EBE Chapter 159 Attending a Symposium at Tongji University
Chapter 159 Attending a Symposium at Tongji University
The bell rang for the end of get out of class.
"get out of class is over!"
He has always been a teacher who doesn't like to extend class time. In his view, once get out of class is over, students' precious rest time should not be taken up any more.
Looking back on my student days, teachers always assigned homework after the bell rang, and they always said they would take up one more minute of the students' time.
He couldn't help but think to himself: "It's only ten minutes, not even enough time to go to the toilet."
Therefore, when he became a teacher himself, he never went overtime.
Zhuang Chaoying took her lesson plan and walked out of the classroom.
Just then, someone called his name. "Professor Zhuang, the Shanghai Writers Association just called, but I didn't want to disturb you since you were teaching."
"Okay, thank you, Teacher Liu. I'll go and return the call right away."
Zhuang Chaoying smiled and thanked Teacher Liu, then quickly walked to the reception room.
He reached for the phone, picked it up, and carefully dialed the number written in his notebook.
The phone rang rhythmically with a "beep beep beep!" sound.
A voice came from the other end of the phone. "Hello!"
"Hello, I am Zhuang Chaoying!"
Chairman Wang's familiar voice came through. "Xiao Zhuang, I'm calling to inform you of something. Our Writers Association and the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles have organized a university symposium, which is also a literary exchange meeting. This symposium is being held at Tongji University, and there are even editors-in-chief of the supplements of national daily newspapers coming to give lectures. It's very significant. Xiao Zhuang, you are an important member of our association, so you should attend this meeting."
Zhuang Chaoying did not hesitate at all. Being able to go to Tongji University for literary exchange was an opportunity she had been longing for. She could also visit Tunan University on the way. Why not?
“President Wang, I’ll go!” he answered firmly.
President Wang smiled and said, "I knew you would go. The meeting starts at nine o'clock on Wednesday morning. We'll meet at the entrance of Tongji University at eight-thirty."
"Understood, Chairman Wang."
After hanging up the phone, Zhuang Chaoying went straight to the principal's office. "Principal, I'm busy."
When the principal saw Teacher Zhuang approaching, he put down the documents in his hand and greeted her warmly, "Sit down, Teacher Zhuang, what's the matter?"
Zhuang Chaoying explained her purpose. "Principal, I would like to ask for two days off. I need to go to Shanghai. The Writers Association has invited me to attend a symposium at Tongji University."
The principal nodded: "Once you've handed over your work, you can go. By the way, Xiao Zhuang, don't bring me anything as soon as you leave. It's kind of embarrassing."
The principal opened a drawer, took out some paper, and began writing a letter of introduction for Zhuang Chaoying, carefully affixing the school's official seal.
The principal handed the letter of introduction to Zhuang Chaoying. "Here you go, Teacher Zhuang."
Zhuang Chaoying accepted the letter of introduction. "Thank you, Principal."
He put the letter of introduction into his pocket, thinking to himself, "Although they say they don't want me to buy local specialties, they seem quite happy to receive them every time they're delivered to me, and they never say they don't want them."
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Back home, Zhuang Chaoying told Huang Ling about her trip to Shanghai.
"Chaoying, I'm not going this time. I need to stay home and keep an eye on the two of them. If we both go, they'll be left unattended and won't be able to stay away from us."
Zhuang Chaoying nodded. "I understand, then I'll go alone."
After speaking with Ah Ling, Zhuang Chaoying had a simple meal at home and then hurriedly headed to the train station that evening with her luggage.
The luggage bag was filled with glutinous rice balls, dried fish, and a full bag of apples that Ah Ling had prepared for Tu Nan. It was quite heavy.
Upon arriving in Shanghai, Zhuang Chaoying took a bus directly to Tongji University.
He found a state-run guesthouse nearby.
Zhuang Chaoying carried her luggage into the guesthouse: "Hello, comrade, I need to check in."
The staff member at the window adjusted his glasses and looked him up and down: "Are you alone? Bring your letter of introduction to register. A single room is two yuan and fifty cents. Do you have any dangerous goods with you?"
"no!"
Zhuang Chaoying hurriedly handed over the letter of introduction and two yuan and fifty cents.
After registering the information, the staff member handed over an invoice, expressionless: "Room 205."
