people. Yet, in front of Chen Xu, a freshman, he was clearly like a helpless elementary school student. Moreover, the way Chen Xu drew his gun and pulled the safety pin showed that he had obviously practiced!
After they came to their senses, Director Wang quickly pulled Chen Xu aside and said, "Xiao Xu, Xiao Xu, put the gun down, put the gun down, don't get agitated, we can talk this over!"
Deng Ken quickly stepped in front of Xu Jiang, saying, "Chen Xu, please don't get agitated. Xu Jiang was in the wrong just now, and I apologize on his behalf." Drawing a gun on an ordinary person over a mere disagreement is a serious violation of discipline; even the National Security Bureau wouldn't dare speak up against him for that alone… But the problem is, how many ordinary Chinese people dare to stand up to officials? They just accept any grievances they may suffer. People like Xu Jiang, who were sent here because of their connections, are usually even more volatile. He deserved to be beaten this time.
Seeing Director Wang's concerned expression and the winks he kept giving him, and Deng Ken's words, Chen Xu finally calmed down. He snorted, looked at the standard Type 64 pistol in his hand, a type of gun he had been playing with recently in the virtual world and was very familiar with. However, this was the first time he had seen it in reality, and he couldn't resist the urge to take it apart. He quickly removed the magazine and disassembled the gun into parts.
Assembling and disassembling guns is a skill every gun enthusiast must learn. It helps them understand the structure of firearms and allows them to repair them if problems arise. However, seeing how skilled Chen Xu was, Deng Ken knew he had bitten off more than he could chew… How often do Chinese children have the opportunity to handle guns? His proficiency meant he must have played with them frequently before; this Chen Xu was no ordinary person.
Xu Jiang also saw this action and was extremely shocked. However, the pain in his stomach and nose, as well as the intense sense of humiliation, made him unable to lift his head. He couldn't help but groan and wanted to curse.
But then, Deng Ken slapped him hard and said, "What are you doing? Have you forgotten who you are?! We're here to investigate and understand the situation, not for you to use your official power to intimidate people!" Then he said to Chen Xu, "I'm sorry, my colleague was extremely rude. We will deal with it when we get back. Please don't take it to heart."
Then Deng Ken looked at Xu Jiang, pointed to the door and shouted, "Get out of here now, write a self-criticism and submit it. This time you will be severely punished!"
Xu Jiang gave Chen Xu a venomous look, but since his official rank was not as high as Deng Ken's, he could only walk out the door angrily.
Director Wang breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Chen Xu with a helpless expression, saying, "Xiao Xu, you need to change your fiery temper."
Chen Xu chuckled: "Uncle Wang, he provoked me first, it has nothing to do with me."
Director Wang sighed, thinking to himself that the young man was still young and fearless, but his courage was a bit too much.
Deng Ken assembled the gun parts on the table into a complete gun, sighed, and said, "I'm sorry to have made you both laugh. We have some management problems. People like Xu Jiang, well, I'll apologize to you on his behalf."
“I don’t accept this apology,” Chen Xu turned to the side. “You did nothing wrong. If anyone should apologize, it should be him. Ha, that guy, a princeling?”
Deng Ken hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "His parents are very powerful. They sent him here just to gain prestige. You've offended them this time, so you'd better be careful in the future."
Chen Xu chuckled; he was never afraid of the princelings. Zhang Bo from last time was a prime example. He waved his hand dismissively: "Let's talk about Dr. Li. I can only tell you what I know, but you also need to tell me, what exactly is wrong with Dr. Li's experiment? How did it attract the attention of the National Security Bureau?"
Deng Ken looked at Chen Xu, thought for a moment, and then sighed and said, "Have a seat first. Well, let me briefly explain. Actually, we still don't know exactly what Dr. Li is doing with this experiment. We only know from intelligence that this research is very valuable, although it is currently being used on animals. But its ultimate application is to humans."
"The institution Dr. Li belongs to is a very powerful research institution in the world. Their research has shown considerable value in many areas, such as... the Holy Light No-Side-Effect Anesthetic. This drug is not available on the market, but it is already in use by the military. Our military has also imported a batch. The effect is very good. For example, when a soldier is wounded on the battlefield, just one injection can immediately and completely stop the pain. Of course, the wound will not heal, but it can make the wounded feel no pain for a short period of time, which is very useful on the battlefield. It's just that the price is too high. Our country has very few of them."
"So you need to understand that everything Dr. Li's organization develops is absolutely powerful, which is why the country is eager to obtain relevant information. That's why we've been tracking Dr. Li ever since he returned to China."
"Can't we contact Dr. Li directly?" Chen Xu asked curiously and idiotically. "He's Chinese."
