The University of Tokyo is very large and has beautiful scenery, making it a worthwhile place to visit. Duanmu Ci, following the vice-principal, had already seen many tourists, and judging from their accents, several were even Chinese, wearing yellow hats and traveling in groups.
“These visitors need to pay an entrance fee to enter the school,” the vice principal explained. “Although the annual ticket revenue is a considerable sum, the original intention of the college to set up access control is not to make money, but to limit the number of visitors so as not to affect normal teaching.”
“I can understand that very well,” Duanmu Ci said with a smile. “Our Haishan University, like the University of Tokyo, has excellent scenery and attracts many tourists every year. If we don’t set restrictions and let them come and go freely, I’m afraid it won’t be long before students strike and revolt, and they won’t be able to study or teach.”
"That's exactly right!" the vice principal exclaimed.
The group consisted of seven or eight people. Apart from Duanmu Ci and Wei Yue, the rest were leaders well-known to the students of Dongda University, such as the vice president. So as they walked around the campus, students along the way kept bowing and greeting them.
Male students usually greeted each other briefly and then immediately fled, clearly not wanting to linger in front of school leaders. Female students, however, often fixed their gazes on Duanmu Ci's face after greeting him, as if they wanted to say or do something.
Those with thin skin usually lower their heads, clutching their books, and pretend to brush past, then turn back to stare longingly at his retreating figure. The bolder ones simply follow behind, waiting for the school leader to leave and someone to be alone before pouncing on them... School leaders truly are among the most despicable creatures in the world!
I wonder how many girls are cursing this in their hearts.
The vice-principal was a shrewd man; how could he not understand the situation? He patted his "round" beer belly and said with a sigh, "Back when I was studying at Dongda University, I was quite the dashing young man. Many girls were willing to write me love letters. I never thought that now that I'm old, I'd become an obstacle for girls pursuing their lovers. Life is truly unpredictable!"
Duanmu Ci stared intently at the vice principal's face. Seeing the look of reminiscence on his face, he thought to himself that he was probably serious when he said that he "was once a handsome young man with many girls writing him love letters." He just wondered whether it was because the Japanese had such unique aesthetics or because the power of time was too great, turning the former "handsome young man" into what he is now.
"You're too kind, sir. You're at the prime of your life! How can you be old? If you were armed with a fine horse and a lance, you'd be a dignified general! You still have the vigor of your youth!" Duanmu Ci said against his will.
"Mr. Duanmu is really good at flattering people!" The vice principal laughed heartily. "This is probably why ancient tyrants liked to favor treacherous officials, right? Even though they know it's a lie, they still feel happy after hearing it. It seems I've reached the age of senility too."
Duanmu Ci smiled and said, "You are too modest. To be able to view others' compliments in this way is the demeanor of a true gentleman!"
"We live in a modern society now, where are there any celebrities anymore?" the vice principal laughed. "'Celebrities' are all just making a fool of themselves and trying to attract attention in public forums and the news."
Duanmu Ci chuckled, "After all, it's no longer an idyllic pastoral era."
The vice principal chuckled, "I originally thought that hosting this reception would be a chore, full of all sorts of insincere and polite platitudes. But I never expected to meet someone as witty and interesting as Mr. Duanmu. What a pleasant surprise!" For a Japanese person who was meeting him for the first time to say such a thing shows that he had a very good impression of Duanmu Ci.
He pointed to a pavilion in the distance, "Let's go there to rest for a bit and discuss the itinerary for your visit."
"good."
After the vice principal sat down in the pavilion, he looked around and said, "This pavilion has a story behind it. Legend has it that when Crown Prince Yi Eun of Joseon came to Japan to study, Ito Hirobumi, as his part-time tutor, also guided him in his studies here. Therefore, the students also call this place 'Taifu Pavilion'."
Logically speaking, the Crown Prince's status should be more prestigious than that of the Crown Prince's tutor, so he should be addressed as "Crown Prince Pavilion," given the distinction between ruler and subject. However, in the eyes of the Japanese, the monarch of the puppet state of Korea was not even worthy of serious consideration, let alone a Crown Prince who had not yet ascended the throne. As the leading figure of the Meiji Restoration in Japan, Ito Hirobumi was superior to an insignificant Crown Prince in every respect.
Therefore, this place should naturally be called Taifu Pavilion.
However, Ito Hirobumi's decision to take time out of his busy schedule to tutor the Crown Prince of Korea was not for any noble reason. His motives were very "imperialist," simply to educate the future puppet monarch of Korea into a pro-Japanese adopted son, just like Iwasato Masao of a certain island, who would loyally protect the interests of his Japanese father in his territory.
However, it was still useless. Not to mention that this crown prince never had the chance to ascend the throne in his lifetime, even Ito Hirobumi, who was the Resident-General of Korea, was assassinated in Harbin by the Korean righteous man Ahn Jung-geun, which can be considered as settling the karma.
The vice principal continued, “Back then, Japan was poor and weak, long plagued by the corrupt policies of the shogunate, closed off from the world, and nearly a century behind the West. Then Ito Hirobumi rose up with the spirit of a samurai to reform, swept away the shogunate, established the Western constitution, greatly boosted national strength, and laid the foundation for Japan’s rise. He is truly an indispensable figure in modern Japanese history, just like your country’s Sun Yat-sen.”
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