strictlysupreme Chapter 226 The Soul of a Fiery Youth Is Burning
Chapter 226 The Soul of a Fiery Youth Is Burning
Lin Chen explained casually, "Xiaoxiao, watch how I crush those Americans in next week's competition!"
Lin Chen hadn't originally intended to show off.
After all, he's still a freshman. Even graduate students might not be qualified to participate. Why is he even trying to join in?
But the toxic comments online ignited Lin Chen's angry youth spirit.
Is there still a huge gap between us and the United States?
The difference is unbelievable!
It's just a game, what does it prove?
The rules and timing of the competition are all set by the Americans. Who the hell knows if there's any shady dealing involved?
It's true that Americans have geniuses, but there's no way they could be that far behind the geniuses in China!
The rules of this competition also seem to be full of loopholes.
The idea was to have a group of college students come up with questions on the spot.
But who the hell knows if these questions were actually come up with by the people themselves?
It's quite possible that behind those American contestants today is a think tank composed of dozens of American professors.
And those public intellectuals, they're really no good.
It was just a loss in one game, how did that relate to the system?
If the American system is so good, then why does that president keep saying that America is failing and needs to be made great again?
WTF!
Chen Xiaoxiao understood what Lin Chen meant.
However, she also felt a little incredulous.
In today's competition, none of the graduate students from prestigious universities were up to the task.
Is Lin Chen, a freshman, really capable?
"Xiaoxiao, you don't believe me?"
"I believe you, of course I believe you..."
Chen Xiaoxiao blinked.
"But Lin Chen, how do you plan to participate? Haven't the members of the Dragon Kingdom's representative team already been selected?"
"I……"
Just as Lin Chen was about to explain, his phone rang again.
Lin Chen gestured to Chen Xiaoxiao and then answered the phone.
"Hey, Mr. Wang? I need to talk to you about something."
"What a coincidence, I also need to talk to you. Come to my office now."
"Okay, I'll come right away!"
After hanging up the phone, Lin Chen smiled. It seemed that Old Wang and he had the same idea.
He glanced at Chen Xiaoxiao: "I'm going to see Old Wang. Will you come with me?"
"Old Wang? What does he want with you?"
"That's why he's my teacher; of course he'd think the same way I do."
Chen Xiaoxiao nodded, feeling a sense of pride.
After all, Chen Cheng was Wang Lao's student, so Chen Xiaoxiao could be said to have grown up hearing Wang Lao's name from childhood.
She felt honored that her boyfriend was valued so highly by Mr. Wang.
When the two arrived at Old Wang's office, they saw him smoking.
The office was filled with smoke, almost like the smog of yesteryear.
Chen Xiaoxiao rushed forward, snatched Wang Lao's cigarette, extinguished it, and then opened the office window for him.
"Old Wang, how old are you? Don't you know how to take care of your health?"
Old Wang was stunned for a moment, then smiled after seeing Chen Xiaoxiao's appearance.
After all, she was the one who helped Lin Chen apply to Longke University, and she was also the daughter of his student, so Old Wang naturally knew Xiaoxiao.
"Xiaoxiao, you're here too."
"I happened to be with her, so I brought her along."
Lin Chen gave an explanation and then sat down in front of Old Wang.
"Mr. Wang, I also have something to discuss with you."
"Should you say it or I say it?"
Old Wang seemed to be in a bad mood. He reached out to light another cigarette, but then noticed Chen Xiaoxiao standing to the side with her arms crossed, glaring at him.
"Hehehe..."
Old Wang felt a little awkward, then said, "Let me start with mine."
"Lin Chen, did you watch today's match? In a week, it'll be our Dragon Kingdom's home ground. I have an idea; I'd like you to represent Dragon Kingdom in this competition!"
It really is……
Chen Xiaoxiao was slightly surprised.
"Old Wang, you and I are thinking the same thing! I actually had the same idea!"
"Are you confident?"
"Of course!"
This time it was Old Wang's turn to be surprised.
He had this idea because he watched today's game.
As a leading figure in the field of mathematics, Professor Wang did not inquire about the selection of the mathematics team beforehand.
But he had read the profiles of every contestant.
They are indeed exceptional talents, one in a hundred. In another ten years or so, these five people may even become the backbone of China's mathematical community.
Even so, Old Wang did not expect that the Dragon Country team would lose so badly this time.
Those five elites, who were highly regarded by everyone, were like high school students who hadn't even started college in front of the Americans.
After the United States loses, the second match will be held in China at the same time the following week.
With only one week left, can those five people turn the tide?
Mr. Wang expressed deep doubt.
