As provincial team captain, Qin Yuanqing once again delivered a few words of encouragement.
Many students disliked motivational speeches, but at crucial moments, even clichés could have a powerful effect.
"Everyone, the stage is set at Mountain City University, where the country's top math talents have gathered. Are you ready?" Qin Yuanqing scanned the team.
"Ready!" The group roared back.
Sometimes words are unnecessary. These students, the best of Fujian this year, already had pride burning inside them. A spark was enough to ignite their drive. The vice president watched this scene with quiet satisfaction.
On November 15, the atmosphere at Mountain City University was tense. Students, holding ID cards and exam passes, were guided to the exam halls by volunteers. Phones and all electronic devices were strictly prohibited.
Qin Yuanqing entered his exam hall, found his seat, and sat quietly, taking a moment to mentally prepare. With half an hour to go, he used the time to adjust his mindset.
At 8:58 a.m., the broadcast announced exam rules and candidate responsibilities. Monitors distributed the test papers, and at 9:00 a.m., the exam officially began.
He filled in his personal information first and quickly skimmed the entire paper before beginning the problems.
The multiple-choice questions were clearly a level harder than the provincial exam. Each question required full solution steps to arrive at the correct answer. While all topics were covered in high school, without proper extension and creative thinking, they were unsolvable.
After completing the multiple-choice section, Qin Yuanqing carefully transferred answers to the answer sheet and double-checked them before moving on to the fill-in-the-blank questions. These were far trickier: without options to cross-check, any misstep would remain hidden until grading. Often, one clever trap could mislead hundreds of students.
He finished the fill-in-the-blank section and moved on to the three proof problems (20 points each).
Problem 1: Functions combined with geometry. It required diagrammatic analysis to prove the solution. This was the easiest of the three; failure here would make the next two problems almost irrelevant.
Problem 2: Inequalities involving logarithms and exponents. Qin Yuanqing found it interesting because it had two possible solution methods, both solvable with high school knowledge. Indeed, math competitions reward sharp thinking over brute calculation. Many university students, despite studying advanced mathematics, might not reach this level.
Problem 3: Function and geometry combined, requiring determination of minimal area from intersection points. Graphical work was essential; mere imagination risked error. Half a month ago, Qin Yuanqing couldn't have solved it. Now, though challenging, he managed systematically.
After completing the last problem, ten minutes remained. He noticed only about a third of the students were still working. Surprised, he wondered about other provinces' representatives. Where was Yang Xin from the Fujian team?
When he found her afterward, she was hugging a girl named Chen Xue, crying.
"Captain, not everyone is as insane as you," Chen Xue said irritably. "Yang Xin and I finished half an hour ago. Who could solve such a tough paper in full?"
Other teammates chimed in, lamenting their incomplete solutions.
Qin Yuanqing scratched his head. The paper was tough, yes, but not impossible.
The vice president hurried to console everyone. "This year's paper is the hardest in recent memory. Don't be discouraged. Qin Yuanqing, how did you do?"
"All problems completed. For the first two proofs, I wrote two solution methods. I estimate around 140 points," he said calmly.
The room erupted:
"Insane!"
"That's unfair!"
"God, help us!"
Most students struggled to reach even 90 points. Qin Yuanqing casually estimated 140. The girls cried even harder—they had worked so hard, yet the gap was astronomical.
The vice president, though flustered, was secretly thrilled. Such a high score practically guaranteed first prize. Last year, no one from Fujian had earned it; not a single student reached the national team.
This year, rules had changed:
National Competition Prizes:
1% first prize (20 students)
5% second prize (100 students)
15% third prize (300 students)
Only these winners would qualify for CMO. Achieving such an award often guaranteed admission to top universities; first-prize winners might even receive invitations from elite institutions like Shuimu University, Yanda University, or Fudan University. Plus, they could get 10–20 extra points for the college entrance exam, depending on the province.
The vice president had no reason to doubt Qin Yuanqing. After half a month together, he understood Qin's capability—he was indeed the strongest in the Fujian team. A 140-point score could even put him in contention for the national team.
He didn't press further, letting the team have lunch and rest before the afternoon session.
Qin Yuanqing relaxed, listening to music and napping until 1:30 p.m.
At 3:00 p.m., the additional test began. There were only three problems, but six pages of answers required. Extra pages could be requested if needed.
Problem 1 and 2: Completed smoothly.
Problem 3: Three sub-questions, each based on high school knowledge, yet requiring advanced math techniques—linear algebra, calculus, Gaussian theorem. Without deep understanding, most students could barely attempt a solution.
The second sub-question connected to the first and involved calculus—superficial high school knowledge was insufficient.
Qin Yuanqing paused before the third sub-question (worth 30 points, more than the first two combined). After careful thought, he wrote four full pages, ensuring he finished on the last line without needing extra sheets.
With one minute remaining, he checked his information, and the bell rang. He was the last student in the hall.
The monitors collected his paper. "Impressive, young man!" one said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Watching him write complex formulas and unfamiliar symbols, they were baffled but deeply impressed. They didn't know if his solutions were correct, but the mastery displayed was extraordinary—like reading a foreign language written in math.