“He is a Chinese American.” Deng Ken gave a wry smile. “Dr. Li has no authority to handle the things in their lab, we’ve already discussed that, but Dr. Li’s attitude is very strange now. He even refuses to reveal any information to us related to this drug. Because Dr. Li is a celebrity, we can’t take a hard line with him, but the country does attach great importance to their research. So they hope we can obtain the relevant information… at the very least, to understand what kind of research they are doing and what it is.”
Chen Xu nodded to indicate that he understood, and then asked, "But don't you find it strange? If it's very important research, and Dr. Li takes the research materials abroad at this time, even if he's a celebrity, there's still an opportunity to take action, right? I don't believe that the National Security Bureau can't even handle such a small matter. Wouldn't it be very unsafe for him to do this?"
Deng Ken and Director Wang exchanged a smile. Director Wang said, "Xiao Chen, you watch too much TV, don't you? As far as I know, Dr. Li only brought the medicine this time. He just happened to be on his annual leave this year and came to Hexie University, so he brought the medicine to do experiments. Those medicines are limited, and even if we get the medicines, we don't know what to do with them, so this is completely not feasible."
Chen Xu really wanted to ask, "Can't we analyze the specific components of the medicine?"
But before he could even utter those words, he knew he was completely clueless… Even if Xiaomin could only detect some common components in the liquid, such as the content of calcium, iron, and zinc… these things are all detected through specific testing methods. If you wanted to completely and accurately detect the detailed components of a drug, the proportion of the drug in it… that would be almost impossible. Otherwise, all the drugs on the market would have been completely analyzed and copied.
"So you want me to show you the experimental records? Is your purpose to find out the uses of this medicine?"
“It’s like this,” Deng Ken said, “This matter was originally very difficult, but I didn’t expect that you, Chen Xu, are a friend of Director Wang, so I had no choice but to come to you. Heh, Chen Xu is young and promising, quick-witted and skilled, and is also a core member of this experiment, so you are the best person to carry out this mission.”
Chen Xu's lips twitched. Why should he?
Xu Jiang's attitude earlier had already displeased him, and while Deng Ken was being polite, he hadn't explained why he wanted to help... Normally, helping the country isn't a big deal, and Chen Xu wouldn't be so petty about it. But the problem was that Xu Jiang had left a very bad impression on him. As the saying goes, "love me, love my dog," and this made Chen Xu somewhat resentful of the National Security Bureau's methods... After all, he had no responsibility or obligation to help Xu Jiang, and Xu Jiang had no authority to command him. Since there was no benefit to be gained, why should he invite trouble?
So Chen Xu said, "I'm afraid I can't help with this. First of all, as an assistant, I have the right to keep things confidential. Leaking this kind of information would be very unfair to Dr. Li. And most importantly, I can't take the data out... Because no foreign items are allowed in the lab. We all need to change into isolation and disinfection suits when we go in. Nothing can be taken out of the lab, nor can anything be brought in. I can't copy so many experimental records. You can't expect me to memorize them, can you? Besides, those are experimental records. Even a small mistake could lead to an incorrect judgment of the experimental results."
This statement was half true and half false. The lab's management is indeed very strict, but not to this extent. Foreign objects can still be brought in, after all, it's not a completely sterile experiment. Of course, it's best not to bring them in... For example, Chen Xu and a few people from the Life Sciences Department would play the game "Martial Arts Master" in their spare time, and Chen Xu also wore Xiao Min's supercomputer-transformed watch every day... It was his life, he never took it off!
However, there is some truth to it. Copying any data is indeed not allowed in the laboratory. There is 24-hour video surveillance, and no data is allowed to be taken outside.
Chen Xu's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, representing the highest level of lying, so much so that even Deng Ken from the National Security Bureau couldn't find fault with them.
However, Director Wang knew Chen Xu very well and knew that his words were mostly an excuse, clearly showing that the kid didn't want to try his best and was just making excuses for himself!
So Director Wang chuckled and said, "Xiao Xu, with your brain, you could definitely memorize it by just thinking about it. Of course, I believe you have a better method. Heh, Xiao Xu, no one else can help me with this except you. Of course, Uncle Wang won't let you do this for nothing; we've known each other for a long time!"
Upon hearing this, Deng Ken realized that he hadn't promised any benefits to Chen Xu, such a key figure, after all that talking!
Deng Ken hadn't used the concept of "benefits" for a long time, because everyone the National Security Bureau dealt with was extremely cautious, whether they were officials or businessmen. These days, who didn't have something shady going on? So they were afraid of the National Security Bureau. Although the National Security Bureau wouldn't investigate them, if they really upset these people, there was nothing they couldn't find out if they wanted to investigate!
But Chen Xu wasn't afraid. This student had nothing to lose, so what was there for him to be afraid of? It was only then that Deng Ken realized that his usual approach was no longer working.
