Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 397 Humility borders on arrogance

Chen Luyang turned to look at Lian Yinghua, only to see that Lian Yinghua's lips were pursed tightly, and her chin seemed to be straining.

Do you know when I first read Western philosophy?

Chen Luyang shook his head blankly.

...Does this have anything to do with me auditing philosophy classes?

“1968,” Lian Yinghua said.

"Back then, I would put it in cardboard and secretly rummage through it at night by the light of an oil lamp."

"But what about you now?"

"You get to read books, you get auditing passes to attend classes, and you even have the opportunity to discuss with philosophy professors—do you know how many people would give anything for this kind of environment?"

Lian Yinghua looked at Chen Luyang with disappointment and frustration, each word she uttered sounding like she was about to tear her heart and lungs out.

Although deep down he really didn't want Chen Luyang to audit philosophy classes,
But when Chen Luyang actually expressed her opinion and said she wouldn't go, Lian Yinghua became angry.

"The department approved your auditing certificate, not for you to just go and join in the fun."

"There are teachers willing to teach you, and a room full of philosophy students willing to listen to you."

"It's luck!"

"Once you miss it, it's gone forever."

Looking at Lian Yinghua's earnest words of advice, Chen Luyang couldn't help but feel moved.

He is neither his parents nor his own parents.

It wasn't the uncles, aunts, or old leaders from the machinery factory who watched me grow up.

To put it bluntly, I've only known him for less than a month, and I've only attended a few of his classes.

Even Yinghua could so sincerely reason with herself, guiding herself step by step onto the right path.

Just for the sake of Lian Yinghua's dedication to him, he should thank her and go to take philosophy classes.

but……

He's wasting his time studying philosophy!
To say something that might offend people,
If he actually went to a philosophy class, would he be listening to the teacher, or would the teacher be listening to him?!

Chen Luyang's inner thoughts: It's so painful!

Zhang Guozhen also chimed in, "Xiao Chen, this is a rare opportunity."

"Of course, it's up to you whether you go or not."

“But Lian Yinghua is right. If I were you, I wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away.”

have to……

Even the head of the economics department tried to persuade him.

If you don't agree, you'll be too stubborn and tactless.

Not only is he being tactless, but he's also likely to offend all the professors and students in the philosophy department.

Chen Luyang made a bitter face: "Okay, teacher, I'll go and sit in on the class."

The moment I received the certificate to observe the hearing

Before Zhang Guozhen and Lian Yinghua could give any instructions...
Chen Luyang spoke pitifully:
"Teacher, I'm a student in Class 1 of the Economics Department. I'm also our class's arts and culture representative, a class officer!!!! Even if I audit classes in the Philosophy Department, I'm still a member of the Economics Department. You can't abandon me in the future...!"

……

This is a mess...!
wipe!
As Chen Luyang walked out of the teaching building, she looked down at the auditing certificate in her hand with a sense of sullenness.

If you suggest he learn Chinese or art, to follow his heart's interests, he'll be quite happy...

philosophy……!
wipe!
It's not much different from learning English.

It's just a waste of time.

Despite grumbling, he still had to go to the philosophy department office to pick up his course schedule.

The Philosophy Department's Academic Affairs Office is on the 6th floor.

Speechless and panting, Chen Luyang climbed to the 6th floor, looked at the classroom signs, and finally found the "Philosophy Department Academic Affairs Office".

Two administrative staff members were sitting in the office.

When Chen Luyang knocked on the door, two administrative teachers were each holding a notebook, seemingly about to go out for a meeting.

Upon seeing Chen Luyang, a female teacher asked gently:

"Excuse me, is there something you need?"

Chen Luyang handed over her auditing certificate and politely said, "Teacher, I am an auditing student and would like to take a look at the class schedule to select courses."

The female teacher asked, "Are you Chen Luyang?"

"Yes, teacher. I am Chen Luyang from Class 1, Department of Economics."

Chen Luyang paused for a moment and asked, "Teacher, are you having a meeting? I'll come back this afternoon."

The female teacher beckoned to him, "No need, come over here. Director Xiao has already spoken to you, you can choose your courses first."

Chen Luyang swallowed hard, feeling a tightness in her chest.

Hey, what do you think Xiao Hui saw in me?!
They insisted that I come to sit in on the proceedings.
Is it really necessary to make such a fuss over Adam Smith?

The female teacher told the male teacher to go to the meeting first, and then she took out a large black notebook, opened it, and placed it on the table.

"These are the first-year classes. Copy down the class schedule."

Chen Luyang glanced at the classes on the timetable and asked, "Teacher, how many classes can I choose from here?"

