Strange Life of a Cat-Chapter 244 - 237

Chapter 244: 237

Chapter 244: 237

Yi Xin and the others were always anxious, but they found that Professor Jiao showed no direct signs of concern. When they returned, they went about their usual business. During one of the group meetings, Yi Xin, Su Qu, and Zeng Jing were asked to report on their research achievements of the past year, and then the newcomers, Ke Heng and Dai Tong, were asked to introduce themselves.

Dai Tong was from the school and the same faculty. Professor Jiao was familiar with her, and overall considered her quite acceptable, diligent enough; she had initially planned to go abroad directly but was delayed by various things and ended up applying for a master’s degree under Professor Jiao alongside others. Being from the same faculty, she had more understanding of various professors in the institute, which showed her real desire to achieve results.

Ke Heng, although he had studied in a university in another province, was originally from Chuhua City and had returned directly for his graduate studies. Among the few in the group, he was the only one who was unfamiliar with Professor Jiao. So, when Yi Xin and the others worried about being called for a conversation by Professor Jiao, he too was on tenterhooks, afraid of making a bad impression.

At the end of the group meeting, Professor Jiao asked them which day they were free to come over for dinner, as his wife would cook. After some discussion, the students agreed on Saturday.

Actually, Jiao Ma had initially intended to ask Mr. Jiao to take the students out for a meal, but Mr. Jiao felt there was no need to dine out; their home, though not large, could accommodate five more people. If needed, they could squeeze in; it was cheaper to eat at home, and there was no need for pretense.

Saturday evening at six, the sun wasn’t so fierce anymore, and there were more patches of shade from the trees. At this time, many people gradually began to go out for their meals.

Not far from the courtyard in the East District, a group of five headed towards the courtyard, three riding bikes and two hitching a ride, with Yi Xin leading, his bike not carrying anyone else but loaded with several bags of fruits. It’s always good to bring something when going for a meal at someone’s house, and fruits were the most affordable choice.

“Hey, senior brother, you mentioned last time that our mentor’s wife is nice. How about the other members of Mr. Jiao’s family, like children or the elderly?” Ke Heng asked.

Yi Xin briefly described Mr. Jiao’s two children, “Actually, all the members of Mr. Jiao’s family are quite nice. Oh, I almost forgot, do any of you two have a fear of cats? Mr. Jiao has a black cat named Heitan.”

Ke Heng and Dai Tong shook their heads; their major didn’t have many who were afraid of small animals, having dealt with quite a number of lab mice.

“Speaking of Mr. Jiao’s cat, let me tell you…,” Su Qu started to talk more as he felt deeply about it; he got chosen back then partly thanks to that cat.

“Hey, look ahead,” the cycling Zeng Jing interrupted Su Qu, nodding in a particular direction.

Following the direction Zeng Jing pointed, they saw a black cat leisurely strolling under the shade of a few trees near the sidewalk.

“That’s Mr. Jiao’s Heitan,” Yi Xin said.

“Can it respond if I call it?” Ke Heng asked.

“That’s uncertain; this cat is a bit special,” Yi Xin did not elaborate, but he thought: it probably won’t respond.

“Heitan!” Ke Heng called out.

They were cycling faster than walking, gradually getting closer to the cat ahead. Although Ke Heng was not loud, the cat ahead could definitely hear him.

Unfortunately, the cat in front completely ignored Ke Heng, continuing to stroll leisurely towards the courtyard, not even pausing in its steps.

“Senior brother, are you sure that cat is Mr. Jiao’s?” Ke Heng was puzzled. A cat at his place would at least show some reaction like stopping to look around if you called its name right, even if it might not necessarily engage with you. But the one ahead seemed as if it hadn’t heard at all.

“Absolutely, that cat card on its neck is proof,” Yi Xin confirmed.

Zheng Tan only wore the cat card when loitering around the school; he had just strolled around the courtyard and was thinking about the dinner at 6:30 PM arranged by Jiao Ma when he returned. Of course, he had heard the person calling just now, but since he got called often by people he knew at the school, Zheng Tan typically ignored those who were just playing around, especially voices he had never heard before—he was even lazier to respond.

As Yi Xin and the others rode into the courtyard, they got ahead of Zheng Tan, parked their bikes, and Yi Xin, leading his fellow students, approached Building B, reemphasizing the need to be cautious, “Listen more, talk less; there are quite a few influential figures in this building. It wouldn’t be good to leave a bad impression, as it would reflect poorly on our mentor and make things difficult for us as well.”

Arriving at the gate, Yi Xin didn’t hurry to ring the bell, waiting beside it and also stepping aside from the card scanner.

Ke Heng and others watched as the black cat they had seen before walked leisurely to the gate, glanced at them indifferently, then went over to the card scanner and jumped up.

“Snap!”

The iron gate of the entrance control opened.

“Come on in, what are you dawdling for?” Yi Xin pulled at Ke Heng and Dai Tong, who were standing there dazed, and followed the Black Cat into the building.

“Wow, no wonder he’s the boss’s cat,” Ke Heng exclaimed.

