Chapter 418 Bribery
Nan Zhiyi walked along the shaded path to the Kyoto University Faculty of Letters office building. Professor Wang's office was on the second floor, on the east side.
After knocking, a voice from inside said, "Come in."
Pushing open the door, I saw Professor Wang talking to two young students.
Upon seeing her enter, the two students stood up.
"Hello, Nan." The boy with glasses greeted him first.
The short-haired girl next to him smiled and nodded.
"Student Yu, Student Li."
Their gazes lingered briefly on the gift box in her hand before quickly shifting away.
Professor Wang instructed the two students: "Please stick to the topic we just discussed, and submit your outlines before the start of the semester."
"Okay, teacher."
The two students nodded to Nan Zhiyi in response, then closed the door and left.
Professor Wang pointed to the rattan chair: "Come and sit down."
His gaze swept over the gift box she had placed to the side, and his wrinkles on his face blossomed into a smile. "I brought something to bribe the teacher, and my classmates saw me."
Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "Let them think what they want. It's just some snacks and tea, a token of respect for the teacher. If they want to send it, they can send it tomorrow."
"Next time you come, bring some solid research results," Professor Wang waved his hand. "Don't bother with these superficial things."
He opened the notebook on the table and wrote down his arrangements for his students in the new semester, categorizing them meticulously.
"This time you really have something special." Nan Zhiyi took out the new book from her bag and handed it to you with both hands. "The new book I mentioned to you before has been published, so I brought you a copy."
Professor Wang took the book "The Ferry Crossing," his gaze lingering on the cover for a moment before he suddenly smiled as he turned to the title page: "...No wonder you were so secretive, only saying that a book was going to be published, without even revealing your pen name."
“Teacher!” Nan Zhiyi hurriedly interrupted, “Please don’t praise me. Compared with your academic achievements, what is my little bit of knowledge?”
Professor Wang, however, carefully flipped through the pages, nodding occasionally.
He closed the book and said, "Next semester I'll be teaching a course on 'Contemporary Narrative Structures,' and you can use this book as a case study to explain how multiple timelines can be interwoven without becoming chaotic."
Nan Zhiyi reluctantly agreed, muttering under her breath, "Teacher, I didn't think that much about it when I wrote it..."
Professor Wang laughed loudly, "That's perfect, it'll put you through a tough time and let you study hard."
As he spoke, he took out a brand-new timetable from his drawer, pushed it in front of Nan Zhiyi, and lightly tapped it with the nib of his pen: "The first-year graduate program is quite packed. Monday is Modern Literary Trends and Foreign Languages, Tuesday is a special topic in Literary Theory, Wednesday is Classical Philology, Thursday is Contemporary Literary Criticism..."
His pen paused on the Friday section, "This day is specifically for you to do your homework and research."
Nan Zhiyi lowered her head and took careful notes.
Postgraduate training is now quite standardized, and she knows that this year's foundational courses are crucial.
Professor Wang then asked her, "What are your thoughts on your research direction this semester?"
Nan Zhiyi said seriously, "The preliminary title is 'Women's Writing in Wartime Literature'..."
After she finished speaking, Professor Wang nodded slightly. "Perfect timing. The department is currently organizing periodicals scattered from the War of Resistance against Japan. You can help out at the archives every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon; it'll be a practical lesson. This is invaluable firsthand material, which will be very helpful for your research..."
He was secretly observing the student as he spoke; who would have thought that this quiet woman was a rising star in the literary world…
She was never ostentatious at school, always smiling modestly, and even took notes more diligently than others in class.
"Don't rush into starting your thesis; focus on building a solid foundation first."
Professor Wang took off his glasses. "But there's something I need to mention beforehand. This semester, the Literature and Art Theory course needs a teaching assistant, and I've recommended you to the department. There's a stipend of twenty-eight yuan per month. Of course, I know the money is a small matter. But if you want to stay on as a faculty member in the future, this is a great opportunity for growth."
Nan Zhiyi had originally planned to spend more time with her family, but seeing Professor Wang's expectant gaze, she smiled and said, "Thank you for your trust, Professor. I'm willing to give it a try."
Professor Wang nodded with satisfaction.
Among the students he taught, it was truly rare to find someone as talented and down-to-earth as Nan Zhiyi.
Other writers become arrogant after achieving a little success, but she never flaunts her achievements and remains so low-key throughout her university years... Professor Wang became more and more satisfied.
He said kindly, "I'll have the department prepare the letter of introduction from the archives. You can come and pick it up when the semester starts."
"Scholarship cannot be rushed. You must balance your creative work and academic studies, and proceed according to your ability."
Nan Zhiyi was very touched. The teacher genuinely cared about her, not only about her studies but also about her as a person.
"Okay, teacher."
Nan Zhiyi said goodbye to Professor Wang and walked along the tree-lined path back towards the school gate.
In August, the maple trees are lush with leaves, and sunlight dances among the branches and leaves in the gentle breeze.
She spent four years at Peking University, and every path and every red building is filled with memories.
As she passed by the library, she couldn't help but recall the day she graduated, when she took a group photo with her close classmates in front of these stone steps.
The photos are still in the study drawer, but the people have gone their separate ways.
Shan Xiaoyan returned to her hometown in Shandong. In her last letter, she said she was going on blind dates.
Yang Mei stayed in Beijing, working tirelessly at the State Planning Commission. With her resilient and indomitable spirit, she was sure to make a name for herself in her new position.
And then there's Gao Huiqin, the girl who came to see her with tears in her eyes right before graduation.
Gao Huiqin burst into tears the moment she saw Nan Zhiyi.
She learned that the "special allowance" she had received over the years was actually donated by Nan Zhiyi.
Nan Zhiyi and Shan Xiaoyan spent a long time persuading her before she finally stopped crying.
Gao Huiqin insisted on returning the money, but Nan Zhiyi held her hand and said, "Huiqin, I just hope you can have a better future."
It was this sentence that made Gao Huiqin, who originally planned to return to her hometown to take care of her child, change her mind.
Her eyes were resolute: "I'll listen to Zhiyi; I want to stay in Beijing."
When Gao Huiqin graduated, she was assigned to a unit under the Beijing Cultural Bureau. When Yang Mei wrote to her, she mentioned that she had met Gao Huiqin and said that she was much more energetic and her eyes lit up when she talked about work.
Nan Zhiyi reminisced about the past and unknowingly arrived at the school gate.
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of those chaotic thoughts.
Not far away, the jeep was already waiting at the usual spot. When Xiao Liu saw her, he got out of the car to open the door for her.
Once inside the car, Nan Zhiyi said softly, "Let's go home."
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