Xilin University of Technology, Xu Dajiang was looking at the paper that Qiao Ze had just completed.
This paper was one of the autonomous enrollment examination papers, the treasures of the college, left behind by Professor Hu who was abruptly poached by the suddenly rising Shencheng University with an outrageously high salary.
There were a total of 13 papers in this set. The one that Qiao Ze completed was among them.
Just how impressive was the professor who set the questions? Let's put it this way: when Professor Hu was poached, Xu Dajiang wasn't even the Dean of the School of Mathematics yet, and he would secretly rejoice in his sleep that a strong competitor was taken away.
But by the time Xu Dajiang became the Dean, every time he thought of Professor Hu being poached by Shencheng University, he felt an urge to raid Shencheng University's campus.
Fortunately, not long after Professor Hu was poached, the authorities issued a policy preventing the nouveau riche in certain regions from waving money around and indiscriminately poaching talent from colleges in the central and western areas, which somewhat diluted Xu Dajiang's resentment. Otherwise, who knows, he might have really gone for a showdown.
Naturally, the autonomous enrollment examination questions left by a capable professor also carried a standard of excellence.
Each question was calibrated with precision in difficulty. They could indeed be solved with high school knowledge, but if one's brain was the slightest bit inflexible, and without a natural talent for mathematics, even students who always got full marks in high school would barely manage to score twenty or thirty points on this paper at most.
In the history of Xi Gong University's Mathematics College, the highest score achieved using Professor Hu's paper for assessment was 73 points. The student who scored 73 points is currently a senior and has already signed an agreement with Qiuzhen Academy at Huaqing University for a consecutive master's and doctoral training program.
Today, the historical record was refreshed to a level that could no longer be broken.
Because Qiao Ze scored full marks, it took him only 37 minutes.
This time could actually have been reduced by another five minutes.
Because at around 32 minutes, Qiao Ze had actually already finished, but he didn't hand in the paper or checked his work; instead, he just sat there staring into space.
It was only after Xu Dajiang asked that he found out that Qiao Ze's high school teachers would not allow him to hand in the paper early, which had developed into a habit.
…
The Dean's office.
"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder those fellas were all dumbfounded and rushed to recruit." Xu Dajiang, looking at the freshly marked paper with its brilliant red score, couldn't stop grinning.
He had personally graded the paper and proofread it three times.
Especially the third time, when he went through it hoping to find faults… but although this kid didn't write all the processes in detail, he clearly noted all the theorems required for those steps. There wasn't even a single symbol wrong…
He didn't feel at loss for having specially ordered a banner overnight and personally welcoming him at the high-speed railway station.
Li Jian Gao had of course also seen the score, but there wasn't a ripple in his heart.
It was all within his expectations.
If Qiao Ze hadn't scored full marks, that would have been really bizarre, as there was no harder paper available in the college's repository of autonomous enrollment exams.
"Dean Xu, how should we arrange for the kid during this period?"
"Ah… a trivial matter. I'll talk to the Graduate School, have them spare a single dorm room for a PhD candidate, and let him stay with you for now?"
Li Jian Gao shook his head and said, "Actually, I would prefer the kid to first experience a normal university life, which should benefit his personal growth."
Xu Dajiang looked at Li Jian Gao with some surprise, then pondered and said, "Well, let's bring the kid over and hear what he has to say."
Li Jian Gao nodded and said, "Okay."
...
Qiao Ze was touring the campus in the company of Yu Chenggong.
The clearly cheerful Yu Chenggong, no longer minding Qiao Ze's indifferent nature, enthusiastically introduced the school's history and the stories behind each building to the boy.
Unfortunately, Qiao Ze didn't take in a single word; he was mostly drawn to the people coming and going.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon.
Even though it was hot, the school playground they had just passed by was especially lively.
There were people running, playing soccer, doing gymnastics, training collectively, playing tennis...
Every now and then, a few boys, arm in arm, would whiz by them, leaving behind an assortment of cheerful chatter and classic quips.
By the lakeside inside the campus, someone was loudly reading English that didn't sound quite right, while young men and women sat together on the stone benches under the trees, chatting in soft voices.
In the square directly opposite the library, a small stage had been temporarily set up with a banner on top that read "Xilin Poetry Society Third Recitation Contest."
Students stepped onto the stage in turn, holding their manuscripts and reciting poems that Qiao Ze had never heard of with emotion and passion.
About twenty to thirty students gathered below the stage, and warm but modest applause would break out from time to time.
However, when a girl went up to recite, the applause was always noticeably louder—this was a pattern Qiao Ze summarized after listening to Yu Chenggong explain the five-minute history of the library's evolution.
So, taking advantage of a break in Yu Chenggong's explanation, Qiao Ze suddenly asked, "Are university students always this idle?"
Yu Chenggong was stunned for a moment, subconsciously raised his hand to touch his chin, and explained seriously, "Relative to high school life, university life is definitely more varied. Xilin University of Technology's educational philosophy isn't only about learning knowledge, but it's also hoping that everyone can find their life's direction and interests here at the university."
Seeing Qiao Ze's noncommittal nod, Yu Chenggong added, "The main reason is that it's not convenient for me to take you to look at the school's laboratories. Many outstanding students in the school start doing research work in the labs with professors from their sophomore year. How should I put it, university is different from high school in that it is a place that allows students to make their own choices. But whatever you choose, university life will definitely be one of the most beautiful memories of your life, without a doubt."
Watching Qiao Ze's expression become more serious, Yu Chenggong breathed a sigh of relief.
He had volunteered to take Qiao Ze around the campus; he didn't want to cause any problems...
This kid couldn't possibly think that Xilin University of Technology wasn't strict enough, could he?
However, to his utter surprise, the point that Qiao Ze picked up on was completely different from what he wanted to express: "Yu, you mean to say that one can start doing research with professors from sophomore year?"
"Uh... yes, as long as the GPA reaches the required standard, you can apply, and after getting the approval of the professor in charge of the project during the interview, you can participate in some research work. This is part of the school's Outstanding Undergraduate Training Program, which has been implemented for three years now."
"Oh! Why can't freshmen do it?"
"Well, because..." An answer was on the tip of his tongue, but Yu Chenggong swallowed it back. What he wanted to say was that there shouldn't be any high school students with a freakish intelligence like yours, but what came out instead was: "Because the knowledge at the high school level is not sufficient to determine who is more suitable for doing research in a lab, you understand?"
Qiao Ze suddenly realized, then nodded in agreement, "Got it, a very smart regulation! Indeed, many of my high school classmates are quite ignorant, allowing them into a research space would indeed cause intellectual contamination."
The timely ringtone of the phone gave Yu Chenggong a sense of relief.
At that moment, he thought Ms. Lu was truly great for having protected the child so well, at least he wasn't beaten to death in high school.
Who the hell can explain to him? What the hell is intellectual contamination?