During lunch, Sun Erxiong didn't discuss any specific math problems with Shen Qi; they spent most of their time chatting about everyday things.
"Shen Qi, what do your parents do for a living?"
My dad runs a small business, and my mom is a doctor.
"It seems your family is well-off. What about your grandparents' generation?"
"Professor Sun, do I need to have my household registration checked to come to Yenching University? My grandparents were both factory workers, and my maternal grandparents were both doctors."
"That's good, that's good. Your father's side has impeccable political credentials, and your mother's side comes from a family of doctors. So Shen Qi, why did you choose mathematics?"
"Master Science and Engineering, and you'll be able to go anywhere in the world without fear."
"It's a very official answer, but I believed it. By the way, are you used to life in the north?"
"No matter how difficult the road to education may be, I will persevere. Actually, the North is quite nice, it's just dry. I haven't had a bowel movement for three days, I can't poop."
"Shen Qi, I'm eating dumplings!" Sun Erxiong choked on a dumpling, struggling to move it.
"Professor Sun, aren't I eating too?" Shen Qi showed no unusual reaction.
"You win, I'm leaving." Sun Erxiong wiped his mouth, stood up, and left.
"Hey, Professor Sun, don't go..." Shen Qi watched the 200-pound fat old Sun walk further and further away. The two of them shared three pounds of dumplings. Shen Qi ate one pound, and Sun Erxiong ate two pounds.
Shen Qi spent the entire afternoon drawing on draft paper.
In fact, Shen Qi was also aware of some problems he had with mathematics. Over the past eight months, he had read a vast amount of mathematical literature, journals, and papers, and his mathematical knowledge was sufficient, and he also possessed a certain ability to apply it comprehensively. However, he was still far from reaching the level of mastery and complete mastery. This led him to fall into some misconceptions on certain mathematical problems and get stuck on minor details.
"Forget it, I'm not drawing anymore, my head hurts." Shen Qi stopped drawing, rubbing his temples. He had drawn 101 different designs that afternoon, enough to bind into a book and sell for money.
With a creak, the door to the little house opened, and Sun Erxiong entered carrying a large bag of steamed buns.
"It's almost six o'clock, Shen Qi, let's have steamed buns for dinner." Sun Erxiong placed the steamed buns on the table; they must have weighed four or five pounds.
Shen Qi pushed a stack of 101 sheets of white paper with drawings on them in front of Sun Erxiong, looking extremely tired. "Professor Sun, I've drawn 101 possible answers. Take a look and see which one you want."
With a steamed bun in his left hand and his right hand quickly flipping through the white papers, Sun Erxiong pulled out the 12th one and casually said, "This one will do. Congratulations, Shen Qi, you answered correctly."
"Professor Sun, don't you need to check the back?" Shen Qi asked.
"No need." Sun Erxiong placed the 12th sheet of white paper on the table.
The pattern on the white paper is a regular hexagon with an inscribed circle. Three lines are drawn inside the hexagon, passing through the center of the circle.
"This... Brianchon's Theorem is all it takes?" Shen Qi couldn't believe it; it was really that simple?
(Note [2] Brianchon's Theorem: The three lines connecting opposite vertices of a simple hexagon externally tangent to a non-degenerate second-order curve coincide at a point called the Brianchon Point.)
"That's right, that's exactly the supplementary drawing that Brianchon Point." Sun Erxiong nodded and ate a pork and scallion bun.
"Ah..." Shen Qi looked up at the ceiling and let out a desolate sigh. "I spent an entire afternoon painstakingly drawing and a whole day thinking, and all you want is a Brianchon Point?"
"Shen Qi, look, the diagram on the left of the blackboard is based on Pascal's Theorem." Sun Erxiong walked to the blackboard, tapped the diagram on the left, and said, "You only need to give the projective Projective Geometry expression of Brianchon's Theorem, that's enough. Actually, the logic isn't difficult; Pascal's Theorem and Brianchon's Theorem are dual."
"To give you an example, Shen Qi, you open your palm and see your palm, then flip your palm over so the back of your hand is facing up, and you've answered the question—it's that easy. However, to complete this easy step, you first did a set of warm-up exercises, then ran five kilometers, exhausting yourself. In reality, all that exercise before flipping your palm was futile, not that it was useless, but it was unnecessary."
"Holy crap..." Shen Qi opened his palm, palm up, then turned it over, back of his hand up, and did it again, one, One Two Three.
"So, Shen Qi, have you realized where your problem lies?" Sun Erxiong asked.
"I'm afraid I've gone mad from my cultivation." Shen Qi's expression was solemn. His cultivation in the field of mathematics might have reached the tribulation stage, and if he were to take a step further, he would enter the immortal realm. If he were to take a step back, he would be struck by lightning.
"Have you ever read martial arts novels, Shen Qi?" Sun Erxiong suddenly brought up a seemingly unrelated topic.
