Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao successfully deciphers the Demon Cipher, while Yin Shisan's deciphering is 70% correct.
• Mr. Wang rewards Chen Zhao with a gold medal cast from eight taels of gold for his achievement.
• Chen Zhao is given the opportunity to decide his second reward, which he later reveals to Shen Meiyu over the phone.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Proves his genius by deciphering the Demon Cipher ahead of more experienced staff. He shows maturity and thoughtfulness in choosing his reward.
• Yin Shisan: Despite being wrong, he acknowledges Chen Zhao's achievement and remains humble about his own abilities.

Significant Themes

• Genius and Hard Work: Chen Zhao's success highlights the theme of natural talent (genius) combined with hard work.
• Recognition and Reward: The chapter explores the idea of recognition and rewards for exceptional achievements.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Mr. Wang: Their interaction shows Mr. Wang's respect for Chen Zhao's intellect and his willingness to reward him generously.
• Chen Zhao and Yin Shisan: Despite being competitors, they maintain mutual respect and acknowledge each other's abilities.
• Chen Zhao and Shen Meiyu: They interact briefly, with Shen Meiyu facilitating Chen Zhao's reward process.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao requests a list of two hundred thousand books for a reward.
• The list includes specific criteria for fiction, academic, biographical, philosophical, historical, and ancient books.
• Chen Zhao specifies that each book should be a deluxe hardcover edition with a matching gift box, and no duplicates.
• Shen Meiyu finds the task challenging and time-consuming.
• Chen Zhao mentions he can't store all the books at home, so Shen Meiyu needs to find a nearby storage solution.
• A group notice about tree planting is announced, with a meeting scheduled for the next day.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his vast knowledge and specific tastes in literature and history.
• Shen Meiyu shows efficiency in note-taking and concern for the task's difficulty.
• Chen Zhao displays laziness in not wanting to collect the books himself.

Significant Themes

• Chen Zhao's love for knowledge and history.
• The vastness and diversity of human knowledge and literature.
• Laziness as a character trait.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Shen Meiyu have a professional and friendly conversation, with Shen Meiyu taking notes on Chen Zhao's detailed book list.
• They discuss the logistics of storing the books and attending the tree planting meeting.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lop Nur University announces an annual tree-planting competition among its colleges and departments.
• Each student and teacher must plant at least one tree, with more plantings encouraged. The total number of trees planted will determine the winning college.
• Prizes will be awarded to the first-place college, with previous years' prizes including trips, expensive items, and symbolic gestures.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao, the youngest vice dean, is introduced. He stands out among the older deans and vice deans.
• Chen Zhao shows curiosity and ambition, asking about the competition's history and prizes.

Significant Themes

• Competition and camaraderie among university departments.
• The university's wealth and willingness to invest in student experiences and rewards.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with the dean beside him, asking about the competition's history and prizes, demonstrating his eagerness and inquisitive nature.
• The dean shares details about previous years' competitions and prizes, highlighting the university's generosity and the students' enthusiasm.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The tree-planting competition is discussed, with the College of Literature facing an uphill battle due to its smaller population compared to the Artificial Intelligence College and New Energy College.
• Chen Zhao learns about the competition's rules and the challenges his college faces.
• He decides to participate as a team leader and encourages students to join him.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao shows leadership and willingness to participate in the competition, despite the challenges.
• The dean expresses helplessness about the College of Literature's slim chances due to its smaller population.
• Students show enthusiasm and curiosity about the final exam format for Chen Zhao's course.

Significant Themes

• Numbers and power dynamics: The colleges with more people have a significant advantage in the competition.
• Leadership and participation: Chen Zhao encourages students to join him in the tree-planting event, demonstrating his willingness to lead.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with the dean, discussing the competition and the challenges their college faces.
• He encourages students to join him in the tree-planting event, showing his commitment to the competition.
• Students ask Chen Zhao questions after class, showing their engagement and curiosity about his teaching methods and the final exam format.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Students request Chen Zhao to lead them to victory in the upcoming tree-planting event.
• Chen Zhao agrees to think of a way to win despite the College of Literature's numerical disadvantage.
• Chen Zhao struggles to find a solution while wandering the campus.
• Little Bamboo Shoot shares an idea to increase planting speed.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Struggles with finding a solution but remains committed to helping his students.
• Little Bamboo Shoot: Shows initiative and offers a potential solution to the tree-planting problem.

