Lin Xian shook his head.

"I'm not sure, Teacher Xu."

"You said at the banquet before... that your dignity as a scientist wouldn't allow you to sell such a failed product. But I was wondering, could there be a deeper reason?"

Xu Yun didn't speak after hearing this.

He took off his glasses and used the corner of his clothes to wipe the lenses back and forth.

"My daughter, when she was four years old, fell from a slide and became a paraplegic in a vegetative state. All the experts in the world say there is no possibility of her waking up."

"So, why am I researching hibernation pods? As a scientist, I know better than anyone how outrageous and unrealistic it is to study this thing. But..."

Xu Yun put his glasses back on and looked at Lin Xian.

"There always has to be someone to do the pioneering work."

"If I don't study hibernation pods, it may be decades or even centuries before someone starts researching this project. But my daughter can't wait... She has been lying in bed for ten years of her life. How many more years can she lie there?"

Speaking of this, Xu Yun smiled self-deprecatingly.

"Before I developed that failed product, for ten years, no one paid attention to the progress of hibernation pod research, and no one came to the hospital to see my daughter."

"But now you see, people come to see my daughter every day in an endless stream. These cosmetics companies are vying to send me money for research. But are they doing it for the research on hibernation pods? No... They don't care about hibernation pods at all. All they care about is how much money that chemical substance can make them."

"But Teacher Xu, I don't think this is a bad thing for you."

Lin Xian felt a strange sense of closeness to Professor Xu Yun, so he bluntly expressed his doubts.

"If you sell that chemical substance, that 'failed product' you mentioned... you will have enough funding for research, and you will have more advanced equipment and higher-level laboratories. Wouldn't that be more helpful to your research project?"

However...

Xu Yun shook his head with a serious expression.

"You're thinking too simply."

"I am a person who knows myself very well. A technological product like a hibernation pod, which is enough to change the world's landscape, is definitely not a huge project that one person, one research institute, or even one country can handle."

"I never hoped that I could successfully develop a hibernation pod... That's simply a fantasy. What I hope is to ignite this spark and let everyone see the possibility of overcoming the hibernation problem."

"For example, as a first step, if I can solve the problem of hibernation pod filling fluid, more and more scientists and research institutes will inevitably begin to invest in hibernation pod research. Only in this way... is there hope to create a hibernation pod in a few years or a dozen years."

"[And all I can do is ignite this spark.]"

Xu Yun bent down.

He pulled up the quilt for his sleeping daughter and carefully tucked the corners in.

"But do you know what the consequences would be if I sold that failed product?"

Lin Xian shook his head.

He really couldn't guess.

He wasn't a science student, and to be honest, he couldn't quite understand the logic behind it.

Could it be that Professor Xu Yun selling the patent for this failed product... could extinguish the spark of hibernation pods?

"Actually, I used to have a few students who did research with me."

Mentioning the past, Professor Xu Yun was a little disappointed.

"They were a few very talented and smart kids. Although they hadn't made any progress all along, I was still very gratified to have them. At least I wasn't the only one in the world who was making my way in the field of hibernation alone."

"But later, it was the same as this time... In the process of research, some valuable by-products inevitably emerged. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but ever since companies started coming to us, the lab became divided."

"Those students had different opinions, but the general goal was the same, to change the direction of research and engage in research that could see results and gain profits in the short term. Such as drug patents, beauty products, etc. At that time, many cosmetics companies and pharmaceutical companies offered them very high annual salaries."

"The result is self-evident, they all left, not a single one stayed."

Xu Yun shook his head and smiled.

"Of course, everyone has their own ambitions, and I can't say they're pragmatic. After all, everyone is pursuing a better life. Pursuing scientific research for the sake of profit may sound repulsive, but the reality is that more and more young people are choosing to develop in a pragmatic direction in the field of scientific research."

...

Lin Xian understood a little.

In short.

Professor Xu Yun was hurt by these students in the past.

Although Lin Xian wasn't in academia.

However, he had heard about some of the malpractices in the academic world today. From this point of view, there were very few scientists like Xu Yun who steadily, year after year, researched unknown fields despite repeated failures, which was admirable.

"I understand, Teacher Xu."

Lin Xian said.

"Are you worried that selling this chemical substance will mislead the atmosphere of the academic world? There are already few young people who are willing to study hibernation pods or even engage in scientific research projects that won't see returns in the long term."

"If young people see that researching beauty products or pharmaceutical products can make huge profits in a short period of time, they may consider this when choosing a research direction. In contrast, research fields like hibernation pods, which show no hope, won't have any young talent joining in."

Professor Xu Yun nodded and smiled at Lin Xian with relief.

"You've hit on a very important point, that is, young talent."

"I also said just now that hibernation pods are definitely not something that I alone, or even a single country, can research. It must be done with the power of all mankind. If more and more young scientists are lured by profits to research profitable projects... who would be willing to research hibernation technology, which currently has no hope?"

"In fact, hibernation pod research is in this situation now. The most fundamental reason why no one is willing to research it is that they can't see the end, can't see the hope, and can't see the benefits."

...

Lin Xian felt that Xu Yun had a very broad perspective when considering things.

But he simply believed that this overall trend of profit-seeking in the academic world was not something that Xu Yun alone could improve.

In fact, whether he sold this chemical substance or not, there shouldn't be any young people investing in hibernation pod research...

After all, the reason why Xu Yun was so persistent was because he had a vegetative daughter to save. And others didn't have such a strong driving force, so it was reasonable to choose a project that could be profitable in the short term to research.

"Perhaps what I'm saying is a little off, Teacher Xu."

Lin Xian still planned to persuade him again.

"But I don't think your being good alone can change the current social atmosphere of impetuosity and emphasis on fame and fortune."

"I think you might as well sell this chemical substance and let everyone see that there is still profit to be made in the process of researching hibernation pod filling fluid. Maybe many young people will be attracted by this benefit and join the research on hibernation pods."

However.

Xu Yun didn't listen.

He patted Lin Xian on the shoulder and said meaningfully.

"You may think I'm stubborn, or even obstinate. But I have to save my daughter, I can't afford to gamble on the situation you described."

"Besides, if scientific research is started with the goal of making money in the first place, how long can they persist in the face of years or decades of no progress?"

"This hibernation pod project is not something that can be broken through in a short period of time. I have worked hard alone for ten years, and there hasn't even been a theoretical breakthrough. I understand better than anyone how difficult this road is..."

"So, unless I'm really unable to hold on any longer, I won't consider selling this thing. If there are really young people willing to join the research on hibernation pods, I hope their purpose is pure."

"Lin Xian, I have to save my daughter, this is the only way. More and more forces, especially young forces with a passion and no desire for fame and fortune, must intervene in the development of hibernation pods in order to break through this problem as soon as possible. My being good alone can't change anything, but I can't let this unhealthy trend start to spread from me."

"One day, you will also become a father, and then you will understand. So go back, young man, go back and bring today's words to your CEO Zhao, tell her not to bother me anymore, I think she will understand."

"I hope... this is our last meeting."