Liu Chaowen hesitated for a moment.
“Well, yes and no,” he said.
“When I try to understand the deep-seated mechanisms of a principle, it requires extensive thinking and a certain amount of external learning. Through that, I can roughly grasp the entire process of how this mechanism operates, from the quantum state to the macroscopic level, including the underlying laws.”
After finishing his sentence, Liu Chaowen added in a low voice, “But it seems that this ability only applies to physics, mathematics, and language. It doesn’t work in other subjects.”
The female professor’s eyes sparkled as if she had discovered the secret of a genius teenager.
“So, you’re saying that your exceptional learning ability is only effective in a few subjects, while in other areas, it’s like a closed gate?” she asked.
Liu Chaowen’s emotions suddenly surged, his hands trembling, and his pupils constantly unfocused.
At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed, with a face marked by time and hardships, appeared at the classroom door.
As soon as Liu Chaowen saw him, his strange expression vanished, and his face returned to the innocence of a rainy-season youth.
He exclaimed, “Father!”
The person who arrived was his father, Old Liu.
Because the admission of underage students required the consent of a guardian, the three professors were scheduled to return to their alma mater the next day.
That’s why they urgently informed Old Liu to come to the school.
The arrival of his father filled Liu Chaowen with both surprise and joy.
Sitting next to his father, he transformed back into that quiet youth.
The senior professor waved his hand and kindly said, “Alright, let’s not trouble this child anymore. Now that I’m certain of his talents and his potential to contribute to scientific progress, we should admit him despite the unconventional circumstances. It’s meaningless to continue dwelling on these processes that we cannot comprehend. So, I suggest we discuss the procedures for his exceptional admission. What do you all think?”
Zhou Cheng flicked his cigarette butt onto the floor and shrugged.
“I have no objections. I can’t grasp Chaowen’s way of thinking anyway. As long as his abilities can help us make strides in theoretical physics, then the goal is achieved. The rest…”
He stopped halfway and shook his head in dissatisfaction.
The female professor smiled and looked at Liu Chaowen, whose emotions had already calmed down.
“Child, I believe in you. I’ve believed in you from the beginning. We were merely curious about your exceptional abilities, and we didn’t mean any harm. We won’t question your abilities any further.”
The senior professor nodded with satisfaction.
“Then let’s discuss the details of the exceptional admission in the adjacent office. Chaowen and Old Liu, please wait here for a moment.”
In the office next to the lecture hall, the principal wore the same smile on his face.
“Since the opinions of the three professors are unanimous, let’s proceed with the procedures for Liu Chaowen’s exceptional admission.”
However, Zhou Cheng looked troubled.
“It’s easy for you to say. When we return, we still have to report to the school. The normal procedure for exceptional admission takes several months from application to testing and interviews. This child doesn’t have any documentation such as patents or papers. How can we make the school leaders believe this? Moreover…”
The perceptive female professor understood Zhou Cheng’s thoughts.
She spoke in a soft and unhurried tone, “Professor Zhou, you don’t want to take any risks. If we follow the regular process, someone might snatch your excellent student away. But if you bring him directly to the school leaders, they’ll be eager to admit him.”
Zhou Cheng furrowed his brow deeply.
“You’re not even a bit skeptical about the authenticity of his abilities? We are all researchers, and this child’s abilities have seriously violated scientific knowledge and common sense!”
The female professor chuckled, and her laughter was like a gentle breeze brushing through the golden wheat fields of autumn.
The ripples it created in the fields felt soothing.
“I specialize in language, so I don’t understand all those profound physics you’re working on. But don’t you often say that new science often defies common sense? Only those who dare to challenge the norms can ride the tide of their time and become a turning point in history.”
Zhou Cheng shook his head.
“It’s not the same. Newton proposed universal gravitation, Einstein established the theory of relativity, and Bohr opened the door to quantum mechanics.
They indeed violated existing scientific knowledge in their time. Although Newton, Einstein, and Bohr possessed exceptional thinking abilities beyond ordinary people, they also accumulated a vast amount of foundational knowledge.”
