Math professor returns to routine

Chapter 537 Boiler, Coal

In the morning.

The sun was just rising, and the sky was perfectly clear.

Lu You woke up from her dream, opened her eyes, yawned, sat up, and reached out to pull back the curtains.

Just as Bi Yangde took off his pants, he turned his head and met Lu You's gaze.

The two looked at each other, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

A moment later, Bi Yangde looked away, grabbed another pair of pants, quickly put them on, and pretended nothing had happened.

"Good morning."

"Well, good morning."

Lu You made the same choice as Bi Yangde without any hesitation: she pulled back the covers, got out of bed, and stretched comfortably.

Bi Yangde knocked on the bed boards of Gong Qing and Zhang Zhichuang one by one, waking them up.

"Old Gong, he's got hemorrhoids! Get up! We're gathering for the school anniversary ceremony!"

Lu You picked up her phone and went to the balcony.

As soon as the screen lit up, three messages popped up.

The time indicates it was from thirty minutes ago.

[My beloved: Husband, I'm up, are you up yet?]

[My beloved concubine: It seems she hasn't gotten up yet.]

[My beloved concubine: Haha, at least I woke up earlier than you this time!]

Looking at the letter with its black lettering on a white background, Lu You naturally imagined Tang Wan grinning mischievously, her smug face making him smile involuntarily.

[Husband: Just got up.]

[Husband: Are you busy?]

I waited for half a minute, but there was no reply.

Seeing that he was busy, Lu You decided not to wait any longer, put away her phone, and returned indoors.

After washing up, the four roommates went to the cafeteria for breakfast.

After a simple meal of soy milk, fried dough sticks, eggs, and bread, Lu You parted ways with the other three and embarked on a different path on her own.

He wasn't going to find Tang Wan, but rather to participate in the flag-raising ceremony as a representative of the college.

To be honest, Lu You really didn't want to go; it would be a waste of time and wouldn't bring any real benefits.

Just stand there dumbfounded, watching the flag bearer raise the flag, watching the leaders and representatives give speeches, clapping and cheering when the atmosphere is right, but you can't do anything else during that time, it's really boring.

Unfortunately, the bigwigs in the School of Mathematical Sciences only recognized Lu You.

They didn't pick and choose from a bunch of outstanding students in their sophomores and juniors, but insisted on appointing Lu You, a freshman, as the college representative. They wouldn't have chosen anyone else.

If you're going to say someone is a college representative, it has to be the most capable one.

These old Dengs shouldn't have been recognized by them!

Filled with resentment and unwillingness, Lu You arrived at the venue for the flag-raising ceremony, signed in at the entrance, and then entered.

The venue itself is a grassy area, not very large, about half the size of a football field.

Directly in front of the flagpole, a simple red display stand was set up, with a May Fourth slogan propaganda board and an electronic screen on the left and right sides respectively.

Two canopies were also erected on one side of the lawn to serve as temporary office space for the student union.

You can tell exactly what kind of business they're conducting just by looking at the electronic screen and the long array of cameras and microphones in front of the awning.

There are about ten minutes left before the flag-raising ceremony begins.

Lu You walked to the edge of the lawn and stood under a large tree, using the branches to block out the sunlight, and waited quietly.

As time went on, attendees entered the venue one after another.

There were middle-aged men in executive jackets with badges on their chests, exuding an aura of authority, as well as primary and secondary school students in uniforms, lively, cheerful, and full of energy.

But most of them are ordinary college students, like Lu You, dressed in various styles.

Just as Lu You was idly checking the health of her nails, two unexpected people came into view.

Aunt Min Jie and cousin Shen Mumu.

The effects of force are relative; at the same time Lu You discovered the mother and daughter, they also discovered Lu You.

After a brief conversation, Shen Mumu parted ways with Min Jie and ran to Lu You with small, quick steps.

"Hey, it's been a long time!"

Six months later, Shen Mumu has not changed much.

Her long, smooth, black hair was taut and pressed against her scalp, tied back with a hair tie. Her fair face had distinct features, and she was both youthful and pretty.

All I can say is that she has the Shen family genes; her appearance is off the charts.

"Why are you guys at my school?" Lu You asked, puzzled.

"I'll represent my school at the flag-raising ceremony!" Shen Mumu said with a gentle smile.

Considering her uncle Shen Pingkuo's position, it's no wonder that Shen Mumu was able to become the school representative.

Who says background doesn't count as ability?

Shen Mumu looked around twice and asked, "Cousin, are you alone? Where's Sister Tang Wan? Isn't she here?"

Compared to Lu You, who is related to her by blood, Shen Mumu is closer to Tang Wan.

After all, being girls together, sharing common interests, and keeping in touch regularly, the friendship built up over time is much stronger than mere blood ties.

"Your sister Tang Wan is a very busy person in the student council, she doesn't have time to come over."

