UGB Chapter 32 Always eager for a good show
Chapter 32 Always eager for a good show
Su Hao first attempted to conquer the mathematical mountain of the Four Color Theorem when he was seven years old.
Back then, he was just a little kid, and his math knowledge was pitifully limited.
Armed only with a few "beginner's wooden swords"—plane triangulation, Euler's formula, and basic graph theory—he dared to challenge a dragon.
After experiencing approximately 20 crushing defeats, he not only did not lose heart, but instead developed an almost neurotic confidence:
If we utilize the mapping relationship between the minimum degree and chromatic number of a graph, we will definitely be able to find a breakthrough!
The result was predictable: failure.
By his 50th attempt, he upgraded his approach, switching to high-dimensional topological methods and even venturing into combinatorics.
But these are still not the most perfect answer.
As the derivation progresses, increasingly complex situations emerge, much like nesting dolls.
As it stands, he is still unable to construct a "unified" theory that can perfectly manage all these complex branches.
However, Su Hao did not feel any pain.
For him, the most important thing is that he can truly feel himself moving forward inch by inch, little by little, in this darkness.
He believed that as long as he never stopped, one day he would surely see the light that pierced the long night!
rustle.
rustle.
The sound of the pen tip scratching on the paper was particularly clear in the quiet dormitory.
Pan Xun, standing at the door, unconsciously softened his breathing.
He looked at the figure bent over the desk, and his eye twitched slightly.
What terrifying concentration!
During a break from studying, Pan Xun wanted to go back to his dormitory to get something.
He made quite a commotion when he entered the room, but Su Hao didn't even lift an eyelid.
It was as if the person had been completely detached from the real world and was fully immersed in their own mathematical space.
The absolute tranquility, devoid of any external disturbance, made Pan Xun afraid to even breathe.
He didn't want to, and dared not, disturb Su Hao in this state, so he carefully packed his things and, like a thief, held his breath and retreated.
Two hours later.
dong dong!
A knock on the door broke the silence.
Su Hao suddenly snapped out of his reverie and stood up from his seat.
"Who is it?"
There was a two-second silence outside the door before a clear, hesitant voice came through:
"...It's me, Lin Shuwan."
Click.
Su Hao opened the door, completely bewildered.
Lin Shuwan, who was wearing loose sportswear in the afternoon, has now changed into a neat dress and jacket.
"Could you come with me for a moment? I need your help."
"Huh? What are you doing so late at night—"
Before Su Hao could even utter his refusal, Lin Shuwan grabbed his clothes and dragged him outside, as if conscripting a soldier.
It was already past 10 p.m., and it was completely dark outside!
Because it was a holiday, the teaching building was empty, with only a few windows letting out dim lights.
The sound of their footsteps echoed in the stairwell.
Lin Shuwan pulled Su Hao through the teaching building and pushed open the door of a study room without hesitation.
"I brought him with me."
Lin Shuwan gently pushed Su Hao from behind.
Su Hao stepped through the door with a blank expression.
"Why did you take so long!"
Xu Lan complained, but Lin Shuwan just continued to curl the hair at her temples, pretending not to hear.
Su Hao's gaze swept across the entire room.
Wang Shuo, Xu Lan, and Pan Xun.
They were all familiar faces from the winter camp.
Another one is the class monitor of this winter camp, who was also a member of the national team last year, named Zhang Wei.
"You all know each other, right? Please have a seat."
Zhang Wei demonstrated excellent leadership, immediately becoming polite as soon as Su Hao entered.
"I'm so sorry to have called you here so late at night. I hope I didn't disturb your rest?"
Su Hao shook his head, indicating that he was fine.
"To be honest, there's something we wanted to discuss with you..."
Zhang Wei sighed, his gaze turning somewhat heavy.
"You know, when we participated in the IMO last year, our country lost the team championship that we had long held."
Underestimating the enemy is one aspect, but what's even more fatal is...
Teamwork is worthless.
Everyone was completely focused on guarding against each other, afraid that someone else would do better than them on the test!
Lin Shuwan nodded frantically beside her, expressing her strong agreement.
As someone who experienced the national team last year, she knows better than anyone else.
From the start of winter camp, that suffocating atmosphere of suspicion had already spread like a plague.
"The IMO is both an individual competition and a team competition."
The final national ranking is determined by adding up the scores of each individual.
But what about us back then? Although we didn't openly sabotage each other, we certainly didn't offer any positive mutual assistance either.
Intelligence is completely withheld; not even the slightest clue to a solution will be shared.
"So the result, as everyone has seen, was that they fought amongst themselves, benefited others, and made a complete fool of themselves."
Zhang Wei's voice was filled with deep regret and helplessness.
"Go and see how the Russian and American teams do it?"
That's what you call a team!
During the learning process, everyone shared their opinions without reservation.
As soon as one person gets stuck, countless hands will immediately reach out to help!
"To be frank and offend some people, the main problem is that last year's senior high school students weren't very good enough and couldn't keep up!"
Lin Shuwan pouted and launched into a tirade without holding back.
"If we had a god-like player on our team whose strength could crush everyone else, we would have already given up our little schemes and obediently clung to his coattails!"
To be honest, last year it was because everyone was about the same level and no one was willing to admit defeat.
I was the youngest at the time, and Wang Shuo was only a first-year high school student. In that kind of group, we couldn't say a word at all.
"So, you gathered us together alone because you're planning to...?"
Xu Lan's eyes lit up, revealing an expression that suggested she was enjoying the spectacle.
"That's right." Zhang Wei's expression turned serious.
"In short, I would rather die than repeat the disgusting mistakes of last year."
I know my mathematical talent isn't the best among you all, but I am the oldest and most senior.
I'd like to shamelessly take the lead in organizing a core study group to unite our efforts as one!
What do you guys think?
Seeing Zhang Wei's serious expression, which resembled that of a protagonist in a shonen manga, everyone subconsciously sat up straight.
"OK."
"I think it's good."
"I have no objection."
In order to regain the team championship in the upcoming IMO, something must be done; this is a consensus among everyone.
Su Hao wasn't really clear about the grudges and entanglements they were talking about, but looking at the expressions of the people around him, he nodded along with them.
Zhang Wei smiled at everyone:
"The six people present tonight are, in my opinion, the ones with the highest probability of being selected for the final official national team, based on my own assessment."
"Forget it, I'd choose the same thing."
Xu Lan joked,
"Isn't this just calling over the top six students in order of their average exam scores?"
During the winter camp, there were tests and exams almost every day. After the tests, there was an extremely brutal problem-solving and ranking process. So, all of you high achievers here knew each other's strengths and weaknesses very well.
"However," Zhang Wei's tone shifted, his previously calm gaze suddenly becoming agitated,
"I believe that this year, compared to last year, we have a massive, nuclear-weapon-level advantage that could overwhelm the entire world!"
"What advantages?"
Zhang Wei did not answer immediately, but instead fixed his gaze intently on Su Hao.
"Su Hao, our advantage lies in you!"
"Huh?" Su Hao was stunned.