When the airplane landed within the capital, it was already two or three o’clock within the afternoon. The meal on the airplane didn’t style good, which meant the six individuals of their group didn’t eat very a lot. After they received off the airplane and met the organizer with their baggage, it was already late, and the lodge was not serving lunch. The six individuals had no selection however to discover a restaurant close to the lodge and eat a makeshift meal.

Vice Principal Yao, who led the group, was a barely fats, middle-aged man with a pleasant face. In school, he had the nickname “Maitreya”. The varsity despatched him to steer the group, hoping his persona would assist the scholars loosen up and decrease their pressure earlier than the competitors.

This time, the three employees members knew Jingcheng No. 1 Excessive College and Yanghe No. 3 Excessive College had been taking part, so that they not had a lot hope. At finest, they could maintain third place. Out of the three college students, Vice Principal Yao was most optimistic about Shen Shao. When the record of individuals was determined, he seemed over Shen Shao’s educational achievements since getting into college. His examination outcomes had been glorious and steady nearly each time. There wasn’t any drastic rise or fall in his scores, which meant the younger man not solely had smarts, he was good at managing his feelings.

“Zhang Li, you’ll share a room with Ms. Solar Qin.” Since each Zhang Li and Ms. Solar had been girls, Vice Principal Yao organized for them to remain collectively. “Shen Shao and Zeng Ping can even share a room. It’s OK to debate math issues with one another, however be certain that to fall asleep on time. Mr. Jiang and I’ll come by later to do a mattress test.”

Shen Shao and the opposite two college students nodded. Math wasn’t like different topics the place you needed to memorize a whole lot of issues by rote. It wasn’t vital to remain up late reviewing. At most, he’d do a couple of observe workouts later to refresh the ideas in his thoughts.

The group returned to the lodge. As a result of the three rooms had been shut collectively, they didn’t have to offer the scholars any particular directions, and everybody went again to their rooms.

Zeng Ping watched Shen Shao skillfully unpack the issues he introduced as if he had a whole lot of observe. He couldn’t assist however ask, “Shen Shao, why are you so good at straightening up?”

“Properly, I’m used to it.” Shen Shao seemed up and surveyed the room. The sheets on the 2 beds had been clear, and the carpet seemed neat and tidy. On the entire, it was very a lot in keeping with a five-star lodge. The sponsor of the competitors was actually beneficiant. Greater than 100 contestants got here from everywhere in the nation, which meant they spent so much simply on the lodge rooms.

Zeng Ping adopted his instance and started to tidy up his issues. “I heard Jingcheng No. 1 Excessive College is taking part this time too. Do you suppose we will beat them?”

“The competitors hasn’t even began. How can we all know that but?” Shen Shao thought he seemed a little bit nervous, so he smiled and comforted him. “Even when we don’t win, so long as we carry out at our personal stage, we’ll have a transparent conscience.”

Apparently his phrases of consolation didn’t have a lot impact. Zeng Ping nodded however he nonetheless seemed tense.

The following morning, the method of the arithmetic competitors was introduced, and many of the taking part lecturers and college students started to sweat.

Though it was a math competitors, extra was concerned than simply doing a couple of examination papers. The competitors was divided into three levels. The primary stage was a written examination—that’s, taking a take a look at. That step would eradicate half of the scholars. The second stage could be a take a look at of their skill to do psychological math. The take a look at examiner would announce the questions, and the candidates had to supply the proper solutions on the spot throughout the time restrict. The highest ten college students would enter the third and closing stage of the competitors, which was much more sophisticated. The examiners would learn out the costs of 100 gadgets. Then, they’d randomly choose 5 gadgets from the record and ask the candidates to calculate the full worth of the chosen gadgets inside thirty seconds. If their reply was right, that they had to supply the respective costs of every of the 5 gadgets inside one minute.

The second stage of the competitors was a little bit onerous, however a minimum of it was one thing regular individuals may do. Nonetheless, the third stage of the competitors was principally simply screening for geniuses.

