Chapter 319 - The Second Public Lecture! (1/2)
Outside the Grand Auditorium.
The square was lively.
The female reporter and cameraman, who were from Jins.h.i.+ locality television station, had their hands full, first was Yao Mi from the Chinese department, then the bespectacled male student from the Mathematics department and lastly, with the straight A student, Senior Song. The Tianjin television station reporter could only feel one emotion right now, and it was that the people from Peking University were totally from a different world than them. She had only wanted to get a simple interview, why was it so difficult?!
“The eleventh problem is…”
“Student, student. That will do.”
“No, I’m not finished. The eleventh problem is an important character in the Jia residence…”
Many Chinese department students knew Senior Song. Even people from other departments had heard of Senior Song, so when they saw the female reporter’s expression, they were all extremely amused!
“Hilarious!”
“Haha, Senior Song is doing it again!”
“The moment academic issues crop up, there’s no way to stop her!”
“Those reporters are really unlucky. Of all the students here, they had to pick the Straight A Student Song! They even dared ask her about the academic issues of the lecture! This will probably take over an hour to talk about. Senior Song is not called Straight A Student Song for nothing!”
There were all sorts of geniuses in Peking University, and it quite was obvious here today.
Over there, Yao Mi made her dormitory mate help her to queue while she went over to the reporter and cameraman to speak well of Zhang Ye. Yet another reporter had their hands full with her, so they quickly escaped and hid from her!
The Chinese department teachers had also come.
As long as they had no afternoon lessons, they all made their way to the grand auditorium.
Seeing the reporter’s sticky situation, seeing the crowds of people, Professor Zeng, who had a good relations.h.i.+p with Zhang Ye, smiled and said, “This scene, I doubt even the auditorium that can hold 5000 people will have enough seats for everyone.”
Su Na was quite surprised. “So many students?”
Department Dean Chang Kaige frowned. “How many people skipped cla.s.ses for there to be so many here?”
Zhen Shuquan quipped, “This time, higher management from the school will come to listen in. Let’s enter first. I think if we enter late, there won’t even be seats for us.”
Other than the Chinese department teachers, there were also teachers from the History department, as well as other departments here to join in the bustle. After they saw this, they were rendered speechless. Zhang Ye’s cla.s.s was just an elective. It only had about a hundred people enrolled in the cla.s.s, but in the end, the public lecture had such a huge turnout? 5000 people? What was this!? This had already broken the attendance record of Peking University’s public lectures! Such a large auditorium was only used for performances during conferences! The school had reserved this location for Zhang Ye to hold his public lecture because they had already expected the turnout to be larger than usual, but they had not expected the seats to be completely taken up. Judging by the situation now, not only would the seats be fully taken up, it would not even be enough to hold everyone! Behind them, they could even see students from their own departments who were supposed to have afternoon lessons, yet those students were here queuing up for a lesson that they weren’t even supposed to attend!
It was a torture to compare people!
Trash thrown out upon comparison!
Zhang Ye’s appeal was something that really left these Peking University lecturers with nothing to say, but they also knew they could not compare to him. After all, Zhang Ye’s status was still a celebrity and the things he claimed now were really too shocking. If they themselves dared to claim something like “’Journey to the West’ was not written by Wu Chengen” at a place like Peking University, they would also be able to gain attention from the whole of society, but what’s important was that they did not dare to make those claims!
“Zhang Ye offended the literature world yesterday?”
“Yes, he posted a limerick on Weibo yesterday that offended the entire world of literature!”
“Why is he like that? His claims still can’t hold any water and he dares to offend people like that?”
“Our Peking University is an inst.i.tution of over a hundred years, he better not destroy our reputation. I hope that Zhang Ye can bring out some really solid proof today or else it will not end well.”
“Yea, when I was outside earlier, I saw Dean Liu hosting some experts from the literary world for lunch. I suppose they will be joining this public lecture later.”
“Zhang Ye has forced himself down a path of no return.”
“Hopefully, he can back his claims up properly. If he can’t do so, it would be too embarra.s.sing, not only for himself, but for everyone of us at Peking University.”
The few teachers from the various departments had some worries and concerns.
The Chinese department’s Secretary and Dean also had similar thoughts. This was no longer just Zhang Ye’s problem alone. It was now a problem of the Chinese department and even of Peking University. If anything went wrong, Chang Kaige and Zhen Shuquan would have their fair share of responsibility too. And this responsibility was too heavy to bear — Changing the history of one of the Four Great Cla.s.sical Novels and misleading the students, it was a responsibility that even they could not take on. If it were just brought up as a point in a normal lecture, it might be fine. It wouldn’t spread to the public. Even if it did, they could still control it, but now, it was like water that had been poured, they wouldn’t be able to contain it anymore. The entire society already knew of this. There were so many students and so many reporters present. And as if Zhang Ye still did not have his hands full, he even added fuel to fire and offended the entire literary world. The literary world was now taking it up with them and had sent a few dozen members over today. Together with the education and world history’s people, it could be said that Peking University was a gathering place of the elite today. Whether they were here to pick a thorn or witness the commotion, they were all here!
This Zhang Ye!
He really makes others worry!
At the same time.
As Zhang Ye’s car entered the gates of Peking University, a phone call came.
“Son.” It was Mom who called. “You’ve gotten into big trouble this time!”
Zhang Ye chuckled. “Mom, relax. I have a sense of propriety.”
Mom said angrily, “Your Dad and I only knew you got into such big trouble after watching the morning news. Are you dying? Why can’t you rest a day!? You even dare to trample on the Four Great Cla.s.sical Novels? Great, now see what’s happening? Everyone is scolding you. You really do not know when to stop!”
Zhang Ye said, “I really know what I am doing. Alright Mum, tell Dad not to worry either. I am at Peking University now and have to prepare for my cla.s.s. Don’t say anymore.”
The call ended.
Ring, ring, ring. It was Wu Zeqing’s number.
Zhang Ye hurriedly slowed down his car to pick the call up. “President Wu.”
“Are you here yet?” Wu Zeqing’s gentle voice was very soothing to the ears.
“I’m here. I just pa.s.sed through the school gates.” Zhang Ye said.
Wu Zeqing acknowledged. “How are your preparations?”
Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Pretty much done. It all depends on how I express myself when the time comes. I did not prepare a script. I’m the kind of player that does better on the field. Hur Hur.”
Wu Zeqing said, “Then I’m relieved.”
“You really trust me? You aren’t afraid I’ll screw up?” Zhang Ye asked out of curiosity.
Wu Zeqing said calmly, “Since I invited you to join Peking University, then I naturally trust you completely. No matter what others say, just follow your own thoughts and lecture on.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ye turned silent. “…Thank you.”
Wu Zeqing said, “Alright, that will be all. I’ll be going to the auditorium to listen to your cla.s.s. I’m honestly looking forward to what you will talk about today. Don’t disappoint everyone.”