After New Year’s Day passed, it was now the year 2054.
Following a heavy snowfall, the capital was wrapped in a blanket of silver.
With final exams approaching, the atmosphere on campus suddenly grew tense, and students hurried about everywhere.
Jiang Fuyue still spent most of her time in the laboratory.
The research on the new project had entered its final stage, and there were many miscellaneous tasks, so Xu Kaiqing, who had just become free, was grabbed as temporary labor.
“I say, why didn’t you catch Old Peter instead?”
“Peter’s been busy sorting out his visa lately. He’s already swamped.” Jiang Fuyue tossed him a stack of materials. “Before dinner, arrange these for me in the order of the periodic table. Thanks.”
Xu Kaiqing muttered quietly, “I’m pretty busy too…”
“Right. Busy arguing with the School of Engineering.”
“…”
Some time ago, Xu Kaiqing had clashed with the dean of the Engineering School. What had originally been a dispute between two people escalated into a war between two colleges, and it still hadn’t settled down.
Xu Kaiqing said, “Wasn’t it just that his application to move into Wujin Building got rejected? He can’t accept losing, so he dragged Ming University into it. In the end he’s just sour grapes.”
The cause was simple. Liu Dewu, the dean of the Engineering School, had submitted an application to Ming University, hoping to move into Wujin Building.
But the self-application quota was already full. If he wanted to get in, he could only use an invitation quota.
However, invitation quotas were not easy to obtain.
Although Liu Dewu was a dean, his personal academic achievements were mediocre. He had none of the country’s top science awards nor any internationally renowned discipline awards.
To put it bluntly, he didn’t even reach the threshold for an “invitation quota.”
Naturally, Xiao Shan’s side rejected the application.
At the time Liu Dewu didn’t say anything, but he soon began spreading rumors everywhere. He said that a trash university like Ming University didn’t even count as an undergraduate institution, what right did it have to decide who could enter or leave Wujin Building?
He also said that Wujin Building being built inside Ming University’s campus was itself a ridiculous thing. How could a “pheasant university” deserve such a high-level interdisciplinary laboratory building?
…
If this kept going, Wujin Building would sooner or later be finished.
If the relevant authorities weren’t confused, they should place Wujin Building under direct management and kick Ming University, this “pheasant,” aside.
…
What Wujin Building? It might as well be called the Pheasant University Laboratory Building.
It reeks of chicken droppings, just thinking about it ruins the appetite.
It’s not some proper place anyway. Who would even care about getting in?
…
Those who had already moved in only applied early and gained a time advantage. Other than that, did they have any other exceptional abilities?
A mixed pot of everything, a chaotic stew of dragons and snakes, what research results could possibly come out of that?
…
Statements like these spread everywhere, from insulting Ming University, to dissing Wujin Building, and finally even dragging in the scientists who had successfully moved into Wujin Building.
This Dean Liu’s mouth was really fierce, and foul!
At first he was relatively restrained, only complaining inside the Engineering School. Seeing that no one refuted him, he grew more and more reckless and started talking everywhere.
It wasn’t that people weren’t refuting him.
They simply had concerns from various angles and chose not to confront him directly.
Some people simply didn’t dare. After all, Liu Dewu, as a dean, held considerable power. Making life difficult for someone would only take a moment.
Others simply couldn’t be bothered. They were too disdainful to argue, and instead turned around and told their friends about him like he was a joke.
Who didn’t know that now half the professors at Q University were teaching part-time at Ming University?
Living in luxurious apartments in the city center, earning several times their monthly salary, eating at Ming University’s cafeteria for free, using Ming University’s laboratories…
The benefits were obvious. Those professors weren’t fools, didn’t they have their own judgment about whether Ming University was good or bad?
Why listen to the gossip of a loser who had been rejected?
On the surface they smiled and listened to Liu Dewu complain, but in their hearts they had already cursed him countless times as “idiot” and “moron.”
Yet Liu Dewu interpreted their silence as agreement, and afterward became even more unrestrained in his speech.
By sheer coincidence, he ran straight into Xu Kaiqing.
When Xu Kaiqing heard those words, his face darkened immediately.
Not only did he scold Liu Dewu harshly, he also publicly exposed Liu Dewu’s malicious intent to smear and slander Wujin Building simply because he failed to get in.
That set Liu Dewu off like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He instantly exploded and started tearing into Xu Kaiqing on the spot.
One was the dean of the Physics School, the other the dean of the Engineering School. Beyond themselves, they also represented the honor and face of their respective colleges.
Thus, the battle between the two colleges began.
Under Xu Kaiqing’s matchmaking, the Physics School had formed a “brotherhood alliance” with Ming University’s physics department over the past year. The two sides shared resources, complemented each other’s strengths, and maintained a very close relationship.
