The top 30 contestants with the highest scores in this competition all received invitations from the Huaxia Mathematical Society to join the national training team for the International Mathematical Olympiad.
As a result, they, along with several other selected students, had to stay in Beijing for a period of time.
On the very day Qin Yuanqing won the CMO championship gold medal, the news was broadcast for ten seconds on CCTV News.
As the highest-level, largest-scale, and most influential mathematics competition among middle school students in Huaxia, the CMO attracted widespread attention—enough to be featured on the national news.
When the news reached Jinpu No.1 High School, the entire school went crazy. Not only did it alarm county officials, but even city-level leaders took notice. After all, this was the first time in Shuixian City's history that a student had won a CMO championship gold medal.
Media outlets rushed to interview Qin Yuanqing's classmates, teachers, and principal. They even went to Qinjia Village to interview his parents, relatives, and fellow villagers.
For a time, Qin Yuanqing became a local celebrity in Shuixian City, enjoying immense popularity. Parents of other students already knew that with a CMO gold medal, Qin Yuanqing could freely choose between Shuimu University and Yanda University. He instantly became "someone else's child" in parents' mouths, arousing endless resentment among many students.
Not long after Qin Yuanqing arrived in Beijing, Yanda University's admissions office contacted him and once again issued a clear invitation, hoping he would sign an agreement to become a specially admitted student.
"Student Qin Yuanqing, our Yanda University mathematics department ranks first nationwide. Some universities may be just across the street from us, but their cultural foundation and scientific strength are nowhere near ours. They merely train high-level technicians, while we cultivate academic masters," said Chen Lin, the person in charge of admissions, confidently. "Yanda is absolutely your best choice. You won't regret choosing us!"
Qin Yuanqing took a sip of water and pondered.
Just as Director Chen said, Yanda University had the strongest mathematics program in Huaxia. It was indeed the domestic leader, holding a dominant position. Although its global ranking was not in the top ten, it still placed 18th worldwide. Shuimu University ranked around 50th, even lower than Fudan University, whose math department ranked 22nd.
If he were to choose mathematics, Yanda would indeed be the best option.
But who said he had to choose mathematics?
Moreover, as he had considered before, since he could enter Yanda through the college entrance examination, why take the special admission route?
If he could rely on talent, why depend on special treatment?
He hated "pretty boy" celebrities the most. If he accepted special admission, wouldn't he become one himself?
"Director Chen, I appreciate your kindness, but I can't sign with Yanda," Qin Yuanqing said. "I haven't decided which university to attend yet. I will take the gaokao first and decide after the results come out."
"Student Qin Yuanqing, if you agree to sign with Yanda, you won't even need to take the gaokao. And you don't have to major in mathematics—any major is available," Chen Lin hurriedly said. "The gaokao is risky. If you don't perform well…"
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was obvious—one bad performance could lead to lifelong regret.
"My mind is made up, Director Chen. There's no need to persuade me further," Qin Yuanqing replied.
Perhaps influenced by his past life, Qin Yuanqing didn't have much affection for Shuimu University or Yanda University. As people often said online, too many students from these schools studied abroad and ended up staying overseas, which felt like training talent for foreign countries. This made him uncomfortable.
Studying abroad was fine, but the key was coming back. Huaxia was the motherland—the root.
Although he wasn't blindly critical, that phenomenon still bothered him.
Some might argue that there were many shortcomings in the country. But if there were problems, people should work to solve them, not escape.
If everyone waited for others to fix things first, who would actually do the work?
Qin Yuanqing lived at the headquarters of the Huaxia Mathematical Society. Besides clothes, his suitcase contained only books.
This batch of national Olympiad trainees consisted of 30 people. They would undergo 15 days of intensive training, after which the best six would be selected to form the national team and represent Huaxia in the IMO.
The IMO would be held in March 2009. In previous years, it was usually in July, but in 2009 it was scheduled for March 15 to commemorate a great mathematician.
This time, they would train for 15 days. After the semester ended, they would train again, with only seven days off for the Spring Festival. Then, on March 1, they would train once more until departing for Germany for the competition.
Three rounds of training in total.
Their leave was specially approved by their schools.
Since Huaxia first participated in the IMO in 1985, it had attended 23 sessions and won the overall championship 13 times—an impressive record. In recent years, it had been a strong favorite for the title.
The dormitory building had a small cafeteria on the first floor and living quarters above.
The dorms were double rooms, equipped with bunk beds, private bathrooms, balconies, water heaters, air conditioning, wardrobes, and computer desks. The entire building had broadband internet. All basic facilities were available, making it quite comfortable.
Although the rooms were designed for two people, since there were female contestants, Qin Yuanqing lived alone in one room.
When they arrived at the mathematics building, staff helped each contestant get a meal card, which could be used freely in the cafeteria.
Qin Yuanqing hung his clothes in the wardrobe and placed his books on the desk. Aside from a few gaokao outlines and summaries, all of them were mathematics books.
After eating downstairs, he stayed in his room reading. Training would officially begin the next day.
Host: Qin Yuanqing
Age: 18
IQ: 165
EQ: 100
Subjects:
Chinese: Level 5 (30000/1000000)
Mathematics: Level 8 (0/1000000000)
English: Level 10
Physics: Level 5 (90000/1000000)
Chemistry: Level 5 (70000/1000000)
Biology: Level 5 (50000/1000000)
Physical Fitness: Level 1 (0/100)
Learning Coins: 3000
Tasks:
"Task 1: Rank first in the city in the gaokao. Reward: 500 Learning Coins."
"Task 2: Win an IMO individual gold medal. Reward: 3000 Learning Coins."
"Task 3: Win an IMO team gold medal. Reward: 3000 Learning Coins."
The basic system only had three tasks. A new task would appear only after completing one. Task 1 had remained unchanged because it hadn't been completed.
Early the next morning at 8 a.m., all 30 contestants gathered at the meeting point on time.
Their young faces still carried traces of innocence, yet they appeared more mature than most high school students. Among them were nine girls and twenty-one boys.
Mathematics relied heavily on talent and logical thinking. In this aspect, girls were generally at a disadvantage compared to boys. Moreover, all the members in this cohort were science-track students—none were in the liberal arts track.
"Congratulations on joining the IMO training team," the team leader said. "But you should know that only six people can make it into the national team. This means that 24 of you will be eliminated within these fifteen days."
"The rules are simple. There will be an exam every five days. The six students with the highest total scores will enter the national team and represent Huaxia in Germany, competing against geniuses from over a hundred countries," he continued.
"You should understand the significance of the IMO. Yes, the International Mathematical Olympiad is the Olympics of mathematics."
"The six who make it through will shoulder the mission of bringing glory to the nation and enjoy unparalleled honor," the leader said. "Work hard in the coming half month if you want to become one of them!"
Hearing this, everyone felt their blood boil. One by one, they clenched their fists.
Bringing glory to the country was something every Huaxia citizen dreamed of. Just like athletes fighting desperately for Olympic gold medals against foreign competitors—it was all for national pride.