Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 396 - 40 I reflect on myself three times a day

Chapter 396: Chapter 40 I reflect on myself three times a day

Facing Jing Hongtu’s counter-question, Xiang Shan fell into thought.

Then, he asked, "So what should I do, Teacher Jing? I feel that this definitely isn’t right, but I can’t articulate exactly what’s wrong."

Jing Hongtu placed his hands on his knees, "Let’s start from the beginning and analyze it step by step. You started by saying that the hacker is still a child, and she’s a bit off the beaten path. You hope she can grow as an ordinary person and then live a happy life. That’s your wish, isn’t it?"

Xiang nodded, "That’s right."

"But what you are really thinking about is sending her to college so she can befriend peers," Jing Hongtu said. "That doesn’t make sense. Specific problems require specific analysis. Having peers isn’t a necessary condition for a sound character, and going to college even less so. Peers might just be more likely to have common topics. You are friends with Professor Yawgmoth, Researcher Klein, and Inga, aren’t you? But you and I, by the broadest definition, can’t be considered peers, can we? And didn’t you mention you skipped several grades? You also befriended older kids several times, didn’t you?"

"That young girl has had a very special experience. She may be more unfortunate than most people and has a brilliant intellect, so she probably won’t have much in common with ’peers’."

"Ultimately, ’building a sound character’ doesn’t necessarily have to be accomplished through school education. Being tempered by society and experiencing one’s own life are also nourishment for character growth."

Xiang nodded, "I see..."

"As for the Rama Project Area, the environment is a bit complex, and some people have convoluted minds. But after all, there are still many pure people. That young girl could still be educated here."

Xiang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Jing Hongtu looked at Xiang with some surprise, "You weren’t thinking all along about whether you should send that girl to school, were you?"

Xiang remained composed, "How could that be?"

"Well, let’s talk about the second point. Throughout history, talented students have entered the academic world earlier to participate in various projects. You did the same, right? And our place is one of the best research institutes for humans. That wouldn’t be a bad prospect for that young girl, right?"

Xiang smiled, "That’s true. It seems like I need to find time to notify her parents."

Because of a "judicial deal," Zhu Xinyu had to stay within the Rama Project Area to provide advice on the network security of the area, as well as for the "Orunmila Project" research, serving as a kind of "consultant" — predominately the latter.

In the eyes of others, it was Xiang Shan’s resolve that facilitated this arrangement.

If not for Xiang’s persistence, the best outcome for "Zhu Rong" would have been to spend several years in a secret prison.

"Actually, it’s your personal persistence, and this apparently reasonable cause, that allow that young girl to stand here. She needs to make significant contributions in the area to gain her freedom. If you simply cast her out, I’m afraid she would be taken to prison the moment she stepped out — even at the moment you express this intention, she would be doomed. If you think it doesn’t matter whether that girl stays here or not... ’Letting that girl operate here is not out of necessity, but some foolish scholar’s pride,’ others will realize that."

Xiang suddenly felt anxious. He looked around.

"Don’t worry about eavesdropping." Jing Hongtu chuckled, "Not to mention I’ve turned the game music up so loud. Even if our casual conversation is overheard, no one would use it as a material to challenge us. After all, there are supposedly no listening devices here openly."

"So, secretly..."

"Who knows. This is an institute whose achievements are shared internationally; theoretically, it needs no such dirty tricks." Jing Hongtu didn’t continue the subject but instead cautioned, "If you truly want that young girl to have a safe life, you must stick to the stance that ’she is useful,’ until she makes a real contribution."

"That young girl was originally a criminal, an extremist, an unstable element. In this system, others who handle matters will avoid her if possible because she is unreliable. And you have staked your own reputation to vouch for her, so to others, she naturally counts as your confidant. If someone wants to use her skills, they would generally go through you. That’s a form of social exchange," Jing Hongtu said. "Of course, this is just a reminder. It’s a rare occurrence."

Xiang, thoughtful, asked, "So what should we do now?"

"Win that young girl over," Jing Hongtu shook his head, "You work on NPC favorability in games, right?"

Xiang nodded, "That’s true. So next, we need to get ’Zhu Rong’ to cooperate and then come up with a plan to mitigate the impact... Tsk tsk..."

Jing Hongtu eyed Xiang, "Little Xiang, I think you still have some doubts in your mind. Do you still have hesitations?"

Xiang rubbed his forehead, "Same as before, you know. I’m just a sentimental person."

"Like that time with Professor Vigette?" Jing Hongtu’s expression became slightly peculiar.

"What if ’Zhu Rong’ is actually right?" Xiang sighed deeply, as if the doubt had been lingering in his heart for a long time.

He said, "’Correcting the bent’—overcorrecting is necessary. Why does the unified exam lower the standards for impoverished areas? Because those areas have far too few educational resources, and students have very limited opportunities to learn. Is that fair? For the children of the poor in the Central Plains, obviously not. If there were fair competition, that area would produce hardly any college students. Ultimately, the poor get poorer... right?"

Jing Hongtu nodded, "That’s the rationale."

"So, is ’Zhu Rong’ just someone who ’overcorrects’? Honestly, seeing her fearlessly advocate her ideals... I still admire her a bit. What we want to face is the greatest ’crookedness’ in the world. Although I say I want to fight it, I also worry that I might become a part of it. Perhaps people like Zhu Rong who stand up first might represent the power of ’resistance’ better?"

Jing Hongtu said, "If you had to do it all over again, knowing Zhu Rong is this kind of person, would you still do it?"

Xiang nodded, "Of course."

"After reflecting on it, would you regret your actions?"

Xiang said, "I examine myself thrice a day... but I wouldn’t completely deny myself."

Jing Hongtu’s stern expression finally relaxed, "That’s good. Let me tell you a story about someone called ’Hippie’."