Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 299 Freedom that moves downwards is not true freedom

Lu Wei's solo segment ended quickly, after which the "interview space" was rearranged, and the interview between Zhai Da and Lu Wei was about to begin.

During the break, an editor or similar person brought over a flowchart, which outlined the general areas of questions to be asked. To be honest, it was a bit late.

If I remember correctly, Harbin Institute of Technology has been asking for this since Monday, and it was only just received now. It's a rough, handwritten version, with less than two hundred words in total.

This indicates that the majority of the content was improvised by the interviewers.

Half an hour later, three chairs were placed in the center. When the auditorium lights were turned off, only the area in the center of the stage was illuminated by professional lighting equipment, and that was the only space visible in the camera's view.

With its special layout, even those familiar with Harbin Institute of Technology would find it difficult to recognize this as the auditorium from television.

Just then, Principal Wang Chunguo arrived late. Several teachers immediately came to greet him, but Principal Wang gestured for them not to disturb him, and then stood alone in the darkness.

He had a meeting in the morning, and given his position, he didn't need to show up in person, but he couldn't suppress his desire to watch the spectacle.

Seeing his two best students radiating confidence and style on stage, it's hard for a school principal not to feel secretly pleased.

On stage, Zhai Da, Lu Wei, and Chai Jing shook hands with each other in front of the camera before taking their seats, and the interview officially began.

Each person has their own camera position to ensure that no footage is missed during editing. Chai Jing asked the first question with a smile:
"I've been curious before, are you two a couple?"

Zhai Da and Lu Wei exchanged a glance; this issue wasn't "in the process."
Asking personal questions in such a formal setting, at least in Zhai Da's mind, made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

However, she still said, "Yes."

Lu Wei nodded as well.

Chai Jing smiled even more warmly: "I really envy you two, having such a beautiful love at such a young age."

A little interviewing tip: ask "private but innocuous" questions. If the other person answers, they will subconsciously shed some of their "pretense" and reveal more of their "true self."

The conversation then became more mundane, and to be precise, it had little to do with the procedures the two had received. Zhai Da wasn't sure if this was just how "interviews" were, or if the interviewee was simply being unconventional.

For example, they asked about each other's hobbies, whether the other person was intelligent from a young age, and even whether Zhai Da was financially independent.

Some topics are obviously not going to be broadcast, mixed with truth and falsehood, and even Zhai Da can't tell which are important and which are not.

“We know that it is rare for two people of your age to achieve such success. The examples we have heard of in the past are probably in other countries.”

"How do you view the public's doubts about 'high scores but low abilities' and 'exam-oriented education'?"

This is not surprising; the interviewee is a student who has achieved social success, so it seems reasonable for them to have a discussion about education issues.

Lu Wei simply shook her head and didn't say anything.

Zhai Da said, "My college entrance exam results actually had an element of luck, and I was just a student, not a teacher, so I can't comment on the issues you mentioned."

Chai Jing immediately pressed further, "Can I take that you mean there are indeed problems with the current education system?"

You think you're a chicken neck, and which little biscuit are you?

Zhai Da finally realized that the topic had taken a turn for the better.

"It's certain that there are problems. There is no perfect education, and even if there were, there are no perfect people."

"Don't you think we haven't done enough in terms of holistic education, and that we should uphold a more tolerant and free educational philosophy?"

"for example?"

"For example, the happy education and quality education abroad."

Zhai Da couldn't help but glance to the side at the logo of Yang City on the camera.

I thought to myself, this really is the "golden age" for media professionals. Serious media outlets, mainstream media, and top-notch commentators are discussing these sensitive issues that were never planned in the first place, all in front of the camera.

Wait a minute, it seems that this person's downfall started from not hiding properly in front of the camera. Of course, the current situation is not too extreme.

Chai Jing took out a piece of paper, which seemed to be some kind of document, indicating that she had been preparing for this question for a long time, rather than having it on a whim.

"Data shows that Chinese teenagers have severely insufficient leisure time, yet their overall quality evaluation ranks at the bottom. As a top scorer in the college entrance examination, do you believe this is a result of exam-oriented education overemphasizing scores and neglecting individual development?"

She wanted to get more meaningful interview content from this top scorer.

Zhai Da asked doubtfully, "Is the data sample scientific? There are probably only half of the countries in the world with a complete education system. How can we be ranked at the bottom?"

Chai Jing interrupted, saying, "This was provided by an authoritative international organization."

"Can you tell me your name?"

"Finnish National Education Strategy Assessment Center"

"Finland? Then who's number one on this list?"

This put Chai Jing in an awkward position.

"Uh, Finland."

Zhai Da:
Below, Principal Wang, who was in the shadows, burst out laughing.

There was also a photographer, that burly, unshaven man couldn't resist.

Chai Jing turned her head coldly and glared at him. The burly man immediately became expressionless, but Principal Wang still had a smile on his face. He didn't need to read other people's expressions.

When the commentator returned to the topic, his tone had become somewhat emotional, and his bias was no longer concealed. "Many students are overwhelmed by the 'sea of ​​questions' approach, and their creativity and natural talents are stifled. This is a fact. What is your opinion on this issue?"

Zhai Da laughed. This guy is really persistent. He won't stop asking until he gets the answer he wants.

