In Dongji City, a neighborhood over 20 years old, Professor Liu Dongsheng dragged his weary body back ho.
Even though he was a professor, the field of astronomy wasn't like those corporate research applications that, whether through vertical or horizontal projects, always managed to skim a bit of profit.
It's actually quite understandable. For instance, if you conduct a physical or chemical experint and co out with so results, you can always find so industrial application to help improve production efficiency or quality. Businesspeople are usually very willing to sponsor such research.
But astronomy is different. If you discover a planet, even if it's full of diamonds and gold, what does that have to do with you? Can you make money from it? Can you turn that funding into revenue?
You can't!
Thus, in general, only a very few schools offer this major, and usually, only national-level research institutions are willing to spend money on such things.
In Professor Liu's ho. telescopes, Star Finder Scopes, and stargazing instrunts—all were bought at his own expense. His school could barely manage to hire a few more personnel for him; there's no spare money for such frivolous ventures.
Moreover, Professor Liu Dongsheng's inco was really tight. His base salary and professional supplents combined barely made seven to eight thousand yuan a month. Yet, his wife didn't have a job, and his son was at an age where money was needed constantly. The ho situation was exactly as one might imagine.
"I told you not to get involved with these things, but you never listen," Liu Dongsheng returned ho only to be t with his wife's continual complaints. "With that ti, if you had written a couple of books for a publishing house, at least you could've earned so money. Why do you spend every day fixated on your broken research topics?"
"What do you know?" Others might not understand him, criticize him, Liu Dongsheng endured, but his wife not understanding him made him feel truly desperate, "If no one decrypts these waveband signals, and there is real danger, humans won't even have ti to react!"
"Wow! You care for the whole humanity, you're great. Have you ever thought about your family?" His wife's grievances over many years all ca pouring out. "You're a university professor who has ended up like this, can't even sort out your own subsistence, and yet here you are talking about humanity?"
"Do you think you're the only astronor in the world? There are so many better than you, with more advanced instrunts. What can you discover that they can't? Or do you think you're unique?"
"Look at what they're saying about you online now? Creating panic, disgrace, academic fraudster, speculating for fa, I went out to buy groceries today and felt too embarrassed to not wear a mask!"
"Enough!" Liu Dongsheng shouted at his wife, "I'm not going to give up on my research, so what if they cut two staff recruitnt slots? Minus two people, I can still do the research!"
"You and your research can live together then!"
....
"In light of Professor Liu Dongsheng's actions, the school has decided to suspend him for one week for a reflective investigation, and hopes for public oversight,"
That afternoon, the school announced on its official website and on social dia channels like Weibo, the punishnt regarding Professor Liu Dongsheng, but the online community didn't seem satisfied.
"Just a one-week suspension? Does he own the school or what?"
"Shouldn't at least his title be reduced? Who knows if his title was acquired through cheating and fraud."
"Exactly, investigate his bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. thesis, maybe they all have issues!"
"Ah, our school was never that good, and now with this kind of incident, who would ever apply to our school in the future?"
"What Professor Liu? I've been at the school for three years and never heard of this person! Oh, you're talking about that idiot who wanders around the playground with a telescope every night? Then it's fine, we need to care for the elderly with dentia."
"He's just an old man, don't let him get away with it."
...
"Professor Han, could you please help
out?" Unable to stand idly by while Liu Dongsheng was treated this way, Zhang nglong reached out. Such a person should not be treated like this.
"You still have things you need my help with? Hahaha, go ahead, if it can be managed, I'll definitely help you," Han Jinyu promised. Now, in the school, his influence was second only to the head of the school, and even the head had to be very careful around him. There were so many people eyeing Han Jinyu, waiting to poach him, if they didn't take care, the biggest loss would be the school's.
"Didn't our school just expand a lot of its staff positions? Can I arrange for soone to co in?"
"That's a small matter?" Han Jinyu laughed, "Oh right, the command has co from up top, you're now an honorary Academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The proposal was unanimously approved by all the Academicians, the order should be down in a couple of days. Also, our school has now officially appointed you as an honorary professor, I was just about to tell you that."
"As for the benefits, I won't discuss those with you since this amount of money isn't of much interest to you, but as an honorary professor of academician level, you'll have three recomndation slots each year, which we'll definitely give priority to. Normally, as long as the person you recomnd passes the political evaluation, we'll hire them," said Han Jinyu.
"That's fine, then I'll claim one of those slots from you first!" Zhang nglong remarked.
"Oh? Where did you find such a big-shot?" Han Jinyu speculated, "I heard that many top academics at scholarly conferences have beco your fans, and they almost wanted to worship you as their teacher right there! If you can bring over a few Nobel laureates, don't talk about three—we could squeeze in thirty for you!"
"Hahaha, you might not believe it, but I'm thinking of bringing over Professor Liu Dongsheng," Zhang nglong replied.
"Liu Dongsheng?" Han Jinyu exclaid in astonishnt, "The Liu Dongsheng from East Sea Vocational and Technical College?"
"Yes, that's him!"
"Why would you think about bringing him in?" Han Jinyu was sowhat speechless, "Not to ntion that our school currently has no program in astronomy, even if we did, his current disreputable reputation isn't good for our school."
"Mr. Han, this person is extraordinary," Zhang nglong explained, "I've seen his research, and without discussing whether his conclusions are correct, his subject knowledge is very solid, and his thinking and breadth in this field are truly exceptional, definitely a talent."
Zhang nglong didn't ntion his research findings, as doing so might potentially cause a panic.
"It's rare to have soone receive such an evaluation from you!" Han Jinyu laughed.
"You actually reminded
of sothing," Zhang nglong said, "Why don't we take this opportunity to establish an astronomy program directly!"
"You think this is like building a house? You want to just add a program whenever you feel like it?" Han Jinyu laughed incredulously, "Adding an academic program requires corresponding research achievents, Bachelor's Points, Master's Points, Ph.D. Points—the differences between each are significant, and without corresponding achievents, you simply can't get approval."
"Give
a mont, I'll grab a pen."
"Okay, tell
about so authoritative astronomy journals. I'll dominate an issue first, and maybe you can start the application process for the academic program on your side?"
"I..."
Han Jinyu had seen impressive people, but never soone as bold as Zhang nglong. His words left Han literally speechless.
What does he an by 'dominate an issue'? Does he think he owns those journals?
But upon reflection, given Zhang nglong's frighteningly high standards, those journals might as well be owned by his family. Moreover, it's likely he wouldn't even need to pay to get published.
Which journal would dare to refuse Zhang nglong's articles, unless they no longer cared for their own impact?
"nglong, it's not about the quantity of papers," Han Jinyu explained, "To add an academic program, we'll also need to undertake so provincial and ministerial scientific research projects."
"Like which ones?"
"Current key projects include Pulsar Physics, Gamma Burst Cosmology, Fast Radio Bursts and their data processing..."
"Please talk to your higher-ups, I'll have so results from a Pulsar Physics project ready for the nation soon!"
"Pulsar Physics? When did you start working on that?"
"Just thought of it now!"
"Just thought of it now? And you already have results?"
"Such foundational topics, if you just spend a day or two, isn't having hands enough?"
Han Jinyu: "Wqnmlgb..."
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