Q University physics people: Ming University’s food is delicious, the pay is high, the campus is large, they’re generous, and they’re not pretentious.
In one word, great!
Ming University physics people: The guys from Q University have high IQs and are honest. They solve problems quickly, their experiments are excellent, and we’ve learned a lot from them.
In one word, cling!
The two sides benefited from each other and happily studied together in sweet harmony~
Now the Engineering School was targeting their “good brothers,” calling them “pheasants” at every turn. How could they tolerate that?
The Q University Physics School rose up to fight back.
Of course, the Engineering School wasn’t easy to deal with either. They had never eaten Ming University’s food nor enjoyed its rich benefits. They had long been envious and resentful, and now seized this opportunity to vent everything.
For a time, Q University was extremely lively.
It was said that the matter even made it onto the campus forum and became a joke for other schools to watch.
…
While organizing the materials in his hands, Xu Kaiqing kept grumbling nonstop:
“That Liu Dewu doesn’t have much ability or achievements, yet he loves to run his mouth. He should have been dealt with long ago.”
“And that Engineering School he leads, from top to bottom they’re impatient and restless, always thinking about how many commercial projects they can get and how much money they can make. In the end they’ve achieved nothing academically. When the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam goes crooked too!”
“Liu Dewu even has the nerve to clash with me? Acting like a tyrant in his own territory is one thing, but does he really think everyone is afraid of him? Who am I? I’m Xu Kaiqing! Nicknamed, the Old Steel Cannon! Can he out-explode me?”
“Good thing he didn’t get approved back then. Just imagining seeing that petty villain’s face in Wujin Building makes me, ugh, want to puke!”
Xu Kaiqing complained for as long as he sorted the materials, never stopping the whole time, his mouth chattering nonstop.
Jiang Fuyue said, “Do you want some water?”
Xu Kaiqing smacked his lips. “Now that you mention it, my throat does feel a little dry. Get me a bottle.”
After drinking it, he could continue!
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
Finally, after venting almost everything, Xu Kaiqing suddenly asked, “…Why aren’t you angry at all?”
Xu Kaiqing knew how much effort Jiang Fuyue had put into Ming University and Wujin Building, and what she had done for them.
Logically speaking, if Ming University was being cursed and Wujin Building insulted, she should be the angriest person.
Yet she acted as if nothing had happened?
Without even raising her head, Jiang Fuyue adjusted the experimental parameters, her movements quick and steady.
“What’s the use of being angry? Will anger shut everyone’s mouths? Smash Dean Liu’s dog head?”
Xu Kaiqing laughed. “Hehe… that probably wouldn’t work.”
“Verbal disputes only bring temporary satisfaction. If you really want to completely slap the other party’s face, or even peel off their face and throw it on the ground to be trampled, then you still have to speak with facts.”
“Facts speak?”
Xu Kaiqing didn’t quite understand. “What do you mean?”
Jiang Fuyue smiled faintly. “Very soon, you’ll know.”
Xu Kaiqing had the feeling she was holding back something bad, but he had no evidence.
What he didn’t expect was that the “very soon” Jiang Fuyue mentioned would come this quickly…
Two days later, the Airesen Alumni Association Network officially released the “2053 China University Evaluation Research Report.” This marked the 51st consecutive year that the Airesen Alumni Association university research team had published the China university rankings.
The list showed that B University topped the 2053 Top 600 China Universities Ranking, winning first place in China for the sixth consecutive year; Q University followed closely behind in second place; below them were F University, Z University, S Jiaotong University, and so on.
No one was surprised that these famous universities appeared on the list.
However, within the domestic top 100 list, a completely unexpected school appeared,
Qiming University!
And it wasn’t barely included at the bottom either; it was clearly listed at 42nd place!
On the same day, Wulianshu and the Soft Science Global Ranking also released the “2053 Ranking of Chinese Higher Education Institutions.” Qiming University ranked 52nd and 37th respectively.
What was worth mentioning was that on Wulianshu’s “Annual International Reputation and Influence” sub-ranking list, Ming University actually surpassed B University and Q University, ranking first!
Boom,
The university world experienced an unprecedented earthquake.
“Are you kidding?”
“Ming University isn’t even an undergraduate institution, how can it rank ahead of B University and Q University?”
“This is simply absurd! What’s the difference between this and a monkey becoming the king of beasts or a chick becoming the lead sheep?”
“I just want to ask, what right does Ming University have? Because they have too much money and too many fools? Either playboys or hooligans? Or because they have a bad reputation and poor student quality, with a bunch of rich kids who only know how to loaf around?!”
As expected of cultured people, even their insults rhymed.
“…”
Most voices in the academic circle were dissatisfied.
