Chapter 169: Taking Custody

Professor Ding was at a loss for words, unable to spout nonsense since his conscience would hurt.

Professors Zheng and Guo could not help but smile. The four of them waited for ten minutes before Luo Xiangdang, the monitor of the Physics Class 1 of the second year, arrived belatedly with the public security officers.

"Principal, professors, hello. Professor Zhong, the officers are here," Luo Xiangdang greeted them one by one, then introduced them to the officers, "Comrades, this is our principal of the Department of Physics, and the ones beside him are our professors."

"Who called the police?" a uniformed officer asked.

Luo Xiangdang replied, "I did."

"Comrades, I asked Comrade Luo Xiangdang to call the police," Zhong Yuxiu stepped forward.

The inquiring officer looked over, "It was you. Then you'll have to come back to the station with us later to give a statement."

"Alright, no problem," Zhong Yuxiu nodded with a smile.

Luo Xiangdang asked, "Should I go too?"

"It would be best if you could," the officer said.

"He's a student; leave this to us," Principal Guo said with a benevolent smile, speaking to the officer first before turning to Luo Xiangdang, "Thank you for running around. Leave this to us, and you can go back and continue your reception work."

"Understood, Principal Guo. Please go ahead."

Luo Xiangdang quietly stepped back and returned to his original spot. The other two classmates responsible for reception alongside him pulled him aside to ask questions while casting glances at the scene.

There were four officers in total, both male and female. The oldest one was in charge of questioning.

"Can someone tell me what happened here?"

"Comrades, these two female visitors physically assaulted a female student of our school because of a dispute over bed assignments. The trouble started because they didn't want the upper berth and wanted the lower one instead. When the female student with the lower berth refused, they beat her up," the female student blocking Fu's family explained the case.

The eldest officer nodded, "Beating someone without provocation warrants calling the police. Come with us to the station to give your statements, and then we'll have to go to the hospital to take a statement from the victim."

The three accompanying officers led the suspects away, while Zhong Yuxiu and Principal Guo went along in person. Leaving the campus, they got into the police cars successively. Zhong Yuxiu and Principal Guo rode separately from the assailants. The mother and daughter wilted the moment they got into the police car, their previous arrogance completely gone.

Arriving at the police station, Zhong Yuxiu and Principal Guo cooperated in giving their statements. Zhong Yuxiu said to the female officer taking her statement, "Officer, I would like to file an additional charge against Fu Hongxia's mother. Right there in the school, in full public view, she spread rumors and slandered me, implying that I secured my position through improper transactions."

"Firstly, I am accusing her, and secondly, I kindly request that you thoroughly investigate her past conduct." Since the woman could toss out accusations of improper transactions so nonchalantly, Zhong Yuxiu doubted this was her first time.

The officer taking the statement was a woman. Hearing this, she recorded the situation first without speaking immediately.

Seeing this, Principal Guo felt obliged to speak up, "Officer, Professor Zhong Yuxiu is an exceptionally brilliant woman who has produced numerous achievements since enrolling. What she said today is also true; Comrade Zhong was promoted to professor because of the many significant achievements she has made since college, which have been duly recognized by the higher authorities."

"I see!" The female officer understood. No wonder someone with so many achievements had been promoted to professor at such a young age, "Alright, I will report this to my superiors. If she has caused damage to your reputation at the school, we can cooperate with you in asking her to return to the school to make a public clarification."

"That would be best. What about the girl they injured? Judging by her clothing, her family background is not very well-off, and going to the hospital costs money. Shouldn't the mother and daughter pay for her medical expenses first?"

"Naturally," the female officer nodded.

After completing the routine statements, they left the police station. There were police cars to bring them here, but they had to rely on themselves to get back.

Zhong Yuxiu immediately looked around for a bus, and sure enough, she spotted a bus stop not far away.

"Principal Guo, shall we take the bus back, or walk?"

"Let's walk. It's only a ten-minute distance. By the time we wait for a bus, we could have already arrived," Principal Guo said.

Very well.

The two walked along the street, following the route toward Peking University. Principal Guo turned his head to glance back, "Comrade Zhong."

"What is it, Principal Guo?" She took a few quick steps to walk shoulder to shoulder with him.

Principal Guo walked slowly with his hands behind his back, "The matter of the college entrance examination possibly being usurped should not be publicized. Doing so is also for your own safety."

"I know." Was she someone with a loose tongue? "However, quite a few students at the school heard it, even though I wasn't entirely explicit. Still, anyone who thinks about it can figure out what's going on."

Troublesome.

Principal Guo frowned deeply, "Just don't mention it anymore. I will report it as soon as I get back, and hopefully, the investigation can be expedited."

"That's all we can do."

Returning to the campus, Principal Guo headed to his office while Zhong Yuxiu went to the registration point.

As soon as Monitor Luo Xiangdang caught sight of her, he stood up and walked over, "Classmate Zhong, how did it go? What did the police say?"

"This matter is rather complicated. If there is anyone here today whom you know, please have a word with them. Today's incident must not be spread outside. The public security department will investigate and provide an explanation once there are results." She did not regret voicing her suspicions; she only regretted not finding a less crowded place before scaring them.

"Understood, I will speak with them." Luo Xiangdang hesitated for a moment and asked, "Classmate Zhong, may I ask you a question?"

Zhong Yuxiu nodded, "Go ahead."

"Are you... are you already a professor at Peking University?"

"Yes. Work hard; as long as your academic performance is outstanding, your chances of staying at the school after graduation are very high." Peking University is scarce in talent, and outstanding students from the first cohort who stay behind are bound to be given heavy responsibilities. Once they follow a few projects or lead a team to complete an achievement, accumulating enough credentials, becoming a professor is merely a matter of time.

No one knew how much longer the older generation of professors would be able to shine in their posts. Nowadays, focusing on cultivating exceptional talent was imperative.

Luo Xiangdang solemnly nodded, "I will work hard. Unfortunately, I am already getting on in years; what kind of achievements can I make even if I stay at the school?"

"The Monitor Luo I know is not someone who gives in to despair," Zhong Yuxiu looked at him with a smile, "You are not that old. Credentials can be accumulated slowly; what you truly need is genuine, solid capability."

Otherwise, even if he left the school and entered the workforce, he would ultimately end up accomplishing nothing.

Indeed! Nothing compares to solid capability. Someone truly capable, like Zhong Yuxiu, could be promoted to professor even as an undergraduate student! He didn't know the exact nature of her achievements, but it didn't prevent him from understanding a fundamental truth.

To forge iron, one must be strong oneself.

"What you said is right. I will work even harder, striving for the day when I can serve as faculty alongside Classmate Zhong." Having figured it out, the lingering grievance in his heart dissipated. Luo Xiangdang recovered his courteous, confident, and smiling demeanor, "Professor Zhong, please go ahead with your business; I'll go back to receiving the younger students."

"Go ahead," Zhong Yuxiu waved her hand casually and wandered around the registration area. Seeing that the students at the registration desk where Luo Xiangdang was stationed had all cleared out and it was temporarily empty, she walked over.