Shen Zhishan arrived in the capital that evening, where he reunited with his son.
The next day, Shen Zhishan treated Teacher Tian to lunch. Afterward, Teacher Tian returned to Nangang City, while father and son stayed in the capital.
"Shen Qi, can you give me a clear goal? Which university do you want to attend? Then I can talk to them."
"If I stay in China, it's either Shuimu or Yanjing. I haven't decided about going abroad yet."
"So, are you going to study in China or abroad?"
"Don't pressure me, Dad. This is a major decision. You've got to give me a few months to think it over. I still have a year of high school left."
"I'm not pressuring you. Whatever you choose, I'll support you. All right, I get it. We'll put them off for now. We won't offend or suck up to Shuimu or Yanjing. Let's drag it out for a few months and see."
That afternoon, Yanjing University's admissions office approached Shen Qi and his father with a clear invitation: they wanted Shen Qi to sign with Yanjing immediately and become a specially admitted student.
"My son wants to study mathematics. He's been good at math since he was little. His teacher says he's a mathematical genius." Shen Zhishan took a sip of coffee and spoke calmly.
The head of Yanjing's admissions office said confidently, "Mr. Shen, that's no problem at all. Once Shen Qi signs with Yanjing University, he can choose any major he likes. Besides, our Mathematics Department is the best in the country. Some universities may be just a street away from us, but they're nowhere near us in cultural heritage or the sciences. They're not even eight streets behind. All they produce are highly skilled technicians, while Yanjing produces academic masters."
Shen Zhishan didn't answer. Instead, he asked Shen Qi, "Shen Qi, if we're looking only at mathematics, which university ranks first in the world?"
"Princeton."
"What about second?"
"MIT."
"Third to fifth?"
"ENS Paris, Stanford University, Cambridge University."
"Sixth to tenth?"
"Oxford, UC Berkeley, Harvard..."
Father and son went back and forth with their questions and answers. Tang, the head of Yanjing's admissions office, looked more and more troubled. He could tell things weren't going according to plan. The Shen family's approach was anything but conventional.
"Seventeenth. Our Mathematics Department ranks seventeenth in the world." Tang decided to be blunt and lay his cards on the table. He couldn't resist adding, "Shuimu University's Mathematics Department ranks forty-second globally."
"Think bigger. Stop comparing yourselves to Shuimu all the time." Shen Zhishan stood up and said to Shen Qi, "Come on. I'll take you to report to the Olympic Math national team."
Shen Qi gave his dad a double 666 in his heart. There probably weren't many people in all of China who could talk to Yanjing's admissions office like that. Shen Zhishan was one of them.
After Shen Qi and his father left, Director Tang sat alone in a café in Wudaokou, stunned and unable to calm down for a long time.
Director Tang pulled out his phone and called someone. "Shen Qi won the gold medal at this year's National Mathematics League Finals. He was the only one to get a perfect score. The kid has a real spark—he's a rare talent. Listen to me: no matter what it takes, we have to get Shen Qi to come to Yanjing! Can't you use your head and think of something? Play the family card, the friendship card, anything?"
"Use a honey trap? Get lost! He's still a kid! Do you know Shen Qi has already made the Olympic Math national team? He could very well represent China at the IMO. We're running out of time. We absolutely can't let Shuimu get him! I'd rather Shen Qi go to Fudan than see him go next door. We'd never live that down!"
Before heading to the Chinese Mathematical Society headquarters, Shen Zhishan took Shen Qi to a shopping mall and bought him a pile of food, drinks, clothes, and other supplies. He also gave him an additional card linked to a dual-currency credit card.
"Shen Qi, you've never been away from home on your own for this long. Take good care of yourself. It's probably good for you to get some experience traveling alone, but whatever you do, stay safe."
"Don't worry. I'll come home safe and sound."
"Do you miss home?"
"I do! I really want to go home and show off. It's no fun when I can't show off to all my friends back home in person. Also, I miss Mom. Why isn't she coming?"
"Mom's hospital is too busy. She can't get away. Shen Qi, wait here for a bit. I'll go buy you some fruit. The northern climate is dry, so you should eat plenty of fruit."
"Just don't buy tangerines, Dad, or I'll start crying. I can't stand sour things."
Shen Zhishan dropped Shen Qi off at the Chinese Mathematical Society, then headed straight to the airport to go home.
On the plane, Shen Zhishan thought it over and felt something was off. He'd come all the way to the capital, but hadn't really done anything useful for Shen Qi. He hadn't gotten him signed up with either Shuimu or Yanjing.
Perhaps Shen Qi really had grown up. He had a mind of his own. Maybe all his parents could do was get his tuition ready...
Headquarters of the Chinese Mathematical Society.
Shen Qi came to report for duty alone, without a companion.
Half the things he'd brought were everyday necessities, and the other half were books.
The person there to greet Shen Qi was a young man in his early twenties, Xiao Wen, an intern at the Chinese Mathematical Society.
"You're Shen Qi, right? Here, let me take your luggage." Xiao Wen took Shen Qi's suitcase. "Whoa, this is heavy! What did you pack in here?"
"Books." Shen Qi had a backpack on and a bag in his hand, and he had quite a lot of luggage.
"No wonder it's so heavy. Knowledge has weight." Xiao Wen led Shen Qi into the headquarters building of the Chinese Mathematical Society.
"Brother Wen, where are we going now? Is my room here? I'd like to put my luggage away first. I've got too much stuff." Shen Qi looked around. This was clearly an administrative office, and he had no idea where the accommodations were. He'd already moved out of his dorm at Shuimu University and didn't have anywhere to stay for the time being.
"Your training team's dorm isn't far away. I'll take you there. Let me give you a quick rundown of how things work. There are twenty-one people in this session of the Olympic Math national training team, including you. After fifteen days of training, six of you will represent China at the IMO. The IMO is always held in July. This year it'll be in the UK, starting at the end of July. I'm just an assistant, responsible for your daily needs, passports, visas, and other practical matters. The coach will explain the rules for the team's specialized training."
Shen Qi nodded. "Got it. Thanks, Brother Wen."
Xiao Wen took Shen Qi into an office. A middle-aged man was sitting inside. He had thinning hair and a square face.
"Cadre Liu, this is Shen Qi. He's here to report to the training team." Xiao Wen handed Shen Qi over to Cadre Liu, then left the office.
"Cadre Liu, fancy seeing you again. What a coincidence." Shen Qi recognized him at first glance. Wasn't this the same Cadre Liu who had proctored the National Finals?
"Shen Qi, well done. Getting a perfect score on the National Finals was no easy feat. I graded your paper." Cadre Liu had graded Shen Qi's exam two days ago and suddenly suffered a heart attack. He was probably still recovering; he didn't look too well today.
"Then I owe you a thank-you, Cadre Liu. You gave me full marks."
"No need to thank me. You earned that perfect score with your own ability."
Cadre Liu opened a drawer and took out a sheet of paper, which he handed to Shen Qi. "As one of the training team's coaches, I'm very happy to welcome you to this session of the national training team. Here, solve this problem first. It'll help you get familiar with the place."
Shen Qi: "..."
That was certainly a unique way to welcome someone. It was the Olympic Math national team, after all.
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