Chapter 293
"This kid is really unusual. I didn't see him last year; he seems to be a transfer student."
"As everyone knows, the requirements for transfer students at Foreign Language Primary School are very high, especially for the elite class. Ordinary people simply can't get in. I suspect this child might have some connections."
"I also think it's strange. Even I couldn't have finished that fast, and he didn't even check his answers. It's as if he knew them beforehand."
"Chief examiner, this matter should be investigated. Otherwise, it's too unfair for the rest of us from other schools."
The more they thought about it, the more convinced they became, and they started clamoring.
After all, it concerned their own school's reputation. At this point, they'd rather wrongly accuse than let it slide.
The chief examiner was still staring at the test paper, silent.
Only after finishing did he affirm, "No, he didn't cheat."
Everyone was stunned, looking at him in disbelief. "H-how can you be so sure he didn't cheat? I heard his mother is a teacher at their school. It's not impossible for him to have gotten the answers."
The chief examiner shook his head. "Look at his problem-solving methods yourselves. Are these methods taught in primary school?"
He pointed at a question on the paper. "The questions we set all have standard answers, but for all his written-answer questions, his calculation methods and processes are different from the standard answers. His solutions are more precise and sharp! Math problems can be approached in many ways, with various methods. Yet, after reviewing everyone's papers just now, only he solved them this way."
"He must have learned some junior or senior high school math, or read some books, which is why he thought of these methods."
The chief examiner continued, "But that's not what I'm concerned about. Do you know what his score adds up to?"
They hadn't fully processed the information yet, still finding it hard to believe.
Because this child was only in fourth grade. Them understanding him having seen junior high material was one thing, but senior high? How was that possible?
And just reading it means he understood it?
Is he even human?
Hearing this, they instinctively asked, "How much?"
The chief examiner's tone was complex. "95.5 points."
They were dumbfounded.
They remembered the chief examiner adding an extra 0.5 point to the passing score that morning.
At the time, they thought it was too harsh. The questions were so difficult; that extra half-point would eliminate many.
But now, they had a sudden realization.
Could it be that the chief examiner was testing Zhou Zedong?
If they remembered correctly, yesterday's passing score was eighty-eight, and Zhou Zedong got exactly eighty-eight.
The chief examiner had even chased after him to ask.
Today, the passing score was set as such, and his score was exactly that.
In such a short time, he not only finished the test but also precisely hit the passing line.
They had seen top students get high scores before, but never someone who controlled their score so precisely.
No mistake about it, this child was controlling his score.
While others were racking their brains for that extra 0.5 point, he seemed afraid of getting even one point more.
What on earth was he thinking?
The group was utterly perplexed.
Li Youcai only got 96 points in the second round.
Teacher Xu was incredulous. "Youcai, what happened? You got a perfect score in the second round last year!"
Li Youcai's face was even uglier than hers. "I... I wasn't in good form. I accidentally made a few mistakes in the steps."
Teacher Xu's expression darkened. She didn't dare scold Li Youcai too much, so she turned to Chu Xiang'er. "Xiang'er, what about you? How did you get eliminated in the second round?"
Chu Xiang'er's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm sorry, Teacher Xu. This year's questions were too hard. I hadn't seen many of them before."
Teacher Xu was furious.
She had been sure she would take first place again this year. Even if Zhou Zedong came last, it would just lower the average score. As long as first place was still her student, it would be fine.
But she never expected Li Youcai to barely pass, Chu Xiang'er to be eliminated, and Zhou Zedong, whom she had least favored, to actually pass.
It was infuriating.
Now, Li Youcai's score could only rank fourth.
Not even in the top three.
The first-place winner was several points ahead of him.
Not only was first place gone, but there wasn't even a spot in the top three.
Teacher Xu nearly fainted from anger.
She had originally thought that if Zhou Zedong lowered the average score, it had nothing to do with her. After all, he was a transfer student and hadn't been in class for long.
Even if the school blamed someone, it wouldn't be her.
But if Li Youcai and Chu Xiang'er lowered the score, that was different.
She had trained both of them herself.
These two children were her star pupils!
Their failure would tarnish her own reputation.
Teacher Xu finally began to panic.
Seeing Zhou Zedong walk in, she warned him, "You'd better not drag Youcai down, or I'll definitely make you leave our class!"
Zhou Zedong paused, turned to look at her, and asked, "Teacher, do you really want first place that badly?"
"What a stupid question. As long as you don't hold Youcai back, we can definitely get into the top three, if not first." She believed Li Youcai had just had an off day.
Once he got back into form, the top three wouldn't be a problem.
Because the finals were a numbers game competition.
It was a buzzer round; whoever answered the quickest and correctly got the points.
Conversely, answering incorrectly meant losing points.
When time was up, the one with the highest score was first, and so on down the ranking.
This meant any points Zhou Zedong lost would also affect Li Youcai's score.
"You haven't been in the city long, coming from the countryside. Even if you have some ability, you definitely haven't been exposed to a competition like a numbers game. When the time comes, keep your mouth shut and let Youcai answer."
Zhou Zedong couldn't be bothered with her and walked away without looking back.
How ridiculous. She could make him participate, but she couldn't make him not answer.
Things couldn't be that convenient for her.
Seeing his disrespectful attitude, Teacher Xu's face twisted with even more anger.
She wished she could tear him apart.
She must have been out of her mind to think of letting Zhou Zedong join the competition.
Soon, the numbers game competition began.
A teacher presented the problems, and the six remaining contestants buzzed in to answer.
Whoever wrote down the correct answer first got the points.
Those who answered later, even if correct, received no points.
But if the answer was wrong, points were deducted.
It was a competition that severely tested the children's limits and mental fortitude.
Each question also had a time limit.
The competition began!
The teacher started presenting the problems.
Several students lowered their heads and began writing.
While everyone else was still scribbling calculations, Zhou Zedong already raised his hand.
A teacher collected his answer sheet.
Zhou Zedong got five points.
The others' expressions soured.
Among them, Zhou Zedong had the lowest previous score.
But no one dared underestimate him.
Because their teachers had privately warned them to watch out for him. His fast submission speed, solving problems without even drafting, and still getting high scores proved he was no ordinary opponent.
So everyone was on guard.
Unlimited-time, non-buzzer rounds were one thing, but with buzzing in, who could beat him to it?
Their faces paled.
Beside him, Li Youcai's hand holding the pen was trembling.
The pressure from Zhou Zedong in the previous round hadn't subsided, and now this immense pressure hit again.
His entire face lost its color.
The achievements he took such pride in were utterly crushed by the person he despised the most.
For him, this was a completely devastating blow.
Yet this was only the beginning.
Soon, ten points, twenty points, thirty points...
Zhou Zedong's score continued to climb.
However, except for him and a few other classmates, no one else scored a single point!
Everyone else had zero!
Not only were several children on the verge of collapse,
even the panel of examiners felt immense pressure.
This was no longer a competition; it was a one-man slaughterhouse!
The examination hall fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the students' ragged breathing and the teacher's voice reading out the questions.
When Zhou Zedong reached fifty points, a girl suddenly burst into loud sobs.
...I'm guilty. I couldn't write today, only managed two chapters. But I still want gifts, I'm afraid of falling in the rankings, wuwuwu, what should I do? I also don't dare to rashly promise you extra updates, I'm scared I won't be able to write them later.
But!!! If you can help me hold my position until the 30th, I'll promise you anything (just kidding)...