A Crucial Step

Cockroaches, generally referring to insects belonging to the order Blattodea, are part of the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Blattodea.

These creatures have survived on Earth for over 350 million years, even longer than dinosaurs.

However, within the entire ecosystem, the significance of cockroaches is actually not very great.

Of course, this doesn't mean they are completely useless—they possess a decomposer nature in the wild, accelerating the breakdown of organic matter into inorganic substances.

Additionally, they have some value in medicine. For example, Yunnan Baiyao's active peptide toothpaste contains cockroach extract, meaning you might be kissing a cockroach every day.

But these contributions pale in comparison to the harm they cause.

Cockroaches themselves carry various pathogens, such as Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella paratyphi A and B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, and Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, etc. They are major disease vectors, yet they themselves do not fall ill.

Furthermore, their flattened bodies allow them to live in tiny crevices, surviving almost anywhere there is water and food. Consequently, they can infest computers, photocopiers, electronic scales, water dispensers, and various communication devices and electronic instruments.

Once they gnaw through wires or components, causing short circuits, it can lead to equipment failure, communication disruptions, and other unforeseen accidents.

Historically, the fluttering wings of cockroaches can be seen behind almost every plague.

Therefore, the notion that cockroaches are entirely useless is not advisable, but it is undeniable that their harm outweighs their contributions.

Moreover, the decomposer attribute of cockroaches is not irreplaceable, at least not in urban environments:

For instance, mealworms can perfectly substitute the role of cockroaches in decaying factories, and at a lower cost.

As for cockroaches in the natural world...

That falls outside the scope of Xu Yun's extermination plans.

Xu Yun had previously made it clear that he intended to eliminate cockroaches from the 'living domain,' specifically common urban pests like the German cockroach, American cockroach, and Oriental cockroach.

A significant reason why cockroaches are so difficult to eradicate is that a female can lay eggs for life after mating only once.

After male and female cockroaches mate, a bean-pod-like structure called an ootheca grows from the female's tail end, where the eggs are laid.

A single female can lay anywhere from over 10 to over 90 oothecae. Each ootheca can hatch anywhere from 10 to over 50 young cockroaches, which is one of the main reasons why cockroaches are so hard to completely eliminate.

If pheromones could be synthesized with Imidacloprid to create a new type of poison, it would undoubtedly be a huge aid in eradicating cockroaches.

"Targeted cockroach eradication."

In the office, Tian Liangwei's gaze was deep as he stroked his chin and asked Xu Yun:

"Not pursuing broad-spectrum research, but specifically targeting one species. Xiao Xu, are you planning to go into business?"

Tian Liangwei's tone was not accusatory, but it subtly conveyed some reservations.

In this era, it was not uncommon for researchers to start companies.

On the contrary, whether domestically or internationally, capable experts almost invariably start their own companies or collaborate with institutions.

Making money from knowledge is like licking your own teacher; it's not shameful.

In China, the age of 65 is roughly the dividing line. Top scholars over 65 who also engage in industry are fewer. Experts under 65 are almost all involved in some commercial ventures.

For example, Tian Liangwei has a collaborative institution with the School of Medicine at Jilin University, specifically researching NK cells. Everything is legal and compliant, with no need to pay billions in back taxes.

However, considering Xu Yun's current age, Tian Liangwei was still somewhat uneasy about him venturing into industry at this point.

In his opinion, Xu Yun could first spend a few years honing his skills within USTC's research modules.

Once he had a clearer grasp of experience, capabilities, and social networks, he could then consider diving into entrepreneurship.

After all, as one of the top-tier institutions in the country, USTC offers very generous research benefits. Many individuals become millionaires or tens of millions richer through patent royalties by the age of thirty, so there's no talk of wasting youth.

Facing his teacher's somewhat indirect question, Xu Yun hesitated for a few seconds before finally saying:

"That is the plan, but definitely not now—fourth-generation imidacloprid hasn't even been developed yet. How can I start a company without the technology?

Besides, even if I decide to start a business in the future, I will definitely seek help from our university. We are USTC people through and through."

Xu Yun's final remark was a compliment, but also partly sincere.

After all, relying on USTC as a major foundation, whether for entrepreneurial support or access to various networks and resources, was incomparable to going it alone. Don't underestimate USTC; although it ranks behind Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, and Shanghai Jiao Tong, in terms of foundational strength, USTC, UCAS, and Harbin Institute of Technology are the three giants in the country.