Significant Themes

• Overcoming adversity: The College of Literature faces numerical disadvantages but seeks to win against larger colleges.
• Ingenuity: Chen Zhao and Little Bamboo Shoot brainstorm ideas to increase planting speed and win the competition.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Little Bamboo Shoot: They meet after some time and discuss the tree-planting event, with Little Bamboo Shoot offering a potential solution.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao meets Little Bamboo Shoot on the beach, where she demonstrates a method to secure a tree in sand using milk tea and boba pearls.
• Chen Zhao is inspired by her demonstration and rushes off to the Soil Research Laboratory.
• He enters the lab and proposes an idea to create an adhesive that binds sand into soil for easier tree planting.
• The professors are interested in his idea and agree to research it.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Shows initiative and determination in finding a solution for the tree-planting competition. He's also open to learning from others, like Little Bamboo Shoot.
• Little Bamboo Shoot: Displays creativity and practical knowledge in her tree-planting demonstration. She's also curious and not afraid to question Chen Zhao's understanding.

Significant Themes

• Learning and inspiration: Chen Zhao learns from Little Bamboo Shoot and gains inspiration, while the professors are inspired by his idea.
• Problem-solving: Both Chen Zhao and the professors are driven to find solutions to the sand-to-soil problem.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Little Bamboo Shoot: They interact playfully, with Little Bamboo Shoot teaching Chen Zhao about tree planting, and Chen Zhao being inspired by her method.
• Chen Zhao and the professors: They discuss and brainstorm about creating a sand adhesive, showing mutual respect and interest in each other's ideas.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao begins his experiment in the laboratory, surprising the professors with his proficiency in handling equipment.
• He identifies a malfunctioning centrifuge, demonstrating his keen observation and intuition.
• Chen Zhao spends half an hour familiarizing himself with all the instruments and reviews the materials inventory in just two hours.
• He attempts to create a sand adhesive for his experiment but faces initial failures.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Proves his competence in the laboratory, showcasing his high IQ, photographic memory, and perseverance in the face of challenges.
• Professors: Initially underestimate Chen Zhao but are impressed by his skills and intuition, leading to a change in their attitude towards him.

Significant Themes

• Perception vs. Reality: The professors' initial perception of Chen Zhao as a novice is proven wrong as he demonstrates his expertise.
• Intelligence and Persistence: Chen Zhao's high IQ and photographic memory enable him to quickly grasp complex information, while his persistence helps him overcome setbacks in his experiment.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with the professors, impressing them with his knowledge and intuition, and earning their respect.
• Chen Zhao seeks information from the professors about the laboratory's raw materials, demonstrating his interest in learning and collaboration.
• The professors discuss their progress and ideas among themselves, contrasting with Chen Zhao's independent approach.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao continues working late, determined to perfect his adhesive.
• Li Zicheng, the lab director, advises Chen to rest and leaves, looking back at Chen's dedication.
• Li Zicheng discusses with colleagues that the adhesive is challenging and may take over a year to perfect.
• Chen Zhao synthesizes the 200th adhesive, tests it on sand, and observes promising results while wet.
• He bakes the sand to see if the adhesive maintains its effectiveness when dry.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates unwavering dedication and persistence in his work, even after numerous failures.
• Li Zicheng shows concern for Chen's well-being and acknowledges the complexity of the task.

Significant Themes

• Persistence and determination in the face of challenges.
• The process of scientific discovery and the importance of patience and refinement.

Character Interactions

• Li Zicheng offers advice and support to Chen Zhao, showing a mentor-like relationship.
• Chen Zhao's dedication inspires his colleagues, who discuss his work ethic and skills.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao successfully invents an adhesive that turns sand into soil, retaining its form and resisting heat.
• He calls Li Zicheng, the director of the laboratory, to inform him of his achievement.
• Li Zicheng and other professors rush to the lab to witness the successful experiment.
• They discuss the adhesive's air permeability issue, which Chen Zhao suggests can be resolved by introducing earthworms.
• Chen Zhao expresses his need to mass-produce the adhesive for an upcoming tree-planting competition, seeking Li Zicheng's help to find a suitable business partner.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his exceptional inventiveness and problem-solving skills, successfully creating the adhesive and proposing a solution for its air permeability issue.
• Li Zicheng shows support and enthusiasm for Chen Zhao's invention, offering to help him find a business partner to mass-produce the adhesive.

