The next day, Shen Feng returned to the City Lord's office and saw many people wearing masks. Before entering, they had to spray themselves with disinfectant. He then remembered that the migratory birds had returned north, and the avian flu had spread to various northern countries. This mutated avian flu was very fierce, causing birds to die in large numbers. When it infected humans, the mortality rate was naturally as high as three percent, with those having weaker constitutions easily succumbing to the flu.
In reality, avian flu was just one type of avian infectious disease. The scale of the mutated birds was immense; if they spawned just a few viruses, and these spread, it would be a massive disaster for humanity. Fortunately, in Yuzhou, only the flu had appeared, and no other avian infectious diseases had broken out, which could be considered good news.
Shen Feng asked the receptionist for a mask. After all, as the City Lord, he needed to maintain a certain image. He then put on the mask and entered the office. He explained the situation to Chu Chaoyan. Upon hearing that Du Xinshi wished to meet, Chu Chaoyan agreed and soon headed to Du Xinshi's residence.
While in the office, Shen Feng also met Chang Jianyi. During Shen Feng and Chu Chaoyan's absence from Yuzhou, Chang Jianyi had been handling official duties. Shen Feng felt some guilt for neglecting Chang Jianyi for such a long time. She was the woman he had liked the earliest, yet he had hurt her. Perhaps he shouldn't have argued with Chang Jianyi before.
Upon seeing Shen Feng, Chang Jianyi smiled and began to chat with him.
Time could heal wounds, and this saying was not wrong. As time passed, the rift between Shen Feng and Chang Jianyi gradually disappeared.
Meanwhile, Chu Chaoyan found Du Xinshi. Du Xinshi was still making clothes. While making clothes was not particularly strenuous work, Du Xinshi was pregnant, and at this time, it was a significant drain on her body. Chu Chaoyan, however, found it difficult to stop her and could only chat by her side.
"Sister Du, what did you want to see me about?" Chu Chaoyan quickly asked. She knew Du Xinshi wouldn't seek her out for no reason. She had heard before that Du Xinshi had something to ask her for help with, but she didn't know the specifics. She figured Du Xinshi would reveal the truth at this time.
Du Xinshi then sent Xiao Long to watch television. The child was almost three years old and could already watch TV. He couldn't understand complex things, but he could understand if "Tom and Jerry" was playing on TV. Thus, Xiao Long quickly went to the living room to watch TV, lying on the sofa and watching. Tao Yaxiang, on the other hand, went out. She remembered Zhang Xixi's previous instructions: it was best to pretend not to see or hear things one shouldn't know about.
At this moment, Du Xinshi spoke earnestly to Chu Chaoyan: "Madam Chu, I want to ask you to take care of my child. I have a premonition that I won't be able to get through childbirth. When the time comes, I will have a Cesarean section to save the child. Whether it's a boy or a girl, I will entrust it to you, Madam Chu, to raise."
Chu Chaoyan was taken aback by such a request and stood there stunned for a long time, speechless.
Du Xinshi continued, "This is my last request. Madam Chu, please agree. Even if I die, I will repay your kindness in every way possible."
Chu Chaoyan came back to her senses and quickly said, "Sister Du, you will be fine. As long as you are optimistic, you will definitely be able to get through the difficulty of childbirth. You've already given birth to Xiao Long, and you can give birth to this child too. Don't overthink things."
However, Du Xinshi was not successfully comforted by these words. Du Xinshi said earnestly, "I know my body best. My time is short. Although I have many concerns, my greatest worry is actually my two children. Xiao Long is already a bit older, and Ah Feng will definitely take care of Xiao Long. Even if he's just a godson, he won't be abandoned. As for the child in my belly, I am truly worried. I hope you can become his mother. You are the only person I can entrust my child to."
Chu Chaoyan repeatedly waved her hands, saying earnestly, "No, I can't. I have no experience as a mother, and why only entrust it to me?"
Du Xinshi explained, "Originally, I hoped to entrust the child to Zhang Xixi to raise. She stayed with me all the time, and we were like sisters. But yesterday, her sister-in-law brought a child back. I know that Zhang Xixi won't be able to take care of the child in the future. At this time, only you can help me."
Chu Chaoyan quickly thought and finally remembered something, so she said, "Don't you have a cousin in the Dabie Mountains? That means not only can I help you, but your cousin can too. You should trust your own relatives!"
Chu Chaoyan truly had no experience raising children. Now Du Xinshi suddenly wanted to entrust her child to her, and Chu Chaoyan couldn't accept it for a moment, so she couldn't help but worry.
Du Xinshi explained, "My cousin Mu Ying lives in the mountains with a group of women. The conditions are already very harsh, and she might not be able to take good care of the child. Now that the situation in Yuzhou is stable, it is more suitable for the child's growth. Therefore, I only have this one request, and I hope Madam Chu will agree."
