The NO.1 Food Stall in the Wasteland novel Chapter 170

Chapter 170: Chapter 170: His Service Attitude is Terrible

’Are Level 1 researchers really this impressive?’

Shen Lu followed Li Qin to her office in a daze.

Li Qin’s office was a bit of a mess. The left side of her desk was piled high with documents, while the right side was covered in various pieces of lab equipment. Shen Lu even spotted a few small flowerpots, from which tiny, faint green sprouts peeked out, so delicate you’d miss them if you weren’t looking closely.

Li Qin rummaged around for a moment and pulled out a few Star Coins from the very bottom of a drawer.

After a moment’s thought, she handed them all to Shen Lu.

"Miss, you don’t have to give me so many." Shen Lu took one of the bills. "This much is enough."

She had exchanged popularity value for the sanitary pads. Although popularity value was worth far more than Star Coins, the amount Li Qin was offering was clearly way over the price.

"Alright." Li Qin’s impression of Shen Lu improved even more. "What’s your name? What brings you to the Institute?"

"My name is Shen Lu. I came here with someone to make a delivery."

Shen Lu had originally considered lying, but after thinking it over, she decided to give her real name.

Everyone had to fill out visitor information upon entering the Biological Research Institute, and they even verified it against citizen records. It was impossible to fake, so there was no point in lying now and causing unnecessary trouble.

"Oh." Li Qin wasn’t suspicious. Plenty of people came to the Institute to deliver things; that was how they received many of their research samples.

’But that name, Shen Lu... Why does it sound so familiar?’

Shen Lu looked around, examining the details of the office, and asked curiously, "Miss, what is it that you research?"

"We’re probably about the same age, you can just call me Li Qin." Li Qin casually stuffed the remaining Star Coins back into the drawer. "I research plants."

"Do you research new crop varieties?"

"No, I research plant mutations."

"Plants can mutate? Is it the same kind of mutation that turns animals into mutant beasts?"

"More or less." Li Qin didn’t mind chatting with others about her research topic, since this part wasn’t confidential anyway. "Did you know that mutations are actually divided into benign and malignant types?"

Shen Lu shook her head. "I’ve never heard that before."

Perhaps all researchers have a bit of a teacher in them. Li Qin felt she and Shen Lu clicked, so she became a bit more talkative.

"Take Superpower Users, for example. They’re the result of benign mutations, while mutant beasts are the result of malignant ones."

Shen Lu’s eyes widened. ’There’s a theory like that?’

’Following Li Qin’s logic, does that mean anyone who awakens has a chance of becoming a mutant beast?’

’No, that’s not right. Then what about the mutant beast that crawled out of Fang Peng’s body?’

’That was more like it was parasitizing a human body, not a simple awakening.’

"What I’m researching is how to make plants undergo benign mutations, so they can grow faster, stronger, and bear more fruit."

Li Qin was looking down, searching through some documents, and didn’t notice the expression on Shen Lu’s face. "This project has been going for years without any major breakthroughs. Personally, I don’t think it has much research value."

She sounded like she was venting and complaining.

Shen Lu snapped back to reality. "Can plants really mutate? I’ve never heard any news about it."

"Of course they can mutate. It’s just that there are almost no wild plants left, and cultivated plants don’t have the right conditions to mutate at all." Li Qin clicked her tongue. "Let me walk you back to the conference room. We shouldn’t keep your partner waiting."

Shen Lu waved her hands frantically. "No, no, that’s okay! I know the way back. I can go by myself. I don’t want to interrupt your work."

"Alright then. Go out, turn left, then turn right, and you’ll be there. Try not to take a wrong turn, or you’ll be treated as a security threat." Li Qin instructed, "If you do get lost, just answer whatever questions they ask you. I’ll come rescue you."

Shen Lu: ...

Well, that comment squashed her grand, adventurous ideas into tiny, cautious ones.

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