When Vice Principal Yao heard in regards to the competitors course of, he started to sweat. However when he seen the principal of Jingcheng No. 1 Excessive College was simply as dumbfounded as he was, he started to really feel a little bit higher. At the very least this time Jingcheng No. 1 Excessive College didn’t have a built-in benefit.

The principal of Jingcheng No. 1 Excessive College may in all probability guess what was working via Vice Principal Yao’s thoughts, and he sneered inwardly. This beforehand defeated opponent was simply making an attempt to bluff. Furong No. 3 Excessive College may placed on airs of their province, however now they had been going through Jingcheng No. 1 Excessive College. The result was already determined.

At the same time as he thought this, he sighed to himself. If solely Second Younger Grasp Gu had agreed to take part. Then it could be a certainty their college would win the championship.

Some faculties tried to protest to the organizers that the third stage of the competitors had little to do with arithmetic, however the organizers blocked them by saying, “Accounting is a basic software of mathematical skill”.

The organizers had been proper. The third stage of the examination actually did have one thing to do with accounting, however the greatest focus wasn’t math, it was reminiscence!

They couldn’t protest any longer. In the long run, everybody simply hoped that after they reached the third stage, the scholars from different faculties wouldn’t have the ability to keep in mind the costs both, and so they allowed their college students to enter the primary stage of the competitors to take the written take a look at.

The outcomes of the written take a look at had been introduced on the afternoon of the second day. Shen Shao and the opposite two college students all handed. Vice Principal Yao and the lecturers had been relieved. At the very least the primary stage had gone easily.

After seeing the outcomes, Vice Principal Yao requested the 2 lecturers to take the three college students out to have some enjoyable to assuage their nerves. Possibly in the event that they had been in an excellent temper, everybody would go the psychological math competitors tomorrow too.

Shen Shao adopted the lecturers out of the lodge. He seen that the capital metropolis of this period was considerably completely different from what he remembered later, however what remained the identical was its air of wealth and gravity.

Folks on the road got here and went in a rush. Shen Shao held a cup of milk tea purchased by the lecturers and sipped it slowly. Often, he admired some distinctive buildings alongside the road, strolling as leisurely as a vacationer.

“Shen Shao, look!” Zhang Li, who was strolling beside him, pulled his sleeve and surreptitiously pointed to a number of black BMWs parked on the road in entrance of them. “So many Benzes.”

Shen Shao seemed over and noticed a number of costly Mercedes Benz automobiles parked not removed from them. Beside every automobile was a bodyguard in a go well with, as in the event that they had been ready for somebody to come back out.

Simply as he reached this conclusion, a gaggle of individuals walked in direction of the automobiles. Three individuals had been in the midst of the cluster. In entrance was a person who was about forty years outdated, adopted by two boys, one taller and one shorter. The taller one smiled, however the shorter one was expressionless.

When the three individuals received into the automobile, the caravan of Mercedes Benzes drove away, leaving a cluster of flatterers behind.

After the individuals dispersed, the 2 lecturers who had been main the group relaxed a little bit. Though they didn’t know these individuals, they knew simply by wanting that they couldn’t provoke them.

“It’s good to be wealthy,” Zhang Li stated admiringly, wanting on the automobiles as they drove into the gap. After some time she turned again and stated considerably reluctantly, “If solely I had that a lot cash.”

Shen Shao smiled. “So long as you’re employed onerous, you possibly can all the time get what you need.”

Zhang Li checked out his smiling profile, after which stared within the path of the Mercedes Benzes once more and nodded closely.

Contained in the automobile, Eldest Younger Grasp Gu seemed over at his expressionless youthful brother. “I heard your college signed up for the nationwide arithmetic league. Why didn’t you go?”

“No level,” Second Younger Grasp Gu stated in a flat voice. He continued searching the window on the fleeting surroundings. “I’m not all for a contest sponsored by my household.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have let Dad comply with develop into a sponsor,” Eldest Younger Grasp Gu stated with a smile. “Then you possibly can have gone to the competitors too.”

Second Younger Grasp Gu continued to stare out of the window, as if he hadn’t heard Eldest Younger Grasp Gu say something.

