Her words were organized, calm, and neither arrogant nor submissive.
Not only did she refute the accusations of plagiarism, but she also pointed out the issue of unfairness in the interview process.
Several examiners who had previously been hesitant found themselves nodding repeatedly.
Director Li’s eyes lit up as well.
The scales in his heart once again tipped toward this knowledgeable and confident young woman.
The deputy examiner who had challenged her earlier turned livid.
Slamming his hand heavily against the table, he rebuked her sharply.
“What sophistry! Professor Chen is recognized as one of the Agricultural Academy’s key figures. Are you suggesting he would falsely accuse an unknown junior like you?
Anyone can make empty claims about practical application and increased yields. You’re young, yet instead of focusing on self-improvement, you’ve become remarkably skilled at arguing!
I firmly oppose allowing someone guilty of plagiarism, theft of academic work, and questionable character into the experimental station. Immediate elimination is the only reasonable outcome!”
At the doorway, Su Xiaohong eagerly joined in.
Encouraging nearby researchers to agree with her, she shouted repeatedly,
“That’s right! She must be eliminated! We can’t let someone like her tarnish our experimental station. Using stolen work to deceive people into giving her a position—keeping someone like that around will only bring trouble!”
Several researchers near the entrance already harbored biases against Lin Shuyao.
Naturally, they were influenced by the commotion, and the atmosphere quickly became chaotic.
However, not everyone shared that view.
Some of the more practical-minded examiners felt there was something suspicious about the situation.
Lin Shuyao’s performance had been impressive.
Talent like hers was rare.
An elderly technician adjusted his glasses and looked over her proposal.
Unable to remain silent, he spoke up.
“I don’t think we should dismiss her so easily. Everything this young woman has said consists of concrete, practical points. Her insights into red-soil improvement and seed selection are exceptionally original. Every data point aligns perfectly with the actual conditions of the Southwest.
This isn’t something that could be explained merely by secretly memorizing a few notes from someone else. Nor is it something that can simply be copied and understood.”
Another examiner nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. Professor Chen’s letter is only one side of the story. We evaluate talent based on real ability, not on other people’s opinions.
Her professional foundation is obvious. Compared with today’s other candidates, she’s clearly operating on an entirely different level. To eliminate her like this would be a terrible waste of talent and fundamentally unfair.”
The examiners supporting Lin Shuyao did not speak loudly.
Yet every argument they made was reasonable.
They stood firmly on the side of practicality and refused to dismiss her abilities so easily.
Unfortunately, the opposing side held a powerful advantage.
Armed with the Agricultural Academy’s response letter, they remained stubborn and uncompromising.
The debate grew increasingly heated.
Neither side could convince the other.
Watching the situation spiral into disorder, Director Li’s frown deepened.
Finally, he cleared his throat heavily.
Only then did the room gradually fall silent.
He knew very well that Lin Shuyao’s abilities were genuine.
She was an exceptionally promising talent.
But the opposition was currently too strong.
Combined with Professor Chen’s letter weighing against her, giving her a core research position now would be difficult to justify publicly.
The station’s future work would become impossible to manage.
After long consideration, he could only settle on a compromise.
The same compromise he had originally contemplated.
But…
He sighed inwardly.
Looking at Lin Shuyao, his voice carried obvious regret.
“Lin Shuyao, your professional abilities are excellent. However, core positions require comprehensive evaluation. Unfortunately, our experimental station cannot offer you the research position you were hoping for.”
Lin Shuyao felt her heart sink.
Her gaze swept over the people who had been shouting and stirring up trouble.
A chill crept down her spine.
“At present, the station still has an opening for a logistics position in the experimental fields. It’s an entry-level role responsible for field maintenance, data recording, seedling management, and related duties.
If you’re willing, you can begin there. Once you produce tangible breeding results and pass the required evaluations, transferring into an official research position later will not be impossible.”
Director Li saw the deep disappointment in her eyes.
For some reason, even his breathing seemed to falter.
He felt genuinely uncomfortable.
Lin Shuyao tightened her grip on her documents.
Her knuckles turned white.
Frustration and indignation surged within her.
A logistics position in the experimental fields?
That wasn’t even a formal research position.
With her qualifications, even a fresh graduate would never have been assigned somewhere so insignificant.
She had spent years studying diligently.
Years devoted to breeding technology.
She had come here intending to pursue her ambitions and dedicate herself to scientific research in the Southwest.
And now she was being relegated to the lowest-level support position, spending her days handling miscellaneous tasks.
Forget participating in core projects.
She wouldn’t even have access to legitimate breeding research.
She possessed real expertise.
Every proposal she had submitted was practical and achievable.
Yet because of malicious slander and prejudice regarding her background, she had ended up in this situation.
How could she not feel disheartened?
The deputy examiner and Su Xiaohong, however, visibly relaxed.
Although Lin Shuyao had not been eliminated outright, assigning her to the most exhausting, thankless, and overlooked position was effectively the same thing.
In their eyes, she had already been abandoned.
The workload alone would eventually force her to quit.
“Comrade Lin Shuyao, what is your decision?”
Seeing that she had not responded for some time, Director Li gently asked again.
Lin Shuyao desperately wanted to refuse.
She wanted to tell them they were blind.
She wanted to turn around and leave immediately.
But…
If she did that, she would lose her chance to stay.
She would have no choice but to return to Kyoto and continue living as the fool dictated by the original storyline.
All her efforts to break free from that fate…
Her determination to protect her family…
Her dream of contributing to agricultural development…
Everything would become meaningless.
Now was not the time to indulge in pride.
She had to enter the experimental station first.
Even if it meant doing the most trivial tasks.
She needed to find an opportunity.
She needed to prove herself.
No amount of argument would ever be as convincing as actual crop yields.
Once she produced breeding results far beyond everyone’s expectations, the accusations of plagiarism and the prejudice against her qualifications would collapse on their own.
But it really felt so unfair…
After only a few moments, Lin Shuyao forced down the turmoil in her heart.
The coldness in her expression gradually faded.
Her usual composure and confidence returned.
Looking directly at Director Li, she neither complained nor argued.
Her voice was calm but resolute.
“I am willing to accept the arrangement and take the logistics position in the experimental fields.”
The room fell silent.
Everyone was stunned.
Given Lin Shuyao’s education and background, most had expected her to be proud and unwilling to compromise.
Faced with such a humiliating arrangement, they thought she would storm out in anger.
Instead, she accepted it without hesitation.
The smugness on the faces of the deputy examiner and Su Xiaohong only grew stronger.
To them, her acceptance confirmed their assumptions.
She simply lacked ability and had no choice but to settle.
They were already planning ways to make her life difficult in the future until she quit on her own.
Director Li, however, felt relieved.
The approval in his eyes deepened.
This young woman possessed not only knowledge but also flexibility and patience.
She knew when to endure.
She was definitely not someone destined to remain ordinary.
Quickly, he said,
“It’s good that you understand. The logistics position may be difficult, but you’ll still be part of the station. The path toward promotion through future evaluations will always remain open to capable people.”
Lin Shuyao gave a small nod.
Without sparing another glance for the gloating Su Xiaohong or the arrogant deputy examiner, she gathered her documents.
Straightening her back, she walked out of the interview room with calm dignity.