Chapter 24 – The defending master (Part 2)
Lin Tianlang contended on strong grounds: “At present, the country is stable, and the traditional culture of China is gradually recovering. Although our religious studies are a neglected branch, every school still wants to have it.
Just last month, 324 schools across the country sent distinguished invitations to my master. Among them, 215 actually politely requested him to be an honorary professor of their establishments, without restricting his teaching and giving him the complete freedom over his lessons.
I believe that with my master’s qualifications, we can surely bring in more interested students anywhere he teaches.
Principal Lin, what do you have to add? If there is no way out, we will take our leave first. In the past, he principal of China University has also invited my master over for a chat and a cup of tea. We are ready to pick up my junior sister at any moment to head over there.” (TN: when someone invites you to a chat and/or cup of tea, there’s often an underlying meaning of business to talk about.)
The preceding persuasion was still tolerable, but China University and Beijing University were old rivals, whether it was on fame or strength, they were both almost on par with each other, and their names were juxtaposed in the top Chinese universities ranking.
How could Principal Lin afford to let a person with Professor Lin Wu’s fame and qualifications go join the rival’s side!
“This time’s matter is really beyond my jurisdiction. I’m also facing trouble on my side.” Principal Lin sighed helplessly:
“Lin Mumu’s circumstances are special, but the Educational Bureau recently issued new regulations. China University might also narrowly escape. How about, if Lin Mumu can’t pass the exam, I will let her become Professor Lin’s teaching assistant first, and then let her retake the exam next year?”
Professor Lin Wu got up and walked towards the door: “Even if you and this broken university don’t give face to I, your father, I can still take my two disciples and go back to the Daoist temple to open business.”
(TN: ‘I, your father, ...’ is often used to arrogantly show contempt and superiority in a domineering way, such as ‘this grandpa’, ‘this young lady’... It could be insulting or joking, the current situation is the former.)
Principal was really caught off guard with this old Daoist priest’s sudden bad temper. When he first came to the university, he wasn’t like this. He used to dress in traditional Daoist robes and exuded the air of a genuine unworldly immortal Daoist who possessed immense capability.
But now? He was acting like a hoodlum!
And he also turned his own son into a local ruffian he could take along to handle business like a hired thug!
“This, this... Tianlang, won’t you help me persuade your master?”