Who would study psychology if they didn't have some kind of problem?

Chapter 433 The Thirst for Knowledge
Let's leave aside Nan Zhuren's thoughts for now.

That brief memory was fleeting, and perhaps he would do something about it after finishing his daytime tasks.

However, for now, Nan Zhuren is still focused on their current gathering.

The first gathering of the sect was a very important social event.

After Bai Qinghua left, Chonghui indeed relaxed a lot. He immediately called over the waiter and, without even looking at the menu, ordered several more dishes with practiced ease.

"Junior brother, the 'Heartbreak Rice' here is especially delicious, the mango pomelo sago is also quite good, and the red sausage is also very tasty... In short, junior brother, you must try them all!"

Nan Zhuren looked troubled: "Senior brother, I might not be able to eat..."

"If you can't finish, just pack it up. If you see something you like, order a couple more portions and pack them up too, since it's the teacher's treat." Chonghui waved his hand generously. "The teacher has many other things that are worth complaining about, but his taste is truly impeccable. This tea restaurant is quite good!"

Of course, good food usually means high prices, and the prices at this tea restaurant are quite a burden for ordinary doctoral and master's students. Therefore, Chonghui and Shi Qianqian cherish every opportunity to dine with their mentors.

Nan Zhuren was somewhat puzzled: "Doesn't the professor's research group provide a monthly stipend? And you also take on consulting work at the professor's company, right? Is the commission for consulting very low?"

The economic level shown by the senior students was quite different from what Nan Zhuren had expected.

Chonghui immediately clarified, "Of course there are. Our group's allowance is the highest in the School of Psychology; and our consulting commission in the company is based on that of senior consultants, second only to the consulting supervisor."

"Then you..." Nan Zhuren hesitated, but his meaning was clear.

"Because we signed up for the course."

Chonghui didn't seem embarrassed at all; he just sighed and said, "I enrolled in a long-term consulting course, which cost me almost 200,000 yuan over three years. Almost all of my subsidies and consulting income over the past few years have gone into it."

The big guy said with a worried look, "It's only because I have a teacher supervising me that I can save on supervision fees. Also, the research group can reimburse me for some travel and accommodation expenses under the guise of academic exchanges. Otherwise, my expenses would almost double again."

Shi Qianqian sighed as well: "Last month I signed up for a seven-day offline training course in Shanghai. Even though the teacher covered my travel, accommodation, and most of my daily expenses, it still cost me almost 20,000 yuan. I also have a two-week exchange program at a laboratory in Germany this summer. Prices are high there, so I estimate it will cost a lot of money as well."

Nan Zhuren found it even stranger: "Have you all finished learning the teacher's counseling techniques? Why are you all enrolling in outside training courses?"

It's important to know that the biggest benefit of joining a professor's research group is that you can receive free technique training and supervision to get through the most difficult developmental period.

Many aspiring counselors in the psychology industry may only complete training in one school of thought when they are nearly thirty years old, after a period of ups and downs in society. In contrast, disciples of great masters often have already gained a basic understanding of a particular school of thought, or even become experts, by the time they graduate.

Chonghui chuckled: "I'm learning too. But on the one hand, in the consulting industry, besides your own skills, you also need certificates, and you have to attend various training courses to get these certificates."

"On the other hand, the development of counseling technology is also changing rapidly, and teachers are gradually taking a backseat in counseling..." At this point, Chonghui's expression turned strange. "So the task of keeping up with the cutting-edge technology has fallen on our shoulders."

Nan Zhuren nodded in agreement. It made sense. Whether it was because empathy had been destroyed by experience, or because of declining energy due to age, or for other reasons, counselors would reduce the frequency of counseling after reaching a certain age and instead focus their energy on research, lectures, and teaching.

Bai Qinghua probably thought so too.

“Scientific research experiments can be replicated by reading papers, but the latest developments in counseling techniques can only be mastered through personal training and hands-on practice,” Chonghui said. “Therefore, we need to attend those training sessions to see the latest developments in psychological counseling and to see if there are any good things we can absorb to help our research group move forward.”

"With teachers supervising, we don't have to worry about being scammed, so we can really learn good things and use our resources wisely."

Chonghui laughed freely.

"Of course, it's not mandatory." Perhaps feeling that the topic was too anxious, Chonghui immediately eased the atmosphere. "Theoretically, if I finish my dissertation during my doctoral studies and learn the techniques from my professors so that I can use them proficiently, then I have completed my task."

"Qianqian focuses more on basic research and doesn't study consulting much, so it's fine."

There are many possibilities for Bai Qinghua's research group. In theory, students only need to choose one direction that interests them and that they are good at to develop.

"But..." Chonghui couldn't help but raise his chin as he said this, "We've already got the ability to get into Beijing Normal University, and we're lucky enough to study under such great teachers, so naturally we can't just graduate step by step like this, right?"

“The teacher also told us that with his own consulting resources, I could digest the information for another ten years and reach the level where I can start my own company in a first-tier city other than Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou—just like my senior sister.”

"As for the direction of his research, he is the leading expert in this field in China. He has enough projects on hand to support each of us until graduation and then get a teaching position at a university."

"However, he also supports us in exploring more possibilities on our own. As long as we are willing, he will provide us with as much support as possible in other areas!"

When Chonghui said this, the power in his words was more impactful than the muscles in his body.

“Of course, he will keep an eye on us throughout the process. If he finds that we are growing out of line, he will stop us in time,” Chonghui added. “But that hasn’t happened yet, so we should all be growing quite well.”

Chonghui smiled and popped an egg tart into his mouth: "Right, Qianqian?"

After the topic discussion, when it came to the casual conversation stage, Shi Qianqian didn't dare to look at Nan Zhuren much anymore.

But she remained sharp-tongued towards Chonghui:
"There is one problem."

"……Um?"

“I didn’t get in through the entrance exam; I was directly recommended for graduate school.” Shi Qianqian looked at Chong Hui with arrogance. “I wasn’t just lucky to get a professor. I had my eye on him when I was an undergraduate. I asked him to guide my graduation thesis in my junior year, and we joined his group to do experiments in my senior year.”

Chonghui's cheek twitched.

(End of this chapter)