Professor Li fell silent, deep in thought upon hearing Ying Chen's question.
After a long pause, Professor Li sighed, "As you know, I don't have a good reputation within the circles. Of my few friends, most aren't involved in archaeology. And I have no friends who could be considered true industry titans, qualified to enter the Xunfeng Laboratory."
"More importantly, the entire archaeology field is currently facing a generational gap. Young people are more inclined towards popular disciplines like economics, biology, and computer science, rather than archaeology, a field with no visible future. This has resulted in a severe shortage of truly capable professionals in archaeology, with most concentrated among my generation."
"Among my generation, I can provide a list for you. But whether you can actually invite them is another matter."
"After all, not everyone is like me, completely oblivious to social niceties, constantly ostracized and suppressed, making it difficult to get by in the industry..."
Having finished speaking, Professor Li took out a pen and paper and began to write the list.
Soon, Professor Li had compiled a list of over a dozen names.
Among them were some individuals with whom Professor Li had long been at odds.
This clearly showed that Professor Li was evaluating based solely on professional competence, not personal relationships.
Even more surprisingly, at the end of the list, Ying Chen saw a name that made him quite astonished.
"Are you sure?"
Ying Chen pointed at the name, asking Professor Li.
Professor Li smiled, "I was hesitant at first. But upon reflection, he is indeed very suitable. Not only am I sure, but I also suggest you make him your primary target for recruitment."
"Because if he agrees to join, even if not the entire Dragon Country, at least within the archaeology community, our Xunfeng Laboratory will immediately gain fame, making it easier to attract talent."
"Furthermore, an elder at home is like a treasure. His presence can significantly reduce external resistance, allowing us to focus on archaeological work without interference."
Hearing Professor Li's words, Ying Chen did not press further.
Instead, he took the list and left.
"Mr. Ying is truly in a hurry! Since Mr. Ying is so enthusiastic about the cause of archaeology, we shouldn't be idle either."
"Liang Yu, come back with me. Organize all the materials I've accumulated over the years. We're about to embark on something big!"
Professor Li watched Ying Chen's receding figure with admiration and said.
Liang Yu, however, had not yet recovered, muttering to himself, "How did I get roped into this so haphazardly?"
"Is he really not a骗子 (piànzi - swindler)?"
"A hundred billion, how many tombs is he going to dig!"
...
In an old courtyard in Yanjing.
Although this courtyard was well-located and its advertised price was not cheap, it was all superficial.
This was because the area had long been designated by the state as a no-reconstruction zone.
In other words, after spending a fortune to buy property here, one could only live like Yanjing citizens in the 1940s and 50s, with public toilets outside and washing in the yard, all while enduring dilapidated building facilities.
Many people couldn't stand it and chose to move into newer buildings, even if it meant living further away.
Only some elderly people were exceptions; they were accustomed to this lifestyle and considered it a unique cultural feature, living contentedly.
Old Man Dong was one such person.
He sat on a recliner, gazing intently at the night sky with a grave expression, lost in thought.
Just moments ago, he had seen off a group of students and superiors.
Both students and superiors were puzzled by his vocal support for Professor Li.
After all, Professor Li had previously caused Old Man Dong so much trouble that he was almost ruined.
How could Old Man Dong repay kindness with enmity?
Some students and superiors had even openly expressed their dissatisfaction, demanding that Old Man Dong retract his statement.
Especially the superior who had threatened to halt Professor Li's project funding at the meeting.
He had been enjoying the misfortune with glee, but then Old Man Dong's statement had caused his mood to do a complete 180-degree turn.
Could he be happy?
Was he willing?
So he visited Old Man Dong's home, probing indirectly and hinting, urging Old Man Dong to retract his statement.
And to kick Professor Li while he was down.
If Old Man Dong refused, while he might not be able to directly harm Old Man Dong, his students would suffer.
Any project funding applied for by Old Man Dong's students would be rejected.
Those previously approved would be delayed on various pretexts.
If such things happened frequently, Old Man Dong could become a "jinx," and no one would dare approach him or claim to be his student.
Old Man Dong would then become a man completely alone.
After that superior uttered such a threat, Old Man Dong felt he could already foresee the predicament ahead.
Yet, even so, Old Man Dong shook his head.
It wasn't that he possessed great conscience or was particularly noble.
It was simply that having made a statement, retracting it would make him what?
A urinal for others?
Picked up to urinate in when needed, and discarded when not?
Old Man Dong would rather die than suffer such a violation of his dignity and humiliation!
"Good, very good. Don't forget, the local official is more powerful than the distant one. No matter how high your status in the circle, it cannot compare to me, a minor official who controls the purse strings! Let's see!"
The superior was furious and left abruptly.
The few students who had accompanied him exchanged glances and quietly departed.
The fickleness of human relationships was vividly displayed.
"Was I wrong?"
Old Man Dong looked at the hazy yellow crescent moon in the sky and murmured.
The small courtyard was silent, with no one around.
It was expected that Old Man Dong's question would go unanswered.
However, a voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of the courtyard: "Of course, you were wrong!"
"You were wrong to associate with them, knowing what kind of people they are!"
"You were wrong to remain in this circle, knowing what kind of circle it is!"
"You were wrong to refuse to repent, you were wrong to be stubborn, you were wrong not to emulate the virtuous!"
"Who?" Old Man Dong started, instinctively looking towards the source of the voice.
He saw a silhouette suddenly appear at the otherwise empty entrance.
It was a young man, a stranger, whom he did not know.
Old Man Dong mistook him for a passerby and, in a casual tone, asked, "Then tell me, how am I not emulating the virtuous? And who is this virtuous person?"
The young man smiled, raised a finger, and pointed at himself: "I am."
Old Man Dong froze, then burst into laughter: "Young people are truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth! I've met those who claim to be the king of heaven, and those who claim to be the Jade Emperor, but I've never met anyone who claims to be virtuous!"
"Do you even know what 'virtuous' means?"
The young man clasped his hands behind his back and said leisurely, "If even I don't know, then no one in this world knows!"
"The so-called virtuous person orders the laws of heaven and earth! Their appearance is like the sun and moon! They distinguish the stars! They act in accordance with yin and yang! They differentiate the four seasons!"
"They align with the ancient ways! They seek truth in the Great Void!"