Chapter 22: Thesis 2

Morning light filtered through the dappled leaves, bathing the university campus in a soft glow. Li Yifei, clutching the thesis he had painstakingly prepared, stood before the office door of Professor Lu Guocai. He took a deep breath and knocked.

The eighteen-year-old, carrying memories from the future, was about to cast a stone that would send shockwaves through the academic world.

The door opened. Professor Lu Guocai adjusted his glasses, his gaze filled with a touch of confusion and scrutiny; clearly, he did not immediately recognize the young man before him.

Flustered, Li Yifei felt a slight flush rise to his cheeks and hurried to explain, "Professor Lu, I am Li Yifei. I had been studying under Professor Xia at the clinic, but that has recently concluded. You had previously mentioned a graduation thesis, so I have finished it and brought it to you for your guidance."

A flicker of realization crossed Professor Lu’s face, followed by a hint of surprise. "Oh, student Yifei. It has been a month; I almost didn't recognize you."

Li Yifei thought to himself that the professor had likely forgotten him entirely, but he replied respectfully, "It is my fault for not coming to seek your instruction more often. Professor Xia no longer requires my assistance for the time being, so I will certainly come to attend your teachings more frequently from now on."

Professor Lu looked at the young man, pondering. In his memory, Li Yifei had been focused on medical studies under Professor Xia. Now that he had suddenly appeared with a thesis, could it be that he lacked talent in medicine and had been cast aside by Professor Xia?

The thought left Professor Lu feeling somewhat helpless. The special learning conditions the school had granted Li Yifei now seemed a bit hasty. Although Li Yifei possessed an extraordinary memory and a wide breadth of knowledge, talent was the key to success on the academic path. Nevertheless, he maintained a kindly smile and reached out to take the papers. "Since it is written, let me have a look."

Li Yifei handed over the thesis, filled with anticipation, his heart racing with a mix of nervousness and excitement. These two papers represented the fruits of his labor over countless days and nights.

The first, "The Impact of Real Estate Economics on Urban Development," was the result of extensive research and case studies from various cities, both domestic and international. It objectively analyzed the role and potential problems of the real estate economy, offering arguments that were both sound and aligned with the nation's developmental strategy.

Professor Lu began to read. At first, his attitude was casual; after all, in his eyes, what depth could a student who hadn't systematically studied economics truly produce?

However, as he delved deeper, his brow smoothed, and a glimmer of appreciation appeared in his eyes. The thesis was rigorously structured, well-argued, and contained many insightful perspectives.

If he were to grade it, an 80 would not be an exaggeration; among undergraduate theses, it was an excellent piece of work. Professor Lu’s opinion of Li Yifei shifted quietly; perhaps this young man had potential in the field of economics. In time, he might even achieve something significant.

Still, graduating from a postgraduate program early was clearly impossible; simply completing his undergraduate degree successfully would be quite an accomplishment.

Next, Professor Lu turned to the second thesis, titled "On Economic Crises in Contemporary World Economic Development."

Seeing the title, he couldn't help but feel a urge to scoff. A student who hadn't even systematically studied economics daring to speak on economic crises—it seemed a bit presumptuous.

Yet, out of professional courtesy, he patiently continued to read.

Within a few pages, however, Professor Lu’s expression turned somber. He sat up straight, his formerly casual gaze becoming focused and serious. His reading speed slowed significantly as he savored the content line by line.

In his thesis, Li Yifei had synthesized a massive amount of domestic and international data—including deep analysis from foreign networks, the political strategies of the United States in recent years, and the economic measures of Western nations—to peel back the layers and reveal the underlying causes of economic crises.

From the real estate bubble fueled by loose U.S. mortgage policies to the excessive innovation of financial derivatives, and finally the impending liquidity crisis facing financial institutions, every link was analyzed with incisive precision. The roots of the crisis, hidden beneath the veneer of prosperity, were laid bare before him.

Turbulent waves crashed in Professor Lu’s mind. As an expert in economics, he had not been entirely unaware of certain issues in the world economy, but amidst the chorus of praise from foreign economic circles and various smokescreens, he had overlooked many critical details.

Li Yifei’s thesis was like a beam of high-intensity light, illuminating those neglected corners and leaving him chilled to the bone. If they did not prepare in advance, once the economic crisis erupted, the nation’s development would surely suffer a massive blow.

At this moment, Professor Lu’s attitude toward Li Yifei underwent a 180-degree turn. He no longer saw an ambitious student chasing shadows, but a genius gifted to him by the heavens.

After finishing the papers, Professor Lu couldn't wait to engage Li Yifei in a deep discussion. They spoke of everything from American financial policy to the interconnectedness of the global economy, and from the risks of financial derivatives to the response strategies of various nations. The collision of their ideas sparked a fire of wisdom within the office.

When the discussion concluded, Professor Lu looked at Li Yifei with a grave expression and asked the question he cared about most: "When do you think this economic crisis will occur?"

Professor Lu already had a vague suspicion in his heart, but he wanted to hear Li Yifei’s take. In his view, a young man capable of writing such a profound thesis must have a unique judgment regarding the crisis.

Li Yifei did not hesitate for a second, his eyes steady and resolute. "In the second half of 2008. By then, a global economic crisis will erupt in full force. A massive number of businesses will collapse, and a wave of unemployment will sweep across the world."

Hearing this, Professor Lu was inwardly stunned. That an eighteen-year-old could possess such keen insight and accurate foresight was simply incredible. He looked at Li Yifei with new eyes, already viewing him as a rare rising star in the field of economics.

In the office, the morning light continued to spill gently across the desk, but the conversation that had just taken place might well have laid the groundwork for weathering the coming storm.

As Li Yifei observed the shock and admiration in Professor Lu’s eyes, a sense of pride and relief swelled within him. He knew that, through the memories of his past life and his efforts during this time, he had successfully captured the attention of an expert.

Next, he hoped that through Professor Lu, he could help the nation prepare in advance, minimizing the impact of the crisis. After all, a crisis was also an opportunity. He looked forward to the nation taking this chance to achieve new breakthroughs on its path of economic development. That, he realized, was the very meaning of his rebirth and the effort he had made to reach this point.