The Red Era, the Opening University Speech

Chapter 26 A good comrade in hard work—Li Mu!
Li Jian continued with a beaming smile, "There is something even more worth celebrating. The school has decided to hold a team competition award ceremony tomorrow. Not only will the dean come, but also the leaders of the Kyoto First Machinery Department will come."

"Teacher Chu told us that the leader is coming for you, Li Mu."

"The original award ceremony was supposed to be held half a month ago, but the school postponed it until now in order to wait for the test results of the improved incandescent lamps!"

Zhang Kai followed up, "Yes, so you have to prepare well and make sure you don't let down tomorrow."

"The dean has been looking for you all afternoon today. Professor Huang and Wang Ya are also looking for you everywhere. You are now a well-deserved celebrity in our Beijing Institute of Technology!"

The smile that Li Mu forced out was almost turning into a capital letter "sad".

It's just an improved incandescent lamp. Is it necessary to make such a big fuss?
He even wants to go on stage to speak. Does this mean he wants Mr. Li to die?

Li Mu suddenly coughed twice: "Cough, cough, cough!"

Zhang Kai asked with concern: "Li Mu, what's wrong with you?"

"I've been feeling a little unwell recently, so I took a leave of absence this afternoon to come back and rest." Li Mu waved his hand.

Zhang Kai said nervously: "Have you gone to the hospital to get the medicine? Don't fall ill at this critical moment. You are the most important part of tomorrow's award ceremony. No one can be missing, but you can be!"

"Yes, you are the focus of tomorrow's event. If you don't go, what's the point of the award ceremony?" Li Jian followed.

Li Mu felt a little warm in his heart, but also felt a little guilty for lying.

It is impossible not to go there.

"Well, I would love to go with you, but I'm afraid my body won't allow it."

"Besides, awarding an award is just a form of... ahem, a form of recognition. It doesn't really matter whether you go or not."

"Tomorrow, ahem, you guys will receive the award on my behalf."

As Li Mu spoke, he pretended to cough, as if he was about to cough out his lungs. Seeing this, Zhang Kai and Li Jian were at a loss to persuade him any further.

Zhang Kai and Li looked at each other in silence for a moment. Zhang Kai said with concern, "If you really can't go, don't force yourself. Your health is the most important thing!"

Li Jian said in a deep voice: "No one can do anything about being sick. Just rest and recuperate. We will let everyone know your contribution at the award ceremony tomorrow!"

Li Muqing sincerely advised: "It's not necessary, it's really not necessary!"

"We are a team, we can't treat each other differently. Why do you have to single me out?"

Li Jian and the other man shook their heads frantically: "That won't work!"

"The incandescent light bulb was successfully improved. It could have been successful without the two of us, but it would never have been successful without you!"

"So, you must let everyone know that the successful improvement is your achievement!"

Li Mu tried hard not to roll his eyes and tried to refuse a few times, but to no avail.

People of this era are so simple and clear about their gratitude and resentment!
Seeing that Li Mu's voice was getting weaker and weaker, the two thought that he was weak and took their leave considerately.

We sent away the two people who came to announce the good news.

Before Li Mu had time to catch his breath, Grandma Li, who had been listening outside for a long time, came in and said, "Xiao Mu, I heard everything just now. Why didn't you tell me that you were sick?"

"I asked your uncle to ask Uncle Zhong to borrow a cart. I'll take you to the hospital later!"

Li Mu quickly refused: "No, grandma, I'm just too tired from studying and want to take a rest. It's not a serious illness."

If I were really taken to the hospital, it would not only be troublesome, but it would also be difficult to explain if it turned out that I was not sick.

"Really?" Grandma Li hesitated for a moment, still worried: "No, I'll feel more at ease after seeing it."

Li Mu said helplessly: "Ah, grandma, to tell you the truth, I am actually hungry."

Now Grandma Li believed it.

"Look at you, you need to nourish your body at a time when you still eat so little every day, how can this be possible." After complaining, Grandma Li left the room and came back with a few more hard maltose in her hand. Li Lan and Li Yu also followed her. When they found Grandma Li holding the maltose, they quietly followed her.

"Eat it. Only after eating it can your body get better quickly." Grandma Li stuffed the candy into Li Mu's hand.

Li Mu saw two little girls peeking out of the door, their black eyes staring at the candy in his hand without blinking, swallowing their saliva in small sips, and wanted to laugh.

Afterwards, Grandma Li gave a few more instructions and left the room to let Li Mu have a good rest.

After Grandma Li left, Li Mu waved to the two little guys who had just hidden and now stuck their heads out again: "Xiao Lan, Xiao Yu, come here and have some candy."

"Brother~ We don't eat, you eat, you need to nourish your body~" Unexpectedly, the two little girls replied in a baby voice.

Although they said no, their eyes were always fixed on the maltose in Li Mu's hand, full of desire.

Li Mu looked at the maltose in his hand, feeling mixed emotions.

……

The next day, noon.

Li Mu used the excuse of being sick and stayed in his room to continue studying.

I felt a little sleepy after dinner. I just dozed off for a while when I heard a noisy noise coming from outside.

When Li Mu heard the noise in a daze, he had a bad feeling.

"Dong Dong~"

There was a knock on the door.

There are not many people in the whole compound who know how to knock on doors, and those who know each other just shout.

Li Mu felt even worse.

"Please come in."

But leaving it alone was not a good idea, so Li Mu could only respond.

The next moment, the door opened and a middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit with four pockets on his chest walked in.

Li Mu pretended to be sick and struggled to get up.

The middle-aged man hurriedly stepped forward, held down Li Mu who was about to get up from the bed, and said with concern: "Student Li Mu, you don't have to get up. Since you are sick, just rest well. It's fine to just talk like this."

Li Mu did not refuse, after all, he was a "patient" now.

"Then I'm sorry. By the way, you are..." Li Mu pretended to be weak.

Professor Wang came out and introduced: "Li Mu, this is Leader Qiu from the First Machinery Department of Kyoto. I didn't see you at the award ceremony today, and I heard that you were sick, so I came to see you. And here's our dean..."

"Thank you for your efforts, Leader. Thank you, Leader Qiu, and all the school leaders! I am just an ordinary student, so how can it be worth it for you to waste your precious time and visit me in person!" Li Mu's face was full of touching humility.

In fact, I was already cursing in my heart!
I've been hiding at home, why can't I escape?
Leader Qiu laughed and joked to everyone: "Student Li, you don't understand how great your contribution is!"

"First you improved the hand drill, and now you improved the incandescent light bulb. In our Kyoto First Machinery Department, you are a well-known scientist!"

"I came here this time not only to represent the Kyoto First Machinery Department to recognize and reward your achievements, but also to meet you."

Leader Qiu looked at Li Mu with eyes full of praise and appreciation.

When he came in, he noticed at a glance that there were several books and notes on the table in the room. The pages of the books were quite wrinkled, and every page of the notes was densely written.

"You, my little classmate, have persisted in studying even when you are sick. You are a good comrade with a spirit of hard work and struggle!"

(End of this chapter)