Chapter 172: Li Ye: You Must Not Believe a Word I Say

Yu Liansheng was furious.

His temper had been out of sorts since before the lecture even began.

The first-year student in the back row had the audacity to be "humorous" and make female classmates laugh during such a precious learning session.

This attitude toward learning was utterly improper.

Think back three years ago, when I first entered Peking University—the campus atmosphere was so thick with academic fervor; everyone's mind was consumed by study alone, and even over a single point of knowledge, they'd argue until they couldn't sleep.

But look at these past two years: dancing has become a craze, poets are everywhere, and everyone's started studying success theories, burying their ambitions deep inside, speaking less to avoid mistakes, saying nothing to avoid trouble—where's the sense of responsibility to shoulder the fate of the world?

After the lecture started, that first-year student actually came with nothing but his ears—everyone else was taking notes, yet he just sat there, ears perked, staring blankly.

And he had the nerve to tell that girl, "I don't need paper or pen."

【You think you've got a perfect memory, huh? Fine, wait and see.】

Yu Liansheng made up his mind: as soon as the lecture ended and Mr. Zhang left, he'd quiz the kid on his coursework—did he even understand Political Economy as a first-year?

What's the point of wasting a seat if you haven't learned it?

But before Mr. Zhang had even left, Nakamura Naoto jumped up—and that bastard sent Yu Liansheng into a rage.

You're a student from another major—what right do you have to question Mr. Zhang's arguments, and how dare you tell him to correct himself?

Though if he were honest with himself, if Yu Liansheng had heard "your flower planting will collapse" spoken by a foreigner, he'd have exploded too, charging forward without hesitation to fight.

But this is our own territory—no matter who you are, if you've got a temper, you keep it bottled up; we won't indulge your rotten habits.

The classmates beside him knew Yu Liansheng's temper and immediately grabbed his arm with all their strength.

But how could a cannon like Yu Liansheng be held back?

He struggled violently to break free, ready to stand up, step over heads, and charge forward to spit right in that bastard's face—if the guy dared insult him, he'd smash him with a punch.

But as Yu Liansheng just lifted his ass, someone stole his thunder—he turned around and saw it was that kid, which made him even angrier.

What are you rushing to take? This concerns the little days—can a first-year even handle it? Let me handle it—I've already pissed off enough people.

But when Yu Liansheng heard Li Ye's full sentence, he suddenly felt deeply satisfied.

"Whether your little days' economy thrives or collapses doesn't seem to depend on your effort, diligence, or intelligence, but on some far stronger nation, doesn't it?"

Li Ye's words struck like thunder, plunging the entire hall into silence.

The unmasked, blatant contempt in Li Ye's tone made hundreds of people in the room instinctively think of two words—boldness.

This was supposed to be a friendly atmosphere; Nakamura Naoto had shown goodwill—loans, exchange students, advanced products—all poured into the land where Li Ye stood.

But Li Ye's words felt like he was pointing directly at Nakamura Naoto's nose and yelling—You're a puppet, a mere watchdog, what are you playing at pretending to be a big shot?

Imagine how explosive that must have sounded to Nakamura Naoto's ears.

Nakamura Naoto stood frozen for several seconds before grasping Li Ye's full meaning—he wasn't speaking his native tongue, and in three years, he'd never heard such impolite speech; he had zero psychological preparation.

When he finally understood, and saw again the face he'd wanted to tear apart a thousand times, his blood boiled with rage.

"Baka. You've gone too far."

Though Nakamura quickly regained composure, switching his final words to Mandarin with his usual humble phrasing, it was like bowing while beheading you—obviously fake.

"Who the hell are you calling?"

Yu Liansheng finally leapt up, roaring at Nakamura Naoto.

He then turned to Li Ye and signaled with his eyes: "Sit down, let me deal with this bastard."

This gesture drastically changed Li Ye's opinion of Yu Liansheng.

He could clearly sense Yu Liansheng wasn't trying to steal the spotlight—he was quietly "protecting," an upperclassman shielding a freshman.

"Both of you sit down."

Finally, a professor reacted, sternly reprimanding Li Ye and Yu Liansheng.

But he didn't just scold his own students—he turned to Nakamura Naoto and said sharply: "Student, this is an academic lecture—do not argue here on matters unrelated to scholarship.

Your attitude toward Mr. Zhang was extremely disrespectful; I will report today's incident truthfully to your homeroom teacher."

But Nakamura Naoto was already blinded by rage—he wouldn't listen to a professor's scolding.

He replied just as sternly: "I don't consider this unrelated to scholarship—isn't this an economics lecture? Isn't what I said an economic fact?

Our little days' achievements in economics are undisputedly the world's number one—before such ironclad facts, how dare a student who knows nothing accuse and slander us?"

Nakamura Naoto turned and pointed directly at Li Ye.

"Li Ye, you must apologize for your behavior—publicly and sincerely apologize to us."

"."

All eyes followed Nakamura's finger toward Li Ye.

Sun Xianjin, Chen Xiaoling, Zhen Rongrong—all panicked; they never imagined attending a lecture and learning knowledge would land them in such undeserved trouble.

Anything involving foreigners was never trivial—after tonight, not only would Li Ye be dragged in, but even his homeroom teacher, Mu Yunning, would be forced to explain himself to the university.

Professor Zhang on stage also turned to look at Li Ye.

Then his gaze flickered with surprise.

That young-looking Li Ye wasn't the least bit nervous—not feigned calm, but genuinely unshaken.

And the girl beside him was interesting too—her cold, sharp gaze was like a blade.

Moreover, her small hand subtly clasped Li Ye's large one, offering silent psychological support.