So he thought of Lin Chen.
This was a student who had left a deep impression on him during his time at vocational school.
Although he is only a freshman, since those five people have little hope, why not give it to Lin Chen, a child who has repeatedly created miracles?
Old Wang never expected that Lin Chen would have the same idea.
Perhaps he underestimated this kid.
They clearly have more confidence in themselves than in themselves.
Old Wang stood up and paced back and forth in his office.
After a moment, he stopped and turned to ask, "Lin Chen, tell me honestly, are you confident?"
I can't guarantee anything for others, but I won't lose!
Lin Chen smiled.
He smiled with absolute confidence.
Why?
He wasn't afraid even if those Americans had dozens of math professors behind them.
You have the strategist, I have the cheat code!
"Okay, wait for my news!"
……
Old Wang waited a whole night for this news.
The following Sunday, the Dragon Team, having suffered a crushing defeat in Las Vegas, flew back.
When I came out of the airport, I was surrounded and chased by a large group of reporters.
There was also a large-scale protest by a large number of people who had somehow gotten wind of the incident.
The students from the five former ivory towers had never seen such a scene before. One of the team members even slipped and fell face-first in the mud because of the chaos.
At the time of the incident, a group of people, including Professor Wang, were gathered at Tsinghua and Peking Universities.
Apart from Mr. Wang, everyone else was a member of the organizing committee of the competition from the Dragon Kingdom side. In addition to the bigwigs from several universities, there were also leaders from the relevant departments.
They were preparing to discuss the second match to be held in the Dragon Kingdom.
However, none of them expected that at the very beginning of the meeting, Old Wang, who suddenly asked to sit in on the meeting, would bring up a shocking piece of news.
He actually wanted to recommend a freshman to join the Dragon Kingdom team to participate in the second Dragon Rice University Mathematics Challenge next week.
It is true that Professor Wang is a leading figure in the field of mathematics in China, but he is not the only leading figure in the field of mathematics in China.
Therefore, Mr. Wang's proposal was immediately met with fierce opposition.
“Old Wang, I know you think highly of that young man, but this matter concerns national honor! He’s a freshman, he hasn’t even finished his university studies yet, how can he represent the country?”
"That's right! Jiang Ronghao and the others lost so badly, how could that Lin Chen be any better than them?"
"I agree!"
"That's right!"
"Old Wang, the overall situation is at stake right now; this is not the time for you to mentor the younger generation!"
Professor Wu from Tsinghua and Peking Universities couldn't stand it anymore.
Although Lin Chen and Wang Lao have been at odds ever since Lin Chen was recruited into Longke University, they haven't been in contact for a long time and haven't even played chess together.
But that doesn't mean he doesn't think highly of Lin Chen.
"Everyone, listen to me."
"I know Lin Chen well; he's truly a rare genius! Although I don't know how he'll fare after entering Longke University, Old Wang must have his reasons for making this suggestion!"
“We’ve already lost a round in the US, and you’ve all seen what happened. I don’t think those five kids can turn things around in a week.”
Although Mr. Wu also voiced his support, even within Mr. Wu's own Tsinghua and Peking Universities, there were those who objected:
"Old Wu! Changing commanders right before battle is a major taboo. Even if Lin Chen is truly talented, it's too late to change him now. Don't even mention us, have you thought about what those five children think?"
"And then there's public opinion! With public opinion like this now, what will the public think if we suddenly change people? Will they agree to it?"
Others immediately chimed in:
"Yes, yes, yes! We can't change the player now!"
"We need to consider the impact!"
"This is all for those five children!"
Old Wang's heart sank. If it weren't for the presence of leaders, he would have stood up and exposed these people's true colors.
What they care about is not the five children.
What they care about is the face of their academic clique!
Do you really think that the selection of the five members for the Dragon Kingdom team was based on ability?
In fact, there was no quantifiable selection method. The five members of the Dragon Kingdom team were ultimately selected privately by a few experts from a group of recommendation lists.
They certainly have the ability, but the selection of candidates is not only based on ability, but also on interpersonal relationships!
Seeing the scene becoming noisy and chaotic, one leader displayed his bureaucratic wisdom and resorted to delaying tactics.
"Gentlemen! Let's put aside Elder Wang's suggestion for now. Let's discuss the competition schedule for next week first... The Americans have gone too far this time, so the venue originally set up at Tsinghua and Peking Universities may no longer be suitable. The higher-ups have decided..."
After the meeting, Old Wang, with a sullen face, made a phone call to Lin Chen.
"Lin Chen, things have taken a bit of a turn for the worse. I've done my best, but all I can do now is give you a substitute position."