At the same time, Deng Ken felt quite saddened by the current state of education. How come doing something for the country has led to everyone asking for benefits? Little did he know, Chen Xu had done just as much for the country! His dawdling today was entirely due to his disapproval of the attitude of the National Security Bureau personnel… acting as if everyone had to unconditionally obey their orders!
Given Deng Ken's temperament, which he has developed over a long period of time, when has he ever asked someone for a favor and then offered them a bribe? But the problem is that the Hexie University Life Science Laboratory Building is a place they cannot enter, at least not secretly... If they want to enter openly, they can just get a certificate, but doing so would probably alert them.
Therefore, Chen Xu is the only one capable of completing this task now, and it's too late for them to send someone in.
Therefore, Deng Ken could only look at Chen Xu helplessly and say, "Chen Xu, let's have a good talk."
Chapter 179 of the main text: Comparing IQs?!
When Chen Xu walked out of the police station, his mouth was wide open in a grin.
He dared to bargain with the National Security Bureau comrades; he wouldn't say he was the first or last person to do so, but overall he was quite impressive... Although Chen Xu didn't gain much substantial benefit... The main problem was that Chen Xu didn't dare to take too much from them; he just made a gesture, a gesture that if you ask me to do something, you should be polite.
The main reason is that Chen Xu didn't know what benefits he wanted.
Money? He doesn't lack it. The salaries of all the National Security Bureau officials probably wouldn't be enough to bribe him. As for power? First, it wouldn't be of much use to him now, and second, he doesn't lack it either. He has the SMMH name card. And in Harmony City, there's probably nothing Director Wang can't handle.
As for beautiful women… haha. First of all, let's not even talk about whether the National Security Bureau has any arrangements in this regard. Besides, I don't lack beautiful women myself. Hmm. The honey trap still didn't work.
So Chen Xu didn't know what he wanted. In the end, he only asked for a phone number. If there was anything that even Director Wang couldn't solve, he could find Deng Ken to help... This kind of privilege had been given to SMMH by Blue Baby before. But Chen Xu couldn't use his SMMH identity to use it. And this time, the privilege Deng Ken gave him was far less than the last time... Last time, Blue Baby gave him a nationally valid number from the National Security Bureau. But this time, Deng Ken left his personal number. However, this was a right that Chen Xu could use himself. So being able to connect with important figures, Chen Xu felt he had gained something.
Deng Ken left his private number with Xu Jiang because he was worried Xu Jiang would cause him trouble. He knew Xu Jiang was petty, easily angered, and came from a powerful family. Having suffered so much this time, he probably wouldn't let it go easily… But the problem was, Chen Xu was someone SMMH had personally selected and placed on their protection list. The National Security Bureau was practically frantic with worry for SMMH. That guy had a very eccentric temper, acting recklessly and righteously online. Zhang Bo and his son's downfall was entirely due to a single comment from SMMH. While Xu Jiang's parents had powerful backing, they were only half as powerful as Zhang Bo and his son. If they really offended that guy because of this student, the National Security Bureau would probably be in for a lot of trouble.
After returning to school, Chen Xu went straight to the Life Sciences lab building… Research materials? Heh. No problem. Stealing these materials would be incredibly easy for Chen Xu. He wouldn't even bother to find an opportunity to secretly copy them out. Even using Xiao Min's camera to photograph the screen and steal the materials page by page would be a simple matter.
The lab wasn't actually that strictly guarded. Dr. Li wouldn't bring back any truly confidential experiments to do, so Chen Xu simply transferred the data to Xiao Min's computer via Bluetooth, erased all traces of the activity, and then sent the data directly to Deng Ken, who had been waiting there, via a wireless network. Everything was so simple.
Chen Xu seemed very relaxed after doing all this, without even the slightest awareness of being a corporate spy for the first time... Perhaps because he had been secretly taking money from his father's wallet since he was a child, Chen Xu wasn't nervous at all?!
After finishing all that, Chen Xu returned to the laboratory as if nothing had happened and continued his experiments.
Based on the experimental records, Chen Xu also discovered some things. For example, the dosage of the drug injected was directly proportional to the weight of the experimental organism. For instance, fatter rabbits received more injections, while mice received less. However, after substituting the data into calculations, Chen Xu did not derive an absolute formulaic ratio between the injection dosage and body weight.
Five minutes after a typical drug injection, the animals enter an excited state, becoming restless and agitated as if in heat, scurrying around in their cages. Then the experiments begin, such as mazes or similar experiments, the purpose of which is unclear.
So Chen Xu couldn't figure it out either. He had been here for three days and had basically lost his enthusiasm. He was also starting to regret taking on this mission.
Today was another uneventful day, except that when Chen Xu was leaving get off work in the evening, a few guys from the Life Sciences Department stopped him: "Hey, Chen Xu, let's play a game, aren't you a computer whiz?"