"Of course, I know Jin Yong, Gu Long, Liang Yusheng, and Wen Ruian by heart."
"Then let me ask you, how strong is Zhang Wuji's internal energy?"
"Master Zhang has the Nine Yang Divine Skill protecting him; his internal energy is incredibly strong."
"What specific moves does Zhang Wuji frequently use?"
"He... he doesn't seem to have any specific moves, does he? He just casually uses the Heaven and Earth Great Shift a couple of times and instantly kills his opponent. That's more of a stream-of-consciousness operation."
"So, Shen Qi, what did you learn from Zhang Wuji?"
"Could it be... perhaps... that the highest level of martial arts is to defeat others with no moves, and that if I can't kill you within three moves, I'll admit defeat?" Shen Qi trembled inexplicably.
Sun Erxiong laughed and said, "The same applies to basic mathematics: the simpler it is, the more complex it becomes; the more complex it is, the simpler it becomes. Can you understand that?"
After staring blankly for a minute, Shen Qi suddenly realized, "I understand, I understand! Thank you, Professor Sun, I've grasped a new skill! I know how to rewrite my problem-solving technique guide! You're a master, Professor Sun, you must be an absolute expert, like Zhang Sanfeng!"
"I'm not some grandmaster, just an ordinary teacher." Sun Erxiong waved his hand and said, "You still have nine months before you officially report to Yenching University. My advice for you during these nine months is that you don't need to add any new reading material in mathematics; just review the mathematical theories you've already learned on your own. After this Math Camp, Shen Qi, when you return home, you should broaden your knowledge and expand your knowledge base. Basic physics and basic Computer Science theory are good supplements."
"Even introductory-level architecture, drawing principles, and music fundamentals are worth exploring if you have the time. Trust me, they will help you reach a deeper level in mathematics. Yenching University never trains bookworms; we are the creators of academic masters. If you can only solve problems without thinking, even if you graduate from Yenching University and get your diploma, you'll just be a high-level employee."
Shen Qi was astounded. "I understand now. Listening to Professor Sun's words is worth more than ten years of study."
"Next September, I hope to see a better Shen Qi." Sun Erxiong smiled, took a steamed bun from his bag, and handed it to Shen Qi: "I've said what I needed to say, have a steamed bun, Shen Qi."
Shen Qi took the steamed bun and ate it with great relish.
Just then, the wall clock ticked once. Shen Qi turned his head and glanced at it. Oh dear, it was six o'clock!
"Professor Sun, you'll definitely see a better Shen Qi next September, but right now, I have to go." Shen Qi grabbed two steamed buns, stuffed them into his pocket, and hurried away.
"Where are you going in such a hurry? Do you need me to give you a ride?" Sun Erxiong took out his car keys.
" At the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports stadium, one of my good brothers is about to have a competition."
"Then Shen Qi, you should take the subway yourself. Driving to Capital University of Physical Education and Sports at this hour will take at least two hours due to traffic."
"I'm leaving, see you tomorrow!" Shen Qi rushed off.
Rushing about, Shen Qi arrived at the Capital University of Physical Education stadium at 6:30 a. m., where the National U19 Track and Field Games were being held.
"Luckily I made it in time. Which one is Xu Rui?"
In the stands, Shen Qi looked out and saw eight young athletes lined up at the 100-meter starting line on the synthetic track.
The muscular guy in lane 4, wearing a blue tracksuit with "Nanyue Province" written on his back, is Xu Rui.
Bang!
At that moment, the starting gun fired, and the men's 100-meter final of the National U19 Track and Field Games began.
Xu Rui had a terrible start; he was clearly a step behind the other runners at the start and immediately fell to last place.
During the acceleration and mid-race phases, Xu Rui sprinted like a madman, overtaking several people to reach third place.
"Go Xu Rui, give it two more!" Shen Qi was watching with intense anticipation. He knew that only the 100-meter championship meant anything to Xu Rui; second or third place was tantamount to failure.
However, the two leading runners were very strong along the way. Even if Xu Rui had a good start, he wouldn't necessarily have a sure chance of winning the championship, not to mention his terrible start.
The athlete in the red jersey in lane 5 crossed the finish line first, and Shen Qi covered his face, unable to watch any longer.
Ultimately, the results screen showed that the athlete from the Capital Team won the men's 100-meter championship with a time of 10.62 seconds, while Xu Rui ranked third with a time of 10.79 seconds.
Shen Qi had no choice but to look. In the arena, Xu Rui, who had just finished the competition, sat down on the ground with a blank expression, looking extremely disappointed.
"Sigh, it's really not easy to win a National Champion." Shen Qi rushed to the competition venue, but he didn't get to witness Xu Rui's victory; he only saw his defeat. According to Xu Rui, Shuimu University only accepts National Champion in each individual event, so it's a bit risky for Xu Rui to be admitted to Shuimu University through his sports talent.
I recommend a book written by a female author, <Da Qiao's War>.