Chapter 2890: 2690 Diesel Fish

Everyone came to the night market downstairs; it was already winter, and this place had become much quieter. Moreover, the night was deep, not very lively, but most shops were still open, waiting for people who come out at midnight to find food.

Arriving at the agreed-upon small shop, Zheng Ren saw Yi Ren staring blankly at the grilled fish in front of her.

"What's wrong?" Zheng Ren sat beside Xie Yiren with a chuckle and naturally took her small hand.

Every time he only held Yi Ren's small hand, Zheng Ren would feel invincible.

"This fish smells a bit odd," Xie Yiren said, frowning.

Zheng Ren sniffed and indeed there was a faint diesel smell.

"It looks quite normal," Chang Yue said, sitting to the side and pushing up her glasses.

She was confused by Xie Yiren's confusion, not knowing at all what Yi Ren was saying.

This is the difference between a foodie who can cook and a foodie who cannot—an innate shortcoming that cannot be made up.

Seeing Zheng Ren and the others return, Xie Yiren greeted the boss to start grilling skewers. This shop was one they often visited, and they were familiar with the boss. Although there was a faint off‑flavor on the grilled fish, Xie Yiren didn't mention it to the boss, merely telling everyone not to eat it.

Su Yun didn't believe it, so after grilling she took a bite.

Sure enough, there was a diesel off‑taste; as soon as it entered her mouth she felt it, and Su Yun frowned, spitting the fish meat she had eaten onto a paper towel.

"It's fish that's been doused with diesel," Su Yun said, wanting to call the boss over to reason, but Xie Yiren stopped her.

"We're familiar with this shop; the boss probably didn't do it on purpose," Xie Yiren said. "I mentioned it to the boss's wife, so they should pay attention when buying fish next time."

"Diesel smell?" Chang Yue looked at the fish, finding it a bit strange.

"What's strange about that? Didn't you notice when buying vegetables?" Su Yun asked.

"Yi Ren does the buying; I just have to carry it," Chang Yue said, glancing at Su Yun with a slightly cold gaze.

Su Yun's tone softened immediately, and she swiftly changed the subject.

"I know a friend whose family fishes. She said that on small fishing boats, the engine room often retains some diesel after the boat is docked and the deck is repaired; more often, the smell comes from the oil on the net‑hauling machine." Su Yun explained patiently.

"Can't it be removed?"

"Yeah, it can't be removed. If the smell is too strong they can't sell it, and it's inedible," Su Yun said. "What's scary is when just a trace gets on it—you can't smell it on the surface, but once cooked and eaten you get a mouthful of diesel."

"Yun Ge'er, I heard a restaurant owner say that some people deliberately pour diesel or kerosene into the fish‑holding tanks just to make the fish jump around lively," Lao He said.

"Ugh… is that so wicked? I've actually seen similar reports saying diesel can form an oil film on the water surface, so fish can't breathe oxygen properly underwater and must burst forth with vitality to jump and breathe," Su Yun said.

"I don't know either; it's just hearsay." Lao He, not arguing with Su Yun, casually said, "Cost is one factor, and it could also be due to water‑pollution problems."

Chang Yue tried a bite, but in the end could only spit it out. This fish is simply inedible, filling the mouth with diesel flavor as soon as it's entered.

Zheng Ren couldn't understand Su Yun and Chang Yue's "adventurous" spirit—or rather, their curiosity. They'd already said the fish had a taste, so why were they still so curious to eat it?

"I remember when I was little, one day my mom bought fish that suddenly all had an earthy smell; I didn't know about the diesel kind," Chang Yue said.

"That earthy smell is different from this," Su Yun said. "I know what you mean—fishy odor is normal, and usually a bit of scallion, ginger, and garlic easily gets rid of it with normal handling. But earthy smell is different; it's not just fishy, it tastes as if mixed with something like mud."

"This is related to the environment; wherever the bottom has thick silt and plenty of humus, fish living there a long time may acquire an earthy taste."

"Yeah, what Su Yun said is about right. The earthy taste in freshwater fish mainly comes from a group of single‑celled phytoplankton in the water; during their metabolism they produce semi‑volatile earthy‑smelling substances." Zheng Ren said.

"Waters rich in humus are good for microbial growth; bacteria that carry an earthy odor attach to diatoms, cyanobacteria, and other plankton, which freshwater fish ingest, carrying the bacteria into muscle, blood, and tissue cells. Over time or with large amounts, the fish meat naturally develops an earthy taste."

"Chief Zheng, what you're saying is disgusting. While we're eating, you talk about plankton, then muscle and blood—how evil is that?" Chang Yue said, frowning.

Zheng Ren honestly kept quiet, about to start skewering; talking about muscle, blood, tissue and such really kills the mood.

Before going to Langshan County, Professor Yang had treated everyone to a meal, but Zheng Ren hadn't eaten his fill when something came up. Now it's a good time to eat a bit, and also pack some for Heizi to take back.

"Lao He, find some time to contact Director Xiang," Su Yun said. "Have him send you the surgery footage."

Su Yun had been keeping this in mind, and he told Lao He.

Lao He chuckled, "This is Yun Ge'er writing a paper. This paper isn't for credits, nor for the empty fame of SCI, but to solve a clinical problem."

This is a serious matter; although Lao He had already told himself a hundred times he didn't want to deal with Director Xiang again, the friendship for the image data had already been made clear by Su Yun in the car.

"I've already messaged him; normally surgery footage isn't deleted that quickly," Lao He said. "Normally, the video should be sent to my inbox tomorrow."

"Lao He, are you interested in this?" Su Yun asked casually.

Lao He is already nearing fifty; all the promotions he should have gotten are done, and he isn't particularly eager for SCI. Unlike Zhou Litao and Quan Xiaocao and their crowd. There are even many jokes: a female PhD's dowry consists of N SCI papers, and the first author can change her husband's name.

Su Yun also didn't insist; he guessed Gao Shaojie wasn't interested either, and was thinking about who to drag along.

"Let's call Xiao Ran," Zheng Ren said. "He's still young, has a few SCI papers under his belt, and the road ahead will be easier for him."

"Boss, you're saying it's that simple?" Su Yun said scornfully. "Just how many papers?!"

"It's quite normal; when you hadn't won a Nobel Prize yet, there was no trouble getting SCI papers. Now, just seeing your name, reviewers will approve anything. Isn't that normal? What's there to be surprised about?" Zheng Ren said with a laugh.

In his mind he was thinking about being an independent director of Novartis, a blank check where he could write any salary—he didn't seem very interested.

Actually, Zheng Ren hadn't realized he had become a top student.