Chapter 4, Persistence in Staying Behind
The thought of Chen Shimei made her teeth clench, and what made her teeth clench even more was the notification that was subsequently sent to her email—at this year's astronomical conference, the oral presentation she was supposed to give on stellar evolution on behalf of the S City Observatory had been replaced by other reports
However, Qian Haining's behavior is quite suspicious, and he is overly attentive, with thoughts as meticulous as a needle used for embroidery. When Yuan Yuan is watching a funny video, he also has to come over to join in the fun, never missing a moment. Lu Pin privately teases Yuan Yuan: "How come you've changed your taste now? Don't you prefer older men or younger boys anymore?"
Later, Lü Pin gradually understood that, in fact, everyone at the mine, except for her, was aware of what had happened, including the mother of the bun.
After a moment of silence, Lu Pin苦笑着说: "The CE Phase I detection plan of the National Astronomical Observatory is scheduled for launch in November"
Lu Pin clenched his teeth and said, "On a certain year, a certain month, a certain day, a certain person said while drinking alone at a certain KTV, 'What have I done wrong? Just tell me, and I will change..."
Professor Zhou invited her to the laboratory for a meal, and upon arriving at the Physics Building, they discovered that a junior student was still in the lab assembling a telescope. Lv Pin found the junior student familiar and casually remarked, "Oh, why didn't you go to the venue to support Yuan Yuan?"
When I initially left T University to pursue a PhD at the observatory, it was to participate in the CE project, but I was kicked out just before its conclusion—saying I wasn't upset would be a lie. After several years of hard work, her resume will forever lack any mention of the CE project, and if the CE project succeeds, her name will not appear on the list of contributors. It seems as though there is no trace of her involvement in the entire CE project.
To put it grandly, it is to contribute to the nation; to put it simply, it is for personal advancement. No matter how one looks at it, there will always be some regrets
This year's astronomical annual conference is being held at T University. Lv Pin has her own calculations in mind; she cannot remain at a third-rate university, far removed from the core of the astronomical community, relying on accumulating teaching hours to earn a meager salary. The current plan is either to contact Professor Zhou to return to T University for a postdoctoral position or to network with other senior professors in the field of astronomy to seek opportunities. Several years ago, Professor Zhou had suggested that she stay at the university, which she politely declined. Now, how can she bring this up with Professor Zhou? After much contemplation, the only remaining option is to engage with other professors during academic conferences while giving presentations, but this avenue has also been completely blocked.
Initially, all of Professor Zhou's students were deeply moved by the lofty ideals of classmate Qian Haining. Every time Qian Haining came to the laboratory, everyone would gather around as if they were admiring a national treasure panda. Unfortunately, Qian Haining's foundation was indeed weak. At that time, Lv Pin had just graduated and had confirmed her intention to pursue graduate studies. Professor Zhou thought she was the most free, so he assigned Qian Haining to her for supplementary theoretical foundation and observational knowledge. For this, Yuan Yuan expressed her deep condolences to Lv Pin: "Xier, Professor Zhou won't think of you as less favored just because your graduate studies are in collaboration with the observatory, and intentionally play tricks on you, will he? Do you know what question that classmate, who is determined to dedicate his life to astrophysics, asked me? He asked me why we can't use ordinary sunglasses during a total solar eclipse!"
Only she lives in a foolish lie, believing that she has the most amazing father in the world
After several years away, I returned to T University. The verdant stones and the golden leaves still make this beautiful campus, yet everything has changed. Professor Zhou arranged for several junior colleagues to support Yuan Yuan at the sub-conference in the solar system. Sitting in the audience, Lu Pin recalled that at this time last year, Yuan Yuan's doctoral thesis was nearly rejected during the blind review, while she, Lu Pin, was basking in glory at the astronomical conference. Indeed, fortunes shift; this year, Yuan Yuan is beginning to shine, while my own future remains uncertain, leaving me lost and unsure of my direction.
"Stop!" Yuan Yuan screamed, "You are ruthless!"
She has never been able to talk to anyone about these matters. Apart from Yang Huan, the only person who knows is Yuan Yuan. Every time Yuan Yuan concludes, she says: No wonder everyone says dogs are the most loyal, because human conscience has all been consumed by them
Of course, Lü Pin did not think it was a grave mistake for students from non-physics majors to be unaware that ordinary sunglasses should not be used during a total solar eclipse. However, there is a significant gap between different fields, especially between finance and physics, which are completely unrelated disciplines. She expressed deep concern for Qian Haining's future. Unexpectedly, Qian Haining devoted himself to Professor Zhou's laboratory, tirelessly immersing himself in his work, regardless of how many times he puzzled his senior classmates with his questions. He remained undeterred, and two years later, he actually succeeded in transferring majors and passing the graduate entrance examination. Lü Pin shook her head with a smile, realizing that ideals are indeed elusive.
Lv Pin nodded, searching her mind for this person's name—she seemed to have some impression but could not recall the specific name. Fortunately, Professor Zhou quickly came to her aid: "You remember, this is Qian Haining. I will have Yuan Yuan take him now, and when you have time, you can also help me teach him."
Qin Xianglian would still file a lawsuit to have that heartless scoundrel punished, yet Baozi's mother would not even consider suing Chen Shimei for bigamy—it's not that she lacks the courage, but rather that she has never entertained even the slightest thought of it.
