Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!
Chapter 436 - 429: The Thirst for Knowledge

Chapter 436: Chapter 429: The Thirst for Knowledge

Nan Zhubin’s thoughts are not worth discussing for now.

The brief memory flashed by, perhaps he might do something about it after finishing his daytime tasks.

But for now, Nan Zhubin is focused on their gathering at the moment.

The first dinner of the mentorship is quite an important social event.

After Bai Qinghua left, Chonghui indeed relaxed a lot. He immediately called over the waiter, without looking at the menu, skillfully ordering several more dishes.

"Junior, the Signature Fried Rice here is particularly delicious, the Mango Sago is also quite good, the red sausages taste pretty nice... In short, you should definitely try them all!"

Nan Zhubin hesitated: "Senior, I might not be able to finish..."

"If you can’t finish, just pack them. If you find something you like, order two more servings and pack them too, anyway the teacher is treating us." Chonghui waved his hand, "The teacher may have a lot of things to criticize in other areas, but his taste is genuinely good. This tea restaurant is quite nice!"

Of course, good taste generally means expensive, this tea restaurant is not something regular doctoral or master’s students can afford. That’s why Chonghui and Shi Qianqian especially cherish every chance of a dinner organized by the mentor.

Nan Zhubin was somewhat puzzled: "Doesn’t the teacher’s research group provide subsidies every month? And you also do consultations at the teacher’s company, is the consultation share that low?"

The financial status displayed by both seniors was quite different from what Nan Zhubin envisioned.

Chonghui immediately clarified: "Of course, the subsidies from our group are considered the highest in the Psychology College; and the share from consultations in the company is aligned with senior consultants, second only to the consulting supervisor."

"Then you guys..." Nan Zhubin wanted to say more but hesitated, the meaning was clear.

"Because we’ve enrolled in courses."

Seeing that Chonghui showed no embarrassment, he merely sighed: "I enrolled in a long-term consultation course, spending almost two hundred thousand over three years, most of the subsidies and consultation income over these years have gone into it."

The big guy said with a worried look: "It’s just the teacher is my advisor, which saves a supervision fee. Moreover, the research group can help reimburse some travel and accommodation expenses under the guise of academic exchange, otherwise, the expenses would have doubled or more."

Beside him, Shi Qianqian also sighed: "I enrolled in a seven-day offline training in the city last month, under the circumstances where the teacher reimbursed the travel, accommodation, and most daily expenses, it still cost almost twenty thousand. I have a half-month study visit to a laboratory in Germany during the summer, the prices there are high, and I reckon it’ll cost quite a bit."

Nan Zhubin found it even more strange: "Did you finish learning the teacher’s consultation techniques? Why are you enrolling in external training courses?"

Knowing that enrolling in the leading mentor’s research group, the greatest perk is free access to technique training and supervision, getting through the most challenging growth period.

Many in the psychological industry aspiring to become consultants, sometimes after struggling socially until almost thirty, may have only just completed a training in one school of thought; whereas the leading mentor’s disciples, upon graduation, often already have some insight into a school of thought, if not entry-level mastery.

Chonghui chuckled softly: "We are learning them too. But on one hand, besides one’s own technique, the consulting industry requires certifications, which can only be obtained by attending various trainings."

"On the other hand, consultation techniques are rapidly evolving, and the teacher is gradually stepping back from direct consulting..." When saying this, Chonghui’s expression turned a bit odd, "So the task of pursuing cutting-edge techniques falls on us."

Nan Zhubin nodded internally, it made sense.

Whether it’s because empathy gets destroyed by experience, because of age-related decline, or other reasons, consultants will reduce the frequency of consultation after reaching a certain age, focusing their energy on research, lectures, teaching, and similar activities instead.

Bai Qinghua must be this way too.

"Scientific experiments can be replicated by reading papers, but the latest development in consulting techniques can only be grasped through personal training and practice." Chonghui said, "Thus, we have to attend these trainings, look at the recent forefront development in psychological consultation, and see if there’s anything good to absorb and help the progression of our research group."

"With the teacher overseeing us, we’re not worried about getting scammed, thus we can genuinely learn useful things, invest good resources wisely."

Chonghui smiled adventurously.

"Of course, it’s not compulsory." Perhaps feeling the topic was too filled with anxiety, Chonghui immediately eased the atmosphere, "In theory, if I complete my thesis during my Ph.D. and learn the teacher’s techniques to a point of proficient use, I have completed my mission."

"Qianqian has her focus more on foundational research, it’s fine if she doesn’t much care about consulting."

The possibilities within Bai Qinghua’s research group are numerous, students theoretically only need to choose a direction they are interested in and good at to develop sufficiently.

"But..." Upon saying this, Chonghui couldn’t help but raise his chin, "We’ve already had the ability to get into Beishi, and the fortune to learn from such a renowned teacher, naturally, we can’t just graduate in an ordinary step-by-step manner, right?"

"The teacher also told us, with his own consulting resources, he can help me digest for ten more years until reaching the level where I can open my own company in any first-tier city outside of Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou—just like my senior sister."

"As for the direction of research projects, he is the number one in this domain nationally, the projects he has are sufficient to smoothly feed us till graduation, and even secure a teaching position in a college."

"But, he also supports us in exploring more possibilities ourselves, as long as we have the willingness, he can provide us with as much support in different aspects as possible!"

When Chonghui said this, there was a power in his words that was more impactful than the muscles he possessed.

"Of course, throughout this process, he will always keep an eye on us. If he finds we’re growing in the wrong direction, it’ll be promptly stopped." Chonghui added, "But so far, this hasn’t happened, so we should be growing quite well."

Chonghui smiled as he stuffed a tart into his mouth: "Right, Qianqian?"

Moving past the topic of research, entering the chatting phase, Shi Qianqian didn’t dare to look at Nan Zhubin much.

But towards Chonghui, she remained sharp:

"There’s a bit of a problem."

"...Hmm?"

"I didn’t get in by exams, I got a direct recommendation for graduate studies." Shi Qianqian looked at Chonghui with proud eyes, "I didn’t choose the teacher by luck either, I had an eye on him during my undergrad, got him to guide my undergraduate thesis by my junior year, and entered the group doing experiments together in my senior year."

Chonghui’s cheeks twitched.