Yi Xin made a “shush” gesture with her hand. When they reached the third floor and saw Professor Lan’s door open, her heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, they didn’t see Professor Lan until they reached the fifth floor. Visiting the boss’s house was never easy; her heart was always racing, worrying about this and that.

Although they were very nervous at first, seeing that the Jiao family was indeed as hospitable as Yi Xin had described, everyone gradually relaxed.

The living room was small; whenever there were guests, the two children would set up a small table in Jiao Yuan’s room. Zheng Tan didn’t join the commotion in the living room; instead, he went to the room to join the two kids.

During the meal, Mr. Jiao didn’t talk about the students’ experiments nor did he ask too much, but shared his insights from his recent trip abroad for a research project and discussed international research standards and laboratory situations with them. Although the compensation overseas was substantial, the competition and pressure were also significant, as many young professors would admit when they had had a bit too much to drink: it’s easier to get by in one’s own country than abroad, which is one of the many reasons people return to develop their careers, ostensibly to repay their country and alma mater. Of course, the country does actively recruit truly talented people and creates excellent opportunities for them, but not everyone can have such impressive abilities. Since they had chosen this path, they needed to use their knowledge to pave their own way; under the pressure to survive, many things gradually deviated from their original intents.

Why does everyone in this field want to go abroad? Even a brief stint overseas to enhance their CV could make it look more appealing. Nowadays, the competition for positions in academia is increasing, and many universities add a requirement for “international experience” when hiring faculty. It’s tough competing for academic titles and securing projects. The most noticeable trend is the growing number of young professors whose qualifications are rapidly depreciating. Although it’s harsh to say, it’s the reality.

For instance, academic promotions have gradually become transactions of power and money, and even a game of competing in projects and flaunting funds. Every year during the academic promotion season at universities, you can hear various complaints from those who miss out on advanced titles just because of insufficient research funding. Thus, to continue on this path and to climb higher, adapting to these rules is not simple or straightforward, a reality many only understand when they face it.

Mr. Jiao selectively shared many things, not too explicitly, as he was afraid it might dampen the students’ enthusiasm. He also asked the students about their plans for the summer break. In fact, many specialized postgraduates don’t really have a summer break; even though the school’s website lists a vacation period, everyone knows it practically doesn’t exist, especially in schools like Chuhua University, and for majors like Yi Xin’s.

Mr. Jiao was reasonably considerate towards the students. If a student wanted to go home, all they needed to do was submit a leave form specifying the exact dates; after all, as their advisor, he was responsible for them as long as they were at school.

Zheng Tan listened intently from the room to the conversation happening in the living room. He wasn’t interested in the topics discussed before the meal, but the conversation that took place afterward piqued his curiosity.

Not just Zheng Tan; Jiao Yuan and Little Youzi in the room heard it too.

Mr. Jiao would be going out with this year’s batch of students on a field trip. Every year, freshmen from Chuhua University School of Life Sciences at the end of the first semester were taken on field trips.

Before Little Youzi had joined the Jiao family, Jiao Yuan was younger, and Mr. Jiao had taken him along to the internship base. Jiao Yuan had always been looking forward to another trip ever since, and now, hearing that his father was planning another field trip, he was itching to go and started wondering what to bring.

After Yi Xin and the others left, Jiao Yuan couldn’t wait to ask Mr. Jiao if he would also take them on a trip this summer.

Mr. Jiao simply replied, “It depends on your performance.”

By “performance,” Jiao Yuan and Little Youzi knew it probably meant their final exam scores. Even if they couldn’t make it into the top ranks, they at least couldn’t score too poorly.

Consequently, the spicy-girl covered magazines and several thick, yellow-covered novels that were under Jiao Yuan’s bed disappeared. Zheng Tan had planned to sneak a peek at them while the house was empty and internet restrictions were in place, but he found nothing.

Although Jiao Yuan was dealing with the restlessness of his teenage years, when he decided to do something well, he would take it seriously and eliminate all distractions. If Zheng Tan wanted to read those magazines and novels, he would at least have to wait until after Jiao Yuan’s exams.

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Zheng Tan was indeed very curious about the field internship, but unfortunately, Jiao Yuan and Little Youzi were busy preparing for their final exams, and they hardly talked about other topics. Zheng Tan could only learn more by eavesdropping near the master bedroom’s corner at night.

This time, Mr. Jiao wasn’t leading the team; he just wanted to take the opportunity to take his family along on the trip, as it was very hot in Chuhua City during the summer. It was better to take the kids out for activities, though following the training troops would surely be tough, but that was partly why Mr. Jiao wanted the kids to go – to toughen them up and broaden their knowledge.

The institute organized the field internship from mid-July to the end of July, accounting for the travel time, it would last about two weeks. The institute chartered several buses; because Mr. Jiao was taking his family and a cat along, and to avoid any inconveniences, he decided to drive his own car instead of riding with others. Some other faculty members also drove themselves, especially since the team included some people from other institutions, and as professors from the host university, they had to be cautious not to give others a chance to criticize them for seeking any undue advantages.

Among the few professors who drove there, one brought a golden retriever. There had been professors who brought dogs on trips before, but in terms of bringing a cat, the Jiao family was the first since the establishment of the internship base. (