Chapter 133: Math Representative
Chapter 129 of "The Great Ming in the Box" starts revealing the story: One morning, at the study well in Gaojia Village.With the Spring Festival approaching, todayâs lesson... Donât miss it!
One morning, at the study well in Gaojia Village.With the Spring Festival approaching, todayâs lesson changed. Mr. Wang didnât lecture on Three Character Classic or Hundred Family Surnames. Instead, he stood before all the students, animatedly telling the story of the âNian Beast.â
Most children had heard snippets from their parents, but none of those versions were as detailed or vivid as Mr. Wangâs. They listened with rapt attention.
Yet Young Master Bai wasnât among them.
For someone whoâd received an excellent education since childhood, most of Mr. Wangâs lessons felt far too childish. He couldnât bring himself to attend class with the other children. Sitting at the entrance of the study well, he flipped through Hanyu Pinyin.
This heavenly book, too, he had finished.
For a moment, he felt uncertain what to do next.
Just then, Gao Yiye approached and handed him a book: Elementary Math, Grade 1, First Semester. âHere, take it. The second heavenly book granted by the Deity.â
Young Master Baiâs eyes lit up with joy, and he eagerly accepted it with both hands. âOnly for me?â
Gao Yiye nodded.
Young Master Bai glanced at Mr. Wang, whispering, âWhat about Mr. Wang?â
Gao Yiye shook her head. âMr. Wang might not⌠suit this well.â
Perplexed, Young Master Bai wondered why Mr. Wang would be unsuitable. But he pushed the thought asideâheâd examine the book first.
Opening it was a mistake.
The Arabic numerals inside instantly made his head spin.
Had this not been a âheavenly book,â he wouldâve shut it right away. Yet remembering it was a âdivine object from the heavens,â it felt only natural for mortals to struggle with it. If heâd understood immediately, wouldnât that be strange?
Rushing with pride, he forced himself to study.
Gao Yiye listened patiently to the Deityâs guidance and relayed it to Young Master Bai. In doing so, she unintentionally absorbed the lessons herself.
Soon, both had mastered the most basic Arabic numerals and mathematical symbols.
The Young Master truly hailed from a scholarly family. Once he grasped the numerals and symbols, his progress skyrocketed. He flipped through Elementary Math, Grade 1, First Semester at lightning speedâaddition and subtraction vanished in mere glances.
Gao Yiye could no longer keep up. She handed him Elementary Math, Grade 1, Second Semester.
This volume proved no harder; all calculations stayed within 100.
Young Master Bai grasped it instantly and breezed through its pages.
By Elementary Math, Grade 2, First Semester, multiplication emerged.
Any other pampered young master wouldâve slowed down at multiplication and division. But Young Master Bai wasnât ordinary.
He was Bai Yuanâs son. Among the Six Arts of Gentlemen, Bai Yuan placed great emphasis on ânumber.â
Raised under his fatherâs influence, the Young Master had gained some familiarity with the ânumberâ discipline. Grade 2 multiplication and division couldnât hold him back for long.
Yet Grade 3, First Semester finally brought the challenge.
Fractions!
When Young Master Bai encountered symbols like 1/3 and 1/4, his mind froze like a clogged gutter. Progress ground to a haltâŚ
Suddenly, a figure appeared at the study wellâs entrance. Madam Bai stepped in, smiling softly. âMy son, have you studied diligently today?â
Young Master Bai was holding a brush, staring dumbfounded at the problem âWhich is larger, 1/3 or 1/4?â Upon hearing this, he replied in bewilderment: âThe deity-bestowed celestial text is truly too difficult. This child is stuck on this problem and simply canât figure it out.â
Madam Bai gave him a hard pinch with a resounding slap: âThe Deity granted you this celestial textâwhat tremendous fortune! How could you fail to understand it? Even if it takes your life, you must solve it for your mother.â
The fiery pain on Young Master Baiâs face somehow transformed his motherâs urging into inspiration: âHahaha, this child has it!â He picked up the brush and answered: 1/3 > 1/4.
Gao Yiye spoke: âThe Deity says you calculated correctly! He praises your great talent for mathematics and foresees great achievements in your future.â
Madam Bai was overjoyed. Later, she told everyone she met: âThe Deity commended my son for his mathematical talentâ â this one sentence she repeated for her entire life.
Gao Yiye tilted her head, listening to the voice from the heavens: âYoung Master Bai, the Deity has an honorable and challenging task for you.â
Young Master Bai swiftly stood up, composed himself with a serious expression, hands hanging respectfully at his sides, ready to listen attentively.
Gao Yiye continued: âThe Deity appoints you âMath Class Representative.â From now on, you shall âimpart skills on behalf of the Heavens,â teaching other children mathematics. You must not only diligently study math yourself but also teach what youâve already learned to others. This task is immensely heavy. Dare you accept it?â
ââImpart skills on behalf of the Heavens!'â
Those four words truly ignited wild excitement.
Young Master Bai was ecstatic: âThough I am not yet grown, to receive such regard from the Deity is the fortune of a lifetime. I shall spare no effort in fulfilling the duty of âMath Class Representativeâ.â
Madam Bai was also jubilant: My son became a math class representative! Though unsure exactly what this post entails, clearly itâs a position only bestowed from the heavens.
Ah! My sonâs future potential is limitless!
An overwhelming sense of happiness struck Madam Bai. She gave herself a hard pinch with a loud slap. The pain was sharpâshe was awake; this was no dream.
Young Master Bai asked: âMother, whatâs wrong? Why did you strike yourself? If youâre displeased, strike this child instead.â
Madam Bai gave him a hard pinch: âDid that hurt?â
Young Master Bai clutched his reddened face: âVery much!â É´á´á´Ą É´á´á´ á´Ę á´Ęá´á´á´á´Ęs á´Ęá´ á´á´ĘĘÉŞsĘá´á´ á´É´ N0velFire.É´et
Madam Bai laughed heartily: âThatâs wonderful! Weâre both not dreaming.â
Li Daoxuan watched as Young Master Bai distributed the âElementary Math, First Grade, Volume Oneâ books to the other childrenâone each. After waiting for Mr. Wangâs âliterature classâ to conclude, he finally walked to the front. Putting on a deliberate air, he addressed the children: âBy the command of the Deity, I am appointed Math Class Representative. Henceforth, I shall âimpart skills on behalf of the Heavensâ during your math class. Listen well, all of you: this symbol is called â1,â meaning the digit âone.â Remember it?â
The children responded loudly: âWe remember.â
âThis symbol is called â2,â meaning the digit âtwoââŚâ
Li Daoxuan silently observed the children learning for some time. Good. Mathematics had finally been incorporated. Next, physics and chemistry ought to follow. But those subjects are far too profound; likely impossible for the children to grasp quickly. Even in modern society, students only begin learning them in junior high.
Fine. He decided not to focus here anymore and instead surveyed the full range of his vision.
His field of view was quite expansive now. He would periodically check north, south, east, and west to observe any changes in the surroundings. Once while shifting perspectives, he spotted a large stone about to slide loose on a northern hillside. He swiftly moved the stone aside, thereby protecting the labor offenders working on the slope.
Whenever inspiration struck, a patrol of his view always yielded interesting discoveries.
Sure enough, when he panned all the way to the southwest, in a valley about ten miles from Gaojia Village, he spotted some amusement.
Patrol Officer Cheng Xu was sprinting desperately, his hair disheveled, appearing utterly disgraced. Behind him, a large group of men brandished swords, closing in fast.