The Decaying Dream of America: I Assemble Corpses and Confront Madness

After the book burning incident, the smoke and dust that filled the campus gradually dissipated.

The physical mess was cleaned up, and the charred marks were covered up, but something intangible remained, settling in everyone's heart.

For weeks, Lin Zheng's daily life has been fragmented.

He moved between various temporary classrooms and public research spaces.

The pressure of schoolwork has not lessened due to the external chaos.

Lin Zheng sat in front of the public computer, the blue light from the screen reflecting off his pale face.

Before him lay a newly published paper, its densely packed English technical terms causing him to furrow his brow.

Every technical term in rubbish English requires special study and memorization, greatly increasing the difficulty of learning.

He tried to pull his thoughts away from those people's obsession with happiness and their frenzied shouts, and threw himself back into the monotonous cycle of studying, experimenting, and writing papers.

The morning class was a biochemistry lab, where scalpels were used to cut through living organisms.

In the afternoon, he had to run a simulation program on the computer, and the data was so ugly it was a headache.

But Lin Zheng could only use this to resist the discomfort and confusion buried deep in his heart.

In the evening, he returned to his cramped apartment.

Scoop simple canned foods onto a plate and watch them hum in the microwave.

He wanted to vomit after just one bite; the unpalatable white food was simply too much for someone from a culinary paradise like him.

The thought that he might have to eat this kind of white food in the future made him determined to pick up his cooking skills again. Not eating well really made him feel hopeless, depressed and sad.

The thesis proposal, titled "The Various Impacts of Industrial Emissions on Organisms," was spread out on the dining table.

Text, text, endless text; data, data, ugly data.

The door to the supervisor's office was ajar.

"Lin, come in for a moment." The tutor's voice came from inside the door, carrying a hint of gentle weariness.

Lin Zheng pushed open the door and entered; the office was piled high with books and lab reports.

The air was filled with the aroma of coffee and the peculiar smell of old paper.

"I've reviewed your thesis proposal; the data analysis section needs further improvement," the professor said, adjusting his glasses.

"I understand, Professor," Lin Zheng nodded in response.

"Oh, by the way, there's a lecture on 'Future Food Technology' organized by the department." The professor picked up a flyer from the table.

The flyer was designed in a simple and clear style. At the top was a green grassland with several electronic sheep grazing on it, and below was a huge title: "Bloodless Flesh: The Ultimate Redemption of Humanity".

"The speaker is Professor William Quinn, a very famous biologist," the tutor added.

"I hope you can go and listen to it. It might inspire your report and broaden your horizons." He handed the flyer to Lin Zheng.

Lin Zheng took the flyer, his fingertips tracing the cold ink printing.

"Future food technology?" Lin Zheng murmured.

"Yes, they have invested a great deal of research effort in this field, which has driven the development of many cutting-edge technologies."

Lin Zheng nodded without asking any further questions.

The lecture hall was packed, and the air was filled with the solemnity and anticipation typical of academic conferences.

Lin Zheng found a seat at the back and looked around.

The audience consisted mostly of students, but also included many faculty and staff, all dressed in suits with serious and earnest expressions on their faces.

On the podium, Professor William Quinn, the speaker, was slowly walking towards the stage.

He wore a well-tailored gray suit, had a thin face, bright eyes, and an air of scholarly elegance.

The projector lit up, and a series of shocking images appeared on the screen.

Professor Quinn’s voice was deep and infectious. He began by reviewing the history of the development of animal husbandry.

He pointed out that industrialized farming has become the mainstream in order to meet the needs of a growing population.

However, this model has brought about many problems, far exceeding people's expectations.

"To accelerate animal growth, we use large amounts of antibiotics and growth hormones," Professor Quinn said calmly.

"These chemicals enter the human body through the food chain, leading to increased antibiotic resistance and a range of health problems such as precocious puberty in children."

The screen displayed charts showing data on clenbuterol, hormone residues, and other substances; the densely packed numbers were alarming.

Quiet murmurs drifted from the audience.

"This is not just a health issue." Professor Quinn paused, his tone becoming somewhat heavy.

"There are also ethical issues. Think about those animals that are imprisoned in small spaces, never seeing sunlight in their entire lives, and living in filthy environments."

The scene then shifts to a series of shocking photographs: overcrowded chicken coops, narrow pig pens, and cows with vacant stares.

"On modern slaughterhouses, in pursuit of efficiency, we ignore the feelings of animals and fail to meet human needs," Professor Quinn said with a hint of compassion.

