Life's Prototype

Author: Zhang Jijiang / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Lin Haidong graduated from Shenzhou University nine years ago. He has changed jobs three times and is now unemployed. The reason is that he did not take his assigned work seriously, often distracted or lethargic at work, or late for work and leaving early, and so on. His superiors or managers could come up with a hundred reasons to fire him, or spare him the trouble and let him resign. What is going on here? Since his sophomore year in high school, Lin Haidong has been interested in studying science. He enrolled in the biology major in college and studied for two years before requesting to transfer to the electronic information major. His department head thought this student had a unique dedication and helped him apply, and the school approved his request. By the time he graduated, he received two bachelor's degrees, one in biology and one in electronic information. For twelve years, Lin Haidong has been completely immersed in his research on "biological electrical information transmission," neglecting everything else, including his own meals. However, those close to him say that his research project is likely to be a long way off. What is Lin Haidong really thinking? Lin Haidong was adopted from an orphanage by his adoptive parents. The couple had been married for twenty years without having children and were diagnosed with his adoptive father's infertility after visiting the hospital. After careful consideration, they went to the orphanage to adopt Lin Haidong. At that time, he did not yet have a formal name, and the orphanage's records listed him as "Xiaodong." The director said he remembered it was winter, with heavy snowfall, and an anonymous person brought him in, saying he had found him on the road. The orphanage had no choice but to take him in and named him "Xiaodong." When the Lin couple brought him home to discuss it, they changed "Dong" to "Dong," and the child was only two years old. The sound of the character "dong" was still acceptable to the child. The couple was very happy—the child was quite well-behaved and a boy, and they treated him as their pearl. The sense of emptiness in their lives instantly vanished. From a young age, Lin Dong had a small dog in his adoptive parents' home—a very well-behaved dog. Whatever its owner asked it to do, it did it, as if it could understand human language. People say that dogs have a spiritual connection and can understand human emotions. Thus, in his young mind, he developed a question: How do dogs understand human emotions? Because the dog had all-black fur with only a white patch on its forehead, he named it "Xueling" (Snow Spirit). "Xueling" and "Xiaodong" grew up together, almost inseparable. Sometimes, when happy, he would hug the dog, and the dog would hug him, rolling around on the ground. When he started school, "Xueling" would take him to school and watch him enter the classroom reluctantly at the gate. Then, it would walk around the gate twice, looking back at every step as it went home. By the time school was over, "Xueling" would wait for him early outside the gate. When they met, it would climb onto his body, being extremely affectionate. Because "Xueling" was always by his side, the neighbors and classmates were afraid to get close to him. Especially strangers, "Xueling" would always watch them intently, only calming down after Lin Haidong gave a clear signal. "Xueling" would only quietly leave when Lin Haidong went to bed. "Xueling's" behavior piqued Lin Haidong's curiosity. He would often gaze at "Xueling's" focused eyes, stroking its snow-white head, and a random thought would pop into his mind: Does this creature have thoughts? What is it thinking?
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