Chapter 943: Monkey Intelligence and the Question of Loyalty

“Third Brother!” Zhang Song handed a stack of papers covered in dense lines and numbers to Zhang San, his face alight with excitement. “This little monkey’s brain neurons—especially in its dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortex—are even more active than Hui Six Number 8!”

What does that mean? What kind of monkey is Hui Six Number 8?

Xia Qing stood quietly to the side, waiting for Zhang San to speak.

After studying the Monkey’s check-up report, Zhang San looked up at Xia Qing. “You’ve picked up an extraordinary ugly monkey. I don’t have a general intelligence evaluation for Monk-faced Monkeys here, but based on other primate data, this one is very likely an advanced Brain Evolutionary among Monk-faced Monkeys.”

Zhang Song jumped in, “Honestly, with this little guy’s smarts, it can understand written numbers, count, even grasp basic multiplication. Xia Qing, not killing this adorable monkey and bringing it back for treatment was a brilliant move!”

Zhang Song’s excitement unsettled the Monkey and made Xia Qing wary. Her face stayed blank as she corrected him, “It wasn’t my decision. After negotiations between the Wolf Pack and the Bear Pack, the Bear Pack insisted on treating this monkey.”

Zhang Song was an advanced Brain Evolutionary. Reading Xia Qing’s guarded response, he quickly reined in his excitement and asked gently, “You’re right. Have the Wolf Pack or Bear Pack continued paying attention to the monkey since?”

Xia Qing nodded. “The Wolf Pack’s kept an eye on it the whole time.”

Zhang San asked, “After it’s cured, do you plan to keep it on your territory or send it away?”

Zhang Song tried to keep his nerves and excitement in check, forcing himself to look at Xia Qing calmly.

Xia Qing answered honestly, “The Wolf Pack left this monkey in my care. Once it recovers, I’ll return it to them. What the Wolf Pack does after that, I can’t say.”

Her answer didn’t surprise Zhang Song at all. He turned hopefully to his director. Xia Qing might not realize this monkey’s value, but the director would—and he’d know exactly what a find like this could mean.

The Monkey, sensing fear, stretched two little fingers out of the cage and grabbed onto Xia Qing’s protective suit. “Eh.”

After the Monkey made that noise, Zhang Song couldn’t hold back his excitement, while Xia Qing stayed calm.

Zhang San motioned for both Zhang Song and Xia Qing to sit before he spoke.

“Six years after the Great Cataclysm, Chinese scientists launched a study on primates. They wanted to uncover how monkeys and gibbons from the Catarrhini group—like us humans—had changed in physiology, habits, and reproduction after Blue Star’s mass evolution.”

Xia Qing nodded. “I read that report. There were no Monk-faced Monkeys in it.”

That research report was part of the documents Zhang San had packed for Xia Qing.

Zhang San looked at Zhang Song, who had already regained his composure, silently giving him the floor.

Zhang Song explained simply to Xia Qing, “They focused on monkeys and gibbons. In monkeys, that’s the macaque and baboon subfamilies—22 genera, 125 species. The White-faced Snub-nosed Monkey is part of the Platyrrhini branch, so not counted among them.”

Xia Qing nodded serenely. She remembered now—that really was the case. Crippled Wolf had read up on it.

“The three-year survey confirmed that Catarrhini animals—like us—evolved at about the same rate as humans in Blue Star’s big change eleven years ago. Their brains changed little, most other body systems doubled, a small number evolved several times more and became regular evolutionaries, and just a handful underwent high-level evolution, becoming advanced evolutionaries.”

“The survey yielded eight extremely valuable findings, laying a strong data foundation for future primate studies and suggesting new ways for humans and other primates to coexist peacefully. It’s all in the report, so I won’t repeat the details.”

“After the survey, I proposed further research on the five families in Platyrrhini, to fully understand how suborder Anthropoidea evolved. But since Platyrrhini animals mostly come from the Ruins Continent, and that place suffered catastrophic damage during the cosmic ray storm, most species are extinct now. There are only a few left in China, far rarer than other monkeys, so my proposal was rejected…”

Suddenly remembering Xia Qing didn’t know his real identity, Zhang Song quickly added, “My full name is Song Mingqing. I was the lead author of that report.”

It was such a distinctive name, Xia Qing really did remember. “You’re a senior researcher at the Red Eleven Research Institute, one of the main investigators from that survey.”

Of the senior researchers Xia Qing had met from Zhang San’s team, there was Zhang He, Zhang Song, and Zhang Tao. If Zhang Song was this impressive, Zhang He and Zhang Tao must be no slouches either.

Zhang Song’s eyes sparkled. “Sister Qing, you’ve got a great memory. Have you ever had your brain checked?”

Xia Qing…

“I brought Zhang Song on my team so he could get up close and research all kinds of animals in the Divine Herb Plains.” After Zhang San spoke, he turned to Zhang Song, “How long until the monkey’s a hundred percent recovered?”

Zhang Song replied instantly, “Half a month at most.”

Zhang San consulted Xia Qing. “Since finding the White-faced Snub-nosed Monkeys on Hill Sixty-Two, Zhang Song has been monitoring the troop remotely by camera—over two hundred strong. You discovered this one. Whether it stays or goes, lives or dies, that’s all up to you. But before you release it, could you let Zhang Song visit your territory for some close-up observation? This monkey might be a rare Brain Evolutionary among its troop—a once-in-a-blue-moon research subject.”

With her idol being so polite, Xia Qing couldn’t refuse directly. “How close are we talking? The monkey lives downstairs, like my Evolved Sheep and Evolved Wolf. Both are very territorial, so I’d worry about Brother Song’s safety.”

Zhang San was stunned. “You live with animals?”

Xia Qing answered honestly. “My place was so run-down I only fixed up one room. At first, they stayed in the new sheep shed in the yard, but when they decided it was too cramped, they just moved into the house themselves.”

Zhang San was speechless. No wonder Xia Qing always wanted to trade for deodorizer and fungicide—she was living in a sheep pen and wolf den.

Seeing Zhang San stay quiet, Zhang Song quickly seized the chance. “The wolf is extremely alert. Having it downstairs means it can sense danger in advance and warn you. Smart move.”

“White-faced Snub-nosed Monkeys are diurnal, mostly active in daylight. In the next half month, if Sister Qing agrees, I’d like to stop by and observe the monkey when it’s convenient. I promise to leave before dark—is that all right?”

That sounded fine to Xia Qing. She nodded, “Best bring a bodyguard though. I’m sometimes too busy to keep you safe.”

“No need, really, I’ll look after myself. The animals won’t touch me. Thank you for the opportunity, Sister Qing.” Zhang Song got to his feet. “Third Brother, I’m going to pack my gear. Want to head back with Sister Qing in a bit?”