Top Student at Their Peak-Chapter 248 - 111: So This Is the Adult World, Huh_4

"What do you mean, Grandpa? Anyway, Senior Brother told me he just wants to graduate." freёwebnoѵel.com

Yuan Zhengxin pondered for a moment, then said with disdain, "I’ve never met this Senior Brother Chen of yours, but from a mentor’s perspective, with so many PhD students graduating every year, who can guarantee every paper has something new? Now, many professors write worthless papers, let alone students.

It’s clear he just lacks the talent to come up with something novel, but if the paper itself is passable, finding a few familiar professors to arrange a defense would let him pass. Tian Yanzhen wouldn’t go so far as to block a student’s graduation.

So either he wants his mentor to write him a recommendation letter, but Tian Yanzhen refuses, or he wants help from the mentor to graduate. After all, being a student of an Academician, it’s hard not to gain some benefits—losing out would be a shame."

"Oh... I see?" Qiao Yu suddenly realized...

No wonder.

He couldn’t find any faults with Senior Brother Chen’s paper, just that it felt uninteresting.

Thinking carefully, he seemed to know Senior Brother Chen’s goal...

"Um, when chatting with Senior Brother Chen before, he said he didn’t want to do research in the future, just wanted to get a teaching job at a university."

Yuan Zhengxin nodded, saying, "See, that’s it. Tian Yanzhen’s position has only become more solid over the years. If he were willing to make a recommendation, there’s no chance at Yanbei, but there are still plenty of schools in Huaxia he could get into.

I fear he had already spoken to Tian Yanzhen about it, but your mentor didn’t want to recommend him, so he set some unrealistic requirements for the student’s PhD paper to make him back off. By the way, has your Senior Brother taken on some additional odd jobs at the research center?"

Qiao Yu nodded, surprised, and said, "Yes, Senior Brother Chen is currently responsible for things like arranging the research center’s venue. How could you guess that?"

Yuan Zhengxin chuckled and said, "No need to guess, you’ll understand when you become a mentor—students of all kinds you will see. Relatively speaking, your Senior Brother Chen belongs to the hard-working, uncomplaining type, and it’s not that he doesn’t want to achieve; he’s just not that smart and has tunnel vision.

Honestly, such students are already quite good. At least he doesn’t scheme against his mentor. Actually, if some students have talent, who would be willing to do these chores? Most would think about using your teacher’s connections to join research groups for achievements and projects."

Qiao Yu smacked his lips, then had nothing to say.

No wonder that day, when he casually mentioned going to a prestigious university to be a teacher, Senior Brother Chen was so excited.

Turns out, in the current situation, Director Tian actually wants Senior Brother Chen to quickly graduate and seek his own path. But Senior Brother Chen hopes his mentor can give him a lift...

So he straightforwardly asked, "I’ve also read Senior Brother Chen’s paper, it’s quite good, after all, once he graduates, he’ll have a PhD degree, can’t he at least get into a university to be a lecturer?"

Yuan Zhengxin glanced at Qiao Yu and patiently answered, "He can, but it also depends on which university. Nowadays, better universities require professors to have achievements. At lesser universities, the mathematics department is just a placeholder.

Judging by your Senior Brother’s doctoral paper, he likely doesn’t have much substantial work to show during his PhD time. If he wants to teach, unless he’s willing to settle in a place with poor resources, like some second-tier schools in the west, or some schools in need of PhD resources while planning to upgrade.

But having managed to be a student of an Academician, when his peers are doing well in top universities, would he be content staying in a school no one has heard of, living an obscure life?

Or he could take a chance, go to some internet or tech companies to do applied research, but what he’s learned all along doesn’t align with application, his ability for fundamental research isn’t strong enough, so what to do stuck in the middle?"

Qiao Yu suddenly realized.

Sure enough, Qiao Xi was right, those who get into Huaqing and Yanbei are smart people, there’s not a single foolish one!

Senior Brother Chen, who typically seemed kind and honest, actually had such careful thoughts. Truly, navigating any circle requires experience, otherwise, you might even count money for the other side after being sold...

"I see! I always thought Senior Brother Chen was so anxious about graduation that he was balding. I feel so dumb!" Qiao Yu said gloomily.

Yuan Zhengxin smiled slightly, and said, "You’re quick-minded, but after all, you’re only in your teens and have encountered fewer things, so it’s normal not to consider some things. If you could analyze all of this at your age, I would even doubt your background.

And these aren’t about intelligence or wit, just life’s lessons. Once you go through it, maybe you’ll understand better than I do. But now the problem is before you; do you still want to help with the promise you made to Senior Brother Chen?"

Qiao Yu thought for a moment and sincerely said, "Grandpa, if you have a way, could you still help a bit? Although Senior Brother Chen hid some things from me, I am someone who feels I should follow through on what I’ve promised others.

But I’ve learned my lesson this time; in the future, apart from my closest people, and my mentor, and you, Grandpa, I won’t make casual promises to anyone else. Moreover, as you said, Senior Brother Chen is hardworking and decent."

Yuan Zhengxin nodded, casually picking up Chen Zhuoyang’s thesis, handed it to Qiao Yu, and said, "Alright, take this back to him. Tell him to just apply for the defense. Then have him talk to his mentor directly. If Tian Yanzhen still doesn’t want to help him with a recommendation, I will recommend a place for him."