Chu Chaoyan didn't know what to do. Suddenly, she thought of something and quickly said, "Don't worry too much. Live well, and everything will be fine. I heard that in Pudong, there are researchers studying human cryopreservation technology. Even if an accident occurs, you can be frozen, so you won't die easily. Rest assured."
Du Xinshi remained stubborn, "Even if I am frozen, someone will need to take care of the child. Shen Feng often fights outside; he is a man, so he needs to handle external matters. I also know that Madam Chang is not a bad person, but I cannot see her. Therefore, I can only ask you to bear with it."
Seeing Du Xinshi's persistent pleading, Chu Chaoyan's heart softened, and she agreed. However, even as she agreed, she said, "Let's agree on this first. I have no experience, so don't blame me if I can't take good care of him. And I will only do this if you cannot survive childbirth."
Although Chu Chaoyan's conditions for agreeing were rather harsh, Du Xinshi was still very moved. She quickly said earnestly to Chu Chaoyan, "Madam Chu, I am truly grateful. I will never forget your great kindness. I believe you will definitely become an excellent mother. As for him, he will have to call you Mama from now on. As for Xiao Long, he is already aware of things. If you can take care of him, please help him. If not, let him live an ordinary life."
Seeing Du Xinshi so pessimistic, Chu Chaoyan didn't know how to comfort her. Clearly, Du Xinshi felt death approaching. She was now entrusting her final affairs, and the child was ultimately entrusted to her hands. If the worst happened, would she be forced to become a mother?
Finally, Chu Chaoyan said to Du Xinshi, "Rest assured. You will be fine in the end. By the way, let me help you make clothes. Although I haven't had much experience with needlework, I can still help you a little."
...
More than ten days later, researchers from Pudong were invited to Yuzhou. Shen Feng offered very generous terms: one hundred catties of evolution base. Evolution base was very important because ability users needed evolution base to continue evolving after reaching the third tier. Such a high reward naturally attracted the researchers. Although they had to travel a long distance to Yuzhou, a group of over ten people directly arrived in Yuzhou.
Shen Feng attached great importance to this matter. Compared to children, he valued the people around him more. As long as Du Xinshi could be saved, no matter what happened, Shen Feng would do it without hesitation.
"Gentlemen, please come in. This is the Yuzhou Research Institute. This is Dean Niu. Let's find a room to talk slowly." Shen Feng invited the scientists from Pudong into the research institute. Professor Niu Baiye, along with several researchers, accompanied them. Shen Feng was worried about being deceived, so bringing some of his own people would allow for consultation at critical moments.
In the conference room, Shen Feng asked everyone to sit down. After a few pleasantries and introductions, they got down to business. Professor Niu was a well-known figure in the field of biology research, and his presence meant that he would preside over the meeting.
Professor Niu learned the relevant situation from Shen Feng and then directly asked, "Our City Lord heard that you gentlemen are researching human cryopreservation and are highly skilled, which is why you were invited. However, we also want to know about the progress of the technology you are currently researching. Can it guarantee that cryopreserving humans is feasible, and how is it achieved?"
The scientists quickly replied, "You are all researchers, so you can understand our methods of cryopreservation. In fact, to extend lifespan, various countries have been working on this technology. This is not like freezing seafood; even if seafood dies, the problem is not very serious. What we call human cryopreservation is actually freezing under living conditions. The human body can still revive after thawing, which is the valuable support of this technology."
In fact, the concept of human cryopreservation technology had existed for a long time, but while the theory was there, whether it could be achieved was a very serious issue. This technology also existed abroad. Freezing a human body was not a big deal, but when it came to thawing, many problems would arise. After thawing, many people could not wake up.
At this point, the scientists from Pudong continued, "The most important word in human cryopreservation is 'urgent.' After inhaling anesthetic gas, the subject enters a deep sleep. The subject must be frozen quickly, but the temperature cannot be too low, otherwise, crystallized water will form in the human body, and these ice crystals will instantly freeze the person to death. Then, maintain a low-temperature condition, not too cold, not too hot. Finally, the most difficult problem is thawing. The thawing speed also needs to be very fast, otherwise, the human metabolism cannot continue, and the person remains dead."
"Then, what will be the success rate?" Professor Niu asked the most critical question.
The scientists exchanged glances and said, "The success rate can reach ten percent."
"Only ten percent?" Shen Feng's eyes showed disbelief when he received this answer. Clearly, he did not consider a ten percent chance to be a high probability. He had thought this method was foolproof, but now it seemed it was not particularly reliable.
"Ten percent is already a very good result. Although the probability is low, it proves that this technology is completely feasible. Foreigners conducting this experiment have a success rate of less than one percent," the scientists from Pudong immediately retorted. Even ten percent was a great success.