Chapter 103: People Can Grow

“Good day, Professor Zhu, Researcher Mo, Researcher Zhao,” Liu Yaohong said with deep respect after hearing their introductions.

In the early 1990s, being an undergraduate was already a coveted status, let alone a graduate student. At that time, professional master’s degrees were rare; nearly all were academic master’s degrees focused on research. Many of these students were retained by universities before graduating to continue academic research under their mentors’ guidance.

Mo Xiaotian and Zhao Siyuan, young as they were, had already been admitted to graduate programs—undeniably top among their peers and worthy of the title “researcher.” Guoyang Zhao, who had supervised numerous master’s and doctoral students in his previous life, mostly in research fields, felt a twinge of nostalgia seeing these two.

Noticing Zhao Guoyang’s silence, Liu Yaohong tried to ease the atmosphere: “Professor Zhu, Researcher Mo, Researcher Zhao, Young Zhao here is the head of the technical department at Hongda Machinery Factory in Ninghai City, under Guangling City. He just graduated this year.”

“Greetings, Professor Zhu, and to both of you,” Zhao Guoyang finally responded, acknowledging them.

“Oh, so Young Zhao is a university graduate as well. Which university did you graduate from?” Zhu Maotao asked with interest.

“I graduated from Jinling University of Technology,” Zhao Guoyang replied with quiet confidence.

“Ah, that’s excellent! Jinling University of Technology is a prestigious institution, ranking among the top five in the province,” Zhu Maotao praised.

Zhao Guoyang modestly accepted the compliment and noticed the curious gaze from the young woman beside him, as if she doubted his claim.

“Young Zhao, what was your major at Jinling University of Technology?” Zhu Maotao continued, unaware of his disciple’s peculiar look.

“Er… I studied mechanical engineering, from the School of Mechanical Engineering,” Zhao Guoyang answered honestly.

“Mechanical Engineering? Then you must have been Old Mao’s student?” Zhu Maotao said softly, knitting his brows.

“Zhao Guoyang… Zhao Guoyang… Yes, Old Mao mentioned this name before. Said he’s his proudest disciple,” he murmured.

“Are you referring to Old Mao, the Dean Mao Tiansheng?” Zhao Guoyang asked.

“Yes, exactly, your Dean Mao. It’s surprising to meet an old disciple just by taking a train. Life is full of unexpected encounters,” Zhu Maotao laughed heartily.

Mo Xiaotian, standing nearby, clearly recognized both Dean Mao Tiansheng and Zhao Guoyang’s names from their teacher’s stories, and his gaze toward Zhao Guoyang grew inscrutable.

“Young Zhao, I know a bit about your situation,” Zhu Maotao said after scrutinizing Zhao Guoyang once more, sighing.

“Mao mentioned that you’re introverted, not really suited for factory work but better for research. However, he also knows about your family situation. I heard you have a younger brother and sister…”

“Old Mao really wanted to keep you as a graduate student but had no choice but to let you return to your hometown to work.”

Hearing this, Liu Yaohong could not hold back. Smiling, he said, “Professor Zhu, that’s not quite right. Young Zhao is not introverted at all! When I visited their factory, he spoke confidently and introduced me to many aspects of firefighting equipment.”

Hearing this, Zhu Maotao glanced at Zhao Guoyang, apparently searching his expression for confirmation.

Zhao Guoyang responded with composure: “Dean Mao’s assessment isn’t entirely wrong. I was quite introverted at school, but people change, especially after entering society. Growth accelerates rapidly.”

“Moreover, the leaders from the Machinery Industry Committee and the factory have supported me greatly. My rapid progress owes much to their encouragement and guidance…”

“Hmph!” Zhao Siyuan, standing nearby, pursed her lips and snorted coldly.

To her, Zhao Guoyang’s rise in leadership esteem wasn’t due to technical merit but because he learned to flatter and ingratiate himself.

“Siyuan, why the sarcastic snort? You’re about the same age as Guoyang and from the same family. You should communicate more. He seems far steadier than you,” Zhu Maotao chided with slight displeasure.

Zhao Guoyang caught Zhao Siyuan’s mood but did not take offense. He merely smiled at her as one would at a sulking child.

Unlike Zhao Siyuan’s openly expressive emotions, Mo Xiaotian showed no disdain, seeming indifferent about Zhao Guoyang.

However, having encountered many types in his previous life, Zhao Guoyang instantly recognized a trace of coldness and disdain in Mo Xiaotian’s eyes.

Undoubtedly, this senior doctorate holder was a pragmatic man who paid no mind to someone like Zhao Guoyang, who could be no help to him.

With everyone gathered, Zhu Maotao gestured, and Mo Xiaotian and Zhao Siyuan prepared to go to the next carriage to fetch water.

Seeing them move, Zhao Guoyang remained still. By nature, he could not bring himself to flatter or curry favor.

Zhao Siyuan frowned slightly and slowed her movement with the water bottle.

Originally, she thought fetching water was a trivial task for a few young people to handle.

But seeing Zhao Guoyang sitting calmly without moving annoyed her silently.

Zhao Guoyang paid no attention to her displeasure. At this moment, he was lost in thought about his small workshop.

Had it not been for this sudden trip to Songjiang, he had planned to personally distribute the first batch of hair clips.

Now, inexplicably, he had been requisitioned by the city’s Machinery Industry Committee, and it seemed the matter had even reached the provincial committee. The reason behind this baffled him.

“Hey, do you want some water?” Zhao Siyuan’s sweet voice sounded beside him.

“Huh?” Zhao Guoyang, staring out the window, hadn’t noticed her and looked up, confused.

His blank expression made Zhao Siyuan think he was merely putting on airs.

“Are you deaf? I’m talking to you!” she snapped angrily.

Zhao Guoyang scratched his head, puzzled why his cousin seemed so hostile from the start.

“Section Chief Zhao, my junior sister is asking if you want water…” Mo Xiaotian kindly reminded during their stalemate.

“Oh, water! Thank you!” Zhao Guoyang suddenly snapped out of his daze and hurriedly took out his thermos.

In his haste, the lid flew off, spilling some remaining water onto Zhao Siyuan’s jacket.