Chapter 1345: Zhang Han's Scheme

Zhang Song and Zhang Han arrived at the south gate of Territory Three by car and saw Xia Qing, who had come to open the gate for them, wearing a dirty protective suit.

Zhang Song stepped out of the car steadily and apologized first. "Sister Qing, sorry to bother you. Have the bee swarms been normal these past two days?"

"Normal." Xia Qing locked the gate and led them through the wild-grass wall toward the greenhouse.

Zhang Han followed behind the two of them, her gaze quickly sweeping over the mud spots on Xia Qing's clothes before she lowered her head slightly, using the shadow of her long, thick lashes to conceal the complicated emotions in her eyes.

Zhang Song took the initiative to ask about the two little darlings. "Are the monk-faced monkeys doing better?"

Xia Qing answered calmly, "The big one has already recovered. The little one still has mild diarrhea symptoms, but its appetite is much better than the past couple of days."

Zhang Song inquired, "Symptoms lessening, appetite improving — it should recover soon. May I go over and examine it?"

After Xia Qing nodded, Zhang Han, who had been following behind him, asked, "Teacher Song, Professor Guo from our university wants to obtain the morphological and blood sample data of these two monk-faced monkeys. Do you think that would be alright?"

On her seventh entry into her own territory, Zhang Han finally made her move. Xia Qing calmly waited for Zhang Song's response.

The smile vanished from Zhang Song's face at once. "Which Professor Guo? How does he know there are monk-faced monkeys here?"

Zhang Han answered obediently, "It's Professor Guo Qingbin, a primate research expert at Hongyi University. I was reporting my internship work to my advisor, Professor Hu Guanglian, and when my advisor met Professor Guo, he mentioned it."

All of this can be reported externally? Xia Qing gazed quietly at the eyes behind Zhang Han's protective visor, trying to glean more information from her micro-expressions.

Zhang Song's voice turned stern. "As an intern, you may only report the basic content of the projects you participate in to your advisor. Did I permit you to join the monk-faced monkey research project? How did you study the intern guidelines?"

Zhang Han lowered her head to evade the scrutiny of Zhang Song and Xia Qing and admitted her fault directly. "I'm sorry, Teacher Song. Third Brother had me follow you, so I assumed that meant I was participating in all the research projects you lead."

What a fine "I assumed." Xia Qing turned her head to look at Zhang Song.

Hearing that Zhang Han would rather ruin her own future than stop probing the secrets of Territory Three, Zhang Song was truly furious. "The research institute at Red Eleven Base does indeed have that rule, but what you've entered isn't the Red Eleven Research Institute — it's the P3 laboratory of Hui Three Territory Seven! I personally handed you the intern guidelines, and the rules are clearly stated there. Your displayed disregard for the guidelines has greatly disappointed me."

Project leader Zhang Song directly gave the intern Zhang Han, who had come from Hongyi University, an "unsatisfactory" evaluation.

Zhang Han, head lowered, trembled all over, her voice taking on a sobbing tone. "I'm sorry…"

Xia Qing spoke up. "Are you two going to the beekeeping greenhouse or not? Going to see the monkeys or not?"

When an intern from Territory Seven makes a mistake, you take it back to Territory Seven to handle. This is Territory Three. I'm very busy and don't have time to stand here listening to you two argue.

"Sorry for taking up your time, Sister Qing." Zhang Song eased his tone to reply, then ordered Zhang Han, "You go to the beekeeping greenhouse. I'll go examine the monk-faced monkeys."

Having come this far, Zhang Han certainly wouldn't back down. She raised her tear-streaked face and asked, "What about Professor Guo's side?"

It seemed she was determined to play the "doesn't know the rules" card to the end. Fearing that if they kept dawdling, Xia Qing would toss the two of them out directly, Zhang Song gave a clear reply: "First, Professor Guo has not made a data-sharing request to our side. Second, even if he did, I would have to request instructions from Third Brother before I could reply to him."