Although there were student council members present, Tang Wan's department was mainly responsible for developing plans and coordinating, and was not affiliated with the department responsible for implementation.

"Oh, Sister Tang Wan is in the student council, then which organization are you in, cousin?"

"Me? My organization is incredibly powerful, with millions of members spread across the country. I'd be terrified if I told you." Lu You said with an air of profound mystery.

Shen Mumu was momentarily stunned, but quickly came to her senses.

"You're not talking about the Communist Youth League, are you?"

"Eh? You know?"

"nonsense!"

Shen Mumu rolled her eyes, speechless.

Anyone who has gone through nine years of compulsory education knows about the Communist Youth League.

"With so many clubs and organizations at university, you didn't join a single one?"

"What are we going in for?" Lu You asked back.

"Making new friends! Meeting different people, learning from their strengths, and developing teamwork skills—isn't that all good?"

Lu You smiled faintly. It was not hard to tell from Shen Mumu's words that she was different from herself, with an extroverted personality and a love for making friends.

“What you say makes sense, but it doesn’t suit me. You think we should make many good friends, the more the better, but I think it’s better to have quality friends than quantity. Having two or three close friends is enough.”

As for teamwork, frankly speaking, looking across the entire university, the only ones capable of forming a team with me are the senior professors who lead the projects; I don't even consider the others.

Logically, Shen Mumu should have burst out laughing and mocked Lu You's arrogance.

As a mere first-year undergraduate student, with at most some scholarships, no connections, and a blank resume, where does he get the confidence to look down on others and stand shoulder to shoulder with professors?

Seeing Lu You's calm expression and firm, confident eyes, he swallowed back the sarcasm that was on the tip of his tongue.

"I suspect you're being abstract, but I have no proof."

"It's okay if you don't believe it now. In two years, facts will prove everything."

Lu You didn't explain much. Such an absurd thing as time travel was something that Tang Wanxin, who was in love, would only say if she told her.

If it were someone else, they would just tell him to hurry up and uninstall certain apps from his phone.

"By the way, you should have taken your midterms this semester, right? How were your grades? What's your ranking in the grade? Did you improve or decline?"

Shen Mumu's expression instantly stiffened, then gradually became wooden. "Don't ask questions that are detrimental to unity."

Lu You raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically, "Looks like you've regressed, and by quite a bit."

"I have something to do, so I'll take my leave first. Goodbye, cousin." Shen Mumu turned and left, striding away decisively.

After Shen Mumu left, no one bothered her anymore.

Lu You finally had some peace and quiet, reminiscing about last night's Soul Arena battles: the fully automatic Alola in the no-color round, the easily damaged Charmander that could one-shot someone with a single spit, and the 80% perfected Forging Master Zhao Shenwang with Three Fortunes.

As Lu You thought about it, a restless feeling began to stir within her.

How about skipping the flag-raising ceremony and going back to get some training?

Just then, the flag-raising ceremony began, and all attendees took their places.

Lu You sighed inwardly.

It's a pity, it would have been better if it had been moisturized earlier!

Follow the flow of people and walk onto the lawn.

Lu You chose an inconspicuous spot on the edge, stood there, and planned to wait until the flag-raising ceremony was over.

He had only stood still for two seconds when a boy wearing a red volunteer vest blocked his way and looked him up and down.

The undisguised gaze made Lu You feel deeply uncomfortable.

"Is something the matter?" Lu You asked, frowning.

The boy gave a gentle and polite smile and said, "You have a very good image, classmate."

"You flatter me." Lu You was well aware that he was very handsome.

"I'm in the student council, would you be interested in helping me out?"

"Not interested." The saying goes, "The capable should do more," but Lu You didn't consider herself a capable person.

The boy was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Lu You to refuse so directly and without leaving any room for negotiation.

“It’s very simple.” The boy turned to the side, pointed, and said, “Just take two steps and stand there.”

Looking in the direction the boy pointed, there was a group of middle-aged people wearing business jackets, and Min Jie was among them.

"I suffer from leadership phobia. My legs tremble and my whole body shakes whenever I get close to them." It was a completely ridiculous excuse, but it clearly expressed Lu You's attitude.

The boy didn't want to give up. As a photography enthusiast, pursuing high-quality photography content was his instinct, and Lu You's image was just right to achieve that.

"Just bear with it! I'll let you in on a secret: if you stand in that spot, you might get featured in the school news!"

"Thank you, but I'm from the School of Mathematical Sciences and I don't currently have any plans to switch to the arts."

"If you go there, I'll introduce you to some girls from the student council."

"Is it really okay to use girls as bargaining chips?"

"They would be very happy to."

Before coming to find Lu You, the boy overheard the girls around him whispering that there was a classmate who was so handsome that you couldn't help but look at him, and asked who would be brave enough to ask for his contact information.

