Genius of the Rules-Style System

Chapter 807: 431

Li Rongmao, puzzled and bewildered, followed the staff through the procedures and signed a contract of employment with a university.

Even after the contract was officially signed, he still felt very insecure, looking at it over and over again, as if hoping to discover something from it. At the same time, he meticulously recalled the day’s events, feeling it was all like a dream.

One day before, he had been at the Science Academy’s Metal Research Institute, an Assistant Researcher working on national projects with a large team.

And one day later, he had become an Associate Professor at Yanhua University?

"Is this real?"

That day was only about signing the contract. The staff took him to the dormitory, telling him he could rest for a bit, and that he would formally go through the employment procedures the next day. If he had any requests, he should think them over, and the school, college, and laboratory would coordinate to consider his ’teaching position’ issue.

Li Rongmao was still not reassured, so he simply went to the Metal Materials Laboratory.

"So soon? Isn’t it tomorrow?" Shen Binghe was still in the lab; seeing Li Rongmao, he was quite surprised.

Li Rongmao grimaced and said, "Director Shen, I just don’t feel at ease. I’ve signed the contract, but I haven’t resigned from the institute yet."

Shen Binghe clapped him on the shoulder and said, "What’s there to worry about? Academician Zhao is fine with it. I heard this afternoon; Academician Zhao made a call about your situation, asking for special handling. You’re exceptional talent, and exceptional talent deserves special treatment!"

"This..."

Li Rongmao, a bit embarrassed by the repeated mention of ’talent’, also felt the attention and gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Academician Zhao, and thank you too, Director Shen."

Shen Binghe, thrilled to be called ’Director’ twice, affectionately wrapped an arm around Li Rongmao, saying, "Don’t call me Director Shen, just Binghe is fine. We’re about the same age, and we’ll be working together from now on."

"That doesn’t seem appropriate."

"What’s inappropriate about it?" Shen Binghe said. "Let’s do it this way: when there are others around, you can call me Director, but when we’re alone, we can address each other by name. I’ll also call you Rongmao."

"...Okay."

Li Rongmao thought ’Rongmao’ didn’t sound good, but ’Xiao Li’ always seemed a bit inferior.

The two exchanged pleasantries.

Li Rongmao then inquired about the laboratory entry process and the school-related teaching position issues.

Joining the laboratory was straightforward; he just needed to sign a contract the next day. However, the application for project participation was complicated because his name was listed at the Metal Research Institute of the Science Academy, causing duplication issues in the project participant application, which required the latter’s resolution first.

In this matter, Li Rongmao was not in a hurry; he cared more about the ’legitimacy’ issue, not minding a few days’ delay in joining the project.

Shen Binghe then talked about the teaching position, "No need to rush this either. I reckon the school will consider you just as they did me, just waiting for you to supervise graduate students next year. Make a report by the end of the year, and now with the Metal Materials Institute, I estimate there will be plenty of excellent students applying."

"However, you could also consider participating in undergraduate-level teaching work. You can apply during the summer vacation to become a lecturer for a college’s specialized course."

"This is a supplementary job, like working overtime. The college has a subsidy; it’s just about earning a bit more money."

Shen Binghe said nonchalantly.

Li Rongmao came from the Metal Research Institute and had undoubtedly always been engaged in scientific research, presumably having little interest in teaching.

In fact, Li Rongmao listened very attentively. He realized that ’teaching position’ meant becoming a university lecturer. Having been immersed in professional scientific research, the ’teaching position’ seemed distant.

Thinking now of the prospect of being a lecturer, teaching a large group of students specialized knowledge, was very appealing to him.

This seemed like an interesting job.

The next day, Li Rongmao signed the laboratory’s contract and immediately settled into his work role, helping Shen Binghe share the workload, primarily adjusting new machines and equipment.

In actual scientific research, Li Rongmao was much more experienced; he had always been at the Metal Research Institute of the Science Academy, visiting the laboratory every day and was intimately familiar with various basic equipment.

With Li Rongmao’s addition, the laboratory’s workload significantly decreased.

Zhao Yi also highly recognized Li Rongmao’s abilities. Worried there might be issues, he quickly made another call to expedite the resignation, material, and archiving issues at the Metal Research Institute.

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The Metal Research Institute of the Science Academy.

Peng Engui’s office was on the second floor. His team occupied nearly half of it, with a data laboratory next door.

In name, the data laboratory belonged to Peng Engui and was the main workplace for the team leader; however, in reality, Peng Engui delegated all the data-related work to Li Rongmao, meaning Li Rongmao spent most of his time in this lab.

That day, the data laboratory was left unattended.

Peng Engui ran to the data laboratory several times, turning around next to his office each time he went out. Initially, he thought Li Rongmao was just late, but later confirmed that Li Rongmao really hadn’t come in.

In the morning, Peng Engui had the team call Li Rongmao, but no one answered. By noon, the phone was simply switched off.

"What’s going on? He’s not even answering the phone?"

Peng Engui was angry when he learned the news. He would certainly not call himself because doing so would seem like ’bowing down.’ He knew Li Rongmao’s absence had to be related to the previous day’s event, "Thinking of leaving for real? Not considering, resignation? It’s not possible in the short term."