The female teacher said, "You have a certificate from the department to audit classes, so you can select all of them."

"However, if your situation is special, I need to register the courses you have chosen so that it will be easier for you to take the final exams and have your grades recorded."

"Mmm." Chen Luyang nodded, then looked at the class schedule.

Although there are many types of philosophy courses in the first year, they are mostly basic introductory courses.

At a glance, almost all the courses are "Principles of Marxist Philosophy," "Introduction to Philosophy," "Introduction to Logic," and "Introduction to Ethics," aiming to provide a broad but not in-depth understanding.

To him, these things were nothing more than children playing house.

"Teacher, may I take a look at the second-year class schedule?" Chen Luyang asked.

The female teacher was taken aback: "You want to watch a second-year class?"

Chen Luyang tentatively asked, "Isn't this against the rules?"

The female teacher's expression was strange: "It's not against the rules, but if you don't listen to the freshman classes, you might not be able to understand the sophomore classes!"

Chen Luyang said modestly, "Teacher, I can understand it."

The female teacher hesitated for a moment, then took out another folder: "These are for second-year students."

Chen Luyang looked down!
Sure enough, the theoretical content of the second-year courses was significantly stronger than that of the first-year courses.

In addition to "Dialectical Materialism and Historical Materialism", "A Philosophical Introduction to Capital", "History of Chinese Philosophy", and "Ancient Greek Philosophy", it also includes "Ancient Greek Philosophy".

But these things... are too superficial for him.

"Teacher, may I look at some third-year classes?" Chen Luyang asked humbly again.

The female teacher's gaze was off.

Peking University has no shortage of talented people and geniuses!

There are plenty of students who skipped grades, audited classes, and are exceptionally talented!

But no matter how brilliant you are, you can't start by taking third-year classes!
This is too crazy.

However, the female teacher didn't say much.

Her job is to assist students with course selection.

The female teacher took out her third-year class schedule, opened the folder again, and placed it flat on the table.

Chen Luyang looked down!
That's about it...

By the third year, the course type in the philosophy department had also shifted from "theoretical strengthening" to "directional differentiation".

Western modern philosophy, existentialism and analytical philosophy, and foreign philosophy topics are all listed above.

The learning content finally focused on great philosophers such as Kant, Hegel, Hume, and Descartes.

Chen Luyang raised her eyebrows slightly.

That's right~
These are things that are somewhat interesting to learn.

But before he could make a choice, the female teacher spoke first.

"How about I show you my senior year coursework?"

Chen Luyang said modestly, "Thank you, teacher."

Looking at her senior year schedule, Chen Luyang frowned slightly. Senior year classes weren't as interesting as junior year classes.

After the "specialization" in the third year, the courses in the fourth year mainly consist of "papers and special topic seminars".

It's either a course on in-depth reading of original works, or a training course on philosophical writing and philosophical methodology.

Only one of the more philosophical ones is somewhat interesting.

The female teacher said, half seriously and half jokingly, "Student, if you take senior-level courses this year and pass your thesis next year, you'll be considered a philosophy major undergraduate."

Ok.

Ok?
Um!!!!!!!
In an instant, Chen Luyang's eyes seemed to see a weasel that had spotted a fat chicken, and a cunning abacus bead that emitted a faint green light!

Heart moved.

My heart is pounding!!
If I could get a degree in philosophy from Peking University in just one year, that would be amazing.

That's something you can brag about until you die.

He couldn't even imagine how happy his parents, sister and brother-in-law, younger sister and nephew would be!
but……

Senior year classes are so boring.

Rather than saying it's boring, it's more accurate to say that there's a lot more writing material for papers and seminars.

He really wanted to hear from Kant and Hegel.

Besides, it's not too late to get a philosophy degree by the end of the second year.

It's always good to be humble.

Don't try to do something big right away; you have to take it step by step!
Hehehe!
"Teacher, I'd like to take a course for the third year."

……

When the female teacher rushed into the meeting room with her notebook,
Xiao Hui is holding a meeting with the teachers to explain political discipline and the importance of a serious teaching stance.

To put it simply,
Xiao Hui looked at the female teacher and asked, "Is Chen Luyang here to select a course?"

The female teacher nodded: "Yes, he just finished selecting his courses."

Xiao Hui nodded with satisfaction and asked, "What courses did you choose?"

The female teacher said, "He chose four courses: Critique of Pure Reason, Empiricism and Skepticism, Intensive Readings in the Phenomenology of Spirit, and Special Topics in the Philosophy of Language."

Upon hearing this, all the teachers in the conference room looked up, staring at the female teacher in surprise.

