Lin Zhixia’s ninth birthday was on September 24, 2004.
Jiang Yubai remembered this date clearly.
Jiang Yubai already had a new tutor, who graduated from the best university in the province. This university is ranked among the top five in the country, and its School of Mathematics and Science is ranked among the top three in the country.
Jiang Yubai asked the new teacher: "Have you studied physics?"
The teacher pushed up his glasses and said, "I studied in a competition class in high school. I participated in math and physics competitions."
"Very good," Jiang Yubai nodded in approval, "Please recommend me the most difficult physics competition exercise book. It must be the most difficult and the latest one, not the ordinary one."
The teacher questioned, "High school competition level? I'm afraid you can't read it... What did you buy it for?"
Jiang Yubai held the pen and tapped the page lightly: "I need a newly published, most difficult physics competition exercise book in history." He deliberately imitated his father's tone of voice: "I'm sorry, it involves personal privacy, I can't answer your questions in detail."
The teacher was full of confusion. But he was a professional math tutor after all. Soon, he recommended to Jiang Yubai a series of excellent physics exercise books, including "International Young Physicists Competition", "Princeton University Physics Competition", "British Physics Challenge", "Waterloo Newton Physics Competition in Canada" and "China Physics Olympiad".
These names sound very difficult! Jiang Yubai cheered up and wrote quickly.
He looked at the list of books he had made and had a feeling that Lin Zhixia was about to burst into tears and give up.
On September 24, 2004, Jiang Yubai carried his schoolbag and picked up a heavy handbag.
He successfully collected all the exercises - both in Chinese and English. Moreover, Jiang Yubai spent an entire night tearing up the answers in all the books.
Yes, he ripped off the answer.
He knew that this was an immoral, dishonorable, and dishonest act. His conscience was tortured.
In the end, his desire to win slightly prevailed.
At 7:17 am on September 24, Jiang Yubai, carrying a heavy bag, slowly stepped into the classroom of Grade 4 (1). His expression looked no different from usual. But a huge wave of fear had already surged in his heart, surging and turning upside down.
He guessed that Lin Zhixia might cry.
He became hesitant in placing his exercise books.
What would he do if she cried
He should not make his deskmate cry, and he should not be too cruel. He should be a good person, and when he grows up, he will be a good man.
Jiang Yubai glanced sideways at Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia's cheeks were rosy, and the clear morning light made her eyes look like stars. She opened her notebook and was writing "Human Observation Diary".
Lin Zhixia wrote: September 24, 2004, I will continue to accumulate materials today. My deskmate Jiang Yubai is still struggling to study complex number theory. He does not really understand the meaning of vectors in complex space. It may take him some time to apply mathematical tools to practical theory. Yesterday I described my understanding of superstring theory to Jiang Yubai, and I found that Jiang Yubai knew nothing about the famous general relativity...
The four big words "know nothing" hurt Jiang Yubai's eyes.
Put away your mercy. Jiang Yubai warned himself. To show mercy to the enemy is to be cruel to oneself.
He clenched his fists, made up his mind, and shouted in a cold voice like from hell: "Lin Zhixia."
Lin Zhixia wrote very quickly, as if with divine power. She asked casually, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Yubai emptied his bag on the table.
At this moment, the most difficult international physics competition topics in history, such as "China Physics Olympiad", "International Young Physicists Competition", "Princeton University Physics Competition in the United States", "British Physics Challenge", etc., were fully presented in Lin Zhixia's eyes.
"I'll give them all to you," Jiang Yubai said slowly, like a devil, "I've torn up all the answers."
Lin Zhixia raised her head and stared into his eyes.
He added: "Every single one was torn up, cleanly."
Just as Jiang Yubai expected, Lin Zhixia's eyes were misty and tears accumulated, filling her eye sockets.
Her ears also began to turn red, like the sunset glow in the evening of midsummer. She even trembled slightly, as if she had turned into a fish caught by someone at the lakeside. Her nose felt sore and she couldn't help crying. The more she cried, the more she couldn't stop. Her beautiful eyes were covered with tears. She complained to him pitifully, "I know I shouldn't cry, but, but, some emotions are uncontrollable... Last week, you asked me when my birthday was, and I thought about whether you should give me a gift... This is the first time I have received a birthday gift from a classmate... No one has ever... No one has ever treated me like this..."
Jiang Yubai didn't expect her reaction to be so big.
He had lost the joy of winning.
He stammered, "Sorry, Lin Zhixia, I didn't throw away the answer. I..."