Significant Themes

• Innovation and Problem-Solving: Chen Zhao's invention highlights the theme of innovation and his ability to find creative solutions to complex problems.
• Collaboration and Support: Li Zicheng's offer to help Chen Zhao find a business partner emphasizes the importance of collaboration and support in achieving success.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao calls Li Zicheng to share his success, leading to a visit from Li Zicheng and other professors to verify the invention.
• Li Zicheng offers his assistance to Chen Zhao, demonstrating a supportive mentor-mentee relationship.
• The professors collectively express their excitement and approval of Chen Zhao's invention through applause.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao and Li Zicheng visit a factory owned by Sun Defa at midnight to purchase materials urgently needed for their project.
• Sun Defa is hesitant to provide the required amount (ten tons) within the short deadline (before Monday) due to limited stock and logistical constraints.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his understanding of social dynamics and people-reading skills by correctly guessing the factory owner's presence and bribing the guard to gain access.
• Sun Defa shows himself to be a shrewd businessman, quickly recognizing Chen Zhao's importance and attempting to negotiate the order size and delivery time.

Significant Themes

• The tension between urgency and feasibility in business transactions.
• The importance of social perception and understanding in navigating different situations.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Li Zicheng: Chen Zhao takes the lead in negotiating with Sun Defa, while Li Zicheng appears more passive and surprised by Chen Zhao's actions.
• Chen Zhao and Sun Defa: Chen Zhao uses his influence and urgency to try and persuade Sun Defa, while Sun Defa attempts to manage expectations and protect his business interests.
• The factory guard and Chen Zhao: The guard initially blocks their entry but is persuaded by Chen Zhao's bribe, hinting at the guard's awareness of the owner's presence and willingness to bend rules for the right price.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao and Li Zicheng struggle to secure 40 tons of sand adhesive from Sun Defa's factory by Monday, crucial for their students' championship project.
• Grigory, a wealthy Russian, appears drunk and offers help after overhearing their dilemma.
• Grigory drives a Bentley to the factory, gaining them access to meet the boss.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Frustrated and determined to help his students win the championship, he's open to Grigory's help despite his drunken state.
• Li Zicheng: Frustrated with the setback but willing to wait and see if Grigory can deliver.
• Grigory: Appears reckless and drunk, but drives a luxurious car and has connections, suggesting he might be more capable than he seems.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance: Chen Zhao and Li Zicheng refuse to give up despite facing obstacles.
• Unreliable Appearances: Grigory's drunken demeanor belies his potential ability to solve their problem.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Li Zicheng: They work together, sharing their frustration and determination.
• Chen Zhao and Grigory: Chen Zhao is initially surprised and skeptical of Grigory's offer but is willing to trust him due to desperation.
• Grigory and the Factory Boss: Grigory's Bentley and confident demeanor impress the security guard and factory boss, granting them access.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Grigory, a wealthy Russian, arrives at Sun Defa's factory in a Bentley, seeking to buy 60 tons of adhesive.
• Grigory offers Sun Defa increasing amounts of cash (up to four million) to deliver the goods by Monday, but Sun Defa is hesitant due to production constraints.
• Grigory pulls out a handgun, presses it against Sun Defa, and forces him to agree to the deal.
• Grigory, Chen Zhao, and Li Zicheng leave the factory. Grigory tells Chen Zhao he has an important matter to discuss later.
• Chen Zhao asks Grigory if the gun was real. Grigory pulls the trigger three times, revealing it's a toy gun that shoots plastic pellets.

Character Developments

• Sun Defa: Initially nervous about Grigory's wealth, Sun Defa becomes greedy when offered a large sum of money but is also fearful of the consequences if he can't deliver the goods on time. He's willing to risk his business's reputation and long-term clients to secure the deal.
• Grigory: Grigory is shown to be wealthy, assertive, and willing to use intimidation to get what he wants. He's also shown to be manipulative, using the toy gun to pressure Sun Defa and Chen Zhao.
• Chen Zhao: Chen Zhao is cautious and careful, realizing the gravity of the situation and Grigory's intentions. He's also shown to be loyal, as he's willing to help Grigory with a future matter that could be worth more than four million.

Significant Themes

• Greed vs. Caution: Sun Defa's desire for wealth clashes with his caution about the potential consequences of delaying other orders.
• Manipulation and Intimidation: Grigory uses his wealth and a toy gun to manipulate and intimidate Sun Defa and Chen Zhao.
• Trust and Loyalty: Chen Zhao shows loyalty to Grigory, agreeing to help him with a future matter without knowing the details.

