Chapter 373: Countermeasure Operation

Lu Cheng didn't understand at first.

Yang Yin explained again: "It means that Lu Cheng is just a symbol; as long as this Lu Cheng unites the classmates and launches many rich campus activities, then this Lu Cheng can be him, can be him, or can be him—whoever it is, even if it's a pig, I will still help him campaign for votes."

The wording was still quite roundabout, but Lu Cheng understood this time.

It means that Yang Yin wasn't simply helping campaign for Lu Cheng; after all, the two have no relationship and just met today.

The reason Yang Yin helped campaign was entirely because Lu Cheng's promotional content moved them.

In the end, only fresh graduates, those who embrace new things, would support him.

Unfortunately, currently in the university, most are workers‑farmers‑soldiers recommended trainees, and their thinking still remains on the kind of propaganda from Wu Yang.

For example, Wu Yang believes the Student Committee's main duties should be to strengthen political study, ideological education, and so on, which has received unanimous approval from the school leadership.

Lu Cheng doesn't like it much; such activities should exist but not be the main focus—too solemn and they also stifle students' innovative thinking.

Students of this age are at the peak of active thinking, so the Student Committee's duties should better guide them properly.

When they later recall their campus life, it should be beautiful and colorful, not merely repressive political study.

But there's nothing they can do; because several cohorts are workers‑farmers‑soldiers trainees, Wu Yang will thus be a strong competitor.

Lu Cheng saying there's no pressure would be impossible.

So, to counter Wu Yang's propaganda, after Lu Cheng met with Zheng Guoping and Wei Shu, the few of them discussed further.

From Zheng Guoping's and Wei Shu's feedback, the campaign's effect was not very satisfactory.

Mainly, everyone found it a bit hard to accept such campus life; in other words, everyone is somewhat scared.

If they support Lu Cheng, then later they wouldn't need to study, just organize activities every day and play to their heart's content.

That way, they'd be letting down the university that recommended them, the country, the collective, and the people.

Even more frightening, if the Red Current gust blows back again, such behavior could very likely become a target to be knocked down.

Lu Cheng couldn't be more helpless; it seems a generation's thinking is hard to change, and this clearly misrepresents his meaning.

He didn't say to stop everyone from studying properly and just play; it's merely a way to enrich extracurricular spiritual life.

But these trainees, when brought before the nation's great cause, …

To address this negative voice, Lu Cheng prepared to write an editorial to be published in the Newspaper.

This editorial's publication featured more detailed content and was also very deep.

In the editorial, Lu Cheng also emphasized the terms "liberate thought" and "freedom," aiming to change these workers‑farmers‑soldiers trainees' thinking as much as possible.

Lu Cheng even suggested that, to better enrich students' campus life, clubs matching everyone's hobbies should be established.

For example, basketball club, calligraphy club, art club, music club, and other activity groups that later became gradually richer.

What Lu Cheng didn't expect was that once the Newspaper was released, it quickly sparked intense discussion across campus.

Of course, the discussion still centered on the two previous points.

One side thinks political study should be strengthened and all extracurricular activities should not exist; the other side thinks liberating thought is the current trend.

Everyone argued about this, fighting nonstop.

But clearly, after Lu Cheng's editorial went out, many people were indeed moved, and gradually more began to support his voice.

Including Yang Kaiming, who saw the editorial in the Newspaper, took it home for careful study and was ultimately very satisfied.

Liberate thought, embrace new things—that's the vigor young people should have.

Yang Yin also at home saw the newspaper, initially didn't pay attention; she doesn't like reading those propaganda papers of old‑fashioned ideas.

Until she caught sight of the big words "liberate thought" and saw the author's byline was Lu Cheng, she couldn't help but pick it up and read it carefully.

The more she read, the more excited she became; she didn't expect Lu Cheng's thinking to be so distinctive.

Being able to write this editorial, he seems quite talented.

Yang Yin felt it shouldn't be kept to herself and took the newspaper out to share with classmates.

Zheng Guoping was also excited, saying in the dormitory: "Third, in the past two days I made rounds; everyone supports your 'liberate thought' and the idea of forming clubs, so your presidency is almost guaranteed."

Until the final moment, Lu Cheng dared not jump to conclusions.

To be honest, he felt a bit ashamed; earlier Yang Yin said the reason she helped him campaign was for the over seven hundred incoming freshmen.

Yang Yin thought his confrontational act toward the school was very heroic.

Little did they know, Lu Cheng wasn't for those students at all, but to become president himself, and later use the presidency to recruit talent for the Research Institute.

He thus promoted with a sharp, unconventional edge.

Otherwise, if it were the same as Wu Yang's propaganda, plus the school leaning toward third‑year students, he would find it hard to win.

Lu Cheng was washing his feet in silence, while Zheng Guoping kept muttering to himself.

"Since our president is almost guaranteed, you'll be Lu President later, but I think this president... isn't grand enough."

Lu Cheng, unconcerned, asked: "How is it not grand enough? If not called president, what else could it be!"

Zheng Guoping thought seriously: "What else could it be? Right, this time we set up a Student Committee, a committee? A member? *snort*..."

Zheng Guoping suddenly looked at Lu Cheng: "Committee Chair, what do you think?"

Zheng Guoping was very satisfied: "Lu Committee Chair? Hey Siyan, hearing it like that, isn't it much more grand!"

Lu Cheng was stunned for a moment, then even forgot to put his shoes on, jumped out of the foot‑washing basin and immediately covered Zheng Guoping's mouth.

"Brother, don't mess with me!"

What jokes, in this era, the Red Current just passed, and the political climate is still very sensitive.

At this moment, calling him Lu Committee Chair is practically a death sentence.

Zheng Guoping pulled his hand away: "Look, what are you afraid of? He, the bald guy, became Committee Chair; we, Lu Da Jing Zhang, have no reason not to."

Lu Cheng clasped his hands: "Thank you, I beg you, brother, we absolutely cannot call me that; I don't want to get shot."

"Not that extreme, not that extreme; if you follow my advice, you won't be wrong…"

"I listen to you, sir…"

This side's dormitory is filled with laughter and chatter, while over at Martial Sun it isn't so cheerful; he feels a definite pressure.

He had an advantage before, but since Lu Cheng's editorial was released, the number of third‑year students defecting has clearly risen, and this can't go on.

He consulted a few classmates and immediately took counter‑measures.