Chapter 116: Able-Bodied Men

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Can this be any more ridiculous?

The corner of Zhong Yuxiu's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. "Principal Guo, you know how busy I am right now. Taking on a class—"

"It's settled, then. There's extra pay for serving as a class advisor. I'll just have to trouble you." Principal Guo beamed and made the final call.

Zhong Yuxiu: "..."

"Principal Guo, please don't get ahead of yourself. I'm afraid I really don't have the time! You know I'm studying at the medical school and need to regularly accompany my teacher on clinical rounds; there are also courses I still need to keep up with. Taking on a class is truly not feasible." She paused, and seeing that his smile could barely hold, continued with some difficulty: "Besides, just look at how young I am. Those students wouldn't trust me anyway, would they?"

Teaching a few classes, fine. But serving as a class advisor? No. Not interested. Not a chance.

Principal Guo's smile faded, and he lowered his head with a soft sigh. "I have no other choice. All the professors in the physics department are swamped—they have research, classes to teach, students to mentor. Every day they're running circles around their work. Many of them are getting on in years, and I'm truly afraid they'll wear themselves out and something will happen. You're young, and you can handle things."

He couldn't be blamed for dumping everything on her—he genuinely had no other options!

"Principal Guo, why not hire a few more professors? I'm sure plenty of people would be willing to come."

"How can I? Those who've been rehabilitated and have talent and learning have all been snapped up by the major universities. As for those who haven't been rehabilitated yet, where am I supposed to find them?"

Zhong Yuxiu stared at him for a moment, then said sympathetically, "You really do have it hard."

"That's exactly it—I really do have it hard." Touched at his core, Principal Guo looked at Zhong Yuxiu with a different light, as if he had found a kindred spirit. "So, what do you say? Can you take on the class? Consider it helping me solve a problem?"

"No. Don't even think about it. Not happening."

Principal Guo pressed his lips together. "Comrade Zhong! Actually, I already asked your teacher. He said you have extraordinary talent in medicine; at this point you don't need to keep attending theory classes—what you need is more hands-on practice..."

"Practice also takes time."

"You can practice anywhere. I truly can't find anyone here. You know, the incoming students next year will be the second cohort to enroll since the exams resumed. Other schools have already admitted their students in the second half of this semester, but our Hua University—they haven't even enrolled yet. Nothing has been properly arranged."

The resumption of the college entrance examination had come so suddenly that all universities had been hastily reorganized. Though nearly a year had passed and things were somewhat back on track, at the end of the day, they were still short-handed—short of everything!

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"If you're worried about falling behind in your medical studies, I'll go discuss it with your teacher. If there are practical sessions, I'll have them notify you to attend, and you can keep following your teacher on clinical rounds. Normally, you'll be mainly at Hua University." Principal Guo's face was pinched with worry. "Comrade Zhong, I'm getting on in years myself—who knows how much longer I have? Right now, all I want is to train more talent for the country. Everyone is working toward that goal, and I don't want to let them down. You have ability and knowledge, you act with good judgment, and you've already spent some time assisting Professor Ding with a class. You're the most suitable person."

She understood Principal Guo's difficulties, but she was reluctant to take on an increased workload for that reason.

"Principal Guo, tell you what—you're indeed in a tough spot. I'll agree to take on the class, but I have one condition."

"Name it."

Zhong Yuxiu let out a light sigh. "I can take the class, but when I get busy, I truly won't be able to manage. Could we select a class monitor and a deputy monitor to hold things down? When I'm away, I'll have one of them take charge. For important matters, they can come to you. What do you think? If that works, I'll take it. If not, you'll have to find someone else."

"Yes, yes, that works." Principal Guo nodded immediately, afraid she might change her mind. "Then you'll take Physics Class One of the incoming students. Remember, next semester starts on the twelfth day of the first lunar month—that's also their enrollment date. The classes are already divided by exam scores; I'll give you the roster then."

She had the feeling of falling into a trap, and she knew it wasn't just her imagination.

"All right. Is there anything else? If not, I'll be going."

If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she'd end up with more responsibilities.

Principal Guo's face lit up with a grin—his mood changing faster than the weather. "Comrade Zhong, thank you so much! If you hadn't agreed, I truly wouldn't have known who to turn to, and the old professors would have had to bear the burden again. If you have time, you could even take on a few more students..."

Zhong Yuxiu had had enough of him. She made her excuses and left quickly.

Can't afford to provoke him, can't afford to provoke him. Time to make a run for it.

Principal Guo watched her retreating figure and shook his head with a faint smile, feeling regretful—if the students could absorb even half of what Zhong Yuxiu had to offer, it would benefit them for a lifetime.

"Comrade Zhong, you're back. What did Principal Guo say?" Professor Ding asked with concern as he watched her walk over looking listless.

Zhong Yuxiu nodded and sighed. "Principal Guo said that starting next semester, I'll have five classes a week, and I'll also be advising a class."

What a headache!

"That's excellent!" Professor Ding was delighted, his old eyes crinkling with a smile. "You're the first person at Hua University in ten years to be retained for a faculty position. To be given such responsibility so quickly—what a wonderful thing! Work hard at it. Taking on a class isn't really that hard; there are class cadres to help."

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"Now, don't you go around with a sour face. Work earnestly, and once you get the hang of it, it'll be simple. Look at me—research is research, teaching is teaching, and I don't actually spend much time managing the class. As long as the class cadres are responsible, you don't need to meddle in everything; just keep an eye on the big picture."

Zhong Yuxiu agreed wholeheartedly. If it weren't for that, she wouldn't have taken on this burden no matter what.

"You're absolutely right. That's exactly what I was thinking."

Professor Ding smiled warmly. Since they were both in the same line of work, exchanging some experience was just a senior passing along wisdom to a junior.

As the two were talking, Professor Zheng, a close colleague of Professor Ding's, came looking for them. The physics department's exam papers needed grading, and there weren't enough hands. Since they happened to be free, they were successfully roped in.

"Old Zheng, there are this many exam papers from the physics department?" They arrived at a simply furnished meeting room—a long table with benches on either side, the table's paint already worn with age, and piled on top of it were rolls upon rolls of exam papers.

Zhong Yuxiu felt the world go dark before her eyes. With this many papers, how could the three of them ever finish grading them all?

"Professor Zheng, is it just the three of us?"

"No, more people will come by in a bit. However, everyone has to take care of their classes first, so not everyone arrives at the same time." After saying this, Professor Zheng walked to the table, moved aside the papers in front of him, and revealed a box. He opened it and set it at the edge of the table. "There are pens and ink—help yourselves."

Zhong Yuxiu stepped forward and opened the box. Inside were eight fountain pens, not of any major brand. She guessed the school had provided them; they wouldn't dare leave out anything too expensive for casual use.

She took one out and handed it to Professor Ding. "Professor, would you like to check if there's ink?"

"All right."

"No need to check—they're all filled." Professor Zheng had already taken a seat at the far end of the table. Hearing her words, he looked up and spoke with a slight smile.

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