When Eldest Younger Grasp Gu noticed his brother like this, though there was a smile on his face, there was fear hidden in his eyes. He waited a very long time, and his brother nonetheless didn’t communicate. Eldest Younger Grasp Gu may solely smile and say, “For those who don’t prefer it, that’s OK.”

The eyes staring out of the window blinked. The lengthy eyelashes trembled barely however couldn’t conceal the indifference in these eyes.

“By the way in which, I heard the competitors might be broadcast stay on TV tomorrow. Do you need to cheer in your classmates on TV?” After enduring extra silence within the automobile, Eldest Younger Grasp Gu spoke up once more. “I heard it’s going to be an attention-grabbing competitors this time. It could be a pity to not watch it.”

“OK.” Second Younger Grasp Gu lastly took mercy and uttered a phrase. To be sincere, he didn’t have any curiosity in whether or not some college students he couldn’t even identify would win a contest or not. It was simply that he didn’t need his father and brother to fret about him, so he reluctantly agreed.

Clearly, he thought he was fantastic the way in which he was. Why did his household have a look at him like that? What was the purpose of bothering with individuals he had nothing to do with?

After taking an extended stroll exterior, the lecturers and college students returned to the lodge with a pile of native snacks, which was in all probability their greatest prize of the day.

“Tomorrow’s psychological math competitors might be broadcast stay on the Jingcheng TV station. For those who see digicam tools inside, don’t be nervous. Simply faux it’s not there.” At supper time, Vice Principal Yao picked up some meals from the lodge buffet. When he noticed that each one three college students had already chosen some meals and had been sitting obediently, he couldn’t assist however begin up once more. “The largest factor is taking part. So long as you’re employed onerous, the varsity might be pleased with you irrespective of the way you do.”

Shen Shao took a chew of mango along with his fork. When he heard Vice Principal Yao say the competitors could be broadcast stay on TV, he felt stunned. “Why is a TV station going to be there?”

“That is the nationwide math league. Folks from everywhere in the nation take into account it vital. Did you actually suppose nobody was going to broadcast it?” Vice Principal Yao frowned when he stated this. “What makes it completely different this 12 months is the stay broadcast. Possibly the curiosity stage elevated as a result of they modified the competitors format. Additionally, the sponsor is a giant firm. Broadcasting stay is an efficient factor. You don’t need to be nervous about it.” At any charge, the taking part faculties would drastically enhance their visibility in entrance of a nationwide viewers.

Even when the competitors wasn’t extra attention-grabbing, they’d definitely dug a deeper pit for the opponents. Shen Shao checked out Zhang Li and Zeng Ping and felt sorry for his classmates. Their faces had been much more nervous after listening to the information. Clearly, being broadcast stay on TV was a take a look at of psychological fortitude.

After the vice principal gave his directions, Shen Shao completed the meals on his buffet plate and ate a number of extra items of fruit. Whereas consuming, he summarized the vice principal’s central message to himself.

Which was—in the event that they had been going to lose, they needed to lose with grace. Ensure the viewers in entrance of the TV appreciated Furong No. 3 Excessive College’s type.

Tsk, why not take into consideration methods to win with grace?

TL Notes:

Maitreya – 弥勒佛 – In keeping with Buddhist custom, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who’s prophesied to seem on Earth, obtain full enlightenment, and educate the pure dharma. In some Chinese language Buddhist monasteries, it’s frequent to see him depicted as a monk with a naked chest, smiling face, and a giant stomach, signifying abundance and the power to snigger at ridiculous individuals on the earth (Wikipedia, Baidu)

The result was already determined. – from 就永远没有他们什么事。 – “They wouldn’t have the ability to do something”

Transliterated names, locations, and titles—new on this chapter:

Vice Principal Yao – 姚副校长

Zhang Li – 张莉, 孙莉 – The creator calls her “Solar Li” (孙莉) a couple of instances on this chapter, however she’s referred to as “Zhang Li” more often than not so I corrected it

Ms. Solar Qin – 孙琴老师 – Sūn Qín lǎoshī

Zeng Ping – 曾平 

Eldest Younger Grasp Gu – 顾大少 – Gù dà shào

Dad – 爸爸 – bàba