Chapter 31: He Yuzhu's Exam Paper

While He Yuzhu was busy stamping the certificate, in the temporary grading room of Huaxia University's Radio Department, a bespectacled old professor said to Professor Li, who sat opposite grading papers, "Professor Li, take a look at this essay."

"What's up, Professor Wang? Even you, this great talent, aren't sure about this essay?" he said, taking the exam paper that Professor Li had handed over.

Professor Li looked at the handwriting on the exam paper and thought nothing special, but upon seeing the content, the further he read, the more excited he became, saying, "Professor Wang, what do you want to do?"

"Or we could hand it to Director Liu, after all, it's their department's matter," Professor Wang said.

"Are you really willing to just hand it over like that? Do you know what this represents, Professor Wang?" Professor Li asked.

"Old Li, I see you're getting more and more outdated; don't forget this essay was reviewed by the two of us," Professor Wang said with a smile.

"Hahaha," Professor Li laughed a few times, saying, "Hey, old man, let's go find Director Liu now."

Radio Department Director Liu Ji Ping was grading the exam papers when he heard a knock and said, "Come in." Looking up, he saw Professors Wang and Li walking in holding an exam paper.

Director Liu stood up and said, "Professors Wang and Li, have you finished grading the exam paper?"

"Not yet, Director Liu; take a look at this essay," they said, handing the exam paper to Director Liu.

Director Liu took a brief look, put down the exam paper, and said, "Is this written by this examinee?"

"Yes, it was graded by Professor Wang; we couldn't decide, so we came to ask you, Director Liu," Professor Li said.

Director Liu examined the essay more carefully and said, "This doesn't look like something a student wrote." Then he looked at the examinee's name: He Yuzhu.

Then he put down the exam paper, pulled out another one from the stack he had just graded, and looked at the name.

"He Yuzhu is no ordinary student, Professors Wang and Li, look—his radio theory exam paper contains a lot of content written very professionally, with very unique ideas, not something a student could produce; it's more like the work of a senior radio expert," he said, handing the exam paper to Professors Wang and Li.

After reading it, Professor Li said, "Director Liu, what do you want to do about this?"

"I'm going to see the dean right now; you look at his safety theory essay—its concluding twelve-character principle: 'Safety first, prevention foremost, comprehensive management.' It's well-structured and evidenced, and very practical. Professors Wang and Li, continue grading the remaining papers; I'm going to see the dean now."

In the dean's office, after Director Liu handed the exam paper to Dean Jiang, Dean Jiang, after looking it over, gave Liu a brief instruction, took the paper and went to the Ministry of Education; after being passed up through the layers, that evening the exam paper appeared on the State Council's office desk.

After the State Council leader looked it over, he wrote the eight large characters "One glance hits the mark, a pillar of talent" on the exam paper, ordered the secretary to copy the essay once and hand it to the Safety Group, then further instructed to send the exam paper back to Huaxia University.

After seeing the comment on the exam paper, Dean Jiang stared at the handwriting for a moment—how could he not recognize it? He had fortunately once read someone's calligraphy; just a glance at the comment and Dean Jiang recognized it.

Then he said to Director Liu, "Director Liu, return this exam paper to Comrade He Yuzhu; we cannot keep it privately." After saying that, Dean Jiang reluctantly handed the exam paper to Director Liu.

After seeing the comment on the exam paper, Director Liu, puzzled, asked, "Dean Jiang, who wrote this comment?"

"Yes, it was written by the State Council leader; I truly wanted to keep this exam paper as a treasure," Dean Jiang said regretfully.

"The State Council? You couldn't be mistaken, Dean? Who exactly was alarmed by this?" Director Liu said incredulously.

"No mistake—I was fortunate enough last year to have read that person's handwriting; I can recognize it at a glance. Alas, what a pity," Dean Jiang said, sighing.

Upon hearing Dean Jiang say that, Director Liu hurriedly placed the exam paper on Dean Jiang's desk, saying, "This exam paper should still be given to Comrade He Yuzhu, Dean Jiang—I'm afraid I'll lose it."

