Qian Wendao's unconventional approach to presiding over the proceedings left the entire hall silent for several seconds.
Then a furious wave of discontent and protest erupted.
"What?! We haven't even heard the arguments yet, and we're going straight to a vote?!"
"I prepared all sorts of evidence, and I haven't said a word yet! Are you siding with Qin Siyang?!"
"Qian Wendao, do you even know how to chair a hearing?! You're just the moderator, and you're forcing yourself into the spotlight?!"
The people on the dais also looked at Qian Wendao, trying to figure out what he meant by this.
Amid the uproar, Qian Wendao kept smiling, but he did not use his microphone to drown everyone out.
Only when the arguing gradually died down did he speak again. "Researchers, professors, please remain calm and hear my reasoning."
Since Qian Wendao had let the torrent of abuse wash over him from beginning to end without doing anything undignified, those present were willing to hear his explanation.
Qian Wendao said slowly, "An ordinary hearing involves listening to arguments from two opposing sides, then leaving the judgment to a higher-ranking third-party organization. In that situation, a hearing is indeed necessary. Both sides present their evidence, and the third party weighs everything before delivering a verdict. But our Thesis Hearing is different."
"The Thesis Hearing was initiated by the Paper Review Committee. Its members challenge Qin Siyang's paper, Qin Siyang's side presents a defense, and the final decision rests with the Standing Directors of the Paper Review Committee."
"In other words, the party presenting the evidence and the party judging it belong to the same organization."
At this point, Qian Wendao felt countless piercing gazes turn toward him.
Seated in the center of the dais, the white-haired, gray-bearded Jiang Hao said evenly,