Character Interactions

• Grigory and Sun Defa: Grigory uses his wealth and a toy gun to pressure Sun Defa into agreeing to the deal.
• Grigory and Chen Zhao: Grigory hints at a future business deal with Chen Zhao, showing trust in him. Chen Zhao, in turn, shows loyalty by agreeing to help without knowing the details.
• Chen Zhao and Grigory: Chen Zhao is cautious and careful around Grigory, realizing the seriousness of the situation and Grigory's intentions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lop Nur University holds a mobilization meeting for its annual Inter-College Tree-Planting Competition.
• President Shen Meiyu delivers an opening speech, urging students to plant trees diligently and strive for excellence.
• Student representative's speech is unremarkable, focusing on usual themes of not disappointing the university and giving back to society.
• Vice Dean Li Zui of the New Energy College delivers an aggressive speech, declaring war on the Artificial Intelligence College and vowing to take the championship.
• Vice Dean Zhang Kuang of the Artificial Intelligence College responds in kind, asserting their college's dominance and dismissing the New Energy College's claims.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao, the protagonist, is initially surprised by the combative nature of the vice deans' speeches, realizing that his prepared speech may not be suitable for the charged atmosphere.
• Vice Dean Li Zui and Vice Dean Zhang Kuang demonstrate their competitive and aggressive natures, setting the tone for the upcoming competition.

Significant Themes

• Competition and rivalry among colleges within the university.
• The charged atmosphere and aggressive rhetoric suggest a deeper underlying tension between the New Energy and Artificial Intelligence Colleges.

Character Interactions

• The interactions between the vice deans and their respective colleges highlight the intense rivalry and competitive spirit among the students.
• Chen Zhao's internal monologue reveals his surprise and discomfort with the aggressive nature of the speeches, foreshadowing his potential role in the competition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao overhears College of Literature students feeling dejected due to their small number and lack of confidence compared to larger colleges.
• Chen Zhao decides to change his speech to boost his college's morale and confidence.
• He delivers an impassioned speech declaring the College of Literature's aim to win the championship, causing a stir among the students and other colleges.
• Chen Zhao hints at a secret weapon that will be revealed during the tree-planting event.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Shows leadership and confidence in his college's abilities, deciding to boost morale by declaring their intent to win the championship. He also hints at a secret weapon, demonstrating his strategic thinking.
• College of Literature Students: Initially dejected due to their small number and lack of confidence, they become excited and motivated after Chen Zhao's speech, starting to believe in their chances of winning.
• College of Literature Dean: Initially worried and angry about Chen Zhao's declaration, as he believes it's unrealistic and fears embarrassment if they don't win. However, he remains hopeful that Chen Zhao's secret plan might succeed.

Significant Themes

• Confidence and self-belief: Chen Zhao's speech instills confidence in his students, transforming their mindset from one of dejection to one of determination to win.
• Leadership: Chen Zhao demonstrates strong leadership by taking a bold stance and inspiring his students to strive for victory.
• Realism vs. ambition: The College of Literature's dean represents the realistic perspective, while Chen Zhao embodies ambitious, goal-oriented thinking.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with the College of Literature students, overhearing their dejected conversation and later inspiring them with his speech.
• Chen Zhao interacts with the dean of the College of Literature, who expresses his worry and anger about Chen Zhao's declaration, while Chen Zhao remains confident about his secret plan.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Zhao receives two phone calls: Sun Defa updates him on the adhesive production progress, and Deng Zixin informs him that a video of his tree-planting speech has gone viral.
• Grigory picks up Chen Zhao and drives him to Lop Nur University's tree-planting site, bringing a barbecue setup and a whole piglet for a picnic.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao shows confidence in his plan to win the tree-planting championship, teasing Deng Zixin about her debt to him.
• Grigory demonstrates his culinary skills and extravagant lifestyle, choosing a remote location for their barbecue.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and Trust: Grigory's actions show his growing friendship with Chen Zhao, while Chen Zhao trusts Grigory despite the remote location.
• Extravagance and Wealth: Grigory's lifestyle and the barbecue setup highlight his wealth and extravagance.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Deng Zixin's playful banter reveals their growing affection for each other.
• Chen Zhao and Grigory's interaction shows their growing friendship and mutual respect.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Grigory demonstrates his skill in roasting a pig.
• Grigory shares a past incident where he accidentally shot and killed a hunter who was camouflaged as a deer.
• Grigory proposes a business partnership with Chen Zhao to commercialize the sand-to-soil adhesive.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao: Realizes the commercial potential of his adhesive and becomes excited about the business opportunity.
• Grigory: Shows his strategic thinking and business acumen, convincing Chen Zhao to partner with him.

