Fresh Blood
"Professor Lu, to be honest, the research I'm currently doing is in Mathematical Physics, and more than two weeks have passed, with slow progress and a headache." Shen Qi looked somewhat haggard.
Professor Lu suggested, "Then let's take a break and do something else. Don't you like running? Go for a run."
Shen Qi shook his head and said, "Running is useless now; I can't run out of inspiration anymore."
Professor Lu patiently advised, "I also have research projects to complete, and I also have to write papers. I face similar challenges, and at these times, I need the support of family and friends. When I run out of inspiration, I take my wife on a vacation to the suburbs. My wife doesn't understand math, but she's a good wife. Shen Qi, can you drive? If you have a driver's license, you can drive my car and take your girlfriend for a trip to the suburbs. Sometimes, the woman closest to a man is his best source of inspiration. You must have heard the story of Euler."
"I've also heard about Nobel's story." Chatting with Professor Lu about life made Shen Qi feel a little better.
"My main point is, where is your girlfriend?" Professor Lu asked.
"My girlfriend is being raised by her parents."
"Still no girlfriend? Shen Qi, your standards are too high! My son is five years older than you and is about to become a father. If you really have no inspiration, listen to music, watch a movie, or do something other than math and physics."
Shen Qi accepted Professor Lu's suggestion and enrolled in an English training course at New Oriental to study for the TOEFL and GRE.
Shen Qi plans to take the TOEFL and GRE this year. His English proficiency is at least at a professional level of 5. He will attend a training course mainly to learn about the question types and techniques for the TOEFL and GRE.
Studying for the TOEFL and GRE for a while has really been effective.
By studying English during the day and working on research projects at night, Shen Qi has made progress on the section of his project.
Shen Qi spent his summer vacation working on research projects and learning English.
At the end of August, students returned to school one after another, and Shen Qi became a sophomore.
When the results for the CET-4) came out, Shen Qi scored 700 points. He didn't know where he lost 10 points. But it didn't matter; the CET-4 wasn't important, as long as he passed it.
"Shen Qi, you stayed at school all summer?" Zhou Yu'an asked in surprise upon returning. "You're so hardworking, you Academic God!"
"The competition is fierce; you can't survive without hard work," Shen Qi said, then asked, "How are you?"
"Actually, I also worked very hard." Zhou Yu'an passed the CET-4), and he got full marks in all his other math major courses except for Analytic Geometry.
"Very good." Shen Qi expressed his satisfaction. "Let's go, vice squad leader, let's go pick up the new recruits."
Then Shen Qi and Zhou Yu'an put on their nice clothes, fixed their handsome hairstyles, and went to welcome the freshmen of the School of Mathematical Sciences.
In late August and early September, new students from Yenching University arrived to register.
Faculties such School of Science, Information and Science Engineering, School of Humanities, and Social Sciences set up stalls, with senior students smiling and trying to attract customers.
With the arrival of the freshmen, Shen Qi and Zhou Yu'an became senior students, guiding their junior classmates to register in an orderly manner.
Which college?
"School of Mathematical Sciences"
What's your major?
"Basic Mathematics Major."
"This major has a bright future. Li Zhenqiang, take this junior to the dormitory." Shen Qi, sitting in charge of the School of Mathematical Sciences, spoke with great confidence.
"Applied Mathematics is a promising major. Cai Qing, take this junior to his dormitory."
"Financial Mathematics is a lucrative major. Yu Man, take this junior to her dorm."
Shen Qi and Zhou Yu'an, as second-year students in the School of Mathematical Sciences, were extremely busy.
"Fresh blood is constantly being injected into Yenching University in the Mathematics Community, ensuring that we have successors." Shen Qi was very pleased that the number of freshmen admitted to the School of Mathematics this year was more than that of his class. This shows that more and more outstanding young people are happy to study mathematics and aspire to choose mathematics as their lifelong career.
"There's a pretty girl at the 1 o'clock position." Zhou Yu'an saw a pretty girl dragging a suitcase towards the School of Mathematical Sciences' booth and quickly went to greet her, "Welcome to Yenching University, female student. Here, let me help you with your luggage and take you to your dormitory."
The female student was wary. "Which college are you from?"
"The School of Mathematics, the strongest school at Peking University," Zhou Yu'an said proudly.
"I'm from the School of Foreign Languages," the female student said, taking two steps back to remain vigilant.
"Then why are you staring at our School of Mathematical Sciences' reporting office?" Zhou Yu'an asked.
"I... I'm looking for the restroom," the female student said shyly.
"Restrooms to the left, School of Humanities to the right!" Shen Qi shouted, mimicking a traffic cop directing traffic. "Non- School of Science freshmen, please move to the corresponding departments. There are too many freshmen, please cooperate with our work, thank you!"
A female freshman student noticed Shen Qi's stylish hairstyle and walked up to Shen Qi, asking, "Senior, do we pay tuition first or how? And how do we pay—by card, Alipay, or WeChat?"
Shen Qi straightened his left arm and fanned himself with his right. "Junior sister, hurry to the registration office of the School of Humanities. There are professionals there to guide you through the enrollment procedures. The School of Foreign Languages belongs to the School of Humanities. What language are you studying?"
"Arabic," the female student answered.
Shen Qi: "Limu Mala Meiduolu." This is spoken in Babylonian language.
The female student from the Arabic department was quite surprised. "?" She spoke fluent Arabic.
Babylonian language belongs to the Semitic language family and is similar to Arabic and Hebrew.
When Shen Qi was in high school, he studied under the ancient mathematics master, Vice President Tian, and systematically learned about the Ancient Babylonian numeral system. He even solved Olympiad math problems using cuneiform script. He knows a few Babylonian language: "▲▼◆▼◆▲."
"..." The female student was dumbfounded and couldn't continue the sentence. She only half understood this language, which was similar to Arabic: "So, senior brother is also from the School of Foreign Languages?"
"I'm from the School of Mathematics." Shen Qi only knew three sentences of Babylonian language fluently. He called over a second-year female student from the School of Mathematics: "Take this first-year student to the School of Foreign Languages for registration. Go quickly and come back quickly."
The second-year female student from the School of Mathematical Sciences accepted the order, and the first-year female student from the School of Arabic thanked her and went to register.
"Shen Qi, you're so popular with women!" Zhou Yu'an couldn't help but admire him. He tried to strike up a conversation with his junior sister, but she was wary of him. Shen Qi just beckoned with his finger, and she took the initiative to approach him.
Shen Qi: "I'll charge you 500 yuan for a haircut alone, and 50 yuan for a full wash, cut, and blow-dry, Zhou Yu'an. You can save money on other things, but you can't be stingy with haircuts."
"I admit hairstyle is one thing, but hey, teach me Babylonian language. This obscure language is a chick magnet!" Zhou Yu'an deeply understood that to succeed at Peking University, one needed to master three essential tools: hairstyle, academic expertise, and a low-key yet luxurious way of showing off. Shen Qi had too many tricks up his sleeve; he could casually utter a few words of incomprehensible gibberish, and the fangirls would surrender. It was worth learning.