Red Envelope Rain

If Newton wanted Li Dong to explain the principles and analysis, Li Dong probably wouldn't have been able to.

But if he wanted data on Mercury's perihelion precession, nothing could have been easier.

He immediately switched out of WeChat, opened a browser, and searched for "Mercury perihelion precession observational data + General Relativity verification."

Before long, he had downloaded a PDF document so detailed that Li Dong could not understand it at all.

It contained not only observational records, but also theoretical values calculated using General Relativity. The two matched perfectly.

[Senior Year Practice Problems]: Sir Newton, this document contains detailed records of the deviations in Mercury's orbit. You can use it to verify your calculations.

[File sent successfully: Mercury Orbital Precession Data.pdf]

After the document was sent, no one spoke in the group for a full five minutes.

Li Dong assumed Newton was studying the data.

After all, some of the terms in that PDF were still unfamiliar to Newton and would take some time to understand.

At last, Newton's avatar flashed again in the group.

[Isaac Newton]: The data... This data is actually this precise? Every single observational record points to that one unique deviation...

[Isaac Newton]: I just tried using the "Field Equations" from that document for a rough calculation. Although mathematical tools like tensor analysis are unfamiliar to me, the logic holds.

[Isaac Newton]: Though I still find it difficult to accept such an absurd notion as curved spacetime, numbers do not lie. It seems God truly concealed more variables in the air... no, in the universe.

[Isaac Newton]: @Albert Einstein, fine, curly-haired boy. I will re-derive my equations. Once I have verified this data, I will come argue with you again!

[Albert Einstein]: I'll be waiting, dear Isaac. But remember to bring your apple. I'd also like to see whether it would spark new inspiration if it hit my head.

A scholarly debate spanning time and space was temporarily settled through Li Dong's mediation.

But no one noticed that, besides Newton and Einstein, there was one other recipient of the file.

His ID was [Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier].

The celestial mechanician who had once calculated Neptune's location with the tip of his pen, yet carried lifelong regret over the problem of Mercury's precession.

Just then, Joule, who had not dared to speak all this time, finally popped up.

[James Joule]: Whew... That scared me to death. When those two big shots were arguing just now, I felt like the atmospheric pressure had gone up by several hundred pascals!

As Joule's message appeared, a red firework suddenly burst across the screen.

[Isaac Newton has sent an exclusive red envelope]

Li Dong's eyes lit up.

Newton might have been arrogant, but he was indeed a man of principle.

Since he had taken the data and accepted the favor, he would never freeload.

This was exactly what Li Dong had been waiting for.

[You have received Isaac Newton's thanks]

[Item obtained: Focus +1]

[Description: Truth often bows only to the focused. When you use it, you will once again stand on the shoulders of giants and see through truth. Duration: one hour.]

"It's here, it's here—the gods' trial pass!"

But the surprises were not over yet.

[Albert Einstein]: !!! Thank you for the data, sir. This is the key evidence for verifying relativity! Since Isaac has made a gesture, I can't be too stingy either.

[Albert Einstein has sent an exclusive red envelope]

Li Dong opened it with trembling hands.

[You have received Albert Einstein's gift]

[Attribute obtained: Logic +0.1 (Permanent)]

[Description: This is a spark of inspiration from the greatest mind. Logic is not merely the chain that derives formulas; it is also the brush that constructs the universe.]

At that moment, Li Dong felt as though a breeze had blown away some of the fog in his mind.

Even certain knowledge points from New Lectures on Mathematical Analysis, which he had previously needed to memorize by rote before he could barely connect them, now became incomparably clear.

Before he could properly savor the changes in himself, the group became active again.

[James Joule]: I'm ashamed to say that I, too, accepted Senior Year's guidance without offering anything in return. That truly shouldn't be the case.

Though I do not possess theories as great as those of the two of you, there is one thing I have believed in all my life: as long as one carries out experiments steadily and earnestly, even the smallest amount of energy can accumulate into a flow of heat.

[James Joule has sent an exclusive red envelope]

Li Dong was practically grinning from ear to ear.

[You have received James Joule's sharing]

[Special passive obtained: Physics Perception (Basic Version)]

[Description: This is a gift belonging to an experimenter.]

[From this day onward, physics formulas will no longer be dry symbols in your eyes, but real levers, gears, and flows of heat. You will possess the "heart of a craftsman." You will no longer fear those profound theories, but will instead be willing to build your own palace of physics brick by brick, one step at a time.]

Looking at this string of rewards, Li Dong felt that the entire world had changed.

He opened the transparent attribute panel again.

[Core Attributes]

Focus: 0.1

Logic: 0.1

Memory: 0.1

[Passive Skill: Physics Perception (Basic Version)]

Focus, logic, memory.

Even if the improvements to those three things were tiny, together they were enough to bring a qualitative leap to an underachiever like him. Besides, he now had the passive skill, Physics Perception.

"Next..."

Li Dong looked at the physics test paper on his desk.

"Let's have a thoroughly satisfying physics storm."

That day, the light in Li Dong's room remained on until dawn.

Monday morning, in the teachers' office at Jiangcheng No. 7 High School.

Physics teacher Jiang Yang was holding a thermos as he furtively leaned toward Old Yang's desk.

"Hey, Teacher Yang, how did that tutoring company you mentioned last time—the one looking for part-time math teachers—turn out?"

Jiang Yang wore a deeply troubled expression.

"You know my second child was just born. Formula, diapers, everything costs money. Relying on my regular salary alone is really too much. Could you introduce me to them too?"

Old Yang was grading homework. At this, he glanced around with a guilty look.

Only after confirming that the dean was nowhere nearby did he sigh.

"Teacher Jiang, there's no rush. I checked out that company too. The hourly pay is high, but the requirements are strict as well. And besides, we are public school teachers. If..."

Knock, knock.

The sudden knocking startled them both.

They followed the sound toward the door and saw a boy standing there with enormous dark circles beneath his eyes.

Old Yang frowned slightly.

"Li Dong? Morning self-study is about to begin. Why aren't you going back to the classroom? What are you doing in the office?"

Old Yang was actually quite concerned about this student now.

"Teacher Yang, I'm looking for Teacher Jiang."

Li Dong's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Looking for me?"

Jiang Yang froze for a moment.

Naturally, he knew Li Dong. He ranked third in physics in Senior Class Two, making him one of the more studious and accomplished students at No. 7 High School.

"What do you need me for? Do you have a question? Physics is the first class later. We can go over it together then."

Li Dong shook his head.

"No, Teacher Jiang. Didn't you mention in class last Friday that the school had several spots for the physics competition?"

"I want to sign up."