Chapter 4 — After I Resigned, the Whole Academic World Upraised

“Qinghua gives you 100,000,000 yuan, I give you 120,000,000 yuan!”

“They built a laboratory for you, and I will also give you the laboratory building on the new campus!”

"No! I'll make you a special professor!"

“Highest rank in the whole school!”

"You go back! Everything can be negotiated!"

I listened to the almost uncontrollable screaming from the other end of the line. Ten years of self-pity. Ten years of repression. Ten years of unwillingness. At that moment. It all disappeared. I hold the phone. Walk to the coffee shop window. Watching the sunset dye the whole city yellow. Then smiled softly. Gently say a sentence:

“Principal Vuong.”

"It's late."

I hung up the phone directly. The moment the call with Principal Vuong ended. The whole world seemed silent for a second. Right after that. The phone vibrated frantically again. Principal Vuong's name kept flashing on the screen. I didn't pick up the phone. Just watch quietly. Then I put him on the block list. Next is Vice Principal Liu's number. I also blocked it. Then there was the director. Head of department. Familiar or unfamiliar colleagues. This afternoon. My phone contacts were thoroughly cleaned. I turned off the alarm. Despite the calls constantly vibrating on the table. It's like playing a symphony of doomsday panic. I hold a cup of coffee. Take a sip. It's been cold for a long time. But the fire is in my heart. The fire became more and more intense. I opened the research team's chat group. Inside there were more than a thousand messages. My graduate students. The children I personally mentor. Immersed in unprecedented confusion and shock. Ly Triet has tagged me dozens of times.

“Miss, is that true?”

“Don't leave us!”

“Wherever you go, we will follow!”

Look at those words. The softest place in my heart trembled slightly. The person I feel most sorry for. It's you guys. I spent all my time in the laboratory and research projects. But we cannot give them an instructor with the official title of "professor". I took a deep breath. Then send a message to the group:

“Everyone can rest assured.”

“The work at hand is still proceeding as usual.”

“I will return to the lab tonight and explain everything to you in person.”

“I won't leave any of you behind.”

The message has just been sent. The group chat immediately quieted down. You guys believe me. This kind of credibility is more valuable than any professorship. I once again looked at the three options placed before me. Tsinghua University. Fudan University. Zhejiang University. All three are leaders in the field of materials science in the country. The invitation from Thanh Hoa was direct and full of spirit. 100,000,000 yuan startup funding. A national key laboratory. It is every researcher's ultimate dream. The invitation from Phuc Dan was delicate and thoughtful. River view apartment. Girls' learning problems. They hit me where I am most vulnerable as a mother. And Zhejiang University. Their invitation was terrifyingly precise. Aiming directly at the field of aerospace special materials that I always desire to conquer. They understood my academic ambitions. This selection problem. It's more difficult than any research project I've ever done. Just when I was thinking. A strange phone number called from the capital. This number does not have the rushed feeling of regular broadcast calls. It exudes a solemnity that does not allow others to doubt. I hesitated for a few seconds then picked up the phone.

“Excuse me, is this Professor Hua Tinh?”

The voice on the other end of the line was steady and calm. Bring the demeanor of someone who is used to being in a leadership position.

“I am Hua Tinh.”

“But still not a professor.”

Out of habit, I corrected myself. The other person laughed.

“Professor Hua.”

“At the national level, the standard for evaluating talent does not lie in the title book.”

“But lies in true ability.”

“Let me introduce myself a bit.”

“My name is Tran.”

“Coming from the Ministry of Science and Technology.”

My heart immediately sank. Ministry of Science and Technology? This has gone completely beyond the scope of university infighting.

“Hello, Director Tran.”

My voice suddenly became more respectful.

“Professor Hua.”

“This afternoon our attention was drawn to information circulating online.”

“At the same time, we also received an urgent report from University A.”

I frowned slightly. Director Tran continued:

“Principal Vuong hopes the ministry can coordinate.”

“Retain your entire project and team at University A in the name of state property.”

In my heart, I laughed coldly. Principal Vuong is trying to force me to stay in the name of national interests. But right after that. Director Tran changed his tone.

"However."

“The principle of the Ministry of Science and Technology has always been...”

“Projects follow talent.”

“Especially for those leading the research front like you.”

“What we care about is the continuity and success rate of the project.”

“Not what unit it is named under.”

I suddenly held my breath.

“Professor Hua.”

“I want to hear your real thoughts.”

“Eight projects in your hands.”

“Especially the nuclear topic under the Thien Cong Plan.”

“Those are all important national projects.”

“Errors are not allowed.”

“We do not want the country's strategic progress to be affected just because of a rigid personnel mechanism in a certain university.”

His every sentence and every word. Like a sedative. More effective than sedatives. That's recognition. It's support from a higher level. I tried to suppress my emotions. Use the calmest and most objective tone. Tell me everything you've been through in the past ten years. No resentment. No denunciation. Just tell the truth. The other end of the line was silent for a long time. It took so long that I thought the call had been disconnected. Director Tran sighed softly.

“Professor Hua.”

“You have suffered a loss.”

“I pledge to you on behalf of the ministry.”

“First, we fully respect and support all of your personal choices.”

"Second, your entire ongoing project, including funding and research equipment, the ministry will directly coordinate to transfer the status quo to the new unit of your choice."

“Third, for the act of disrespecting research talent and deliberately oppressing the core academic force of University A.”

"The Ministry will send an investigation team to work and handle it seriously."

“The country will never let a person with meritorious service be left in the cold heart.”

That last sentence. Like a stream of warm water. In the blink of an eye, the hard shell I had tried to build for ten years was destroyed. My eye sockets suddenly turned red. First time. I really want to cry.