He could actually understand; Chai Jing's situation was very similar to that of Lu Siwen's mother, Qian Yarong.

The difference is that Qian Yarong only affects herself and those around her, while Chai Jing is a public figure.

Zhai Da sighed and said, "Education is a very complex issue involving the amount of investment, social trends, resource allocation, and psychological expectations. It's not something that can be easily discussed and understood. As long as humanity has many years left, the discussion about education will continue for just as many years."

"But I know that studying is against nature and hard work. If releasing one's nature is good education, then the best people would be 'savages'. Many people who think their creativity has been stifled are only 'self-perceived' in terms of creativity."

Chai Jing asked what she considered a very pointed question.

"So you think 'happy education' is wrong?"

It's important to understand that these four words carry considerable weight these days, and many people regard them as inviolable principles, praising them highly whenever they are mentioned.

But Zhai Da's answer was unusually decisive, as if he did not realize that this was a trap: "Yes, happy education is wrong, but this mistake needs a generation to verify, and it is not yet apparent."

After a moment's thought, Chai Jing realized that the top scholar's answer was somewhat unexpected.
Are there still young people these days who don't criticize the education system?
She had hoped to elicit a similar argument from Zhai Da as Han Han had, but now it seemed she had overestimated the young man.

"It seems you lack critical thinking skills."

Regarding the aggressive behavior of directly confronting others, Zhai Da stated that he would not tolerate it: "Critical thinking? Aren't I criticizing your thinking? Or is it that only criticizing what you consider to be wrong constitutes critical thinking?"

Zhai Da suddenly thought of that famous interview and said to the camera, "Perhaps ten or more years from now, when people are discussing 'happy education,' we will still be able to see this video. By then, the verification of a generation may have ended, and we can just wait and see."

Human perception determines human judgment. In Chai Jing's eyes, Zhai Da's words had already nailed him to the pillar of shame.

So he forced a smile and said, "Really? I don't believe it."

Zhai Da:
Did you switch channels?
A commercial smile returned to Chai Jing's face as she said, "You seem to really enjoy prophecy. I noticed that you described many future scenes in your book?"

Zhai Da smiled and said, "I guess so."

"Do you think the future depicted in the book will come true? I've read your work, and the future depicted in it is very beautiful."

"Yes, it will happen eventually."

Even under the current education rules?

Zhai Da suddenly felt a bit tired of the interview.

He overestimated Chai Jing's abilities and underestimated her pragmatism.

Every sentence is inseparable from the truth, every sentence is piercing to the heart.

In the current social climate, people like her are considered "intellectuals" and "enlightened individuals."

Even in this current situation, she felt that she was the one who was "upright and righteous" and that she had caught Zhai Da's "stupidity".

But Zhai Da was already tired of the game.

Zhai Da sat up straight: "Do you know why our generation has to study under such high pressure?"

Chai Jing's eyes lit up, thinking to herself, "Is this person finally going to speak their mind? Is she going to start criticizing?"
Zhai Da looked at people with his lower eyelids, and the light was shining on his face the whole time, making him a little tired.

"Our generation studies under high pressure because the previous generation insisted on studying even when they were hungry."

"The reason why the previous generation could study on an empty stomach is because there were people in the generation before them who studied even on their knees or with guns pointed at their heads."

"Similarly, our generation reads books under high pressure so that the next generation can read better and more advanced books, but they can never be 'happy' books, much less 'easy' books."

"The road to advancement is always difficult, and freedom that leads downwards is not true freedom. Similarly, 'happy education' is not true education. Perhaps some people are happy going to school because they come from wealthy families, but that is not a problem with education. They are born happy and would be happy even without going to school."

Zhai Da thought of Hai Ge from the internet cafe in Dongyang County, Fan Junwei, Peng Hao, and his past self.

He wasn't actually a beneficiary of these rules, nor was he a true genius, because he was cheating.

Therefore, he is not qualified to judge education issues. If he hadn't been lucky enough to be reborn, he would essentially be the same as countless small-town youths and ordinary children from ordinary families.

But at least that opportunity was once presented to us.

Even when I was struggling after graduating from junior college in my previous life, I only regretted not working harder in high school.

“Our education system still has many problems, but at least it has left a desk, an exam paper, and a valuable standard answer for young people in small towns. In every sense, Lu Wei and I are beneficiaries, as we were both born in small towns.”

"If it were a happy education, to be honest, with Lu Wei and my family background, whether we would have had the opportunity to go to university is another matter. The textbooks we received from elementary school onwards were different from those of 'elite education,' and we didn't even have the opportunity to access knowledge. We might not even be able to read and write smoothly after graduating from high school."

That's all I have to say. If the other party asks any further questions, Zhai Da will simply refuse to answer.

Without giving Chai Jing a chance to process what was happening, Zhai Da turned directly to Lu Wei. He had been so enraged by this person that he had forgotten that Lu Wei was also an interviewee, or even the main character.

"Is there anything you'd like to add?"

Lu Wei actually nodded.

Zhai Da was very curious about what questions Lu Wei would ask.

Little Wood leaned forward earnestly, blinking his big eyes as he said to Chai Jing:
Did you go to university?

Chai Jing:
(End of this chapter)