The Old Professor and the Supercomputer

The Old Professor and the Supercomputer

A retired professor from Columbia University's mathematics department, Nicolas Cage was the first teacher Alvin had "recruited" since taking over the school.

This old man, who shared a name with a Hollywood star Alvin had known in his previous life, was rough-looking and fat, with the personality of a traditional Western cowboy. He had not been particularly willing when he arrived and had even resisted fiercely.

But after Alvin had "invited" him to tour the school several times, his passion for teaching had been reignited. In his own words, this school's system might not necessarily produce an Einstein, but it would definitely cultivate a great many mathematical talents.

He loved the school's teaching system. If students failed to do their homework, their punishment was doubled. If students disrespected teachers, the disciplinary office would teach them how to behave. If students committed serious mistakes, the little black room converted from a warehouse would make them regret it for the rest of their lives.

This place, more prison than school, was seen by the old man as the best place to nurture students and the fairest place for their futures.

There were no class distinctions here. All students were treated equally, and grades determined who excelled.

Unlike outside schools, which quietly sorted children into social classes while they were still studying.

Children from ordinary families studied happily and grew up happily. Children from wealthy families attended prestigious schools, yet faced enormous academic pressure and had to learn art and other subjects in their spare time.

When it came time to apply for college or enter society, children from wealthy families had a much higher and easier starting point than children from ordinary families.

But here, every child was the same. Even members of the basketball, baseball, and football teams at every grade level had to maintain passing exam scores before they could train.

Alvin did not believe that nonsense about lacking talent for studying. If you could play sports well and understand tactics, then you could pass your exams.

In his previous life, one of Alvin's son's classmates had scored only 85 on an IQ test, yet his teacher had forced him into passing every subject.

So here, Alvin did not believe in tears. He believed only in grades.

"Damn it, Alvin! You kidnapped me and wanted me to teach students, so I came. But what the hell have you done? You spent the money raising the walls, and you even put up a fucking electric fence!

"I'm not against you doing that, but could you fucking buy the teaching equipment I wrote down first? I don't even have a decent computer. You bastard, if I don't see the computer I want this week, then I'll fucking—"

Alvin stared wide-eyed, waiting for the old man to say he was leaving so he could go along with it and send him home to retire.

The old bastard wanted a multimedia teaching center, and Alvin had agreed. But asking for a supercomputer was going too far.

Although every teacher in the school could use it once it was bought, even an outdated supercomputer cost several million dollars.

Where was Alvin supposed to get that kind of money? Was he supposed to take a few big dogs to rob Stark Tower and steal a supercomputer?

Old Cage thought for a moment. His career in his later years was here now, and he truly could not bring himself to say he was leaving. After holding it in for a long while, he said, "Then I'll fucking... file a complaint against you with the Department of Education!"

Alvin shook his head in disappointment. "Professor Cage, you have to understand. Our school isn't wealthy either! What could you complain about to the Department of Education? Our oldest students are only in twelfth grade. What use would we have for that thing?

"Look, Principal Nelson has worked himself so hard for a little school funding that his hair has turned white. You're an old professor. You should understand, right? Don't worry, we'll have a supercomputer eventually. This is called suffering first and enjoying later. Once the school's situation improves a little, we'll immediately get started on it."

There was a saying in China: stones in a latrine were both smelly and hard. It described people like Professor Cage perfectly. Unmoved by Alvin's words, Professor Cage looked at him with contempt and said, "I can tell at a glance that you're an uneducated bastard. If you want to run a school well, aren't teachers important?

"Do you know how many highly educated talents in mathematics and physics across America are desperately lining up to use their schools' supercomputers just to verify their experimental results?

"As long as you have one, I guarantee highly educated talents will be begging to work here! You ignorant idiot only knows how to build walls and put up buildings, but you don't understand that talent is the key to a school."

The old professor's words hit Alvin right in the heart. He had never attended college, but he had still heard that talent was the most important thing. Was it really okay to look down on him so nakedly?

Though tempted by what Alvin heard, he still spread his hands bluntly. "No money. What do we do?"

The old man waved his hand grandly as though directing the affairs of the world. "No money? Levy contributions from the gangs in Hell's Kitchen. Their children all attend school here. The school needs something—shouldn't the parents contribute?

"As far as I know, Hell's Kitchen has more than twenty gangs, large and small. If each one pays an average of one hundred thousand, that should be about enough. I have an old friend in Columbia University's equipment department. They're looking to transfer a supercomputer, and I can get a very good price."

After saying that, the old man even winked at Alvin, wearing an expression that said he had connections.

Alvin sucked in a breath after hearing Professor Cage. Was this guy really a professor or a bandit? Who exactly was the gangster here? How had he survived into his seventies in the dangerous world of Marvel with that robber's temperament?

Still, two million for a supercomputer was an excellent deal. But levying fees from gangs was simply a fantastical idea.

These small gangs were not like Kingpin, with a vast fortune where a little money meant nothing. If Alvin scraped one dollar from them, they would find five dollars somewhere else to make up for it. Alvin would never do something like that.

Asking gangs for money could not be called asking for money. That label would never work. They had to donate voluntarily. That depended on the school's teaching quality and college acceptance rate this year.

Once there was a college acceptance rate and these gang leaders understood that their children could take a different path from theirs, organizing a fundraiser would be easy. But right now, it truly was impossible.

Alvin rubbed his nose, wondering whether he should ask Kingpin for another donation. But if he kept grabbing the same sheep and yanking its wool, the sheep would go mad.

Alvin looked helplessly at Professor Cage and said, "Professor, asking gangs for money is the worst possible approach. We absolutely can't do it. Talk to them first. If there's really no other way, I'll pull part of the budget from the teaching building behind us and have Nelson see whether he can get a loan.

"But we have to make this semester count. We can't just muddle through because we don't have a supercomputer. No high school in all of America would dare set up a supercomputer."

Alvin had no choice. He had tricked and coaxed this distinguished old man into coming here. The old man's abilities were beyond question, but his temper was simply awful, and he loved throwing tantrums. That was unbearable.

The old man was very satisfied with Alvin's humble attitude. He adjusted his tie and said smugly, "That is my responsibility. There are several good kids in twelfth grade. I can write them recommendation letters and let them try for Columbia University.

"I spoke with Professor Wilson. In this year's ATC exam, half of these kids should be able to score over twenty-two points. Ha! Bastard, the only thing I like about you is the teaching system you set up. You can't break horses without a whip."

Then the old man's tone changed. Like a loan shark demanding payment, he said, "Bring the money quickly. The supercomputer must be delivered first. Let Nelson get a loan for the building money. I can introduce him to several banks. The people in charge there are all my students."

The old man looked ferocious, like a loan shark forcing someone to sign. Alvin and Nelson nodded repeatedly and agreed without daring to object.

Seeing Alvin agree, the old man happily patted him on the shoulder. "You won't regret it!"