Restart life

Chapter 417 0407 [Chen Shiyi's Graduation Speech]

This year's graduation ceremony started with the national anthem, whereas in previous years it was sung at the end.

Perhaps it's the change brought about by the new principal.

President Zhou, who took office last year, previously served as the vice provost at Peking University. In 2004, he was transferred to Jilin University as president. Within a month of taking office, he established a "doctoral supervisor elimination system," revoking the doctoral supervisor qualifications of 45 professors. He then went on to eliminate extra points for the college entrance examination for the children of faculty and staff.

That's quite offensive.

Enjoy short campus films, sing the school song, and read campus prose...

A total of more than 800 students (including master's students) received the title of Outstanding Graduate of the University, and more than 160 of them also received the title of Outstanding Graduate of the City. Chen Guiliang, of course, received both honors.

When Chen Guiliang went on stage to receive his award certificate, honorary school board member Chen Guoju stuffed the certificate into his hand and couldn't help but laugh, "Young Mr. Chen, your clothes today are very nice. Much prettier than the costumes in Hong Kong movies and TV dramas."

"Thank you for the compliment, it's mainly because he's handsome," Chen Guiliang said.

"Haha!" Chen Guo laughed twice.

The Mingde Scholarship at Peking University was established with a donation from Chen Guoju.

They already knew each other. When Chen Guiliang attended the school's anniversary celebration last time, he was arranged to sit at the same table as Chen Guoju. As a result, he punished himself by drinking three cups and went to sit with the old academician.

Several outstanding graduates nearby also burst out laughing.

The guy on my left, holding up his award certificate, asked, "Is this knife real or fake?"

"It's true. But it's not sharpened; it's an art piece and doesn't count as a controlled knife," Chen Guiliang explained.

The guy said enviously, "It's so cool, I want to get one too."

Chen Guiliang said, "Come to my company. Promotions and salary increases come quickly, and you can easily get a custom-made outfit."

The guy said in a low voice, "I'm a selected graduate."

"Awesome! I wish you a meteoric rise in your career."

"Serve the people."

"Brother, we're graduating today, no need for formalities."

"To be honest, not in a bureaucratic tone."

"I believe it."

"You believe that nonsense!"

"That's right, that's how you should talk. Leave your phone number later."

"Mr. Chen, you have a bad memory. We exchanged phone numbers two years ago."

"Have you suddenly become handsome? That's why I didn't recognize you."

"Even though I know you're talking nonsense, there's at least some truth to it. I really am getting more and more handsome."

"..."

More than 800 outstanding graduates took turns going on stage to receive their award certificates, which took half a day.

Chen Guiliang kept chatting with the selected graduate, while the female classmate on his right remained silent, listening intently to their conversation.

After the awards ceremony, the leaders took turns giving speeches.

Following this, President Zhou delivered a speech and announced the conferment of degrees to the graduates.

Then, interview videos of teacher representatives, building manager representatives, parent representatives, and alumni representatives were played.

The deputy secretary delivered a speech and thanked the middle school principals present and from all over the country for sending talent to Peking University.

More than 80 principals of key high schools were invited to the stage, and some graduate representatives presented them with flowers.

Vice Secretary Zhang was the host of the graduation ceremony. After the high school principals came off the stage with flowers, he smiled and said, "Every year, many outstanding students emerge from Peking University and achieve remarkable success in various fields. There is one student that I believe everyone is quite familiar with. He has been a prominent figure at Peking University in recent years... Now, please welcome Chen Guiliang, a 04 undergraduate student from Yuanpei College, to speak as this year's graduate representative!"

Chen Guiliang tucked the city and school-level outstanding graduate certificates into his belt like a scepter, then swaggered onto the stage and walked to the microphone.

The eyes of thousands of people at the scene were all focused on him.

It's hard not to notice them; their bright red flying fish suit is eye-catching wherever they go.

"Is he handsome or not?" Chen Guiliang asked.

"handsome!"

Most of the graduates shouted and heckled, and some parents joined in.

Only a very small minority disregarded this.

Chen Guiliang had no conflict with them, but these people were mavericks and just didn't like Chen Guiliang.

They deliberately avoid using any websites related to Chen Guiliang. They deliberately avoid playing any games related to Chen Guiliang. When they see someone mentioning Chen Guiliang online, they take the opportunity to speak ill of him.

Such people exist everywhere.

Chen Guiliang's speech only had an outline; the rest was improvised: "When I entered the graduation ceremony today, I saw that red banner that read, 'With hearts set on Peking University, ambitions reaching far and wide, a heart for the motherland, rooted in grassroots communities, striving for self-improvement, and contributing to society.' I think this slogan, like the 'Primary School Student Code of Conduct,' means that if you can do even half of it, you're already a very excellent person." "Really. If you don't believe me, go online and search for the 'Primary School Student Code of Conduct.' Anyway, I still can't follow it all. As an outstanding Peking University graduate, I don't deserve to be an outstanding primary school student..."

"Hahaha!" A burst of laughter erupted from the audience.

The school leaders were left speechless, both amused and exasperated.