I will give you all the answers in the afternoon.
Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Zhixia wiped away her tears and said to him, "Thank you, thank you! This is the best birthday present I have ever received! Jiang Yubai, you are my best friend! You will always be my best friend! Jiang Yubai! You are so nice!"
Jiang Yubai was a little confused.
Lin Zhixia was very happy and actually held his wrist: "I never look at the answers... I don't like to look at the answers. I hate the answers. Because the ideas in those answers are completely different from my ideas. I just need to find the problem. The problem can help me think, and the thinking process is the most important. You understand me so well, you really understand me so well. Thank you for helping me tear up all the answers! Thank you, Jiang Yubai."
Jiang Yubai pulled his hand back. He looked at the desk quietly and finally understood that Lin Zhixia was crying with joy just now.
Lin Zhixia's eyes were red, like a little rabbit. She was still chattering: "Without the answer, the book has become lighter. I'm so happy! Today I will continue to tell you about superstring theory! Yesterday we said that superstring theory combines general relativity and quantum mechanics! Do you know 'tachyons'? 'Tachyons' refer to a subatomic particle that exists in theoretical physics and moves faster than the speed of light. It will never slow down to a speed close to the speed of light... The supersymmetry of superstring theory refers to the symmetry between fermions and bosons. Isn't it interesting! Can you imagine the connection between supersymmetry and tachyons..."
Jiang Yubai grabbed the handbag and stuffed it into Lin Zhixia's drawer. He said, "It's for your books."
Lin Zhixia nodded: "Okay."
Jiang Yubai held his chin with one hand and muttered to himself: "I won't lose."
Lin Zhixia was puzzled: "What did I lose?"
Jiang Yubai was very secretive. He would not let Lin Zhixia know too early that this was a competitive crisis.
Lin Zhixia's face was still wet with tears. She took out a napkin to wipe her face. She sat in the corner of the last row, and the students in the front row did not notice her violent mood swings. After a long while, Lin Zhixia seemed to have regained her composure. Jiang Yubai looked at the world outside the window and changed the subject: "There was a plane flying in the sky."
Lin Zhixia said, "I have never been on a plane."
Jiang Yubai was surprised: "Really?"
"What does it feel like to fly on a plane?" Lin Zhixia asked him.
At this time, monitor Dong Sunqi, who also served as the "math class representative", was collecting homework.
Dong Sunqi stood beside Jiang Yubai and gave important instructions to each group: "Those who haven't handed in their homework! Remember their names! No room for negotiation!"
Then, Dong Sunqi answered Lin Zhixia's question: "Before you take a plane, you have to buy a ticket first. After entering the airport, you have to choose a seat at the check-in counter..."
Jiang Yubai interrupted Dong Sunqi: "You don't need to buy a ticket for a private plane."
Dong Sunqi was holding a pile of math homework books and looked down at Jiang Yubai: "Do you have a private jet at home?"
Jiang Yubai answered modestly and modestly: "I didn't buy it."
"Nonsense," Dong Sunqi questioned, "How could you possibly buy a plane?"
Jiang Yubai was inspired by him and said, "When I grow up, I will buy it myself."
Dong Sunqi immediately said, "I'll buy one too! I'll buy ten crosses!"
Zhou Bufeng, who was sitting in the front row, joined in the competition: "I want 20 Boeing 747s."
Dong Sunqi put down his math homework and threw himself into the battle: "I want to buy 30 domestically produced J-8 fighters and 30 American-made Lightning fighters! I also want aircraft carriers, missile destroyers, intercontinental... "
"Why do you want these things?" Jiang Yubai asked him.
Dong Sunqi stood there in a daze, unable to explain what was going on.
Jiang Yubai sneered coldly: "Do you feel like you are playing Age of Empires?"
Age of Empires is a computer game that is popular among boys in the school. Players accumulate resources such as gold, food, wood, population, etc., produce troops and military weapons, and fight against enemies in order to achieve the ultimate victory.
Dong Sunqi was choked by Jiang Yubai's words. He walked to the side and started urging everyone to hand in their homework.
While collecting homework, Dong Sunqi's brain did not stop working. He finally came up with an idea. So he ran back to Jiang Yubai and solemnly announced: "Jiang Yubai, come to my house to play this weekend? I have a computer at home! It's installed with Age of Empires. I also have a DVD player at home, and I have the complete collection of Slam Dunk, Inuyasha, Pokemon, and Detective Conan. Have you watched them?"
