Chapter 2434: Chapter 2337: Impact

Huo Sining smiled:

"Professor Zhang, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not an archaeology major. I studied bioengineering in college, same as you."

Now Zhang Xiaomei was truly stunned. She really couldn’t figure out what was going on:

"You... you’re studying bioengineering? How is that possible?"

Zhang Xiaomei knew very well that while Zhou Shitao was quite avant-garde and open-minded in many respects, when it came to antique collectibles he was extremely stubborn and particular.

If he was going to take on a disciple, that person would definitely have to throw themselves fully into this line of work. How could he possibly accept someone whose body was in Cao’s camp but heart in Han, studying bioengineering on one hand and doing antique archaeology on the other?

Yet now this little girl was telling her that she’d majored in bioengineering, and she said it in such an open, straightforward way, clearly not trying to hide it from Zhou Shitao at all.

Zhang Xiaomei was completely baffled. She subconsciously turned to look at Zhou Shitao, wanting to see what kind of attitude this old man had.

But as soon as she turned, she was even more surprised.

There wasn’t the slightest hint of displeasure on Zhou Shitao’s face. On the contrary, he looked very pleased and proud:

"I actually forgot to introduce this part to you. That’s right, that’s right, this girl is still in school now. She’s a student at S University’s School of Biological Sciences, currently in her junior year, but she’s already preparing to graduate early."

Seeing the confusion and astonishment on Zhang Xiaomei’s face, Zhou Shitao paused, then continued with a half-laughing scold:

"This kid is a bit unserious about her proper field. Back then I tried every way I could to talk her into transferring over to Yan Garden to study under me directly. Forget that damned bioengineering—doesn’t it just clash with this work? But this damn girl is even more stubborn than I am. She just wouldn’t agree, always with her mind split in two, refusing to come to my research institute!"

Although Zhou Shitao’s words seemed to be criticizing Huo Sining for not settling down to focus on cultural relics research, Zhang Xiaomei wasn’t blind. Of course she could see that the old man was just mouthing off. In reality, his eyes and heart were full of affection for this little disciple. Even though the girl was riding two boats at once, he was just a bit helpless about it and held no blame at all.

At this point, Zhang Xiaomei truly didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t help turning back to look at the young woman, wanting to see what exactly she wanted to know.

"Are you trying to get an update on my engineering project, or do you want information about the silkworm strain breeding? You’re interested in this? Even though you’re Master Zhou’s prized disciple, you still can’t use the back door to get into my research lab, you know. And I wouldn’t dare poach his student right in front of him."

For once, Zhang Xiaomei cracked a joke, even giving Huo Sining a playful wink.

She thought this little girl was interested in the silkworm breeding project and wanted to use her connections to enter the lab and learn some hands-on project experience, so she decided to tease Huo Sining a bit.

Who knew that as soon as she said this, Huo Sining’s smile froze for a moment. She suddenly looked awkward, not knowing how to respond, and even Zhou Shitao couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

Not understanding what was going on, Zhang Xiaomei watched as Zhou Shitao waved his hand and laughed:

"You’re underestimating my student. Don’t be fooled by the fact that she’s only a bit over twenty—you really can’t treat her like an ordinary student."

"Needing the back door to get into your lab? No way. I’m afraid you don’t know this: that girl already holds shares in two research projects. S University’s research institute has its doors wide open to her. If she wants to go in, she doesn’t even have to say hello, there’ll be a position waiting for her right away!"

"So don’t second-guess her motives. She just wants to talk shop with you, definitely not angling for what you’re imagining."

Seeing her own mentor go out of his way to explain on her behalf, of course Huo Sining couldn’t embarrass him. She hurriedly followed his lead, quickly nodding and saying with a smile:

"Yes, I just want to ask you, Professor Zhang, about the current situation of silkworm strain breeding, nothing else."

Now, Zhang Xiaomei fell silent. In fact, the moment she heard Zhou Shitao mention the research institute at S University and the two projects there, she’d already been stunned.

In that instant, a light went on in her head. She suddenly thought of something, and her face changed drastically. She stared at Huo Sining in shock, as if she wanted to read something from the girl’s expression.

But being silently stared at like this, and with such a strange look in her eyes, made Huo Sining feel uneasy. She couldn’t help glancing over at her mentor, as if asking what on earth was happening.

Zhou Shitao was a bit confused too. He quietly replayed his earlier explanation in his mind, wondering whether he’d said something wrong that might have upset Zhang Xiaomei.

The atmosphere suddenly turned odd. The surrounding members of the archaeology team all fell silent, only shooting curious glances in this direction, trying to guess what had happened.

Huo Sining hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but when she opened her mouth she swallowed the words back down.

At this point, Zhang Xiaomei suddenly spoke. In a strange tone she asked:

"Are you... by any chance surnamed Huo, named Huo Sining?"

Huo Sining paused, thinking back. It seemed that when her unreliable mentor had been recounting her glorious deeds to Zhang Xiaomei earlier, he hadn’t actually mentioned her name.

So she nodded, answering very modestly, "Yes, I’m Huo Sining. You’ve heard of me, Professor?"

Zhang Xiaomei let out a long breath. Her gaze toward Huo Sining grew even more amazed and complicated, but she quickly steadied her emotions, and a faint smile appeared on her face:

"If you’re Huo Sining, then I think I know where I’ve seen you before. No wonder..."

Her words trailed off without a clear point, leaving both Huo Sining and Zhou Shitao puzzled. Huo Sining lifted her head in confusion to look at Zhang Xiaomei.

Zhang Xiaomei didn’t keep them guessing for long. She asked directly:

"About three years ago, around September or October, there was a fighting fish competition held in the Magic Capital. Did you take part in it? And did you win the Fish King title at that competition?"

Being suddenly asked about something from three years ago by a stranger, Huo Sining was genuinely taken aback and didn’t react for a moment.

But soon her mind caught up. Thinking of her Huaxia Koi research project, and then linking it to the silkworm breeding project in Zhang Xiaomei’s hands, she almost instantly understood what this lady was driving at.

She nodded: "That’s right, I did take part in the fighting fish competition back then, and I did win the Fish King title—with the two purebred Huaxia Koi I had."

Zhang Xiaomei’s eyes were blazing as she looked at Huo Sining, her gaze full of fervor:

"Then I’ve got it right. Those two Huaxia Koi of yours caused a huge sensation in the entire biological research field at the time. It wasn’t just our side working on silkworm breeding—there were thousands of project teams across the country working on first-generation selective breeding that were all shaken by it."

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