"My plan is to start from my sophomore year."
When Xu Dajiang discussed with Qiao Ze how to arrange for him, Qiao Ze gave an unequivocal answer.
Xu Dajiang glanced at Li Jiangao, somewhat puzzled by this request.
"Why do you want to skip your freshman year?" Li Jiangao asked with a pleasant expression.
"Because starting from the sophomore year, you can directly apply to do research with a professor, Yu said it's the school's regulation. I think this regulation is good, it's smart. So I want to apply to do research with you as soon as possible, without breaking this rule," Qiao Ze said earnestly.
Ah, solved the mystery!
After thinking, Li Jiangao said, "Qiao Ze, you need to know that life isn't just about studying and research. If you open your heart, you'll discover there's a lot of beautiful things in this world to experience. Rather than you plunging into the arid environment of research immediately, I hope your life can be more complete in the future. So…"
Qiao Ze shook his head and replied, "Don't worry, Li, doing research won't take all my time. I can still attend classes with my classmates during my sophomore year, I did the same in high school. And those things you're talking about, they don't seem very interesting."
At this moment, the images of the Xilin Poetry Society reciting poems in front of the library echoed in Qiao Ze's mind.
To him the recitation sounded beautiful, passionate, and also noisy.
Standing to one side and listening to the discussion, Xu Dajiang shot Li Jiangao a look.
Nice one, when the kid wants to study, you want to distract him with all sorts of messy stuff?
Doing a project is great!
With this kid's level, if he can achieve something during his undergraduate stage, like publishing a few papers in core journals or the like, wouldn't that be a solid headline?
If it gets out on the internet, it might even draw uninformed netizens' criticism, such as those who associate it with academic corruption.
After all, in the eyes of ordinary people, what does an undergraduate know about math!
If this kid skips a grade and gets exposed, it might stir up even more trouble.
At this time, he took the initiative to ask the senior officials to send an investigative team to conduct an investigation and clarify the facts. Perhaps the School of Mathematics would become hot in next year's enrollment, turning into a popular major for the school. No need to take in transfer students who couldn't get into other hot majors of the school due to lack of enrollment.
Is the School of Mathematics some kind of garbage dump?!
At the same time, it could promote the school's excellent undergraduate training program!
If it goes well, wouldn't Xu Dajiang also be able to assert himself when the university leadership divides up the resources at the executive meeting?
As long as there's sufficient funding for research, he could strut around the faculty too!
Yes, arranging for a student to skip a grade is a bit troublesome. Going through various administrative departments for records, explaining the situation, he might need to ask the school's leaders for help.
But compared to the benefits, Xu Dajiang believed the trouble was totally worth it.
So, moments later, Xu Dajiang made his decision, "Professor Li, as teachers, we should support students who strive for improvement, right? I think Qiao Ze's idea is indeed good, it's a good thing young people have ideas! Don't you also want him to better experience university life?"
"How about this, the freshmen still have about two months till the end-of-semester exams, just let Qiao Ze attend their classes for now. Then come September, when the school year starts, you'll be a sophomore. How's that?"
Qiao Ze nodded; this arrangement seemed quite good to him.
Only Li Jiangao stood there, dumbfounded, and said with surprise, "Dean, isn't this against the rules? How is this even done? His file hasn't even been transferred yet; what about his student status? Are all the first-year exam grades to be filled in?"
"Ah... you just focus on your research, guide your students well, and teach your classes! Is the handling of skipping grades something you, as an associate professor, should worry about? I naturally have my ways!" Xu Dajiang patted his chest and said.
But then, he turned to Qiao Ze with a keen look and said, "Qiao Ze, you've heard what your Uncle Li said. To accommodate your idea, I have to take some risks. The plan for nurturing outstanding undergraduates has certain GPA requirements. I might waive the requirements for general and elective courses, but for a few of your major subjects, you must score A+, there's no problem with that, right?"
Qiao Ze nodded, then just as seriously, he stated his demand, "I can also directly take all the exams for the first-year electives. But if you want me to guarantee A+ grades in every subject, you must ensure that the difficulty of the final exam questions is about the same as or harder than the test I took today because if the questions are too simple, I can't be sure I'll do well."
"Cough cough cough…" Xu Dajiang couldn't help but cough violently.
This demand… it was the first he had ever heard of it in his life.
His eyes unconsciously shifted to Li Jiangao, and unexpectedly, the professor helplessly nodded at him and delicately explained, "This kid Qiao Ze is excellent in everything, just in exam situations, if the question difficulty is not up to par, he can't fully concentrate, and his thinking might get stuck... Hmm, his mom has specifically spoken to me about this; that's also why we've been hesitant to let him take the college entrance examination."
This damn... what kind of divine problem is this?
Xu Dajiang roared in his mind.
But moments later, he seriously agreed, "Don't worry, Qiao Ze, I guarantee that this year's School of Mathematics first-year final exam difficulty will meet your standards! I'm waiting for you to bring me a satisfactory answer sheet!"
Qiao Ze did not respond but simply nodded calmly.
After all, in his opinion, as long as the difficulty of the exam questions was up to par, allowing him to settle in and focus, scoring full marks was as natural as breathing for him, and there really was no need to make another solemn promise to the dean.
Of course, Qiao Ze hadn't thought about how the naturally simple task of breathing for him could make nearly all of this year's School of Mathematics's freshmen feel suffocated.
After all, with Li Jiangao's guidance, he had started to believe that there were indeed many intelligent people in this world.
These intelligent people would surely understand him.
"Alright, I'll call your student advisor right now. Later, just follow him to your classes. By the way, you already have Uncle Li's phone number, take mine as well. If you feel uncomfortable interacting with your peers as a normal student, call me anytime; I'll help you figure something out."
Xu Dajiang said earnestly, he was now just short of writing the word 'favoritism' directly on his face.
...
Liu Hao, upon receiving the call, rushed to the dean's office as if there was a fierce urgency.
After entering the room, he didn't even notice Qiao Ze's presence; facing Li Jian, all he did was smile.
After all, Liu Hao was unlike the professors of the faculty; for a student advisor hoping to move up the administrative ladder, the dean could truly decide his future.
So he quickly noticed the word 'favoritism' etched on Dean Xu's face and realized that this seemingly unremarkable student was far from ordinary!
"This is Qiao Ze. His student status will probably be sorted out next month, but starting tomorrow, he will join the first-year basic mathematics major students in their classes. Uh, find him a nice dormitory; pick roommates who are both good at their studies and have a good character.
I've prepared a note for you, take my note and get Qiao Ze's student card processed. And whatever methods you use, you need to settle Qiao Ze's situation today. No problem, right?"
"Rest assured, there will be no problem, Dean Xu."