Twenty years of cold chain

Chapter 19 After the Tide

Seawater overflowed, turning Shuangliujiao into a vast expanse of water.

The transit station was set up for convenience only, and the terrain was too low, without any consideration for the impact of the waves. Later, Hu Shutong learned that it was a strong typhoon that was not seen for many years.

The next day, when the typhoon subsided slightly, Hu Shutong, wearing a raincoat, stood on the only high ground in the distance. Boats could now navigate on the land, and the transshipment warehouse was surrounded by seawater nearly a person's height; he knew the cargo inside was doomed.

Before long, Lin Xiang also arrived. He squatted on the high ground, his gaze fixed on the direction of the transfer warehouse, smoking silently.

"When I came to Panzhu, I saw someone stop a refrigerated truck. Could it be that they came to load goods?"

Lin Xiang acted as if he hadn't heard, smoking one cigarette after another until the ground was littered with cigarette butts.

"I've also heard that there are several second-hand container assembly companies in Panzhu."

Lin Xiang remained silent, refusing to even glance at Hu Shutong. After a moment, he stubbed out his cigarette, averted his gaze from the transfer warehouse, and strode away. After walking about two or three paces, he turned back, his sharp, triangular eyes fixed on Hu Shutong. "Haven't finished your studies yet, have you? Mind your own business!"

Hu Shutong was speechless, and Lin Xiang's resolute back view made people worry about what would happen next.

It took three whole days for the seawater to recede to knee level. The temperature in Panzhu City was over 30 degrees Celsius, and the seawater trapped in the reservoir was practically lukewarm. The fish had already rotted.

In the past few days, Hu Shutong has been closely monitoring this transit warehouse. Lin Xiang is a stubborn person, and it's hard to know what trouble he will cause next. At the same time, he has also gained a deeper understanding of many posts on cold storage. In the past, he focused more on the technical issues of storage and transportation, emphasizing the importance of cold chain logistics.

But if we take cold to its extreme, will it form a chain?

This assumption, while lacking practical relevance, gradually made Hu Shutong realize that it's not a matter of "cold storage first, then supply chain," and even the notion that "cold storage is the foundation, and supply chain is the soul" is inadequate. Cold storage and supply chain should be parallel processes, with efforts focused on improving refrigeration facilities while simultaneously working together to build the upstream and downstream of the supply chain. The latter concerns both regulations and the realities of life, things that are not visible in the University of Mingda's library or the cold storage equipment rooms.

The tide had finally receded to almost nothing, and early in the morning, just as Lin Xiang opened the warehouse door, a figure blocked his way with an arm outstretched.

"Why is it you again!" Lin Xiang was puzzled. Wasn't this the same kid on the slope who looked so worried even though it had nothing to do with him? He thought to himself, "Why are you always staring at me?"

"Boss Lin, don't go in now!"

Lin Xiang immediately blushed and shoved Hu Shutong aside, shouting, "You're meddling in my business! I want to see my fish!"

"You'll get poisoned!" Hu Shutong shouted as he chased after him.

Hu Shutong was terrified. The fish and shrimp were rotting in such a confined space, and the air would be filled with a large amount of hydrogen sulfide. If a person entered, they would immediately suffer from oxygen deprivation and faint, and their brain would be damaged. If they did not receive immediate treatment, their life would be in danger.

Perhaps because this strong typhoon was so rare, such poisoning incidents are uncommon in Panju City. However, there is clear scientific evidence to support this claim: spoiled food inevitably produces hydrogen sulfide, and enclosed spaces only increase the concentration of hydrogen sulfide; even 0.05% is enough to be fatal!

Hu Shutong grabbed him again, but the slippery rope was impossible to pull away from. He stretched it behind his neck and grabbed the rope of the pendant, which was thicker than a match head. Lin Xiang was so choked that he fell backward to the ground.

