My era, 1979!

Chapter 69 The Last Light of a Firefly Once Shined the Sun and Moon

Undergraduate level?
Let alone Fudan University.

Are current Peking University Chinese Literature Department master's students at this level?

Isn't this the future "sacred son" of the Chinese Department at Fudan University?

As for the process?

The process isn't complete yet; just go through the process.

Talk about the writing philosophy behind "The Barn" and "The Fitting Mirror", introduce your life story, and then write an essay for your records.

Does it matter?
It's not important to the professor.

Are these things more important than a single, substantial literary research idea that is worth a fortune?

What's important next?
Which Mahayana elder will the future holy son of the sect take as his master?

Haven't you noticed that even the elderly sect leader is getting restless?

beside,

Sun, the academic affairs officer, was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks.

Ladies and gentlemen, could you please consider my feelings?

Professor Zhang, having finished asking his questions, looked at the other four "masters" with a smile: "Do you four have any other questions?"

Everyone shook their heads.

What's the question?

Wang Shuizhao was still waiting for this kid to enroll so they could do genealogy research together!
Su Liancheng waited to ask the boy and his daughter what was going on privately.

With this kid's level of talent, even if he were just a rural educated youth, he seems like a good match for my daughter.

Zhang Peiheng looked around and, seeing that no one seemed to care, nodded in satisfaction.

"Then we'll..."

"Excuse me, professors."

What the hell?
The four guardian deities had piercing eyes.

What kind of trouble are you trying to cause at this critical juncture?!

Don't try to show off and then tell me other sects want you too!
Xu Chengjun took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the five professors present, finally settling on Zhu Dongrun. His tone carried the candor and confidence of a young man: "After discussing so many academic ideas, there is actually something else I would like to ask for your help with."

"I want to apply to skip undergraduate studies and go directly to graduate school!"

The meeting room fell silent instantly. Even Academic Affairs Officer Sun forgot his anxiety and looked up at him abruptly.

What kind of nonsense are you up to?

Ok?
But it seems reasonable?
Before anyone could speak, Xu Chengjun continued, "It's not that I'm arrogant, nor that I look down on the undergraduate courses in the Chinese Department of Fudan University."

"During my two years of working in the countryside, I earned work points during the day and studied 'The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons' and 'Selections of Refined Literature' under the kerosene lamp at night. I wouldn't say I'm an expert on the core of ancient literary theory or the genealogical framework of modern and contemporary literature, but I'm confident that I've mastered the basic courses for undergraduate studies."

He opened his notebook and pointed to the dense annotations inside: "Professors, I have done a comparative analysis of the 'fu, bi, xing' in the Book of Songs with the poems of educated youth. I have tried to dissect the 'realm theory' in the works of Mao Dun and Ba Jin. I have also studied Western theories and compared them with Mr. Zhu Guangqian's 'History of Western Aesthetics'."

"More importantly, I know what I want to study: the modern transformation of traditional literary theory. Currently, academia either talks about tradition in vain or simply copies the West. What I want to do is to bridge the gap between the two, such as using 'hidden beauty' to explain scar literature and using the theory of 'adaptation and change' to view the evolution of literature. These ideas have already taken initial shape."

"I know that you teachers are worried about whether my basic knowledge is solid, but I am willing to accept your examination."

He looked at Zhu Dongrun with a sincere gaze, "Su Shi said, 'This is why sages value opportunity.' I now have the inspiration and drive to do academic research, so I am confident that I can do a good job. But in life, opportunities often only come once, and inspiration only lasts for a short period. If I don't seize it, I don't know if I will have another burst of inspiration like this. I don't want to wait, and I dare not wait."

"Time is a sentient thing, while the years are a heartless thing." Inspiration is actually the thoughts and insights brought from a previous life.

Human memories fade over time.

So it's not untrue that he said he doesn't know if he'll have inspiration in the future.

God knows how much he wanted to bring the good things from his previous life, which had been proven in practice, into this era!
"Therefore, I would like to earnestly request that you professors give me this opportunity to be admitted to the Chinese Department of Fudan University for postgraduate studies, to allow me to bring to life the 'integrity,' 'reclusive elegance,' and 'adaptability' that lie buried in old books, to allow the wisdom of 'The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons' to interpret today's literary trauma, and to allow the 'expression of feelings through indignation' in 'The Songs of Chu' to nourish the current creative soil."

He took a deep breath, his voice filled with passion: "As you all agree, culture is the root and soul of a nation. When we talk about national rejuvenation, we should not only build skyscrapers and railways, but also give this rejuvenation a spiritual backbone."

"What I want to do is to dig out the strength that can support the national spirit from the fabric of traditional culture."

All five professors nodded when the topic was mentioned, a sentiment that could be sensed from their previous conversation.

This educated youth had a pure heart and a deep love for his country.

"I want young people to know that the 'Feng, Ya, Song' sections of the Book of Songs contain our aesthetic foundation, and to let the world see that Chinese literature is not just a footnote to Western theories, but also has its own character and wisdom."

"It's not about empty slogans, but about making traditional literary theory a true light illuminating the present, and enabling literary research to contribute a brick or a tile to the spiritual edifice of national rejuvenation."

"As a sent-down youth, I have limited abilities, but I hope to contribute my little bit of light to the great current of academia."

"Not for empty fame, but to make our literary research stand tall on the world stage, to let the flame of national culture burn even brighter in our generation, to add glory to literature and to forge the soul of rejuvenation!"

"Hoping that even the slightest dust and mist can benefit mountains and seas, and that the last glimmer of a firefly can once illuminate the sun and moon."

Are you moved?
Touching!

The professors present were all deeply moved.

My buddy got the highest score in the entire province on the civil service exam interview!

Don't think it's fake; this is an era where people recite quotations to each other.

If you can't memorize it, you'll be reported.
Zhu Dongrun stopped stroking his beard; he hadn't intended for Xu Chengjun to skip a grade.

It's not necessarily a good thing for young people to move too fast.

He had seen far too many examples of "the tragic loss of talent."

He initially wanted to object, but hesitated when he heard Xu Chengjun mention that inspiration is fleeting.

He was moved when he heard the phrase "to add glory to literature and to forge the soul of rejuvenation."
Young people have such abilities and ideas, but the older generation is obstructing them?
Zhu Dongrun wouldn't do such a thing!

After a moment's hesitation, he first looked at Zhang Peiheng: "Peiheng, what do you think?"

At this moment, Jia Zhifang suddenly spoke up, her gaze falling on Xu Chengjun: "If you skip undergraduate studies and go on to graduate school, you must be able to understand foreign language literature, right? There are still many Western theoretical works that haven't been translated yet, so we can't rely on others to relay them."

He casually picked up an English version of "Introduction to Comparative Literature" from his bag. "Use this book. Just flip to any page, read the first paragraph, and then briefly summarize the main idea."

Xu Chengjun was taken aback; he hadn't expected this hurdle.

but!

In my previous life, I scored 142 in the English college entrance exam and 81 in the English 1 postgraduate entrance exam, and I also studied a lot of professional English.

Do you think I, Little Bear Cookie, am a freeloader?
I'll remember you, Grand Elder!
He took the book, his fingertips tracing the yellowed pages, turned to a page in the middle, cleared his throat, and read in a clear tone: "Comparative literature is not merely a comparison of texts from different cultures, but a dialogue that reveals the universal spirit hidden in cultural differences."

It has a slightly American accent.

There's nothing I can do about it; that's just how that guy from Colombia is.

(End of this chapter)