However, Professor Zhu, who taught politics, differed from the professors of specialized courses in that whether one could pass his class really depended on the usual performance, because the final exam truly allowed open-book answers.
As Professor Zhu would put it, studying politics is about helping everyone understand righteousness and possessing a scientific worldview and methodology. Having fully grasped these concepts, the most concrete feedback would be reflected in everyday performance. If one performs well on a daily basis, it means that the purpose of studying politics has been achieved, and there's no need for rote memorization of rigid principles.
Even if you later want to take postgraduate entrance exams or civil service exams, understanding these principles is sufficient. Just cram the key points when the time comes.
Therefore, despite being quite serious and strict on a daily basis, Professor Zhu still had considerable prestige among the students.