"I've seen "Inuyasha", "Pokémon" and "Detective Conan"!" Lin Zhixia slammed the table and responded in surprise.
Jiang Yubai thought Lin Zhixia was going to visit Dong Sunqi's house. He immediately turned around and looked at Lin Zhixia: "I also have animation discs at home, come to my house."
Lin Zhixia was stunned.
Jiang Yubai said: "I have everything at home."
In fact, Jiang Yubai's driver, manor, and Aston Martin are all famous in the whole grade.
A senior in the sixth grade claimed that his parents both worked in the Jiang family company. He also said that Jiang Yubai's grandfather was on the Hurun Rich List, and Jiang Yubai's mother's family ran the building materials and steel industry in the province.
The senior’s description is profound and difficult to understand.
The students in Grade 4 (Class 1) all know, more or less, that Jiang Yubai is very rich.
Jiang Yubai's nickname became "the richest man in the group".
So, what does the home of Jiang Yubai, the “richest man in the class”, look like
Dong Sunqi wanted to find out. He bent down and put his arm around Jiang Yubai's shoulders, and asked him in a "good brother" tone: "Can I come to your house to play?"
Jiang Yubai was about to refuse when Dong Sunqi suddenly said, "Jiang Yubai, you don't only allow girls to come to your house, do you? Don't look down on boys. You are a boy yourself."
"Okay." Jiang Yubai invited four people at once. They were his deskmate Lin Zhixia, class monitor Dong Sunqi, Gan Shuli who sat in front of Lin Zhixia, and his friend Ding Yan.
Strangely, Zhou Bufeng also turned around and swayed back and forth in his chair. His eyes were always focused on Jiang Yubai, as if he was also waiting for Jiang Yubai's invitation. However, Jiang Yubai swore in his heart: I will never invite him.
Jiang Yubai got up at 6:00 on Sunday morning this week.
He followed the routine of life, going to bed at 8:30, getting up at 6:00, then washing, doing morning exercises, taking a bath, and eating.
At 7:30 in the morning, the piano teacher came to give Jiang Yubai a lesson.
When Jiang Yubai was playing the piano, he suddenly thought, could he play a song in front of Lin Zhixia? Would Lin Zhixia understand the tune? If she didn't understand, he would have succeeded in turning the tables.
The sound lingered for a long time, and he pressed the last note, constructing a blueprint in his mind.
At 10:30 in the morning, Jiang Yubai was clear-headed and neatly dressed. He left his bedroom, walked downstairs, stood in front of a French window, and waited patiently for his classmates.
Outside the window, there are endless lawns, wide roads, and towering street lights.
Jiang Yubai's family sent two cars to pick up classmates from different communities across the city. When studying in Singapore, Jiang Yubai never invited anyone to his home. But within less than a month of returning to China to study, he had quickly integrated into the class, the group, and made many friends - this made Jiang Yubai's mother very happy.
Dad said: "People are shaped by the environment they live in. Jiang Yubai is more adaptable in China."
My mother also said: "When our son makes decisions in the future, he will definitely have to deal with people from all walks of life. He cannot just know one class in Singapore."
Jiang Yubai's father sat on a bar-style terrace on the top floor of the manor. He picked up his glass and looked at his watch again: "I should leave. This time I will stay in Beijing for half a month, and then go to Shanghai and Suzhou. My schedule is full..."
His wife smiled and urged: "Okay, go ahead."
The two of them kissed on the breezy terrace.
Until the wind stops.
Two cars drove in from the road. After the cars stopped, five children got out - two girls and three boys.
Jiang Yubai remembered that he had only invited four people, so why did five appear
He scanned the group of classmates. In addition to Lin Zhixia, Gan Shuli, Ding Yan, and Dong Sunqi, there was a boy he had never seen before. The boy stepped forward and introduced himself: "I am Dong Sunqi's neighbor. I am thirteen years old, and my name is Nie Tianqing."
Nie Tianqing was handsome and tall. He was wearing the school uniform of the No. 1 Middle School in the city and stood on the green lawn.
He claimed to be Dong Sunqi's neighbor.
Jiang Yubai's emotionless gaze fell on Dong Sunqi.
Dong Sunqi quickly introduced: "Nie Tianqing is our senior from the same elementary school! He is in the second grade this year! His family moved upstairs from my house two years ago, and I often play video games with him..."
Dong Sunqi put his arm around Jiang Yubai's shoulder and said, "Mr. Jiang, I brought someone to play with me. Can you give me some face? Next time, when you go to my house, you can bring as many people as you want."