Some professionals even began questioning the authority and objectivity of Wulianshu.
However, coincidentally, on the Soft Science Global Ranking’s “Annual International Awards” sub-ranking list, Ming University still led the field.
If one institution made a mistake, that would be one thing, but when two authoritative organizations both ranked it this way, how should that be explained?
People within the circle who understood the situation began to fall silent.
Because they had already realized what the problem was.
However, due to information asymmetry online, and because many netizens were not very familiar with these two rankings, everyone had their own interpretations.
Soon, it rushed onto the trending lists.
#MingUniversityRanking
#MingUniversityRankingSurpassesBUniversityAndQUniversity
#PheasantMingUniversity
#UniversityRankings
In previous years, university rankings also trended once released, but never as intensely as this time.
Netizens were roughly divided into three groups.
One group expressed support and congratulations,
【What’s wrong with Ming University? Just because it’s not a first-tier university means it can’t enter the rankings?】
【What era is this? Are we still judging heroes by their background?】
【“Are kings and generals born noble?” Haven’t you heard that? Go review your middle school textbooks!】
【Ming University’s achievements last year were obvious to everyone. Why shouldn’t it be on the list?】
【Congratulations to Ming University, hard work always pays off】
【I really don’t understand what some people are being sour about. When a celebrity becomes popular you attack them; now you won’t even spare university rankings?】
【Some people just can’t stand others doing well. Ming University, fly bravely, your fans will always follow~】
…
Another group opposed it,
【This is unfair to other established prestigious universities, and unfair to students who fought through intense competition to stand out】
【Ming University has been very popular this past year, and there are discussions about it everywhere online. But popularity doesn’t mean the school is good, how did it suddenly jump ahead of B University and Q University? This is too childish!】
【I suspect Wulianshu and the Soft Science Global Ranking accepted money from Ming University】
【Seriously? You can even play like this?】
【Ming University must have spent quite a lot on public relations this past year. Trending topics one after another, discussion numbers skyrocketing】
【A real-life story of a pheasant flying onto a branch and becoming a phoenix. Truly the tragedy of education and the tears of this era.】
【If you have money you can do whatever you want. Just wash up and sleep, you can’t fight it】
【I’ve held it in for a long time, Ming University, shameless!】
【+1】
【Ming University only improved slightly in the last year or two, and now it’s already arrogantly stepping on B University and Q University. Who gave it the nerve?】
…
There was also a neutral group,
【Don’t rush. Let’s wait a bit.】
【Experience tells me: let the bullets fly for a while】
【Not taking sides, not biased, just rationally eating popcorn, thanks.】
【Strongly request that Wulianshu and the Soft Science Global Ranking publish their single-item/subcategory ranking criteria!】
…
In response, Wulianshu and the Soft Science Global Ranking quickly issued explanations.
Almost one after the other, both posted statements on their official websites and social media accounts explaining the results.
First was Wulianshu’s “Annual International Reputation and Influence” ranking, where the number of international scientific research awards won was the only ranking standard.
Key point: only.
This was a single-item ranking, not a comprehensive one.
Looking at domestic universities last year, the only institution that obtained a global S-level scientific research award was Ming University.
In parentheses it specifically noted: Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, recipient Jiang Fuyue.
Next was the Soft Science Global Ranking’s “Annual International Awards,” also a single-item ranking, evaluated by the number of global S-level scientific awards and domestic competition awards obtained.
With the Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, Hua Luogeng Award, Chern Shing-Shen Award, Zhou Weiliang Award, Xu Baolu Award, Lin Jia-Qiao Award, and Shiing-Shen Chern Award, Ming University unquestionably took first place.
This time, the voices of criticism online disappeared completely.
【Case solved! It was a single-category ranking to begin with, what is there to mock?】
【Exactly! No one said Ming University’s overall strength surpassed B University and Q University. It’s just exceptionally outstanding in certain categories】
【There’s really no need to be so unable to accept others doing well】
【I didn’t know until now, but after seeing it, wow. Ming University won so many awards in the past year?】
【Ming University’s awards basically equal Sister Yue’s awards, no one disagrees with that, right?】
【My Sister Yue alone carried Ming University’s ranking. I kneel】
【Whoever gets Jiang Fuyue gets the world, no objections, right?】
【I wonder if when Sister Yue chose Ming University with a perfect score, it was for this day】
【I think the person above uncovered the truth! Preserving history isn’t as fun as creating history. If she went to Q University or B University, Sister Yue would only be icing on the cake; but Ming University is different, once she arrived, the school came alive】
【So touching. My school also needs a Sister Yue, wuwuwu, 】
【Alright, nothing more needs to be said, please type “Goddess Yue forever the GOAT” on the screen!】
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