âThe dean really has given you a big headache,â Tan Rou said. âOur graduate department doesnât have that many students. A professor can only supervise up to five graduate students, and with the dean asking every teacher for nominations, Professor, you can only pick from a few of us.â
Professor Yi spoke with some difficulty, âThe semester has just started not long ago, and your senior classmates are all busy with their own experiments, and can hardly spare any time to take part in the sports meeting. Plus, youâre well aware that young people these days lack exercise. The longer their studies, the worse their physical fitness.â
Tan Rou agreed with this point, saying, âHow could the physical condition of those who soak in the library and lab all day be good?â
Professor Yi nodded, âYes, just last night I showed this poster to one of your senior classmates, and after seeing the poster, he clutched his chest and gasped for air, saying that if I made him participate in the sports meeting, heâd call an ambulance to take him away right then and there.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Tan Rou smiled, âI can probably guess which senior said that.â
After reading Tan Rouâs experimental report, Professor Yi was very pleased, âIndeed, entrusting the experiment to you was no mistake. Your one monthâs work is equal to othersâ six months of hard labor. If all my students were like you, then Iâd probably be out of a job.â
Tan Rou said with a smile, âThat wonât happen, even if I were out of a job, you wouldnât be, Professor.â
Speaking of the issue of unemployment, Professor Yi looked worried again, âThe dean has given each of us professors an ultimatum, if we donât send someone to participate, not only will our research funds be withheld, but our professional title evaluations will also be postponed. Iâve reached this age and have long since received my professional title, but there are many professors promoted in the last two years who are awaiting their evaluations. If postponed, it would greatly impact them.â
Tan Rou thought that Professor Yi was good in all respects, except that he cared too much about othersâ business. He was very kind and the oldest in the graduate department, so he liked to look after the juniors. Not only did he take care of them in their experiments, but he also cared about their everyday work. And here was Professor Yi, worrying over the professional title evaluations for those new professors.
âAh, if only someone from our graduate department took the initiative to participate in the sports meeting, we wouldnât have to select someone individually,â Professor Yi said, his eyes fixed on Tan Rou as he spoke.
Tan Rou chuckled lightly, seemingly understanding why Professor Yi was saying all this, âProfessor, youâre not thinking of having me participate in the sports meeting, are you?â
Professor Yi said with a smile, âIf Student Tan Rou is willing to participate, that would be wonderful.â
Tan Rou spoke with a sense of resignation, âProfessor, you really think too highly of me, always thinking of me whenever thereâs an issue.â
Professor Yi said with embarrassment, âI actually didnât want you to participate, but as it stands, only your experiment is complete. And I used to watch you run on the track very fast, so I think you could do well in a race.â
Tan Rou was indeed capable of participating in the sports meeting, and lately, she hadnât had much to do, so it seemed feasible for her to join. However, just because one enjoys sports doesnât mean one has to take part in a sports meeting.
âDo you hope I sign up, Professor Yi?â Tan Rou asked directly.
Professor Yi pulled out two registration forms from some drawer, âHere, if you want to participate, just fill in this registration form.â
Tan Rou was momentarily speechless then said, âIt seems youâve planned this in advance, even preparing the registration forms.â
Professor Yi admitted honestly, âI really do want you to participate in this sports meeting. Right now, I have only four students, and aside from you, I canât think of anyone else to ask.â
As Tan Rou got older, there were many things she didnât like doing but had to do, like this sports meeting. If it were in the past, she definitely wouldnât have participated readily, unless the prizes at the sports meeting were something she wanted.
But now things were different. Not only did Tan Rou have to consider the benefits of doing something, but she also had to think about others. After all, having one more friend was better than having one more enemy. Professor Yiâs students were always the best, and if Tan Rou could choose her employees from his students later, it would save her a lot of trouble.