Chen Guiliang continued, "I'm not criticizing the teachers and students who made the slogans for being unrealistic. When we set goals and shout slogans, we certainly want to pursue something big and comprehensive; that's the direction we strive for. What I want to say is that after leaving the ivory tower and suddenly entering society, everyone will face a more complex environment. After adapting to the environment, most people will be unconsciously changed by it..."

"By then, what people will consciously abide by won't be the 24 characters on the banner, but rather the explicit rules and implicit regulations of their environment! Especially the implicit rules—these are things that can't be brought into the open, but you're forced to accept them. The more accepting you are of the implicit rules, the more you'll forget those 24 characters on the banner..."

“You might think that I’m a working person, and the slogans from college graduates are nothing to me! Only naive students would follow them. Just like I’m a college student, and the ‘Elementary School Student Code’ is nothing to me, only elementary school students would be foolish enough to believe it.”

Everyone stopped laughing, and their expressions became thoughtful.

The leaders' expressions also became serious.

"I hope that everyone here, no matter where you go in the future, no matter what profession you pursue or what position you hold, will try your best to maintain a pure heart and remember as many words as possible on that banner. This is both my expectation for you students and a requirement I set for myself. I hope that you students here can share these heartfelt words with me!" Chen Guiliang bowed.

"Clap clap clap!"

The audience burst into applause.

The leaders also smiled and applauded.

The older and more experienced those present were, the more deeply they felt Chen Guiliang's words.

Academician Xu, who won the "National Highest Science and Technology Award" last year, is known as the "Father of Rare Earth in China." He is 89 years old this year and was invited to be a guest and deliver a speech.

While smiling and clapping, Academician Xu said to Academician Wang next to him, "This student is very capable and has very mature thinking."

Academician Wang is one of the founders of SMIC, as well as the dean of the Institute of Microelectronics at Peking University and the head of the Department of Microelectronics. He clapped his hands and leaned closer, saying, "I really like that ancient costume; it makes me look particularly energetic. If I were forty years younger, I would definitely get one to wear too."

Men are young until they die.

"Hahaha!" Academician Xu was amused.

After bowing, Chen Guiliang waited for the applause to end, then started rambling again: "Hey, you thought my bow was the end of my speech? I haven't even reminisced about my university days yet. At least I should remember that stolen 60-yuan secondhand bicycle..."

"Hahahaha!"

The audience laughed especially loudly this time because most college students had experienced having their bicycles stolen at some point. Even if they hadn't had their own bikes stolen, they'd likely have had classmates' bikes stolen.

When Chen Guiliang mentioned stealing cars, they immediately resonated with each other.

Chen Guiliang then asked, "When you first entered Peking University, did you ever fantasize about meeting a handsome or beautiful person while queuing for water in the hot water room, and then having a wonderful campus romance? If you've ever had that thought, please shout it out! Have you ever?"

"Have!"

The shouts were deafening, seemingly capable of lifting the ceiling.

Some graduates shouted themselves hoarse, as if they were taking the opportunity to vent their emotions.

Chen Guiliang said, "When I was a freshman, I had a roommate who signed up for 20 courses. He was either in the classroom or the library every day. The only time he could clear his head was when he was showering or getting water. Every time he came back from getting water, he would excitedly tell me that he had met a pretty girl from a certain department while waiting in line..."

The graduates were lost in memories.

They also have roommates like that, or they are simply that kind of person themselves.

The thought of graduating today and not knowing when I'll see my classmates again suddenly made me feel sad.

But then Chen Guiliang started telling funny stories about campus life, making everyone laugh. So on this special day, many graduates in the audience laughed heartily, tinged with a touch of sadness.

Even those classmates who disliked Chen Guiliang suddenly felt that Chen Guiliang wasn't so bad.

Chen Guiliang has a knack for manipulating people's emotions, especially at large events like this on specific dates!

"Who still remembers the song 'The Wind Rises'? If you do, let's sing it together."

Seeing that the atmosphere had been built up enough, Chen Guiliang decided to end the event with a tear gas canister.

"The Wind Rises" is the theme song for Renren.com.

When students register for the school's intranet, if they do not change the background music on their personal homepage, "The Wind Rises" will automatically be set as the default background music.

Even without specific training, you can learn it by listening to it repeatedly.

Therefore, many students can sing it.

"I walked and stopped along the way, following the traces of the boy's drifting journey. Just before stepping out of the station, I hesitated for a moment..."

Chen Guiliang's off-key singing began, but his raspy voice was particularly infectious, and more and more graduates joined in, until finally the entire audience sang along.

Chen Guiliang brought the graduation ceremony to its peak!

One parent, who came from out of town to attend the ceremony, was a leader in a public institution.

He looked around and then at his daughter, who was singing and crying, and couldn't help but think to himself, "No wonder she's such a big boss at such a young age. She can turn a graduation ceremony into a pyramid scheme. That's amazing!"

This year's graduation ceremony, thanks to Chen Guiliang's speech, will undoubtedly become a cherished memory of youth for many.

(End of this chapter)