When this matter was brought up, Mao Kangshan launched into a tirade against Mond Dawson and AIA, though mainly against Mond:

“You should consider this carefully. It’s not just my apprentice who has offended Mond, but also your granddaughter Ning Xue. While Xiaolan is suffering now, Ning Xue could be next. She only escaped this time because she wasn’t eligible for evaluation…”

While the first part of his statement made sense, the latter half seemed rather boastful.

Ning Yanfan didn’t want to argue with Mao Kangshan.

But this man was truly insufferable.

Ning Yanfan interrupted him:

“I understand. First, let’s have the Chinese Architectural Society expedite Xia’s membership. Once Xia becomes a member, we can better support her and pressure AIA to reverse their judgment! Though we may not be as renowned internationally as Mond Dawson, we can fight for justice and prove that the theater renovation design was Xia’s work.”

Ning Yanfan paused, then continued, “Second, the Chinese Architectural Society’s support alone isn’t enough. You need to inform both Huaqing’s Architecture Department and Cornell’s School of Architecture. One is Xia’s alma mater, and the other carries more weight in America!”

“Did you think I needed you to tell me that?”

Mao Kangshan had already thought of this.

His second call went to Huaqing’s Architecture Department. Being the weekend, only the duty teacher was present. When he introduced himself as Mao Kangshan and asked for the Department Head, the Head had no choice but to take his call… What could anyone do? This was the status Mao Kangshan had earned through his achievements!

“Hello, Professor Mao. How may I help you?”

“I’m not doing well at all.”

“…!”

It was just a greeting, but Professor Mao’s temperament hadn’t changed in decades. Such persistence – no wonder he’d achieved success in his field!

Even his daily explosive temper was beautified by the Department Head, showing how people would tolerate any shortcoming if someone excelled in just one area.

“Professor Mao, what has happened? Please let us know if we can help in any way.”

The Department Head pondered.

Professor Mao wouldn’t normally bother with Huaqing’s Architecture Department.

The Department Head wasn’t being self-deprecating – Mao Kangshan didn’t just ignore Huaqing’s Architecture Department, he was particularly independent and basically ignored everyone. Later, only because of Xia Xiaolan, Mao Kangshan had initiated contact with Huaqing’s Architecture Department, which had left the Department Head feeling somewhat honored.

This time, it must also be about student Xiaolan, right?

The Department Head had started out smiling, but as Mao Kangshan rattled off the situation, his mood went on a roller coaster ride-

His first thought was similar to Mao Kangshan’s: Our department’s student Xia Xiaolan qualified for the AIA award evaluation. Xiaolan is only a third-year student! This would be a major educational achievement worth promoting for Huaqing’s Architecture Department! It was Huaqing who laid her professional foundation, Huaqing that sent her to Cornell as an exchange student…

The smile lingered on the Department Head’s face for a few seconds as he basked in the glory.

What greater achievement in education could there be than the excellence of one’s students?

Sure, it was fine when Huaqing Architecture Department’s graduates became successful businesspeople. But the most wonderful thing was when graduates blazed new trails in their professional field when their professional achievements became the best reward for Huaqing’s Architecture Department!

For a few seconds, the Department Head was floating on cloud nine.

“AIA new architect evaluation… AIA evaluation…”

“Yes, there was supposed to be an AIA evaluation, but now it’s gone!”

No!

Why wake him up? It was too cruel – couldn’t they let him savor the sweet dream a bit longer?

“Mond Dawson!”

The Department Head gritted his teeth and glanced around, spotting only a pencil sharpener on his desk.

If Mond Dawson were standing before him right now, he would stab him with that pencil sharpener!

Why bully student Xiaolan like this?

Such a talented student.

To have her future destroyed like this – the Department Head absolutely wouldn’t allow it!

Bullying an Architecture Department student was, without any rounding up, equivalent to bullying him as the Department Head.

“Professor Mao, I’ve failed in my duties. Before your call, our department was completely unaware of this situation.”

The incident had almost happened and passed in silence.

Perhaps only when Xia Xiaolan faced setbacks internationally in the future would Huaqing’s Architecture Department deeply regret this.

Being qualified for AIA evaluation already proved Xia Xiaolan’s capability. When a student develops so well, how could the department not help? They couldn’t just step forward shamelessly to share the glory, claiming Xia Xiaolan was trained by Huaqing’s Architecture Department.

Yet when Xia Xiaolan encountered difficulties, Huaqing’s Architecture Department remained indifferent.

The Department Head suppressed his indignation: “Professor Mao, do you have any ideas? We will cooperate with anything that can help clear Xiaolan’s name!”

This was exactly what Mao Kangshan had been waiting to hear.

“Good, listen to me!”

This phone call lasted about half an hour.

The Department Head hung up and immediately called for a department meeting.

They had to do something.

Support a talented student.

Support… fairness and justice!

How dare they say our Huaqing Architecture Department’s student isn’t qualified to compete for awards?

When we have the capability and opportunity, how can someone’s casual words cut off a young person’s future? On what grounds?!

…

Professor Mao was taking action.

The old man moved very quickly.

Before Eric could reply to Xia Xiaolan, Mao Kangshan handed her a form:

“Just fill this out according to the actual situation.”

“Membership application?”

Chinese Architectural Society membership application?

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t even thought of this. “Am I qualified?”

She hadn’t rushed to join, not because Nie Weiguo had spoiled things as one bad apple, making her reject the Chinese Architectural Society, but because she simply hadn’t considered it.

Surely one would need to wait until after graduating college, right?

Could students even join?

Mao Kangshan glared, “If I say you’re qualified, you’re qualified! Fill it out quickly, stop talking nonsense.”

“Oh, I’ll fill it out, I’ll fill it out!”

Xia Xiaolan obediently began filling out the form – personal information, age, place of origin, participated projects, design works… she hesitated slightly at the workplace.

It wasn’t that she had no workplace, but which one should she list?

She was the boss of both the real estate company and the studio… Mao Kangshan told her to just write “Currently enrolled at Huaqing University Architecture Department.”

This was already quite an impressive resume – an enrolled architecture student being inducted into the Chinese Architectural Society.

After completing the form, Mao Kangshan took it, signed it, stamped it with some seal, and declared on the spot:

“You are now a member of the Chinese Architectural Society.”

Was it this casual, this simple?

Xia Xiaolan expressed her doubts immediately: “Professor Mao, I don’t need to do anything else?”

No assessment needed, no process to follow? The whole membership thing felt weightless.

Mao Kangshan put on a serious face:

“Of course, you need to do something else… Remember to pay the annual membership fee. You wouldn’t expect this old man to pay it for you, would you?”