Despite Lü Pin swearing countless times that she would rather die than meet that Chen Shimei old man, because she could not die, she had no choice but to force a smile time and again. When Chen Shimei old man once again said he would take her abroad, she continued to perfunctorily respond, "I will study English well"
Qian Haining raised numerous questions regarding her previous paper and discussed them several times with Lv Pin, which in turn left Lv Pin with little time to engage in activities with her former colleagues at the observatory. However, this may be for the best, as Lv Pin considers the current situation; all the routes to the observatory are now blocked, and meeting more often would only lead to awkwardness. It is better to stay with Professor Zhou and take the opportunity to spend a few more days with Yuan Yuan.
Lv Pin knows that her biological mother is like a bun, pliable and submissive, never resisting even when she says a hundred times, "Mom, I can support you now." Yet, the bun-like mother still clings to the greasy mine where no one cares for her. Lv Pin calculates that although her salary is not high, she has a separate teacher's dormitory, and the cost of living in a third-tier city is low, making it completely feasible for the two of them to live together. However, it is only in the matter of insisting on staying that Lv Pin realizes her mother's life actually has principles.
This time was no different, Baozi's mother held her hand and wept: "It is I, your mother, who is sorry for you, having made you suffer since childhood..." Lu Pin remembered the eyes of Baozi's mother. In the winter of her childhood, when Baozi's mother was making cotton shoes and accidentally cut her hand while attaching the shoe buckle, nearly severing a little finger, even then, those eyes had not shed so many tears.
Lu Pin was momentarily speechless. Yuan Yuan was her roommate during their undergraduate studies. When she first entered the school, she was as haughty as a princess, occupying one and a half of the two beds shared by six people with her luggage, and protectively claiming that her belongings could not be compressed. The other four girls were too shy to speak up, but Lu Pin, without a word, stacked all of Yuan Yuan's luggage, marked out the boundaries for the two beds, and effectively silenced Yuan Yuan. Thus, a grudge was formed between the two. Later, in their second year, after Yuan Yuan experienced a breakup and was afraid of losing face, she went out alone to drown her sorrows in alcohol. Coincidentally, Lu Pin was out singing karaoke with Yang Huan. Seeing Yuan Yuan almost being taken advantage of, Lu Pin listened to her woes for half the night, and their relationship began to ease. Yuan Yuan was known for her boldness, and every time she saw Yang Huan controlling her like a little wife, she couldn't help but stand up for her. During the two or three years they were together, the couple hardly argued; it was always Yuan Yuan and Yang Huan who had the disputes.
This young man, who regards money as worthless and chooses the humble path of a civil servant over the lucrative world of finance, is Qian Haining, a student with ideals and aspirations
Her complexion darkened, and Yuan Yuan had already discerned the situation. She curled her lips in disdain and said, "I just don't understand. You were quite clear-headed back then, weren't you? You were so tough with me, but as soon as you got to Yang Huan, you acted like Xi'er meeting Huang Shiren!"
The truth of the matter is that Chen Shimei, who was the workshop director at the time, took advantage of an opportunity to study abroad to apply to the school. Due to his eloquence and appearance, several years later he married a woman who held a green card, had children, and conveniently changed his nationality. Meanwhile, his mother, who originally worked in an office position at the gypsum mine factory, was implicated by Chen Shimei's illegal forced resignation and was demoted to the mining workshop. She worked daily in the gypsum mine at temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, earning a meager wage of 40 yuan a day to support her in-laws and Lv Pin.
It was not until the day the wolf first came that Lü Pin understood why every time she went to Yang Huan's house for dinner, Yang's mother looked at her with such an intensely compassionate gaze
Lv Pin particularly admires Lu Xun, as she sees the phrase "pity for their misfortune, anger at their unwillingness to fight" in his writings
Yuan Yuan scoffed, "You need not worry about me. I have been to Phoenix Temple, and they said that this year my red star of romance is in motion, and I will definitely get married within the year! As for you, you are not young anymore, and you are approaching thirty. You pretend to say that both your love life and career are at a low point, but to put it bluntly, it means you have no prospects in men or money. What exactly are you hoping for?"
Upon hearing Professor Zhou's words, Lv Ping immediately associated the name Qian Haining with the real person. He recalled that just before graduation, a second-year finance student approached Professor Zhou, expressing that his lifelong wish had always been to study astronomy, but he was pressured by his family to enroll in finance during the college entrance examination. Despite studying finance, he found no interest in it and now wished to change his major, but had already missed the deadline. He had seen an interview with Professor Zhou in the school newspaper and specifically came to inquire about the possibility of taking the entrance exam for the physics graduate program.
Yuan Yuan patted Lv Pin's shoulder and comforted him, saying: "I mentioned the postdoctoral matter to Professor Zhou briefly, and he seemed to have no objections. You should seize the opportunity and discuss it with him while the iron is hot"
Junior Brother put down the balance hammer in his hand and smiled, "Sister Lü, it is my turn to be on duty today. By the way, regarding the paper that was originally scheduled for you to present, I have read it before, but I have some questions. I wonder if there is an opportunity to discuss it with you?"
Baozi's mother often shows Lv Pin the token of love that Chen Shimei gave her years ago: a beautiful woman from the Sui and Tang dynasties crafted from plaster. Before the wolf came for the first time, Lv Pin firmly believed that he had the smartest, most ambitious, most skillful, and most studious father in the world. His father went to study in the United States, and once he achieved success, he would return to take them mother and daughter to America to live a good life with a big house, servants to attend to them, and two dogs and three cats.