Chapter 560: Would They Still Remember Her?
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Professor Yao did not mention the fact that Tan Mo’s level of competency far exceeded the three questions prepared by Professor Guo.
Although that was the truth, he was afraid he might make Tan Mo sound much too impressive. If Tan Mo did not win the competition, he would have felt guilty for making her a laughing stock.
The boy who spoke earlier said again, “But Tan Mo is a student of the Department of Finance, and she’s already famous in both the Department of Chinese Literature and Department of History. If she participates in the math competition as well, what would other people think? Is there no one capable left in the Department of Mathematics? Does the entire Beijing University have to rely on Tan Mo alone to bring honor to the school?”
“Woah.” Professor Guo looked at the boy with a smile. “Are you that confident in Tan Mo that you think she will win the award for sure?”
The boy hesitated.
Was that what he thought?
Professor Guo let out a chuckle, “If anyone makes fun of us, they’d be making fun of me too. I’ve been teaching for so many years, yet I wasn’t able to mentor the bunch of you to master the craft that I had to seek help from an outsider like Tan Mo.”
Everyone was at a loss for words.
“Regardless, you don’t have to worry about such trivial matters. Just focus on preparing for the battle you’re about to face,” Professor Yao said. “Although Tan Mo is a student of the Department of Finance, she is also a student at Beijing University.
“It just so happens that she’s vastly interested in history, ancient Chinese literature, aerospace engineering, and mathematics. For a student to be so studious apart from her own major is a quality Beijing University cannot be more proud of.
“It’s a perfect chance to show everyone just how well-rounded our students are here in this university,” Professor Yao said. “Other schools couldn’t even do it even if they wanted to. If they find us questionable, I assure you, it’s purely out of jealousy.
“Other schools would kill to have such well-rounded students as we have.” Professor Yao pursed his lips. “It’s because they don’t that they envy us.”
Everyone kept quiet.
Was that really the case?
“Moreover, there is no requirement stating that a student must major in mathematics to participate in the math competition,” Professor Yao added. “As long as students are interested in mathematics and are eager to take up the challenge, they’re welcome to participate.
“What can the other schools criticize us for? If their students from other majors were willing to participate, we’d have no objections whatsoever.”
Hearing the way Professor Yao spoke, even Professor Guo found him rather cocky.
The real question was whether the other universities had students like Tan Mo.
Surely, they wished they had. It was just that they couldn’t find anyone as exceptional.
With that thought in mind, Professor Guo felt proud that he had a student like Tan Mo.
It was a good thing Tan Mo had enrolled at Beijing University and not anywhere else.
“Alright, I called everyone here today because tomorrow’s the big day we’ve all been waiting for,” Professor Yao said. “Due to special circumstances this year, the exam period that would’ve been in May has now been postponed to October, but it’s not a big issue.
“Like every other year, there will be 18 test venues here in the Mainland and one test venue each in Hong Kong and Taiwan. A total of 46 teams will participate, covering 29 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China, as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
“The written examination questions are formulated by the subject scholars and examination committee. The assessment subjects are analyses and differential equations, probability and statistics, geometry and topology, applied and computational mathematics, algebra, number theory, and linear combination,” Professor Yao said. “Of course, all of you already know this. In addition, the examination time of each subject has also been announced on the official website. I’ve had the schedule printed out for you so that you may refer to it at your convenience.”
Professor Yao handed out the schedule to everyone.
“Analyses and differential equations are tested from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Probability and statistics are from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Geometry and topology are from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.” Professor Yao read out loud, “From 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday is algebra, number theory, and linear combination. From 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. is applied and computational mathematics.”
“The team’s competition result is the combined score of the five participants’ individual written examination result in the corresponding subjects,” Professor Yao said. “The list of finalists is expected to be announced online around mid-October. The finals will be held in the last two days of October at Hua University.”
“This time, our participating test centers will all be at Hua University,” Professor Yao said. “At 7 a.m. tomorrow, the school will arrange a bus to send everyone uniformly to the Hua University’s test venue.”
“The main task for everyone today is to prep yourselves to be in the best state of mind. Don’t just keep going through test questions, and don’t push yourselves too hard. That will badly affect your mental state tomorrow.” Professor Yao instructed, “Make sure all of you rest early tonight so that you’ll be full of energy tomorrow.”
“That is especially important for those who are participating in all five subjects. Although not all five subjects are being tested tomorrow, for those of you who happen to have all three subjects tested tomorrow, you will be sitting through exams from 9:30 in the morning all the way to 9:00 in the evening,” Professor Yao said. “Tomorrow will be a tough battle, so all of you should be well-rested.”
“Also, having a certain amount of pressure is a good thing, but don’t put too much pressure on yourselves.” Professor Yao glanced at the crowd and finally said, “Besides, we still have Tan Mo on our team.”
Tan Mo was taken aback.
Everyone else was too.
‘If you put it that way, you’re only giving us more pressure.’
Did the students who majored in the course have to put their hopes in Tan Mo to win the prize?
‘How embarrassing!’
“Alright then, all of you can now head back and prepare yourselves.” Professor Yao finished his speech and left with Professor Guo.
*
Early the next morning, the participants gathered at the school gate and took a bus to the test center at Hua University.
Speaking of that, it had been a while since Tan Mo last visited Hua University.
She wondered if the people she had once met would still remember her.
On the bus, Tan Mo sat next to Chi Xuanzi.
“Tan Mo, are you taking all five subjects?” Chi Xuanzi asked.
“Yes.” Tan Mo nodded. “It’s also my first time participating in this. I’ve been religiously revising the past year’s questions lately.
“How did you do?” Chi Xuanzi asked in a hushed tone.
“I could answer all of them. It wasn’t too difficult,” Tan Mo replied.
Chi Xuanzi nodded.
She believed Tan Mo when she said it wasn’t difficult.
After all, when they were in Jiaoyuan, she had seen with her own eyes the way Tan Mo crushed the two students from Hua University.
The boy who raised his dissatisfaction in the classroom yesterday happened to be sitting in front of Tan Mo.
He heard Tan Mo’s answer loud and clear.
Overwhelmed with dismay in his heart, the corner of his lips curled in disdain.
Was Tan Mo actually that confident, or was she just arrogant?
‘How dare she say it wasn’t difficult.’
Sure, she could participate.
If she won a medal, it would be an honor to Beijing University.
But if she failed, their university would become a laughing stock.
Did Tan Mo even understand the impact of her participation in this event?
The Beijing University bus stopped at the gates of Hua University.
Several students from Hua University saw them get off the bus.
As they were queuing to get off, the aisle of the bus was packed with students from Beijing University, so Tan Mo did not rush to get off.
After everyone had walked past her, she finally stood up.
Tan Mo was short and petite. With her walking behind, the classmate in front of her blocked her out of plain sight.
The Hua University students stood by and watched as the students from Beijing University got off the bus one by one.