The reply goes to Guo Qingbin, not to you. You're not qualified.

Zhang Han stared at Zhang Song with everything staked on one throw. "Professor Guo sent a formal email to Third Brother yesterday, but he didn't receive a reply from Third Brother. Could you call the territory lord now to request instructions? Once we go back, you'll definitely kick me out of the research group and send me back to Hongyi…"

"Call and request instructions now. Let me take the data back, or else I won't be able to keep my footing at Hongyi University. I'm begging you. In the future, if you need data and assistance from Professor Guo's side, I can also…"

"I don't need it." Zhang Song's voice was icy as he strode toward Xia Qing's house.

Zhang Han's tear-bright eyes turned toward Xia Qing. Just as she was about to speak, Zhang San's languid voice came through Xia Qing's walkie-talkie.

"Xia Qing, what are you up to?"

Xia Qing pressed the walkie-talkie button and replied calmly, "Just taking Brother Song and the others to do the examination."

In a good mood, Zhang San didn't fuss over Xia Qing's half-formed reply and gave the order directly. "Do you still have any young roosters there? If so, have them bring one back."

Her idol wants to eat chicken? Of course she has some!

"I have young roosters, and also green-stalk hazelnut mushrooms from Bai San Base. The weather's cold now, perfect for stewed chicken with mushrooms. Shall I have them bring some back for you together?"

Zhang San's voice was kind. "Sure. Catch an extra chicken — I'll have the kitchen make an extra portion and send it over to you."

"Copy that. Thank you, Third Brother."

Before Xia Qing released the walkie-talkie button, Zhang Han beside her spoke up loudly and asked, "Third Brother, this is Zhang Han. May I collect data on the two monk-faced monkeys in Territory Three and send it to Professor Guo Qingbin?"

Zhang Song stopped, turned back, and looked at Zhang Han with a gaze that seemed capable of killing.

Xia Qing slowly raised her eyes, looking at Zhang Han expressionlessly. Zhang Han didn't even glance at Xia Qing's face, staring fixedly at the walkie-talkie in her hand.

After about half a minute, Zhang San's cold voice finally came through the walkie-talkie. "Where's Zhang Song?"

Zhang Song, who was not far away, immediately picked up his phone, dialed Zhang San, quickly reported the situation, and then admitted his fault. "It's my failure to manage the intern properly. I've caused you trouble."

Relying on her sharp hearing, Xia Qing clearly caught her idol's scolding. "If only you'd diverted one percent of your attention away from studying monkeys, you wouldn't have made such a stupid mistake! Do you have the data or not?"

Zhang Song reported truthfully, "The morphological data we have. The blood sample data is only from five days ago."

"Go draw blood now! Test it and send it straight to that old thing! If you attract that old thing here, you clear out the place for me!"

Xia Qing understood. Her idol didn't care for Guo Qingbin and had very likely blacklisted him, which was why he hadn't received the application Guo Qingbin sent yesterday. Perhaps Guo Qingbin was a difficult person to deal with, or perhaps it was based on some research principle — once Zhang Han made a public call in the territory lord channel, her idol, even if unhappy, still had to hand over the data.

Zhang Han's goal today was the laboratory and living quarters that Xia Qing had been guarding so tightly. Was she using this scorched-earth method to catch Xia Qing off guard?

Zhang Song hung up the phone, quickly composed himself, and asked, "Sister Qing, may I borrow your laboratory to test the blood samples?"

Xia Qing pretended reluctance. "My lab can only run routine blood tests."

Zhang Song was cautious. "Routine blood tests will do."

Xia Qing stopped objecting. "Both monkeys are in the chicken-raising greenhouse next to the bee shed. Brother Song can go on his own. The cement I mixed at home is about to set."

Hearing Xia Qing's reply, Zhang Han froze for a moment, then quickly resumed her teary, aggrieved look.