【Interesting—today's students aren't all worse than the last generation.】

Professor Zhang unconsciously lifted his glass cup to his lips, then realized he'd already finished the last sip of tea.

Facing Nakamura Naoto's accusation, Li Ye was truly unfazed.

Others didn't know the little days' economic bubble was about to burst—they were dazzled by its current brilliance and lacked confidence. But Li Ye knew clearly.

And decades later, Great China would unquestionably crush its economy in scale—Li Ye had overwhelming psychological advantage.

This psychological advantage manifested in his personal demeanor as absolute confidence.

Li Ye was about to confidently rebut Nakamura Naoto—when someone beat him to it.

Yu Liansheng dramatically declared: "Wait, that guy actually knows you? Oh no, this is bad—

He knows how tough I am, so he's picking on you, the soft target—buddy, you got this?"

Yu Liansheng spoke loudly; though it sounded like concern for Li Ye, everyone heard it—and burst into laughter.

They were laughing at Nakamura Naoto.

An 80-level international student picking on a 82-level freshman? Just moments ago he demanded Mr. Zhang correct himself, now he's turning around and demanding Li Ye apologize?

Are you ashamed? Are you embarrassed? Do you think you're so clever?

Even with thick skin, Nakamura Naoto was rattled—but he still forced himself to say to Li Ye: "You're just a first-year, barely understand many concepts—how can you speak recklessly in such a serious setting?

Apologize to me now, and I'll overlook your ignorance. Otherwise, I'll report this incident truthfully to the university."

"Is it you who's ignorant?" Li Ye finally gained the floor: "Your thirty years of rapid development—didn't it come from the help of a great nation? Dare you say no?"

Nakamura Naoto took five deep breaths, then gritted his teeth: "We have no relationship of help between us and the Lantern Nation—they supported us as allies, and we gave them equal returns and assistance."

"No, no, no—you misunderstand."

Li Ye shook his head in surprise: "The great nation I mean is us—you should thank us. Without our help, you'd never have had the chance for economic takeoff."

"."

Nakamura Naoto was stunned—he couldn't fathom how Li Ye could speak such nonsense.

Our little days' prosperity has nothing to do with your flower land.

"You're lying!"

Nakamura Naoto shouted angrily. Around him, most students and teachers frowned—except a few sharp-minded ones who had already guessed Li Ye's meaning.

But Li Ye's expression grew cold.

The faint sneer on his face turned into a razor-sharp blade.

"I'm not lying. In 1945, your homeland was rubble. In 1950, your people starved—your entire nation saw no hope."

"But in October 1950, we fought a war in the north."

"We're all studying economics—we know demand creates markets. That northern war was demand.

War is a money-devouring beast. In just three years, countless funds and materials flooded your country, helping you rebuild factories from the ruins, reconstruct an entire industrial chain to meet market needs."

"Most of the shells on the northern battlefield came from your own factories. Your ports were packed with cargo ships from around the world.

Your hospitals were filled with wounded soldiers screaming nonstop—all of this gave you opportunity—you saw explosive growth in machinery, medicine, and transportation."

Li Ye's calm voice echoed through the hall, deafening.

"After the war, the shell factories switched to making machinery; the tank factories began producing cars."

"Your thirty years of prosperity stemmed entirely from those three years of explosive demand. Without them, you'd still be a poor agricultural nation. If you don't believe me, ask MacArthur."

Li Ye curled his lips again, smirking at Nakamura Naoto: "So tell me—shouldn't you thank us for helping you back then?"

"."

The hall wasn't silent anymore—it was dead quiet.

Yet the classmates staring at Li Ye with strange eyes—each one's eyes gleamed, cheeks flushed.

Li Ye's words were sensitive, bold—but wasn't this the Peking University spirit?

Several professors remained silent. They hadn't stopped him earlier—they'd let him finish everything. That was already a kind of tacit support.

It was thrilling to hear!

Professor Zhang had already sat back down, watching the drama like a spectator.

Li Ye's words meant little to him personally—but they were damn satisfying to hear. Who the hell wants a little day blocking his path, demanding he correct himself?

I correct you? I correct your ass.

Who the hell do you think you are?

Fuck it, just shove this thing right back.

Nakamura Naoto felt the same deep loathing his grandfather had spoken of.

He was surrounded, fighting a lonely, hopeless battle.

Nakamura Naoto stiffened his neck and retorted, "Li Ye, what you just said isn't an economics question—you're deliberately muddying the waters and fooling all of us here."

"."

Yu Liansheng immediately jumped to his feet again.

Just now the teacher said we can't discuss non-economics topics here, you claimed this was an economics question, and now you're picking up shit and calling it rations? Can you even swallow that?

But Li Ye's reaction was much faster than Yu Liansheng's.

"Is that so? I'm just a freshman, so some knowledge I haven't mastered thoroughly—"

Li Ye bent down, reached out, and took a textbook from Zhen Rongrong—Political Economy.

A major country's economy has never been a single economic issue; Nakamura Naoto's statement had a slight flaw.

Li Ye pointed to the five large characters on the textbook's cover and said, "I might've confused these words, so fellow seniors, juniors, and classmates—please don't believe everything I say."

"."

"Hahahahaha~"

Yu Liansheng muttered in admiration, "Bro, I really admire you—you're twisting logic but making yourself sound weak and innocent."

"I'm twisting logic? How could I? I'm a good student."

Li Ye's humble explanation sparked another round of laughter; what had been a serious debate turned into a comedy show.

Under the crushing wave of laughter, Nakamura Naoto finally lost control of his emotions.

(End of Chapter)