"They die in fear, and the stress hormones secreted in their bodies make their meat taste sour and lose its original freshness."

He explained in detail the biological principle behind the substances secreted by animals when they are frightened, which leads to a decrease in meat quality.

Lin Zheng listened attentively; these were facts that he could understand and accept within the scope of his biology major.

But then he remembered the lively chickens, ducks, pigs, and cows in his hometown market, and the delicious food from his hometown, and his mouth watered involuntarily.

Unpalatable white food was a huge torment for his gourmet stomach; it was hard to swallow and therefore hard to feel full.

Professor Quinn's arguments are rigorous and objective, with detailed data, as if he were simply stating an undeniable fact.

He then turned his attention to environmental issues.

"Livestock farming is one of the major sources of global greenhouse gas emissions," he pointed out.

"Large amounts of methane and nitrous oxide are accelerating global warming."

"The water consumption is equally staggering," he said, citing an example: "It takes about 15,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of beef."

The screen displayed a simulation of the Earth being enveloped by green greenhouse gases, as well as dried-up lakes and cracked farmland.

The audience held their breath, many with worried and somber expressions on their faces.

Professor Quinn concluded that traditional animal husbandry has become an unsustainable model that harms human health, deprives animals of their dignity, fails to meet human needs, and causes irreversible damage to the Earth's ecology.

"So, are we destined to give up meat and choose a vegetarian lifestyle?" Professor Quinn raised his voice, his eyes sweeping across the room.

"No!" he answered firmly. "Technology has shown us another path, a path full of hope leading to the future."

Then, the scene on the screen changed to a bright laboratory scene.

In a sterile environment, pink tissue is slowly growing in a petri dish.

"We call it—humanitarian synthetic meat," Professor Quinn solemnly announced.

He began to explain the technology in detail, using plain and easy-to-understand language.

"A small fraction of living cells are extracted from an animal and cultured in a bioreactor to provide it with precise nutrients and growth factors."

"This process does not require the slaughter of any animals. We can 'grow' muscle fibers and even adipose tissue in the laboratory."

He emphasized that the entire process was carried out in a strictly controlled sterile environment, avoiding the risks of bacterial infection and disease transmission in traditional farming.

"This means that our meat products will be 'cleaner' and 'safer' than ever before," he said with pride.

"There are no antibiotics, no hormone residues, and the nutritional components can be customized. It is even possible to reduce the saturated fat content."

He described a bright future where everyone can enjoy healthy, delicious meat without sacrificing animal lives or harming the Earth's environment.

At this point, Professor Quinn's tone gradually changed.

His voice was no longer a purely scientific statement, but began to carry a layer of passionate emotion.

"This is not just scientific progress, but a leap forward in human civilization!" He waved his arm vigorously, his eyes gleaming with fervent light.

"We can finally break free from that blood-stained primitive barbarity and move towards a truly humane and peaceful future!"

He tearfully denounced humanity's "original sin" against animals over thousands of years, describing the traditional practice of eating meat as an unforgivable atrocity.

"Every bite of meat you swallow embodies the pain and despair of life!" His voice choked with emotion, as if he were experiencing it himself.

"And now, we have 'flesh without blood,' which will become our sacrament for atonement, ending tens of thousands of years of killing!"

In his words, "humanitarian synthetic meat" is no longer a simple food technology, but a moral incantation, a sacred object that cleanses the soul.

"Eating it is not just about choosing health and environmental protection. We can become friends with vegetarians and animal protection organizations. Our ideals are not conflicting. That is, to choose to be a 'better' person!" he exclaimed.

Lin Zheng sat in the chair, thinking. What the other person said did make some sense, but he instinctively felt that something was wrong.

He looked around and saw that the previously quiet audience was now highly emotional.

Some people had tears in their eyes and solemn expressions; some even made the sign of the cross on their chests. They seemed to be undergoing a profound repentance and baptism.

They stared devoutly at Professor Quinn, looking at a prophet who would lead them out of the mire of sin.

The atmosphere of the lecture completely changed, transforming from an initial scientific discussion into something akin to religious preaching.

Lin Zheng's rationality seemed out of place amidst such fervor.

He felt like an out-of-place heretic, excluded from this collective sentiment.

Professor Quinn's passionate speech ended with thunderous applause from the audience.

Some listeners even stood up excitedly and waved their arms.

