Chapter 237
After three consecutive students failed to provide an answer that satisfied Professor Zhao, the atmosphere in the classroom grew even more tense.
Everyone kept their heads down, even breathing cautiously, terrified that they would be the next one called upon.
Professor Zhao's gaze swept across the classroom once more, this time slowly landing on Shen Nanchu in the first row.
He stared at her for a few seconds before speaking. "The female student in the pale yellow sweater, you tell us, what is archaeology?"
All eyes instantly converged on Shen Nanchu.
Some were curious, wanting to see if this pretty girl could give a good answer.
Others were gloating, thinking that since even Li Zhe hadn't answered well, a delicate-looking girl like Shen Nanchu was bound to make a fool of herself.
Pei Yunzhou was sweating for his sister-in-law, his palms clenched tight.
Shen Nanchu, however, wasn't nervous at all. She stood up calmly, her posture perfectly straight. Meeting Professor Zhao's gaze with open frankness, she said only one sentence:
"What is archaeology?"
Her answer was unexpectedly concise; in fact, it could be said she hadn't directly answered the question at all.
As soon as the words left her mouth, the classroom erupted into a roar of laughter even louder than before.
"Hahaha, what kind of answer is that? That's like saying nothing at all!"
"Exactly! She definitely doesn't know the answer and is just playing dumb!"
"I told you, what's the use of being pretty? Her grades must be terrible. She probably got in through the back door and doesn't deserve to be in the archaeology department at all!"
"Does she think she can fool her way through just because she's pretty? Professor Zhao definitely won't let her off the hook!"
[Resentment Points +3]
[Resentment Points +4]
[Resentment Points +5]
...
Whispers and mocking laughter rose and fell, throwing the classroom into chaos.
Sitting next to her, Pei Yunzhou's face turned red with anger. He was about to shoot up from his seat to argue back, but Shen Nanchu stopped him with a look.
She shook her head slightly, signaling him not to be impulsive, and then continued to look calmly at Professor Zhao, waiting for his reaction.
But to everyone's surprise, after hearing Shen Nanchu's response, Professor Zhao didn't get angry. Instead, his eyes lit up. He leaned forward, a hint of urgency in his tone.
"Go on. What are your thoughts? Say everything you want to say."
The laughter in the classroom stopped instantly. Everyone was stunned, staring at Professor Zhao in bewilderment.
Why was Professor Zhao so excited over a seemingly nonsensical sentence from Shen Nanchu? Could there be some deeper meaning to it?
Meeting the professor's gaze, Shen Nanchu's voice was clear and firm.
"Professor Zhao, I believe the question 'what is archaeology' seems simple, but it is actually the very core of the discipline."
"In our study of archaeology, the first thing we must understand is what it is. If we can't clarify this most fundamental question, all subsequent research is just empty talk."
"If we don't even understand the basic 'what is it,' then the most advanced theories and methods are merely castles in the air, devoid of any practical significance."
"I think that figuring out 'what archaeology is,' and figuring out 'what' each research subject is, is the foundation of archaeology."
Shen Nanchu's words were well-organized and logically rigorous; every sentence hit the nail on the head.
The classroom instantly fell so silent that you could hear a pin drop.
Those who had mocked and questioned her earlier now blushed and lowered their heads in embarrassment, unable to utter another word of ridicule.
Professor Zhao listened with exceptional intentness. As he listened, he nodded slightly, the admiration in his eyes growing stronger.
"Well said! Extremely well said! You have grasped the essence of archaeology! Many people study archaeology for years without understanding this principle. For a newly enrolled freshman to have such insight is incredibly rare!"
He paused, then turned to the whole class, his tone turning serious.
"All of you should learn from this classmate."
"Scholarship cannot be superficial. You cannot merely pursue form and technique. You must learn to grasp the core, ask more 'whys' and 'whats,' and build a solid foundation. Only then can you truly master archaeology and achieve something in this field."
[Resentment Points +1]
[Resentment Points +2]
[Resentment Points +3]
...
Although Professor Zhao was full of praise for Shen Nanchu, quite a few students were still unconvinced in their hearts.
A boy sitting in the back row muttered quietly to the person next to him,
"I think she's just spouting empty words with no real substance. Professor Zhao must have been tricked by her smooth talking!"
The girl next to him also said sourly,
"Exactly. So just because she's pretty and can say a few nice words, she gets the professor's praise?"
"I think she's just an empty vase. She probably did get in through the back door. Otherwise, how could she give such a unique answer? Maybe she knew the answer in advance!"
Although these words were spoken softly, in the quiet classroom, quite a few people still heard them.
Pei Yunzhou couldn't hold back anymore. He shot up and shouted at the gossiping students,
"Stop talking nonsense! Comrade Shen made perfect sense. Archaeology is all about first figuring out 'what' things are; that's the most fundamental part!"
"If you can't answer the question yourselves, don't sit here being jealous and making malicious guesses! If you're so capable, let's see you say something that deep!"
Pei Yunzhou's voice was loud, echoing throughout the entire classroom.
The gossiping students were left speechless. Their faces turned red and pale by turns, and they could only resentfully lower their heads, not daring to speak another word.
Professor Zhao looked at Pei Yunzhou, then at Shen Nanchu. A faint smile appeared on his face, and his tone softened a bit.
"This student is eager to protect his friend, which is understandable. However, in our academic pursuits, we must allow for different voices. Alright, let's continue the class."
For the rest of the class, Professor Zhao's questions became increasingly tricky. From the origins of archaeology to excavation techniques, and then to famous domestic and foreign historical sites, the difficulty kept escalating.
Many students were left dumbfounded by the questions and sat down with red faces.
But Shen Nanchu handled them with ease. No matter the question, she could answer it quickly and accurately, and even draw inferences from one example to another.
When Professor Zhao asked about the typical artifacts of the Yangshao culture, Shen Nanchu not only named the painted pottery basin with a human-face and fish motif, but also explained in detail that it was unearthed at the Banpo site in Xi'an in 1955. She noted that the decoration combined human faces and fish patterns, which was crucial for studying the totem worship, religious beliefs, and handicraft industry of that era.
Professor Zhao nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of admiration.
When asked about the differences between the Longshan and Yangshao cultures, Shen Nanchu covered everything comprehensively and meticulously—from the time periods, distribution areas, and production tools, to pottery characteristics and social structures. Her explanation was even clearer than the textbook.
The entire class was won over by her competence. Even those who had been unconvinced earlier had to admit that Shen Nanchu was no empty vase; she possessed genuine knowledge.
In the gazes directed at her, there was admiration, but also a jealousy that couldn't be concealed.
How could someone be so beautiful and yet so brilliant at her studies?
[Resentment Points +1]
[Resentment Points +2]
[Resentment Points +3]
...