yasinovel Chapter 14, Lesson 1
Chapter 14, Lesson 1
Vice Principal Li didn't stay long either. He gave a brief introduction and then left in a hurry, handing the podium directly to Su Changming.
Su Changming, carrying his briefcase, stood on the podium. The classroom had become somewhat chaotic after Vice Principal Li left.
He didn't speak immediately, but instead placed his hands on the lectern, leaned forward slightly, and calmly looked down at the people below the podium.
There were skeptical and distrustful eyes, as well as curiosity and surprise. People were whispering and talking amongst themselves.
"This is the new professor? He doesn't even look as old as me!"
"Who says otherwise? Could it be some rich young master from a powerful family here to gain experience?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, I've heard of him! He's published several articles in *New Youth*, and even Mr. Cai praised his critique of the fusion of old ethics and new ideas!"
"Really? So young?"
Su Changming wasn't in a hurry; he just listened quietly with a faint smile on his face.
His gaze swept over the young and vibrant faces below the stage.
There were conservatives dressed in long gowns and mandarin jackets, moderns dressed in suits and ties, and even female students with short hair and bright eyes.
This small classroom seems to be a microcosm of the entire turbulent era.
For some reason, the students below the podium felt an invisible pressure as they looked at his calm expression.
Even though the person standing on the stage was just a peer of similar age, his calm and composed aura made them feel inexplicably guilty.
The noise from the audience gradually subsided.
After a while, the classroom became completely quiet.
Su Changming then spoke slowly, his voice clear and melodious: "I am your Chinese literature professor, Su Changming."
He turned around, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote three large characters on the blackboard with great flair.
The chalk rubbed against the blackboard, making a "squeaking" sound, and the dust danced in the sunlight.
His handwriting is bold and vigorous, penetrating to the core.
After finishing writing, he turned around, dusted off his hands, and looked intently at the audience:
"I know what you're thinking."
Su Changming's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly carried to every corner of the classroom.
"You're thinking, what makes this young, callow youth think he's qualified to stand on this platform and lecture you on 'Guanzi' (a collection of classical Chinese prose) and Western literature?"
A low chuckle came from below the stage, and the tense atmosphere seemed to dissipate considerably.
"To be honest, if I were sitting below and saw a guy about my age standing above me, I would also suspect that he got in through connections."
Su Changming shrugged.
"Therefore, in order not to mislead students, and also to prove that I don't need to use connections, we won't be teaching from the textbook in this first lesson."
He dusted off his hands, his eyes gleaming.
"The time from now on is yours. Any questions, whether they are about academics, current affairs, or even about me personally, as long as they are within the scope of this class, you can answer them to the best of your ability and leave no stone unturned."
"Who wants to go first?"
The classroom fell silent for a second as soon as he finished speaking.
Immediately afterwards, a hand was raised high.
It was a girl sitting in the front row, wearing round glasses, with short hair that reached her ears, holding a few books in her arms. She looked quiet and reserved, exuding an intellectual beauty.
Su Changming nodded to himself.
He seems to be a studious student; I guess he'll ask some questions about literary schools or the interpretation of classical Chinese texts.
"Please speak, student," Su Changming said with a smile.
The girl stood up, pushed up her glasses, and her serious expression made the students around her unconsciously hold their breath, thinking that she was about to throw out some earth-shattering academic question.
However, the next second.
"Professor Su, I'd like to ask..." the girl asked softly, somewhat timidly, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"..."
Su Changming's smile froze instantly.
The whole class was stunned for half a second, then burst into laughter.
Even William, who was sitting in the back row taking notes, couldn't help but look up and give a somewhat ambiguous smile.
Su Changming rubbed his temples helplessly, looked at the girl who still looked weak and timid, and said with a wry smile:
"This question doesn't seem to be related to academics... but since I said I'd answer to the best of my ability, alright then."
He shrugged: "Currently single, no girlfriend."
"Very good!"
The girl's eyes lit up instantly, and then she dropped a second bombshell:
"So, do you think I still have a chance? I don't mind that you're two years younger than me."
"boom--"
The atmosphere in the classroom completely exploded.
"Cough cough cough!" Su Changming almost choked on his own saliva.
Are all female students this fierce these days?
Who said that women in the Republic of China era were reserved and demure?
He quickly waved his hand, his expression turned solemn, and he said righteously:
"This student, although I advocate freedom of love, in my class, there is only the relationship between teacher and student. We do not discuss romantic matters, and we will not consider matters of principle."
Seeing that the girl seemed about to say something, Su Changming quickly spoke first, his words flying:
"Great! That's a very insightful question. Next!"
He was afraid that the girl might ask something even more inappropriate.
After this little incident, the previously somewhat reserved classroom atmosphere completely warmed up.
The next few students did indeed ask some insightful questions.
"Professor Su, what are your thoughts on the recent uproar surrounding the vernacular language movement? Will classical Chinese really be completely replaced?"
"Mr. Su, is there any resonance in the core spirit between Romanticism in Western literature and the Chinese poem 'Li Sao'?"
Su Changming finally regained his home-field advantage.
He quoted extensively from classical texts and spoke eloquently.
From Qu Yuan to Byron, from the pre-Qin philosophers to the Renaissance.
Instead of using obscure and difficult vocabulary, he explained things in a simple and easy-to-understand way, using the most popular and humorous language to connect those dry knowledge points.
The students, who had initially been looking for fault, gradually changed their expressions.
From doubt to surprise, and finally to admiration.
Before we knew it, the class was almost over.
"Alright, time's almost up. One last question."
Su Changming took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and then scanned the entire room.
Just then, in the last row of the classroom, a hand slowly rose, with fair skin and long, slender fingers.
The owner of the hand was wearing a well-tailored plaid suit, which made him look exceptionally elegant.
The once noisy classroom fell silent again.
Everyone turned to look, and saw William, the blond, blue-eyed foreign professor, standing up slowly with a smile on his face.
"Professor Su."
William's Chinese pronunciation was clear and accurate, even with a touch of authentic Beijing accent, which left listeners stunned.
"Although I teach biology, I've always been very interested in Eastern literature. May I ask a question as well?"
Su Changming looked at him and nodded: "Of course, Professor William, please go ahead."
William smiled amicably and then began to speak.
"I would like to ask Professor Su..."
"In this scientifically advanced era, what do you think...?"
"What kind of impact will the long-dead mysticism, or those ancient legends and powers, have on this new world?"