"Did he take the wrong timetable? These are all third-year courses!" the Modern Western Philosophy professor exclaimed in surprise.

The female teacher said, "Chen Luyang said he could understand the classes in his first and second years, so he directly chose the third-year classes."

Oops...

These words surprised the teachers in the meeting room.

"This Chen Luyang is quite arrogant," Xiao Hui said with a smile, his tone ambiguous, neither praising nor criticizing.

"I think he's aiming for the heavens," the logic teacher added irritably.

"Taking a course from another department without building a solid foundation, and then starting with Hegel?" The professor of Western philosophy frowned slightly.

Xiao Hui said, "As long as he understands, let him go!"

"With so many of us, we're not afraid of our students soaring to great heights; we're afraid that the students we teach won't be able to reach those heights!"

In all his years of teaching, he has never seen anyone come up and immediately start studying Kant and Hegel.

"It would be even better if he could understand, as it would save us time."

A glint of light flashed in Xiao Hui's eyes.

The department is currently drafting a plan for translating the original text.
If Chen Luyang could understand Kant and Hegel sooner, it would be even better to integrate him directly into the translation team!

……

at this time,

Chen Luyang was completely unaware that Xiao Hui had taken a liking to her.

Instead, he happily headed to the library, intending to borrow a few books by Kant and Hegel.

He's always been carefree!
She's also good at having a positive outlook!

Initially, I thought studying philosophy was a waste of time and would interfere with my studies in my major.

After hearing the female teacher say that I could graduate early and get a bachelor's degree in philosophy, I was completely shattered!

He now wants to seize the opportunity and make the most of his time to excel in philosophy.

When he finished his sophomore year, he received his diploma along with the seniors!
call……

Just imagining myself graduating from Peking University's Philosophy Department at the tender age of 21 two years from now...

Chen Luyang couldn't help but tremble with excitement!
study!!!!

Like someone on steroids, Chen Luyang rushed into the library and headed straight for the philosophy reading room. Just as she was about to borrow a book, she discovered something very important.

Why can't I borrow it?

Chen Luyang stared at the librarian in astonishment.

"First-year students can only borrow basic books from the open library. The original texts you have can only be borrowed by graduate students and professors."

The librarian had answered this question countless times; she was like a relentless repeating machine.

"If you want to borrow it, go to the teacher and get a 'letter of introduction for borrowing books' for you."

Chen Luyang: ...

Ok!

If I can't borrow it, I'll just watch it here!
Although borrowing books is not allowed, specialized reading materials are still available for in-library reading only.

But when Chen Luyang entered the reading room for changing majors, she found that all the books available for reading had been borrowed.

The library was packed with people, all reading.

Chen Luyang walked around in circles, but no one returned the book.

...That was incredibly close!

Frustrated, Chen Luyang had no choice but to return to her dormitory with her backpack.

When he returned to the dormitory, it was empty.

Quietly.

"Where did everyone go?" Chen Luyang asked, looking at the dark room with a puzzled expression.

Tao Runze has difficulty walking, Wu Dechen is too lazy to move, Jiang Feng is a writer who loves to sit, and Zhang Dongliang, a former section chief, is particularly good at sitting.

These four masters are the type who would rather lie down and read than get up and sit down.

Only Pan Yu still enjoys sports, and occasionally goes to play ping-pong with his buddies from the chemistry department next door.

No matter when Chen Luyang returns to the dormitory

There must be at least three of the Four Heavenly Kings on the kang (heated brick bed).

"It's like the sun has risen in the west; even Lao Tao isn't here."

Chen Luyang didn't think much of it.

He pulled out his advanced mathematics book from his bag and, true to dormitory tradition, climbed onto his bed and lay down on the heated brick bed to read.

But advanced mathematics...

To say I don't understand it is a lie!

After a few pages, even though it was all written in Chinese characters, it didn't sound like human language when put together.

The more I watch, the sleepier I get.

Chen Luyang's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and finally his head lolled to the side, and he lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and fell into a deep sleep.

I slept so soundly!
When the dormitory door was opened, Chen Luyang groggily opened her eyes.

Before he could even wipe the drool from his mouth, Pan Yu angrily said:

"Those drama club members went too far!"

"If this happened in my workshop, I'd transfer him to the night shift with three shifts! ...And he's playing Xu Yunfeng? He should clean the machine tools first!"

Tao Runze, also suppressing his anger, said, "Alright, Xiao Pan, calm down."

Chen Luyang immediately perked up.

Hey?

Why did those guys in the dorm come back so angry when I was only gone for a short while?
He got up, peeked over the top bunk, and asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

(End of this chapter)