Lin Fuxi was offended by what Tan Mo had said.
It pained her as much as if Tan Mo had just stabbed her in the heart. Lin Fuxi still remembered the feeling she had had that day. The day that they elected a new head of class, and she got zero votes and lost by a landslide.
The moment she’d known the election results, Lin Fuxi had burst out in tears and run back to her dorm room. It was absolutely one of the saddest moments of her entire life.
Tan Mo didn’t stand up as she spoke to Lin Fuxi. If Lin Fuxi wants to stay standing, she thought, then let Lin Fuxi stand.
“Lin Fuxi,” Tan Mo called her out again, but this time she didn’t call Lin Fuxi head of class. Lin Fuxi glared at her, and Tan Mo continued, “Who is the one you were talking about, the one from an impoverished family who relies on a scholarship for her living expenses? Who did I steal from? I recall that those from below-average income families can apply for a stipend, and the university will give them a monthly allowance. Beijing University has always been good in this respect. They are considerate to their students who are in need of financial aid.
“Beijing University decides to invest in the student the moment they send out that acceptance letter, and the university does their best to make sure their students can focus on their studies, rather than struggling to earn living expenses. Beijing University has a myriad of financial aid programs for its students, including work-study programs, student loans, stipends, and other allowances. That way their students can continue to stay in school… even if they didn’t earn a scholarship award.
“Also, based on what you said, the scholarship should only be earned by those from impoverished families? Financial aid is there for those who need it, but scholarships are for those who earn it; they are not stolen from poor students. Those poor students that you speak of didn’t even say anything themselves, isn’t it a bit out of turn for you to speak for them like that?
Tan Mo continued slowly, “I’ve never heard those students say such a thing themselves. The way you said it… it was as if all that you said came from their own mouths. If someone outside heard what you’d said, not knowing the truth, they might blame those students for making such a…thoughtless comment.
Tan Mo blinked her eyes hard until they turned red. “That’s not so nice of you: making those students your scapegoat.
“Lin Fuxi, if you are unhappy that I got the scholarship, you can just say so. Say that you aren’t happy…you don’t have to pull those innocent students down with your irresponsible commentary. You said it yourself, everyone is here to study, and everyone is already trying hard to do well in class, but…now you have made them your scapegoats. You shouldn’t have done that.
“If you hadn’t said all that those students would still be determined to make something of themselves. They might not have affluent backgrounds, but they can rely on themselves. They are not pitiful, and they don’t need your pity.” Tan Mo’s voice wasn’t loud, but her words had strength in them.
Others in the class listened carefully, and just then they also felt something determined in their hearts.
“You can ask those students themselves right now, whether what you said was true.” Tan Mo had a determined look on her face, “They don’t need you to speak in place of them.”
“That’s right.” Meng Yuxi was the first to speak. “Lin Fuxi, I know that you wanted the top scholarship, and you are angry that you didn’t get it. But you didn’t have to bring those students into all this. Speak for yourself if you want, but don’t bring them into this, because how could you know what they are thinking? They are here to study, not to be taken advantage of by people like you.”
“I agree!” Other classmates who had listened to the whole thing quietly spoke up, nodding in a flurry.
“Also, you just told everyone that I’m rich…what does that have to do with earning a scholarship? Just as you said, this is a gift from the university, and it is based on what I have done at school and outside of school. Since my grades warrant it, why shouldn’t I take it? I earned it by my own hard work and intelligence.
Tan Mo said, “That’s like saying…if your family is rich, then you should work for free, because you already have money to spend. Instead that money should be divided among your poorer colleagues. Your argument is unreasonable. Those who work should get money for their work.
Lin Fuxi was thinking, You are just trying to argue with me. That is two completely different things. Tan Mo was just trying to make everyone confused with her circular reasoning.
“Also, Lin Fuxi, did you say all that because you felt wronged? You think I was the one who stole your scholarship?” Tan Mo didn’t reply to what Lin Fuxi had said, and she continued, “If so, then just say so, and I’d be happy to explain to you why I earned this scholarship. If not, then perhaps you are trying to tell me…that I stole another poor student’s scholarship? If so, they don’t need you to speak for them. You may be the only one who finds it unfair.
Lin Fuxi opened her mouth. She wanted to refute what Tan Mo was saying, but Lin Fuxi had nothing to say.
“By the way, the scholarship is totally fair.” Tan Mo wasn’t about to let Lin Fuxi pick at her words.
“Lin Fuxi, as far as I know, you came from a suburb. The suburb isn’t a big city, but your family is not impoverished. Your parents named you Fu and Xi. To them, you are a joy and a blessing. You are an only child, and your parents dote on you a lot. Your parents may not be extremely rich, but they are not so poor as to make you rely on scholarships for your living expenses.”
She was head of the class, and she was clear about Lin Fuxi’s background.
“How is it not unfair? Just now you said a whole bunch of random stuff, but you never said what your grades were. Why should you get the scholarship?” Lin Fuxi asked in a hurry.
“I believe I can have some say here,” Counselor Hong spoke. “You were all immersed in a discussion earlier, so I didn’t want to disrupt you guys. But if it is a question about grades, I can answer your questions.
“Tan Mo received full scores in both her core and elective classes,” Counselor Hong said. “The professor who graded your papers looked at Tan Mo’s answers over and over again, but couldn’t find a single mistake. It is true that a full score is rare, but Tan Mo did earn it.
“Of course, just as Lin Fuxi said, that alone wasn’t enough for Tan Mo to earn the top scholarship,” Counselor Hong continued. “But Tan Mo had additional points from other activities.
“It’s just that her activities are unrelated to the school of finance.” Counselor Hong looked at the paper with all his students’ grades and said, “Freshman year, Tan Mo represented the school of language and attended the Ancient Text Competition where she was the winner. So for this she got additional points.
“She joined the research teams of Professor Guo and Professor Zhao and did research, so she earned additional points there. If any of you can join a research team on campus, you can get additional points as well.
It was difficult to get in a research team as a sophomore… Tan Mo was an exception.
“Additionally, I must say, Tan Mo joined the two research teams because both professors invited her personally. Our school has been around for more than a century. If nothing else, we have character, and we don’t do anything behind the scenes. We won’t kiss-ass a wealthy student, nor will we discriminate against one who is not.” He said that to Lin Fuxi.
Because Lin Fuxi was hinting that the school gave Tan Mo the scholarship because she was from a wealthy family. If the public heard her irresponsible commentary, Beijing University’s reputation could be damaged.
“Professor Guo and Professor Zhao are highly reputable and respected. They have their minds only on research, and they would not do anything behind the scenes.”
Everyone nodded. They believed what Counselor Hong had said.
Lin Fuxi bit her lips in embarrassment as she said, “I didn’t mean that.”
Counselor Hong ignored her as he continued, “What I meant to say was that Tan Mo joined those two research teams by means of her own ability and expertise. That can be proved by the award she brought home from the language competition.
“In matters of history, if anyone is still suspicious of Tan Mo, then feel free to bring someone over here from the school of history. Find anyone, and see if anyone is better than Tan Mo.”