The next morning, after He Yuzhu finished his exam and just walked out of the classroom, Gao Yue approached him, saying, "Zhuzi, congratulations," and handed him a brand-new Parker steel pen, saying, "This is a gift for you officially becoming a university student."

"Oh, Xiao Yue, you're giving this gift too early—I just finished the exam and still don't know the result," He Yuzhu said, taking the pen.

"I believe in you, Zhuzi; you will definitely pass, I believe in you," Gao Yue said.

While the two were talking, Director Liu approached them and said, "Are you He Yuzhu, the student?"

The two turned around; Gao Yue said, "Hello, Director Liu," and then to He Yuzhu said, "Zhuzi, this is our Radio Department's Director Liu."

Upon hearing that it was the Radio Department director, He Yuzhu hurriedly said, "Hello, Director Liu; do you know me?"

"Your reputation has already been registered at the dean's office; Dean Jiang actually asked me to bring you over to have a chat," Director Liu said with a smile.

"The dean wants to see me? What's the matter, Director Liu?" He Yuzhu said, scratching his head.

"Come on, follow me and you'll find out," he said, leading He Yuzhu toward Huaxia University's Comprehensive Office Building.

He Yuzhu thought, "It must be about that essay; I didn't expect it to happen so quickly."

The two arrived at the dean's office door of the Comprehensive Building; Director Liu knocked and brought He Yuzhu inside. Seeing Dean Jiang seated at the desk, He Yuzhu felt incredulous, because in his understanding the dean of Huaxia University should be an old scholar with a full head of white hair, but this Dean Jiang is only in his forties.

Seeing He Yuzhu and the two enter, Dean Jiang smiled and said to He Yuzhu, "Are you He Yuzhu, the student? I am Dean Jiang Hanru of Huaxia University," gesturing to the chair opposite the desk and saying, "Please have a seat."

He Yuzhu walked to Dean Jiang's desk, stood, and said, "Dean Jiang, hello, I am He Yuzhu."

"Hehe, young man, full of energy. Sit down and let's talk," after saying that, Dean Jiang pointed again to the chair in front of the desk.

"He Yuzhu, do you know why I asked for you?" Dean Jiang asked after seeing He Yuzhu sit down.

He Yuzhu hesitated and said, "Dean Jiang, if I'm not mistaken, it's because of that essay of mine, right?"

"Mm, that's right—it's because of your essay. He Yuzhu, to be honest, I'm actually a bit envious of you," Dean Jiang said, handing the exam paper to He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu took it, saw the comment above, and said to Dean Jiang, "Dean Jiang, what is this?"

"This was personally written by the State Council leader," Dean Jiang said, then looked at He Yuzhu with an envious gaze.

Upon hearing "State Council leader," He Yuzhu felt his brain couldn't keep up— which person from the State Council had seen his essay?

He Yuzhu excitedly looked at Dean Jiang and said, "Dean Jiang, are you serious? This really was written by the State Council leader?"

"No mistake—I was fortunate enough last year to have read that person's manuscript; I recognize this handwriting," Dean Jiang said.

Seeing He Yuzhu staring at the exam paper without speaking, Dean Jiang added, "He Yuzhu, this exam paper must be kept well, especially the comment above—do you know what it represents? Your future is limitless."

"Rest assured, Dean Jiang, this exam paper will become a family heirloom of ours," He Yuzhu said, rolling up the exam paper and holding it carefully.

Dean Jiang, seeing He Yuzhu's expression, smiled slightly and said, "No need to wait for the exam results; I can tell you now, He Yuzhu, you are already an official student of Huaxia University," and handed him an admission notice.

He Yuzhu received the admission notice, saw his name written on it, and said to Dean Jiang, "Thank you, Dean Jiang."

After Dean Jiang gave He Yuzhu a few more pointers about attending school, he let He Yuzhu leave; once He Yuzhu walked out of the Comprehensive Building and stepped onto the ground, he felt soft underfoot, his whole body light and buoyant.