Let My Cat Go

Chemistry opened a new door for Shen Qi. This field is very interesting; its core is change and creation.

The departments at Yenching University that frequently conduct animal experiments are the School of Medicine and the School of Life Sciences, Chemistry Department conducts animal experiments only occasionally.

Common laboratory animals include mice, rabbits, cats, dogs, pigeons, and monkeys.

Non-human primates such as chimpanzees, macaques, and baboons are the closest to humans and are very important laboratory animals.

Monkeys are adorable animals, and Shen Qi doesn't want to kill primate lab animals unless absolutely necessary.

The animal testing industry is a matter of opinion, and it's difficult to summarize its nature with simple terms like "cruel" or "for the sake of science."

If one day simulation technology develops to the point where it can completely rival experimental technology, then live human experiments will no longer exist.

But that day has not yet come, so animal experiments must continue.

While ensuring the effectiveness of the experiment, animals without consciousness were used to replace living animals, and lower animals were used to replace higher animals.

Use a small number of animals to obtain as much experimental data as possible.

When animal experiments are necessary, optimize the experimental procedures to minimize the animals' pain and distress.

These are the three principles that animal experimenters must strictly adhere to—the 3Rs: replacement, reduction, and refinement.

Fortunately, Le Luo Xian Fen is not a lethal poison. With appropriate dosage and reasonable experimental design, the experimental animals will not be in mortal danger.

After visiting the School of Medicine and the School of Life Sciences, Shen Qi learned that there are legitimate companies in the market that specialize in raising and selling laboratory animals, and that the most common primate laboratory animals on the market are Rhesus Monkey and Crab-eating Macaque.

It's not like you can just ask a company to sell you laboratory monkeys; it involves certain reporting procedures and government-regulated buying and selling processes.

Shen Qi strolled to Yang Ding Tian's office and said, "Dingtian, help me apply for and purchase a batch of Rhesus Monkey and Crab-eating Macaque. Not too many, just four will do, one male and one female from each strain."

"You finally made your move on the monkey," Yang Ding Tian said with a complicated expression, hugging the orange cat tightly.

Shen Qi patted the orange cat's head. "We're all researchers. When it comes to animal experiments, as long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough."

The orange cat trembled, staring at Shen Qi with wide, surprised eyes.

"Academician Shen, I can help you with the procedures and purchase laboratory animals, but please, please don't harm my cat, I beg you." Yang Ding Tian had always been a man of principle and never asked for favors, was now afraid. He was afraid that Shen Qi might impulsively grab any animal he saw and dissect it.

"Your cat is too fat, and many of its health indicators are above normal. It's not suitable for research purposes," Shen Qi said.

"That's good." Yang Ding Tian breathed a sigh of relief.

"Meow..." The orange cat breathed a sigh of relief; its plumpness made it feel safe.

"Dingtian, how long have you been with me?" Shen Qi asked.

Yang Ding Tian said, "More than two years."

"Oh, it's been over two years since I returned to China. Have you finished revising the paper for the FASTER project B Series samples?"

"After you've made the changes, could you please review them again?"

After the successful preparation of the B Series samples, the project team began writing an article to report on the research findings.

The paper, "Preparation and Performance Study of Cerium-Gallium-Copper Metallic Plastic," was primarily written by Yang Ding Tian. The first draft had been shown to Shen Qi offered some suggestions for revision.

Shen Qi spent some time reviewing the revised version of "Preparation and Performance Study of Cerium-Gallium-Copper Metallic Plastic" and told Yang Ding Tian, "Publish it. This article will be your doctoral dissertation."

Soon after, the four monkeys were transported to the Shen Qi Mathematical and Physical Research Center and were raised and well cared for.

The commotion was quite significant; the entire center and other departments heard about it. Shen Qi was researching chemical test subjects and conducting animal experiments.

So what if they know? Shen Qi isn't conducting underground experiments, researching deadly bioweapons or addictive psychoactive drugs. It's just routine chemical synthesis and animal testing. These things can't be hidden, so making it public sooner rather than later might not be a bad thing.

At Shen Qi's home.

Ou Ye is almost four months pregnant; her belly is slightly protruding, but not very noticeable.

Shen Qi observes Ou Ye's condition every day. Ou Ye stopped taking Western medicine for nearly four months and is controlling her Morris Anemia and chronic Immune System disease through diet therapy.

Aunt Cuiping is making a soup today: Ginseng Licorice Stewed Old Mother Hen, which is beneficial for women with anemia.

Fortunately, Cuiping was there. Her meticulous care was a great help to Ou Ye and also put Shen Qi at ease.

"Wife, come on, have some soup and ginseng." Shen Qi blew on the Ginseng Licorice Stewed Old Mother Hen to bring it to the right temperature.

"Hmm." Ou Ye took a few sips of soup.

"Honey, have a few more sips."

I'm full.

"I'll eat the ginseng, for you and for the baby."

"Hmm." Ou Ye forced the ginseng to swallow.

Ou Ye drank a few sips of the soup and ate a ginseng root.

Shen Qi finished off the remaining soup and old hen.

In the months after Ou Ye became pregnant, Shen Qi gained more than ten kilograms. He benefited from Ou Ye's pregnancy, eating and drinking highly nutritious foods every day.

"The academician villas on the west side of Yenching University have been completed. They're quite beautiful and very comfortable inside. We'll move there after the Spring Festival," Shen Qi said.

"Hmm." Ou Ye nodded and asked, "I heard you're doing animal experiments?"

"Yes, there is such a thing, it's just part of my job. Honey, don't you trust me about work? Your main task right now is to focus on your pregnancy, understand? You can take maternity leave after the New Year."

"My due date is in August," Ou Ye said. "There's still six months left, so there's no need to take maternity leave so early."

"Given your special health condition, it's understandable that you're taking leave early."

"How am I special?"

"Alright, alright, my wife's decision is final. No need to take maternity leave so early." During this period, Shen Qi was completely obedient to Ou Ye.

"Actually, there's not much difference between working from home and working in the math building office for you. That's how I manage the Mathematical Research at my center. I don't require them to be in the center from 9 to 5. The only performance evaluation criterion is submitting assignments on time." Shen Qi offered a tactful suggestion, hoping that Ou Ye would work from home during her pregnancy.

Ou Ye shook her head. "Working from home, there's no atmosphere."

"Wife, my dear wife, what kind of atmosphere do you need for your math project?"

"Hmph!" Ou Ye was displeased. Pregnant women's emotions fluctuate more than those of non-pregnant women. She said, "Oh, Academician Shen's research is a research project, but mine is just playing house?"

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant!" Shen Qi took a sip of chicken soup to calm himself down and asked calmly, "You won't be able to have a baby in peace until your math project is finished, will you?"

"Honey, I know you care about me, but I don't want to end up achieving nothing." Ou Ye, having calmed down from her anger, became gentle again. She nestled in Shen Qi's arms and asked happily, "Honey, do you prefer a boy or a girl?"

"I love any child you give birth to."

"Hmm, honey, you've published books, you're a cultured person. Have you thought of a name for the baby yet?"

Shen Qi's dilemma. "I've thought of 324 names for boys and 693 names for girls. Choosing a name is much harder than a math problem. I need to think about it some more."