Next came the Q&A session, where questions focused on praising synthetic meat technology and criticizing traditional livestock farming.

No one raised any questions, not even the seemingly serious faculty and staff.

Lin Zheng endured his discomfort and waited until the Q&A session ended.

The host announced that the organizers had prepared samples of synthetic meat for everyone to taste in the corridor outside the lecture hall.

The crowd immediately erupted in excitement, scrambling to reach the exit.

Lin Zheng was swept along in the crowd, slowly moving outwards.

Several long tables were set up in the corridor, with exquisite plates displaying samples of grilled skewers, hamburger patties, and meatballs.

These "meat products" have an excessively uniform color and neat edges, as if they were cut with a mold. They emit a complex smell that is hard to describe as either fragrant or strange.

Lin Zheng watched as people eagerly sampled the food, their faces beaming with satisfaction and a sense of pride.

"It's so delicious!" one student exclaimed dramatically.

"It tastes even better than real meat! And the thought that no animal suffers because of me is just wonderful!"

Another person, eating a hamburger patty, with reddened eyes, muttered to themselves, "I was such a sinner before..."

The atmosphere of self-satisfaction grew stronger, and tasting these synthetic meats became a ritual of redemption.

Just as everyone was immersed in the fervor of "atonement," Professor Quinn smiled and announced the price of the synthetic meat—a price that they, the students, felt was not cheap, but was still barely affordable.

He then continued, "We are working hard to reduce costs so that everyone can afford to eat this bloodless meat."

Lin Zheng couldn't think of a suitable term to describe this behavior of creating demand by fabricating a sense of moral superiority, ultimately making people pay for the high costs.

"Heh, so this is how rent-seeking works." A magnetic male voice rang in his ear, with a hint of cynicism.

Lin Zheng turned his head and saw a blond man looking at him with a half-smile.

The man wore a flashy silk shirt with the collar open, revealing several delicate silver chains around his neck. His every move exuded a kind of unrestrained arrogance, just like his pleasure-seeking classmates.

His hair looked meticulously styled, revealing a pair of bright blue eyes. He exuded a casual and unrestrained aura, standing out from the surrounding suited and devout audience, yet like him, his eyes held a clear-headed detachment.

"How about it? You feel something's off too, don't you?" The man raised the silver wine pot in his hand to Lin Zheng, his smile carrying a hint of self-deprecation like a spoiled brat, yet mixed with a touch of genuine curiosity.

"I've been watching you for a long time. You're the only person I've seen today whose face doesn't wear that mask of piety and pretense."

Lin Zheng frowned, instinctively feeling uncomfortable with this sudden attempt to strike up a conversation.

The man, however, seemed unfazed. He walked straight to Lin Zheng's side and lowered his voice, saying, "Don't be nervous. I'm not a missionary selling synthetic meat. I just think we might get along. After all, it's rare to see someone remain sober in a situation where everyone is caught up in a collective frenzy."

He extended a hand to Lin Zheng. "Smith Williams, you can call me Smith. A rich kid who likes to travel around and enjoy life." He raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with self-deprecation.

Lin Zheng remained silent, extending his hand and letting the other person hold it.

"How about we go out for a drink and chat?" Smith suggested.

Lin Zheng thought for a moment and finally nodded.

The physical discomfort and mental shock brought on by the collective frenzy made him really need some relaxation to process what he had seen and heard that day. Perhaps, a sober listener would make him feel better.

All he wants now is to escape this suffocating environment as soon as possible.

"Great, I was just looking to relax too," Lin Zheng replied.

A hint of pleasure flashed in Smith's eyes, and he patted Lin Zheng on the shoulder in a familiar manner: "Let's go then, I know a good place."

The afternoon sun shines on the tree-lined paths of the campus.

Lin Zheng enjoys basking in the sun in winter; it's warm but not scorching, comfortable and not irritating.

He also needed the sunshine to dispel the gloom in his heart.

"You like sunshine? Looks like you're a nice guy." Smith walked up beside him and took out a flask. "To the sunshine! Want a sip?"

Lin Zheng didn't quite understand the connection between liking to sunbathe and being a nice person, but since the other party was willing to make friends and show goodwill, he would accept it.

Lin Zheng took the wine jug and took a sip. The wine wasn't strong and had a fruity aroma. "To the sunshine!"

Next comes a tribute to beautiful women… a tribute to animals… a tribute to freedom… a tribute to life…

The two of them walked and drank, looking just like two street thugs.