Chapter 816 - Class of Youth

Compared to Jin Ling University’s reaction, Lu Zhou himself had a much smaller reaction to his academician elections.

After all, compared to those scholars who had been trying their entire lives to obtain an academician title, this title didn’t bring him anything special.

Therefore, when Lu Zhou found out he was elected, he didn’t feel anything. He stayed rather calm.

The support and resource he had access to were far beyond what a normal academician had.

Jin Ling University.

Mathematics building office.

Lu Zhou had to deal with his students’ theses, so he took time out of his busy schedule and came to Jin Ling University. When he first entered his office, he was shocked by the mess.

He was only gone for a week, he didn’t know why his office turned into a storage room.

When Lin Yuxiang saw Lu Zhou, her eyes lit up and she immediately stood up from her desk.

“Professor, you’re finally back. There have been countless people looking for you.”

Lu Zhou looked at the meter-tall cactus near the wall and couldn’t help but ask, “Where did this thing come from?”

Lin Yuxiang looked at the meter-tall cactus and suddenly said, “Oh, Professor Zhang from the physics department sent this here. He told me to say hi to you, and he wished your academic journey would continue to develop further.”

There was nothing wrong with this blessing, but it sounded kind of weird to Lu Zhou.

“... Thank Professor Zhang next time you see him.” Lu Zhou noticed the vacuum flask on his table and said, “Where did this come from?”

He felt like he had seen this before, but he couldn’t remember where. Lin Yuxiang stood up and spoke with a smile.

“Professor Tang gave it to you!”

Lu Zhou finally remembered where he saw this type of cup before.

“He didn’t give me his own flask, right?”

That would be a pretty crappy gift, right?

“Why would you say that, what kind of person gives away a used cup? I think this cup is the same model as the one he uses.” Lin Yuxiang smiled and said, “When he gave you the cup, he told me to tell you to watch out for your health. He told you to stop drinking coffee and drink more hot water.”

Lu Zhou felt pretty warm inside.

He knew a lot of professors at Jin Ling University, but Professor Tang cared about him the most.

Lu Zhou had always been very grateful to the professor who taught him the ropes of mathematics. Even though Professor Tang didn’t help him a lot academically, Professor Tang taught him many lessons outside of academics.

Therefore, every new year Lu Zhou would visit the old man’s home.

Since Lu Zhou didn’t say anything, Lin Yuxiang blinked and asked, “Do you want some hot water?”

Lu Zhou smiled and shook his head. He picked up the vacuum flask and spoke.

“No, thanks. Record the gifts in an Excel spreadsheet, then send it to my email. For the gifts over 500 yuan, send it back to them. For the rest, keep it somewhere else. It is taking up too much space.”

“Ok!” Assistant Lin raised her hand and did a salute as she said, “I got it.”

Lu Zhou sat down at his desk and opened the drawer. He took out a stack of theses and began reading the first one carefully. Even though it was only a master’s thesis, he still had high standards for his students.

After all, he wouldn’t allow a student to graduate with a crappy thesis.

They at least had to have produced a half-decent thesis.

This was beneficial both to Lu Zhou and to the students.

Suddenly, he heard knocking sounds at his door.

Lu Zhou put down his pen and spoke.

“Come in.”

The office door opened, the principal of Jin Ling University, Academician Xu, walked in with a smile.

“Congratulations, Academician Lu! From now on, you are the youngest elected academician in Jin Ling University. I’m sure it will take a long time for someone to break your record.”

“Who knows, we have so many talented young men. Maybe someone will be a better scholar than me in the future.” Lu Zhou smiled and stood up. He made an inviting gesture and said, “Come, sit down.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

The two sat down on the office sofa.

Lin Yuxiang came over with a pot of freshly boiled tea, and she poured both of them a cup.

Principal Xu looked at the rising water vapor and smiled.

“I came here to congratulate you on your two academician elections. I also have something else I need your opinion on.”

Lu Zhou smiled and said, “You’re too polite. If I can help you with anything, just ask me.”

“It’s not something troublesome, but your work impacts our country’s future. I don’t want Jin Ling University to delay any of your work, or else I will have to apologize to the country!”

Principal Xu smiled at Lu Zhou and continued, “Here’s the thing. A while ago, the Ministry of Education came to visit Jin Ling University. I talked with the Ministry of Education director, and we think there is still a lot of room for improvement in the current education system. Therefore, we plan on adding an accelerated class for majors such as physics and mathematics. This way, we can focus our training on talented students!”

Lu Zhou nodded toward Principal Xu and said, “We should take undergraduate education more seriously. A scholar often comes into contact with the academic world in their undergraduate years. However, we shouldn’t overdo it. Otherwise, the students would be disinterested because of the extra burden.”

Principal Xu nodded and said, “I understand, that’s why we are starting a trial class. If the trial isn’t successful, we will reevaluate our plans!”

“I think it’s a good plan.” Lu Zhou smiled and said, “But I don’t know how I can help.”

Principal Xu smiled and said, “Of course you can help. You are the role model for our mathematics students! I heard that there are people who worship the library seat you used to sit at!”

Lu Zhou coughed and said, “You’re too kind, the students are just exaggerating.”

“They’re not, I’m being serious.” Principal Xu waved his hand and said solemnly to Lu Zhou, “Undergraduate studies are something us old folks aren’t familiar with anymore. We grew up in different times.”

“I hope you can be the chief consultant for the pilot class. It won’t take up too much time, and you just have to provide us with your valuable opinions.”

If it were before, Lu Zhou wouldn’t have realized what was going on.

But now, he realized what Principal Xu was asking. The Ministry of Education probably wanted Lu Zhou to put his name on this program as this would make it easier for the Communist Party of China to approve this program.

However, despite knowing this, Lu Zhou didn’t say anything.

This favor was a piece of cake for him. Jin Ling University, as his alma mater, had helped him both in academia and outside of academia. He should do something in return.

Not to mention this would benefit Jin Ling University students.

Lu Zhou smiled and said, “Piece of cake, I’ll gladly be the chief consultant.”

Principal Xu smiled brightly.

“The Jin Ling University students will be grateful, God Lu.”

Lu Zhou nearly choked on his tea, and he said, “Haha, please don’t say that, it’s weird enough that students call me that.”

Principal Xu smiled and said, “Haha, okay... Oh yeah, speaking of this pilot class thing, we plan on naming it the Nobel Class. What do you think?”

Lu Zhou thought for a second and shook his head.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

“Why?” Principal Xu frowned and said, “Why?”

“The Nobel Prize is a worthy goal young scholars should fight for, but it’s not the end of academia. We plan on using this pilot class to train academic talents, so I don’t think the students should be brainwashed to think of the Nobel Prize as the ultimate end goal.” Lu Zhou paused for a second and said, “After all, I didn’t choose to become a scholar because of the Nobel Prize or the Fields Medal. There are other things that are more important.”

Principal Xu: “Then what do you think we should call it?”

Lu Zhou thought for a bit and spoke.

“Young scholars are the future of our country. They will be the leaders of the next decades.

“I think that we should cultivate these young scholars by planting a seed in each of their hearts. After that seed grows, they will grow into useful people in academia, civilization, and society!

“Therefore, I think the class should be called the Class of Youth!”

After hearing Lu Zhou’s words, Principal Xu went silent for a second.

After a while, he spoke emotionally.

“This is why I needed your help.”

He slapped his thigh and nodded.

“We’ll call it the Class of Youth then!”