Mathematics

With Han Yang's current computing power, after deducting all other consumption, he could simultaneously listen to ten teachers lecture nonstop for roughly twenty-four hours.

At one hour per class, Zhi Xue Web would need 240 teachers teaching to meet Han Yang's needs.

At a procurement price of 400 yuan per class, that would cost 96,000 yuan a day.

"No, no. That's too expensive. I can't afford that at this stage."

The money from having ninety-nine computers power-level accounts had all been earned penny by penny through his own hard work. Even at full capacity, he only made a little over 70,000 yuan a day. He couldn't afford to spend it like that.

"Also, once General Manager Lu's equipment arrives, I'll have to allocate computing power to make materials myself. Besides, computing power usage can't stay at a high level all the time. In that case... I'll start by finding twenty teachers. Twenty classes a day, 8,000 yuan. Once my computing power improves and I earn more money, I can expand the scale."

If he could only study twenty subjects at once, then choosing exactly which courses to study required some thought.

Although Han Yang needed to learn the entire body of knowledge, there was still an order of priority. He needed to focus on the most important subjects first.

After thinking it over, Han Yang finally made his decision.

At this stage, aside from computer-related knowledge, mathematics was the most important thing for him.

Mathematics was the foundation of all natural sciences and held an unparalleled position of importance.

Mathematics had countless branches, and at this stage, Han Yang could only select a few mathematical courses more closely related to computer science.

After some thought, Han Yang settled on ten courses, including Vector Algebra, Analytic Geometry, Series Theory, Ordinary Differential Equations, mathematical statistics, and Stochastic Processes.

Under a normal university teaching schedule, these subjects would take at least an entire semester—half a year—to complete. Some would even take four semesters.

And even after finishing them, he would only have learned the basics. If he wanted to study them in depth afterward, there would be no shortage of torturous material waiting for him.

But of course, Han Yang was not afraid.

Having tentatively selected ten mathematics courses and ten computer courses, Han Yang immediately contacted Zhang Dong. He wanted to ask him to invite teachers at Yunshan University who could offer the relevant courses to join the website. But after making several calls, he still could not get through, so he could only try again later.

At that moment, Zhang Dong's home was shrouded in gloom.

Zhang Dong and his wife sat on the sofa. Across from them sat a haggard woman with graying hair.

The woman looked to be in her fifties. But Zhang Dong knew that she was only forty-five this year, the same age as him.

"Xiao Juan, don't be too upset."

Zhang Dong's wife gently consoled her. "Lao Li just couldn't take the blow for the moment. Give it some time, and have Zhang Dong go talk to him again. He'll be able to pull himself together eventually."

Xiao Juan sobbed, "I work myself to the bone every day to support this family, but what about Lao Li? He's drunk all day long. Whenever he drinks too much, he curses the heavens and the earth, curses the school leadership. I can't go on living like this.

"Brother Zhang, you and Lao Li were good friends in college, and after graduation, you both became teachers at Yunshan University. You two have always been the closest. Please go talk to him. Tell him to stop drinking. It doesn't matter if he lost his job as a university professor. I don't look down on him for it. As long as he can pull himself together, find a job, and live properly, this family can still be a family.

"If he keeps this up, I really can't take it anymore. I'll take the child and divorce him!"

Zhang Dong let out a deep sigh.

Lao Li's real name was Li Hui, and he had always been Zhang Dong's closest friend. Zhang Dong was in the computer science department, while Li Hui was in the mathematics department.

They both taught at Yunshan University, but Li Hui had been unlucky. Once, he happened to see a male student bullying a female student and stepped in to stop him. Yet that male student had connections. His family's influence was so great that they even seemed to have some vague ties to the Ita. After a barrage of slander, it somehow became Li Hui who had bullied the female student.

And just like that, he lost his job and became branded a sexual offender.

Li Hui could not withstand the blow. On top of being barred from the education field, he had never recovered.

Zhang Dong wanted to help him, but he truly had no way to do so.

"Ah. What a pity. Manager Han only needs lecturers from the computer science department, not the mathematics department..."

With a sigh in his heart, Zhang Dong said reassuringly, "All right, Xiao Juan. I'll go talk to him."

Only after settling the matter did Zhang Dong think to take out his phone. At once, he saw Han Yang's two missed calls.

"I need to make a call."

He walked into the study and called back.

Han Yang's voice immediately came through. "Professor Zhang, it's like this. Do you know any teachers from your university's mathematics department? Our website wants to purchase ten mathematics-related courses, so we need ten mathematics teachers..."

Zhang Dong froze, feeling his heart pound wildly beyond his control.

At over forty years old, how could he possibly not understand that simple comfort and persuasion were useless?

Could Li Hui's emotional knot really be untied with a few words of comfort and advice?

Impossible!

There was only one way to untie that knot: give him a job again, one that would let him feel a sense of fulfillment and self-worth.

Originally, this had been an unsolvable problem. After all, Zhang Dong was only an ordinary person. But now, the chance to help his longtime friend regain his footing had appeared before him without any warning.

Zhang Dong carefully chose his words and said somewhat humbly, "Manager Han, I happen to know a mathematics professor. His professional knowledge is absolutely solid, so you can rest assured about that. It's just that...

"He was fired by the university. But he was falsely accused! We've known each other for decades. I can testify for him!"

Zhang Dong told Han Yang about Li Hui's situation.

Han Yang immediately agreed. "All right, no problem. Have him make the first class as soon as possible, and we'll evaluate it right away!"

After hanging up, Zhang Dong clenched his fists in excitement.

The moment he left the room, Zhang Dong rushed straight to Li Hui's home without another word.

It was still broad daylight, yet Li Hui reeked of alcohol as he sat blankly on the balcony. Empty bottles were scattered throughout the house, and garbage covered the floor.

"Li Hui! Do you still want to be a teacher? Do you still want to teach mathematics?"

Li Hui raised his head and stared lifelessly at Zhang Dong, then gave a somewhat self-mocking smile.

"If you still want to teach mathematics, then pull yourself together right now. Take a shower, get a haircut, shave! Get him a clean set of clothes to change into! Start preparing the lesson immediately!"

By the time Li Hui stood before the phone camera, it was already evening. His hair had been cut short and was no longer messy, and his beard had been completely shaved off.

He wore casual clothes and held a piece of chalk in his hand. Behind him was a blackboard, and he looked like an ordinary teacher.

Outside the camera's view, Xiao Juan, Zhang Dong, and Zhang Dong's wife watched him eagerly. Those burning gazes gave Li Hui a strange feeling, one that somehow seemed familiar.

Facing the camera, he was slightly nervous.

"A stochastic process is a branch of probability theory..."

After clearing his throat, he began his first lecture in years away from the podium.