At this moment, a woman came out of the room, holding a key tray, and said arrogantly, "Come with me!"
Zhuang Chaoying followed the woman upstairs and soon arrived at the door of a room.
She opened the door with her key fob, her face serious: "Don't move any of the furniture in the room."
After saying that, he closed the door.
Zhuang Chaoying put her luggage on the chair and was about to sit down to rest.
The man returned and loudly proclaimed, "No guests are allowed in the rooms, and no guests are permitted to stay overnight."
"it is good!"
The closed door was opened again. "No drinking, no gambling, no fighting!"
It was already late, and Zhuang Chaoying frowned, somewhat impatiently saying, "Comrade, can you finish what you have to say at once? I need to rest."
The waitress glared at him and slammed the door shut.
Zhuang Chaoying shook her head helplessly. Seeing that the door was locked, she lay on the bed and saw the passenger information posted on the wall, which was densely covered with various precautions.
Staying in a guesthouse these days is really stifling, with too many restrictions. You still have to stay in a hotel, but hotels are expensive.
As Zhuang Chaoying pondered, she rested her head on the pillow and drifted off to sleep.
The next day, Zhuang Chaoying felt that the bright light was a bit dazzling. She rubbed her eyes and picked up her watch from the bedside table. It was already seven o'clock.
Zhuang Chaoying quickly got up, took her toothbrush and toothpaste to the washroom to wash up and use the toilet.
Then I went to have breakfast and waited early at the entrance of Tongji University with my luggage.
After waiting for about fifteen minutes, a jeep stopped at the door. Assistant Xiao Liu quickly got out of the car and opened the door. Chairman Wang and a middle-aged man in his forties got out of the car.
Chairman Wang got out of the car, and Zhuang Chaoying went straight to greet him. "Chairman Wang, it's been a long time! And who is this?"
Chairman Wang shook hands with him and warmly introduced him: "This is Chief Editor Zhang, the editor-in-chief of the supplement of the National Daily. This is Xiao Zhuang from our association. His novel '2030' won the Mao Dun Award. He is a contemporary young writer."
Editor-in-Chief Zhang extended his hand with a smile: "It's a pleasure to meet you. You look quite young, Zhuang. You're probably around thirty years old."
Zhuang Chaoying smiled. "Editor-in-Chief Zhang, you're joking. I'm almost forty years old, and my son is eighteen. He's a freshman at Tongji University."
"I can't believe it, I really can't believe it, he's so young. Old Wang, Xiao Zhuang, let's go in."
After waiting at the entrance for a while, there were fewer than fifteen people in total. The school leaders had already sent people to wait at the entrance and led them straight to the auditorium that had been prepared.
As they walked, President Wang pulled Zhuang Chaoying along. "Xiao Zhuang, I forgot to tell you yesterday that everyone has to go up and share their creative insights. Hurry up and think of some lyrics so you don't mess things up when you go up. There will also be many Tongji University students coming to listen to our lecture."
"President Wang, I wasn't prepared either."
Chairman Wang leaned closer. "It's an exchange meeting, so everyone can speak freely. As long as it doesn't involve any issues of political stance, it's all fine. Speak up, Xiao Zhuang. What's in your bag? It's bulging."
"My wife heard that I was coming to Tongji University, so she brought some apples for the children."
Chairman Wang patted Zhuang Chaoying on the back. "Little Zhuang is so family-oriented, good, good."
Led by school staff, the twelve of them sat down at a pre-arranged table on the stage, where chairs were placed. A long table was covered with a red cloth, and teacups were placed on it.
Zhuang Tunan heard that the editor-in-chief of a national daily newspaper was coming to give a lecture, so he and Yu Tao rushed over. When they arrived, there were no seats left, so they found a spot in the leftmost aisle.
Zhang Wanshu was right next to me; she had a seat.
"Zhang Wanshu, you're here for the lecture too?"
Zhang Wanshu looked up when someone called her name, and saw Zhuang Tunan's handsome face. "Zhuang Tunan, why don't you have a seat?"
"I'm late."
"Would you like to sit here?"
Zhuang Tunan quickly waved his hand. "No need, no need, please sit down."
Just then, he saw a group of people walk in. He immediately recognized the profile of the third person – his father!
Zhuang Chaoying!
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