Chapter 835 Graduation Ceremony Lu Qingyang replied, "Let me think about it some more."
"Then I'll wait for your reply."
As dusk deepened, Lu Qingyang returned to the courtyard house, his mind heavy with worries.
Shen Mo was sitting under the lamp reading a book when she noticed the weariness between his brows, so she put down her book and came to greet him.
"Professor Qian called." Lu Qingyang rubbed his temples. "He wants me to study under him for my master's degree, directly into a PhD program."
Shen Mo pulled him down to sit and asked softly, "What do you think?"
"With all these things going on right now—the garment factory, the beverage factory, and Xinweiju—I have to keep an eye on them all. If I go on to graduate school, I'm afraid I won't be able to manage both."
Shen Mo held his hand, her eyes sparkling: "Qingyang, you should go study. You can leave the management to Zhou Fang and the others, but a mentor like Professor Qian is hard to come by again once you miss him."
She leaned closer, her voice soft yet firm: "You're quick-witted and full of ideas. If you could make further progress in your studies, you'd be able to do far more in the future than you are now. I remember you said last time that you wanted to research new materials, didn't you?"
"But……"
“No buts.” Shen Mo interrupted with a smile, “No matter how well these businesses are done now, it’s just business. But if you can make some academic achievements, that’s true accomplishment.”
Lu Qingyang smiled and said, "You're right. I've been tired lately too. After graduation, I want to go out and rest for a while before coming back to continue my studies."
...
On campus, tall sycamore trees cast dappled shadows, and everywhere you can see graduates wearing faded polyester shirts or brand-new Zhongshan suits, their school badges pinned to their chests, their faces beaming with pride and anticipation for the future.
Many students' families, including simply dressed parents and excited siblings, also came from all directions to share in this honor. They crowded the campus, curiously and excitedly looking around, forming the most heartwarming scene outside the ceremony.
The auditorium was packed with people, and the atmosphere was lively.
School leaders and professors sat in turn. Although the microphone equipment was old and occasionally emitted a crackling sound, each teacher's speech was full of affection and expectations.
When the principal read out, “Obey the country’s assignment, go to the place where the motherland needs you most,” thunderous and prolonged applause erupted from the audience.
This applause contained youthful vows, echoes of the times, and the excitement of personal destiny being closely linked to national sentiment.
Of course, there were plenty of interesting stories as well.
When an elderly professor was concentrating on turning the tassels on a student's cap, he almost knocked the cap off a tall male student, which drew good-natured laughter from the audience.
The sight of the male student frantically adjusting his hat and bowing with a flushed face became a lighthearted interlude during the ceremony.
One class in the Chemistry Department came up with a particularly creative idea. When taking a group photo, someone started singing "Young Friends, Let's Meet Again," and immediately the whole class joined in: "...Dear friends, who will create this miracle? It will depend on me, it will depend on you, it will depend on us, the new generation of the 2010s!"
The singing was loud and clear, full of passion, which drew the attention of students from other departments, who then responded with even more enthusiastic applause and cheers.
This spontaneous chorus brought the vibrant atmosphere of youth to a climax.
When Lu Qingyang walked onto the stage and received his graduation certificate from Professor Qian, and Professor Qian gently adjusted the tassel on his academic cap, the teacher and student exchanged a knowing smile, a smile that spoke volumes without words.
Professor Qian patted him hard on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Do a good job, Qingyang, I have faith in you."
Lu Qingyang nodded solemnly.
After the ceremony, the campus became a sea of joy.
The students gathered in small groups to take photos in front of the iconic building.
Zhao Rui's younger siblings squeezed through the crowd, their eyes sparkling as they headed straight for Lu Qingyang.
The younger brother walking in front was about ten years old, his skin was tanned dark, and his hands, which were rubbing the hem of his clothes, still bore the marks of working in the fields.
“Brother Lu! Brother Lu!” He grabbed Lu Qingyang’s hand with surprising force. “I’m Zhao Rui’s brother, Zhao Gang, and this is my sister, Zhao Xiu.”
She smiled at the girl behind her and handed the heavy bamboo basket forward: "Brother Ge always talks about you. The seeds you gave us doubled the village's harvest this year. My parents asked me to bring some of our own seeds. Please don't mind."
In the bamboo basket, the lush cucumbers still glistened with dew, the tomatoes were a bright red, and several golden cantaloupes were hidden underneath.
Everything was washed clean and neatly arranged.
Zhao Gang interjected, "You don't know, the old corn ears we used to grow are now two ears of this kind!"
He gestured as he spoke, almost bumping into someone passing by.
Zhao Xiu quietly tugged at his sleeve, but he was completely unaware, excitedly talking about which family in the village had built a new house and which family had bought a tractor.
Zhao Rui, who was being ignored, pushed up his glasses and shook his head with a helpless smile.
He reached out to help his sister carry the basket, but she dodged him.
"This is for Brother Lu."
Unable to refuse such hospitality, Lu Qingyang accepted the heavy bamboo basket.
"Hearing you say that, I really want to visit your village myself."
Zhao Gang and Zhao Xiu were taken aback at first, then their faces lit up with even greater surprise.
"Really?" Zhao Gang's voice rose slightly with excitement. "If you can come, that would be...that would be wonderful! Our whole village is looking forward to it!"
Zhao Xiu nodded vigorously, her cheeks flushed: "Brother Lu, we are more than happy that you can come and give us guidance. Our parents and Captain Lu will be so happy to hear that."
Zhao Rui was thinking that it would take some time before he could find a job after graduation, so he was about to go home for a visit.
"Qingyang, it would be great if you could come. I was just thinking of inviting you to come and visit. You can stay at my house sometime, and I'll give you the best room!"
Zhao Rui scratched his head, knowing that even the best room was nothing special, and certainly not as good as the one in the capital in Lu Qingyang's eyes.
"The natural scenery there is so beautiful, I guarantee you'll be overwhelmed with wonder."
"Okay, it's settled then. As a thank you, let me show you and your younger siblings around the capital."
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