Fang Hung-chien, the hero of the story, studied in Europe for four years and changed to three universities. Finally, he bought a fictional doctor of philosophy degree from an Irish swindler and returned to China with Su Tongzhou four years later.

Zhao, Fang Hung-chien and Li were finally admitted to the university. In order to escape the war, San Lv University was reorganized, with only 158 students. Nine times out of ten the newly hired professor didn't come. Fang Hung-chien was hired as an associate professor of Chinese Department because he had no degree certificate.