Zhou Cheng placed his hand on the desk and scanned the people around him. There was a hint of mystery in his tone.
“They differed from ordinary people in their ability to identify the grains of gold that looked almost identical to sand in the desert, among the accumulated knowledge. But this child…
It’s hard to believe that he can see those grains of gold in the desert as he passes by in a plane. It’s… difficult to convince people.”
The female professor was about to respond, but the senior professor waved his hand to interrupt her.
After a few seconds of silence, he said solemnly, “I believe that Chaowen’s abilities are beyond doubt. I don’t think he orchestrated everything today with someone’s help, staging a grand performance for us. That would be even more unscientific.”
The translation of the text is as follows:
The senior professor’s eyes were filled with determination.
“There are many things about Super Wen that we cannot understand.
We should focus on the contributions he may bring to the discipline, to the nation’s technology, to the world of science, and even to all of humanity.
Based on this, I think we should bring him to our alma mater. Even if we use our identities as professors as a guarantee, it is something we should do.”
The senior professor’s words were resolute, leaving everyone present in awe. No one spoke for a moment.
In the end, they reached a unanimous decision.
With smiles on their faces, they returned to the lecture hall. During this time, Old Liu and his son enjoyed their happy moments in the corner of the lecture hall.
The principal dismissed the other subject teachers and, along with the three professors, approached Old Liu and Chaowen’s corner.
They only noticed them when they had come closer, perhaps because the father and son were so engrossed in their discussion.
Zhou Cheng, who was closest, casually picked up a piece of paper from Old Liu and Chaowen’s desk.
It was a sketch of a fork-type limited-slip differential, something they had been discussing earlier.
He carefully examined the paper.
An ordinary engineer or an experienced car mechanic could draw that same diagram.
But when he turned to look at the extensive derivations on the blackboard, Zhou Cheng shook his head, his face displaying confusion and unwillingness.
The senior professor wore a kind smile on his face.
“Liu, Chaowen, please have a seat. After discussing with the school, we have decided to take you to Tsinghua University to study the subjects in which you excel. There’s no need for you to waste your time in high school. Tell us your thoughts, both of you.”
Old Liu’s face immediately lit up with a simple smile, while Chaowen had a somewhat anxious expression.
“I have no objections if the professors are so certain about us. Going to Tsinghua University is something we couldn’t have dared to dream of.”
He then turned to his son and said, “Chaowen, go and study with the professors. I don’t want anything, as long as you can lead a happy and fulfilling life in the future, I’ll be satisfied.”
Chaowen forced a smile and cautiously looked at the old professor in front of him, not saying a word.
Zhou Cheng’s gaze shifted to the paper on the desk, the one with the super differential diagram.
Then he looked at Chaowen. This plain boy in front of him held too many mysteries.
“Student Liu Chaowen, your father has already agreed. As long as you don’t have any special reasons, please come with us tomorrow.”
Chaowen hesitated for a few seconds before finally speaking in a small voice, “Then… what about my father? Can he come with me?”
Upon hearing Chaowen’s words, Zhou Cheng’s eyes revealed a complex expression.
He was certain that Chaowen was just a young and inexperienced child.
Old Liu touched his son’s disheveled hair and said, “Son, don’t worry about me. Have you ever seen anyone go to college with their father? I’ll stay here and do my job, sending you a monthly allowance. Go and study well. Come back to see me during the holidays.”
Listening to his father’s words, Chaowen’s face showed reluctance.
“You have to grow up eventually and can’t always be by your father’s side. When you start working and have money, you can take care of me in my old age. But for now, well, your father is still young. Besides, when you go to university, I can go fishing and play chess with my old buddies.”
Old Liu’s words relieved Chaowen of his burden.
He nodded slightly.
The principal smiled satisfactorily and shook hands with the professors, congratulating them on finding such a promising talent.
Based on Chaowen’s demonstrated talent in theoretical physics, it was only natural for him to become Zhou Cheng’s disciple.
While marveling at the abilities of this high school student before him, Zhou Cheng also had a layer of worry in his heart.