Lin Xiang could no longer tolerate it. He turned around and swung his fist straight at Hu Shutong's face, delivering two hook punches with both hands, causing blood to immediately flow from the corner of Hu Shutong's mouth.

"Wait half an hour! Let it air out before you go in! The fish will definitely rot! Checking it now or later will only lead to the same result!" Hu Shutong touched the jade Guanyin and stopped Lin Xiang, finding it even easier to hold.

"Let go of me! If you don't let go, you'll either poison me or strangle me to death!"

As he spoke, Lin Xiang struggled, and the rope snapped. This time, Lin Xiang didn't rush inside; instead, he stared intently at Hu Shutong's hand, saying, "Give me back Guanyin!"

Hu Shutong clenched his fist and shoved it into his pocket, his hand disappearing inside. "Boss Lin, calm down."

"Okay, I've calmed down. Give me back the Guanyin!"

As they spoke, Lin Xiang's demeanor softened considerably. The young man before him now had piercing eyes, ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth. One couldn't help but wonder, what was he trying to achieve by acting so fiercely? Could he really be poisoning someone?

Hu Shutong's face went numb. He took out his student ID to prove his identity, "Boss Lin, I'm just a college student who hasn't graduated yet. I just want to tell you that Curry is really toxic right now."

Lin Xiang's expression suddenly softened, but for a moment he didn't know how to handle the situation. Seeing Lin Xiang's improved expression, Hu Shutong wiped his mouth, his cheeks burning. After a tense standoff lasting two or three minutes, Lin Xiang showed signs of guilt. Without saying a word, Hu Shutong tossed the jade Guanyin to Lin Xiang, then turned and left without uttering a sound.

Watching Hu Shutong's retreating figure, Lin Xiang wanted to say something but the words stuck in his throat.

After a while, many of the workers arrived at the transit warehouse.

"Boss, go check on the fish!"

"Have you all lost your minds making me wait an hour?!"

The group looked at each other, then nodded repeatedly.

……

Hu Shutong stayed at a guesthouse in the small fishing village of Shuangliujiao. There weren't many guests there; it was more like a place to set up mahjong games. The room was all partitioned with lightweight wooden planks, so the soundproofing was terrible, and all he could hear was the clattering of mahjong tiles night after night.

Hu Shutong bought a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor) at the convenience store, rinsed his mouth after returning home as a form of disinfection. He made a bowl of noodles but couldn't open his mouth. After tasting a little, he cried out in pain, which angered him so much that he threw his chopsticks away.

As midnight approached, a sudden surge of emotion stirred within him, filling him with a bitter and unspeakable grievance, tears welling in his eyes. However, after letting out a long sigh, Hu Shutong calmed down, gazing at the unfinished thesis on the table. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and he quickly emerged from his dejected mood.

People speak from their own perspective, and academic papers are no exception. Even when citing the same material, they are still expressing their own biased viewpoint, which inevitably leads to "secondary reflection." The key issue is that secondary reflection is often easy because one can apply the paths of predecessors to express their so-called self-understanding, making it seem both targeted and systematic.

Hu Shutong finally understood why this paper had never satisfied him: it lacked something of his own.

What truly belongs to oneself is an experience that others haven't had, a departure from established frameworks—that's what he wanted to emphasize. He analyzed the current state of the industry, and he had a lot of data to his name, but at this moment, he truly began to ponder: what exactly is the current state?

Upon reflection, the rectification of Qujiaying, the collapse of Tianheng, and even the current predicament of Shuangliujiao are not only significant events, but also highly representative industry events. More importantly, he was a deeply involved participant in each and every one of them.

Hu Shutong suddenly looked up, and the paper suddenly became clear. He finally realized the most important step in connecting theory and reality.

As I sat down at my desk with the lights on, the day's events vanished, and the pain in my cheeks was erased by a surge of inspiration.

"Isn't this Boss Lin!"

"Auntie, is there a University of Minnesota student living here?"

"I've been staying here for a few days. Just walk straight to the end of this road."

……