Hearing their tone, Chen Xu knew they were looking for trouble. For the past few days, these guys had been taking turns causing him trouble in two groups. First, they messed with him in the game "Martial Arts Master," where he utterly crushed him. Then, taking advantage of their size and strength, they would occasionally bump into him... But this time, they'd met their match. The first time, Chen Xu wasn't expecting it, and one of the guys suddenly walked up to him and deliberately bumped into him with his shoulder. Chen Xu instinctively grabbed the guy's shoulder and twisted it forcefully, "crack!" His arm was dislocated!
This reminded the group of guys from the School of Life Sciences that Chen Xu was a formidable figure who had captured the man who had slit a throat with his bare hands and single-handedly taken on more than a dozen male students from the University of Technology. As a result, these guys became much more obedient afterward, at least they didn't dare to make any physical contact with Chen Xu anymore.
Chen Xu raised his eyelids slightly: "What, are you here to give me money again?"
Chen Xu also had ways to deal with these troublemakers. For example, when playing "Martial Arts Master," Chen Xu would say the same thing: "Twenty yuan a game, I can't give you any special treatment... But since we're all colleagues, I'll let the rule of five games a day go by. Play as many games as you want..."
Then Chen Xu won so much that he went out to a small restaurant to indulge himself, and he also invited Gao Xiaojie, Guan Yi and a few other guys from his dormitory... Anyway, he didn't care about the money he won.
So whenever these guys came looking for trouble, Chen Xu would place a bet. If you can't handle it, don't play.
The guys from the Life Sciences department exchanged glances: "Alright, let's test our IQs in this game!"
Chen Xu laughed as soon as he heard this. He guessed it was some kind of riddle or something... Xiao Min had a complete database of these kinds of questions. He just needed to put on his Bluetooth headset and have Xiao Min tell him the answer. There was nothing more convenient than that!
So Chen Xu said, "Okay, how do we compete? Should I give you questions?"
The leader, Huang Chong, gave Chen Xu a disdainful look: "Your IQ is really only at this level. If we give you the questions, wouldn't you accuse us of cheating? This is a little online game that tests IQ and reaction time. You can just download it anywhere online. Let's see who gets the highest score." "A game?" Chen Xu watched curiously as they connected their laptops to the webpage. Sure enough, it was an online web game called "Brain Capacity."
The game was integrated into the community network's plugin, essentially a small-scale SNS community plugin game. They shouldn't be able to tamper with it, so Chen Xu said, "Let me take a look at how to play this game."
This game is actually quite simple. The first level presents some oddly arranged blocks, and players must call out the number of blocks in the shortest amount of time, seeing who can answer the most questions correctly within a minute. The second level involves simpler addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. A row of numbers, such as 5, 7, 12, appears, and players must guess what the symbol in it represents… Of course, later levels won't be simple single-digit numbers. This game really tests mental arithmetic skills.
There are still more challenges ahead, but it doesn't matter, Chen Xu already understands how to play the game. At this moment, Huang Chong said, "I won't take advantage of you. I discovered this game yesterday and have already played it for a while. There are certain patterns in it, and it's easy to figure out. So I won't take advantage of you. Go back and play it, and we'll have a competition tomorrow. A bet is a bet."
Chen Xu raised his eyebrows, sensing that their bet was more than just 20 yuan, so he asked, "What do you want to bet?"
“Simple,” Huang Chong said. “If you lose, it means you’re not qualified to be our leader. Please have some self-awareness and find a reason to tell Dr. Li that you’d like to step down. If we lose, we’ll give you a thousand dollars.”
Chen Xu's lips twitched: "A thousand yuan. You think you can get my assistant team leader position in exchange? You're too shrewd."
Huang Chong shrugged, looking nonchalant: "If you don't dare to gamble, that's fine. It's no big deal."
Chen Xu raised his hand to stop him from saying what he was about to say: "Don't try to provoke me, it's not very sincere. Fine, I know you useless guys from the School of Life Sciences have been annoyed with me for a long time. Hmm, don't get excited. Don't you think that Dr. Li Liangyan's assistant group leader is a computer science student, not one of your life science students, and Dr. Li personally selected me to come here? Doesn't that make you look useless? Of course, I'm not making any sweeping generalship attacks, but your Dean Lai is useless. As the saying goes, a bad general makes a bad army... Why are you glaring at me? Can't I tell the truth?!"
If it weren't for the fact that they couldn't beat Chen Xu in a fight, and that a group brawl might result in disciplinary action, the three male students from the School of Life Sciences, along with the two female students, would have rushed up and beaten Chen Xu! But Chen Xu didn't care. He wasn't afraid of offending people, and besides, he had already offended them; offending them a little more wouldn't matter. Arguing with Chen Xu? What a joke! Chen Xu learned his insults from his mother! He upheld the fine tradition of Chinese women who directly target their opponent's weaknesses when insulting them!