They may be happy, but I'm not!

Lu You was very clear-headed and knew that being liked by too many people was never a good thing, as evidenced by the fan circles next door.

They appear glamorous and are showered with love and affection, but in the shadows, they harbor countless selfish desires and are utterly despicable.

"I have a boyfriend, you don't need to worry about me."

"I'll treat you to Snow King."

"Deal, I want apple milk green tea."

The veins on the boy's forehead throbbed. If he had known that money could solve the problem, he wouldn't have bothered talking.

Following the instructions, Lu You walked to the designated position, stood tall and straight, and assumed a proper posture.

Although he doesn't care whether he can appear on camera or not, since there is a possibility of being on camera, he has to make sure he looks presentable and doesn't embarrass himself.

About two minutes later.

The soul-stirring "Athletes' March" resounded.

The atmosphere gradually calmed down.

Fifty-four teachers and students from various fields and universities lined up neatly in two columns.

The song ends.

The bright red national flag was unfurled at the end of the procession and then passed to the beginning of the procession by 54 teacher and student representatives.

Six flag bearers, dressed in military uniforms and with solemn expressions, stepped into the venue, took the national flag, raised it high above their heads, and carried it step by step to the flagpole.

Under the solemn national anthem and with everyone watching, the national flag fluttered in the wind and slowly rose to the top, at which point the national anthem ended.

Just like the tiny spark of yesteryear, it grew stronger with the help of our predecessors, eventually forming a people's army that overcame countless dangers and difficulties, and finally reached the summit, illuminating the world.

Bathed in the solemn atmosphere, Lu You, who had previously been indifferent to the flag-raising ceremony, now had a change of heart.

Ideas not only need to be disseminated and passed down from generation to generation, but also need to be nurtured and strengthened over a long period of time.

Just like a tree seed, burying it in the soil does not mean the end. It still needs a series of careful care, such as watering, fertilizing, pest control, and pruning, in order to grow into a towering tree.

The flag has been raised, but the flag-raising ceremony is not over.

Two outstanding student representatives, one male and one female, took turns giving speeches on stage, explaining their understanding of the May Fourth Spirit, the difficulties they encountered in life, how they solved them, and their vision for the future.

In fact, the bigwigs in the School of Mathematical Sciences asked Lu You if he was willing to give a speech on stage as a representative, and if so, they could help him get the opportunity.

There are two ceremonies for May Fourth: the flag-raising ceremony and the school anniversary celebration. Each ceremony has two slots for representatives to speak. Given the status of the School of Mathematical Sciences and Lu You's personal abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for him to secure one.

Of course, Lu You refused, and the reason was simple.

My head's been itchy lately; I feel like writing a paper.

Upon hearing this, the bigwigs immediately changed their tune.

Researchers should focus on their research and not concern themselves with public appearances.

The experts also casually asked about the research direction of the paper.

Lu You kept everyone in suspense, saying that she was currently working on it and would submit a draft to her advisor before the end of the year, at which point everyone would know.

After the student representative finished speaking, three men and three women dressed in Republic of China-era student uniforms came on stage to perform a poetry recitation.

Four people stood on one side, reciting the text with intonation and rhythm, while two others on the other side performed in a very professional manner, matching the content of the recitation.

To be fair, it looks pretty good, and the leaders will definitely like it.

After the poetry recitation performance ended, a middle-aged man who was clearly in leadership position took the stage to give a speech.

As soon as he opened his mouth, Lu You could feel the difference from his previous speeches.

His speech was measured and calm, his enunciation was clear and standard, his wording was precise and forceful, almost as good as a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This guy is a pro at making bags.

The middle-aged man first summarized the flag-raising ceremony, giving recognition and praise, then conveyed the spirit and message from above, gulping down several bowls of chicken soup, and finally gave instructions, pointing out the direction for the future. With a final shout, he dismissed the crowd, and the flag-raising ceremony came to an end.

Lu You stood there for a while, and after most of the people around him had dispersed, he walked towards the awning.

A commotion suddenly broke out among the crowd nearby.

Lu You glanced at them and saw that they were a few girls. He didn't bother with them and went straight to the boy who had asked him for help.

"Student, it's time to keep your promise."

The boy was fiddling with his camera when he heard this, and without hesitation, he took out his phone from his pocket.

"I'll transfer the money to you."

"Row."

After the transaction was completed, Lu You patted his butt and left, but the boy was surrounded by the girls who questioned him.

Lu You silently mourned for the boy, but her steps never faltered.

He left after accomplishing his task, oblivious to the raging flood.

There was another school anniversary ceremony coming up, so Lu You prepared to go back to her dormitory to change her clothes.

School regulations stipulate that students must wear their college uniform to the ceremony.

As Lu You walked out of the flag-raising ceremony area and turned a corner, he saw Min Jie waving at him from ahead. (End of Chapter)