Significant Themes

• Opportunity and Wealth: Grigory highlights the vast commercial potential of transforming deserts, emphasizing the opportunity for wealth creation.
• Trust and Partnership: Chen Zhao's trust in Grigory leads him to agree to a partnership, demonstrating the importance of trust in business relationships.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Grigory: They bond over Grigory's cooking skills and share personal stories, leading to a business partnership. Their interaction showcases their mutual respect and trust.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Students gather at dawn for a tree-planting campaign, with dozens of buses forming a convoy.
• Chen Zhao, a teacher from the College of Literature, live broadcasts on the bus, revealing a secret weapon, 'Sand Binder', which can turn sand into soil.
• The convoy reaches the tree-planting site, a vast sandy area, where students rush out to start work.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates his innovative thinking and commitment to his students' success by developing Sand Binder.
• Students from the College of Literature gain confidence in their chances of winning the competition after seeing Sand Binder's effectiveness.

Significant Themes

• Innovation and problem-solving: Chen Zhao's Sand Binder showcases how innovation can overcome challenges.
• Teamwork and collective effort: The students' excitement and unity highlight the importance of working together towards a common goal.
• Competition and determination: The tree-planting campaign serves as a metaphor for competition, with students eager to prove their college's prowess.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao interacts with his students via live broadcast, inspiring and motivating them.
• Students on the College of Literature buses engage in excited discussions about their chances of winning the competition after seeing Sand Binder in action.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Students from various colleges struggle to plant trees in the sandy ground of Lop Nur.
• The College of Literature, under Chen Zhao's guidance, uses an adhesive to transform sand into soil, preparing the ground for planting.
• The school broadcasts the number of trees planted by each college, with the Artificial Intelligence College in first place and the College of Literature in last, having planted zero trees.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao demonstrates leadership and innovation by devising a method to convert sand into soil, showing his commitment to the task and the well-being of his college.
• Students from different colleges display varying levels of determination, teamwork, and competitiveness in their tree-planting efforts.

Significant Themes

• Persistence and Innovation: Despite the challenges posed by the sandy terrain, students and Chen Zhao persist in their efforts and innovate to overcome obstacles.
• Competition and Cooperation: Colleges compete against each other, but also encourage and support one another in their shared goal of planting trees.
• Preparation and Timing: The College of Literature focuses on preparing the ground before planting, highlighting the importance of timing and thorough preparation.

Character Interactions

• Students from different colleges interact through friendly competition and mutual encouragement.
• Chen Zhao interacts with his fellow College of Literature students, leading them and working alongside them to achieve their goal.
• The broadcast serves as a means of interaction between the colleges, updating them on their progress and fostering a sense of competition and camaraderie.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Literature College students start planting trees in the afternoon and make significant progress.
• The rankings are announced on the bus ride back to campus. The New Energy College is in first place with 5,016 trees, the Literature College is in second with 5,011 trees, and the Artificial Intelligence College is in third with 4,999 trees.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao plants 17 trees in the afternoon, contributing to the Literature College's success.
• Deng Zixin sends Chen Zhao a demo of the ending theme she's singing, showcasing her vocal prowess.

Significant Themes

• Competition and perseverance: The colleges compete to plant the most trees, and the Literature College's rapid progress highlights their determination.
• Music and its impact: The demo song Deng Zixin sends Chen Zhao underscores the power of music to evoke emotion.

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao encourages and works alongside his Literature College students, fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie.
• Chen Zhao and Deng Zixin maintain their professional relationship, with Deng Zixin sharing her demo with Chen Zhao for his feedback.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Students arrive at the tree-planting site to find the soil waterlogged, causing many saplings to topple over.
• The College of Literature's site remains unaffected, allowing them to plant more trees quickly.
• President Shen Meiyu visits the site, impressed by the College of Literature's progress.
• Chen Zhao shows Shen Meiyu the Sand Binder, which turns sandy soil into fertile ground for planting.
• Shen Meiyu proposes a business partnership with Chen Zhao for the Sand Binder's commercial applications.
• Shen Meiyu suggests building a bookstore for Chen Zhao's personal collection and offering him a fifty-fifty profit share.

Character Developments

• Chen Zhao continues to demonstrate his ingenuity and resourcefulness with the Sand Binder.
• Shen Meiyu shows interest in the commercial potential of the Sand Binder and offers to invest in Chen Zhao's venture.
• Shen Meiyu reveals that the university is facing financial difficulties, motivating her to explore business opportunities.

Significant Themes

• Ingenuity and innovation (Chen Zhao's Sand Binder)
• Commercialization of ideas and partnerships (Chen Zhao and Shen Meiyu's discussion)
• Financial struggles and resource management (Lop Nur University's funding issues)

Character Interactions

• Chen Zhao and Shen Meiyu discuss business opportunities, leading to a potential partnership.
• Students gossip about Chen Zhao and Shen Meiyu's relationship after seeing them together.
• Chen Zhao and Shen Meiyu discuss the possibility of opening a bookstore together.