Chapter 271 Future Prospects
When she entered the classroom, almost all the students were discussing the paper that Teacher Wang had assigned.
Shan Xiaoyan spotted her immediately and waved vigorously: "Zhiyi! Over here!"
As soon as Nan Zhiyi sat down next to her and Yang Mei, Shan Xiaoyan complained with a bitter face, "I'm so angry! Yang Mei finished writing it yesterday! She didn't say a word! I haven't even come up with the beginning yet!"
She was grabbing her hair, looking like she was going crazy.
Looking at her like this, Nan Zhiyi deliberately said slowly, "Oh... I've finished writing too."
Shan Xiaoyan immediately let out a wail and exaggeratedly slumped onto the table: "Wow! You two! You've really gone too far!"
She slammed her fist on the table. "I'm not going to eat, drink, or sleep today, but I'm determined to finish this paper!"
Nan Zhiyi and Yang Mei exchanged a smile and gave each other an encouraging gesture.
When the official assignment was due, Nan Zhiyi submitted the third draft, which had undergone repeated review, revision, and polishing.
The more she researched, the more she felt she hadn't done enough, and the final piece she wrote far exceeded the required 1,500 words.
It was after handing in her homework that Nan Zhiyi heard more about Teacher Wang from Yang Mei.
The three walked along a path on campus covered with fallen leaves. Yang Mei lowered her voice and said:
"...Teacher Wang's family used to be a well-known scholarly family in Jiangnan, with several members of his ancestors having passed the imperial examinations. They were truly a family of high status and wealth. When he was young, he was sent abroad by the government and studied in England for several years. After returning to China, he originally wanted to devote himself to scholarship and teaching, but unexpectedly... when the political movement came, his family, with its background, was among the first to be targeted."
He was labeled and subjected to severe criticism and struggle sessions. All his books and manuscripts were confiscated and burned. He was also...sent down to an extremely remote and harsh farm in Northwest China, where he stayed for more than ten years. I heard he suffered a lot, and his mother and wife...also died of illness during that time...It wasn't until last year, when the policy loosened, that he was exonerated and finally returned to Peking University. It's truly remarkable that we can still hear him lecture..."
The information Yang Mei shared was quite heavy, and both Nan Zhiyi and Shan Xiaoyan fell silent.
They recalled Mr. Wang's serene face in class, his calm and even slightly humorous tone, and his profound thoughts. They realized that behind all of this lay such tragic changes in the nation and personal suffering.
The three found a small pavilion and sat down, each sighing for a while…
After a long while, Nan Zhiyi raised her eyes and looked at the teaching building in the distance.
"Professor Wang... he's so knowledgeable, has such a broad perspective, and his thoughts are so profound. I'm thinking... if I have the opportunity to pursue further studies at university, I'd like to apply to be his graduate student and study under him..."
This idea did not come to mind on a whim.
As she delved deeper into writing, especially as creating science fiction required a more profound understanding of human social structures and cultural psychology, she increasingly felt the limitations of her own knowledge system.
Pursuing further education was a result of her careful consideration.
Shan Xiaoyan, who was still immersed in indignation and sadness, forgot her grief upon hearing this and her eyes widened: "Graduate student?! Zhiyi, you've thought so far ahead! But... this idea is wonderful! To be a student of a professor like Professor Wang is truly a blessing!"
She was straightforward and thought the idea was brilliant, as if she could already see Nan Zhiyi becoming one of Teacher Wang's top students.
Yang Mei, on the other hand, seemed more calm and practical, and gently reminded him: "That's a very good ambition. However, I've heard that the postgraduate entrance exam is very difficult, the number of places is extremely limited, and the content that needs to be prepared is extensive and in-depth. Moreover... Professor Wang has been exonerated and returned to school. I don't know if he will be qualified to recruit postgraduate students next year, or if he will still have the energy to supervise students... These are things that we may need to find out in advance."
Nan Zhiyi nodded: "We have to take things one step at a time. Right now, we should focus on mastering our undergraduate courses and building a solid foundation. As for other things, we can inquire and prepare for them when the time is right."
Shan Xiaoyan blinked. "But after I graduate, I'll just wait for the government to assign me a job. Wherever the organization tells me to go, I'll go. Anyway, wherever I go, I'll be contributing to the country!"
At this moment, Yang Mei, who had been listening quietly, gently pushed up her glasses and said, "I... am interested in trying my hand at politics."
Shan Xiaoyan quickly followed up, "Was it also assigned by the school?"
Yang Mei shook her head. "It's not considered a job assignment. If you perform well during your school years and have a strong ideology, you can be selected by the organization to work directly in the central or local party and government organs."
Upon hearing this, Shan Xiaoyan exclaimed "Oh!" as if suddenly understanding, and looked at Yang Mei with a hint of admiration: "Politics is a good career choice! Yang Mei, you have a steady personality and think deeply, you'll definitely succeed!"
She seemed to be inspired as well, and began to rethink her future.
Nan Zhiyi also looked at Yang Mei, supporting her, "This is a good ambition. National development does indeed need a large number of young cadres with knowledge, ideals, and a sense of responsibility."
The three chatted for a while longer.
Nan Zhiyi looked up at the darkening sky and said, "I have to hurry home. You guys should go to the cafeteria for dinner too."
The two waved goodbye to her.
Nan Zhiyi, clutching the new book she had borrowed from the library, quickened her pace to get home.
When I got home, it was completely dark, with only the dim yellow street lamp at the gate of the courtyard lit up.
Xiaoman was sitting on a small stool inside the courtyard gate, her hands supporting her chin, gazing longingly towards the intersection.
He had clearly been waiting for a long time; his small figure looked particularly lonely in the night.
Nan Zhiyi felt a deep sense of guilt. She quickly walked into the yard, put down her schoolbag, and immediately hugged her son's soft little body, kissing his cool little face several times: "Mommy's good son, have you been waiting for a long time? I'm sorry, Mommy is late today."
Xiaoman nodded vigorously, wrapped her little arms around her neck, and complained pitifully, "It's been so long... Mommy hasn't come home."
Nan Zhiyi felt heartbroken. She picked him up and carried him to the living room sofa, letting him sit on her lap. Looking into his eyes, she earnestly promised, "It's Mommy's fault. Next time, as long as I'm not busy at school, Mommy will rush home as soon as I get off school, okay? I promise I won't make Xiaoman wait so long."
Xiaoman understood her mother's promise, blinked her eyes, and nodded her little head seriously: "Okay."
After saying that, she nestled her soft little body completely into her mother's arms.
Feeling the warm little guy in her arms, Nan Zhiyi's heart softened. She couldn't help but rub his chubby cheeks again and teased him softly, "Whose little baby is so well-behaved and cute? Hmm? So it really is Mommy's precious baby."
Xiaoman smiled even more happily, "Good girl, Xiaoman!"
The mother and son were snuggling intimately on the sofa when the familiar sound of a Jeep engine came from outside the gate.
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