"Alright, I respect your decision."

Seeing that Xu Yun's words subtly revealed his stance, Tian Liangwei no longer insisted and steered the conversation back to the present:

"Tell me, Xiao Xu, what are your plans now?"

Xu Yun took out another neatly folded piece of paper and handed it to Tian Liangwei:

"Teacher, I'd like to apply for a Drug Chemistry Laboratory. Here is the instrument list."

Tian Liangwei took the paper and began to read it, muttering to himself:

"Conductivity meter. Gradient liquid chromatograph. Drug dissolution tester. Automatic refractometer. Hmm? Electro-pulse remelting and resolidification apparatus and ICP-MS700?"

Tian Liangwei put down the list and tapped his index finger lightly on the table:

"Xiao Xu, the other instruments are fine, but these last two will be a bit troublesome."

The electro-pulse remelting and resolidification apparatus and the ICP-MS700 are equipment from national major scientific research instrument development projects.

The latter is less expensive, topping out at over seven million yuan, but the former costs nearly fifteen million.

For such equipment, if the applicant were a doctoral supervisor or an academician, it would naturally be no problem. But Xu Yun is just a doctoral student, applying for an independent laboratory. Frankly, this is pushing the boundaries a bit.

"There's no other way, Professor."

A bitter smile flickered across Xu Yun's face as he shook his head gently.

"The short-term precision of the ICP-MS700 is much higher than ICP-OES and GFAAS. Plus, with the matrix acid interference involving methyl groups, the ICP-MS has a significant advantage. How can we manage without these two pieces of equipment?"

Tian Liangwei shot him an annoyed glance.

"Yeah, yeah, the equipment is good, but why don't you mention that starting up the ICP-MS700 costs four times as much as the other two? You're comparing a Bentley to a BYD in terms of quality without even mentioning the price!"

He then sighed softly, took out a separately filed application form from his drawer, and pushed it toward Xu Yun.

"Fill it out."

Xu Yun took the form and was about to start writing when his gaze suddenly fell on the bottom right corner.

"Huh? Professor, something's not right."

"What's not right?"

"Why is your personal seal on this form?"

Tian Liangwei took a sip of his goji berry tea, rolling his eyes at Xu Yun.

"What a surprise! You don't qualify to apply for an instrument of this caliber. I've lent you a spot from this year's Hundred Talents Program supplementary quota. Don't worry, the procedures are all in compliance.

Also, I'm telling you, be careful when you use the instrument. If you break it, you'll have to sell yourself to pay for it. Alright, alright, enough nonsense. Stop dawdling and hurry up and fill it out, then get out of here!"

Looking at Tian Liangwei, who seemed impatient, Xu Yun fell silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and bent over to fill out the application.

More than twenty minutes later, the application was completed.

Tian Liangwei took the form, examined it from top to bottom, and smacked his lips.

"Hmm, it looks quite presentable. However, the instrument can be applied for under the doctoral supervisor's specifications, but don't expect the same funding. Also, you'll have to assemble your own R&D team for independent experiments. At most, I can only cover your meal expenses and one or two team-building activities."

"The R&D team is no problem; I already have candidates."

Xu Yun replied calmly, then asked, "Professor, if the funding isn't the same, how much will it be reduced by?"

Tian Liangwei thought for a moment and said, "The R&D funding for biological toxins is usually disbursed in stages. For the doctoral supervisor tier, the initial phase is about two to three million. Subsequent funding will depend on your results. For Nobel Prize-level achievements, it could even be over a hundred million.

As for you, I'll try my best to secure fifty thousand for the instrument, around thirty thousand for materials, five thousand for miscellaneous expenses, and the department will add another five thousand. That's a total of ninety thousand in funding, with forty thousand in cash flow. That's about it."

Xu Yun nodded slightly, a surge of excitement rising within him.

Ninety thousand in funding wasn't a large sum for Xu Yun—in his previous life, he had participated in national projects worth not just ninety thousand, but ninety million or even nine hundred million.

However, this ninety thousand was different. It could potentially unlock a vast blank field, helping Xu Yun and countless others fulfill a lifelong obsession.

Killing cockroaches!