ABT ### Chapter 80: Professor Zhang Joins
An Ning had a place to stay in Tiancheng, but after resigning, she had packed up everything, thinking she would move to Nanhe. Unexpectedly, after a brief stay in Nanhe, she found herself back in Tiancheng. After agreeing with Li Fanyu to meet with Cheng Gang the next day, she left without hesitation.
Li Fanyu spent the entire day touching his lips, reminiscing about that unexpected kiss. In the evening, he groggily returned to school. They had already arranged to have dinner together that morning. To his surprise, when he called, he learned they were already waiting for him at a hot pot restaurant.
He quickly ran over since Cheng Ke told him over the phone that Professor Zhang was treating them to dinner, and they were just waiting for him. The hot pot restaurant, Chuan Shu Hot Pot, was only a street away from the university. It was popular due to its affordable prices and clean, comfortable dining environment. It was so popular that people had to book a table in the morning to have dinner there.
Li Fanyu walked through the bustling downstairs area, passing many couples and groups of single friends enjoying their meals. He hurried upstairs and quickly found the room number Cheng Ke had given him.
The second floor had only eight private rooms, each with a unique number. With a slight directional challenge, Li Fanyu easily found the room at the corner with the number 555.
Entering the room, he saw the three scholars exchanging mischievous glances, their expressions unclear. Cheng Ke coughed lightly, barely suppressing a smile as she greeted him. The table was laden with an array of hot pot ingredients, neatly arranged but untouched. The steam from the hot pot gave the room a rather ominous atmosphere, like a mob boss hosting a banquet.
Professor Zhang sat grandly in the chair facing the door. When Li Fanyu entered, he stood up and offered the main seat to him.
"Mr. Li, please take the main seat!" Professor Zhang said solemnly, which startled Li Fanyu.
"Oh, Professor Zhang, what are you doing... Please sit down. You calling me that is just teasing me. Even if I were the chairman, I wouldn't deserve this respect from you." Li Fanyu quickly bowed, helping Professor Zhang back into his seat.
Professor Zhang grunted with satisfaction, pulling Li Fanyu by the arm, "Li Fanyu, I have a favor to ask of you today."
Li Fanyu's eyelids twitched; Uncle! Sir! I don't feel like you're asking me for a favor, more like you're making a demand!
He turned and glared at the three scholars and Cheng Ke. How unkind of them not to give him a heads-up about what Professor Zhang wanted!
The four of them turned their heads, stifling laughter, making it clear they were just here for the show.
"Professor Zhang, please don't say that... Just tell me what you need. As long as it's within my power and doesn't involve donating organs, I'll do my best."
Professor Zhang didn't let go of his arm, "I heard you're setting up an automotive laboratory. Is that true?"
"Yes."
"Give me a position; I want to work for you!"
What? Li Fanyu was dumbfounded; was that it?
Although Professor Zhang wasn't doing well at the university, it had nothing to do with his academic prowess. With his qualifications and skills, he more than deserved a full professorship. But because of his bad temper and frequent clashes with the school leadership, he remained an associate professor.
Once the lab was established, An Ning would certainly put effort into its operation, and having someone as academically solid as Professor Zhang would be crucial. But the lab wasn't even built yet. Even though Li Fanyu was optimistic, there was always a chance something could go wrong.
If he promised Professor Zhang now and couldn't deliver later, wouldn't that lead to trouble?
"Professor Zhang, the lab hasn't even started. We don't even have a shell built..."
"I handed in my resignation to the principal today after hearing from Xu Fufang that you were setting up the lab. Soon I'll be jobless, and if you don't take me in, I'll sweep the streets in front of your company and tell everyone I taught you, you little brat!"
Professor Zhang glared, holding up two fingers like a sword, looking like a living cosplay of Zhong Kui with his bald head...
Li Fanyu couldn't help but laugh and cry; fine! Another stubborn case like An Ning. Are all tech experts like this, quitting their jobs at the drop of a hat?
"No, no, no, Professor Zhang, you’ll ruin my reputation... I'll arrange something for you, okay?"
"Really?"
"Of course. If you sweep the streets in front of my company, the school might send people to break my windows..."
"Good! Good! Little Fan, you must do a good job with this lab. It's a foundation for independent research! I owe you a favor since your trip to Germany. Taking this opportunity, I'll toast to you. Come on, bottoms up!" With that, Professor Zhang picked up his glass and downed it in one go before Li Fanyu could stop him.
Seeing the forty-two-degree alcohol, he realized Professor Zhang had just finished a strong drink. He became hyperactive, reciting poetry enthusiastically for the rest of the evening.
"Old man talks of youthful days! Left hand holds a hawk, right hand grips a hound! In furs and hats, leading a thousand horses to sweep the plains! Holding a token in the clouds, when will Feng Tang be sent? Pull the bow like a full moon, look northwest, shoot the wolf!"
Finally, after stumbling through the poem, Professor Zhang slumped in his chair, asleep.
The five of them, exhausted from handling the hyperactive professor, finally sat down, wiping their foreheads.
"Sigh, the lab isn't even built yet, and Professor Zhang has already resigned... What if things don't go well?" Li Fanyu said, spreading his hands in concern.
Xu Fufang waved his hand, "Brother Fan, don't stress too much. I think Professor Zhang made the right choice. He put all his hopes on us for years, and now with this lab opportunity, he can foster talent and realize his ambitions. How could he not be interested?"
Liu Qing agreed, "Exactly. Look at the courses the university assigned him. Do you think teaching those makes him happy? And he's nearly sixty, still an associate professor. I think the lab environment suits him perfectly."
Zhang Yu chimed in, "Precisely."
Thinking it over, Li Fanyu realized they were right. He was just worried because he cared too much. From Professor Zhang's perspective, there wasn't much to hold onto besides his pension.
After a brief rest, they paid the bill and escorted Professor Zhang home.
Professor Zhang lived near the university in the oldest faculty housing, an eighties-style six-story building with three units per floor. The three scholars who had been to his home before easily found the middle unit on the top floor.
Professor Zhang's wife opened the door, and seeing her husband drunk, she scolded him while inviting the five of them in.
But they dared not enter, fearing that Professor Zhang might wake up and start reciting poetry again.
With polite refusals, they bowed and hurried down the stairs.
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