“Different fields require different expertise. I truly know nothing about couplets, but I am skilled in arithmetic. I challenge you to an arithmetic contest.”
Ignoring Xue Wanran’s mockery and the gazes of everyone present, Qiao Yin calmly stated her request.
Xue Wanran was taken aback for a moment, then laughed again. “Do you think the arithmetic taught in our academy is like haggling over vegetables in the market, where knowing a few numbers is enough? That is a profound field of study—”
“Why do you talk so much nonsense?”
Qiao Yin found her chatter grating and shot her a cold glance. Everyone knew Xue Wanran secretly admired Lu Jinzhi but lacked the courage to confess, so she resorted to making things difficult for Qiao Yin.
“If you’re not convinced, compete with me. If I lose, I’ll never set foot in your academy again. I’ll even avoid you, Xue Wanran, wherever I see you. Do you dare?”
Xue Wanran’s eyes widened, her mouth agape, staring at Qiao Yin as if seeing her for the first time.
She was utterly shocked. How could the shameless Qiao Yin speak with such boldness in public?
“Then let’s have a contest. I’ll serve as the judge.”
Jiang Huailu stepped forward with a smile, and Xue Wanran and the others quickly bowed in respect.
Jiang Huailu waved his hand and ordered, “Fetch your arithmetic teacher. Have him set a problem for them to compete.”
As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, a silver-haired elder descended from a carriage and chuckled, “Why not let this old man set the problem?”
“Mr. Meng?!”
As the elder stepped down, the surrounding crowd respectfully made way. Jiang Huailu personally stepped forward to assist him.
“Mr. Meng, watch your step.”
“This old man’s bones are still sturdy.”
Mr. Meng brushed off his hand and walked with brisk steps.
So this was the legendary Mr. Meng, the great scholar said to know everything under the sun.
Qiao Yin secretly observed Mr. Meng. She had imagined him as a pedantic old scholar spouting classical phrases, but he turned out to be more of a playful old man.
“Since I have nothing better to do, why not let me set the problem?” Mr. Meng volunteered.
The Crown Prince naturally agreed. “It would be an honor, an honor.”
Mr. Meng’s appearance made this small competition even more intriguing. Spectators gathered around, forming a circle.
Academy servants brought two tables, each equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
Qiao Yin strode to her position and looked around, searching for Xie Yu’an.
Xie Yu’an stood outside the crowd, tall and graceful, still noticeable even from a distance.
Qiao Yin’s gaze passed through the crowd, and Xie Yu’an’s eyes seemed to have been fixed on her all along. As she looked up, their eyes met, and they exchanged a knowing smile.
Xie Yu’an’s gentle smile was reassuring.
“Jinzhi, Qiao Yin is looking at you.” Chu Wenjing nudged the distracted Lu Jinzhi beside him with his elbow.
Lu Jinzhi looked up and indeed saw Qiao Yin smiling at him.
Lu Jinzhi had no intention of acknowledging her, but Chu Wenjing remarked, “Could it be that Qiao Yin is challenging the academy just to get your attention? You’ve always criticized her for lacking knowledge and literary talent.”
Considering Qiao Yin’s efforts, Lu Jinzhi reluctantly curled his lips and returned her smile.
After exchanging glances with Xie Yu’an, Qiao Yin quickly turned her attention back to the upcoming competition, completely unaware of Lu Jinzhi’s “smile” directed at her from the crowd.”Are the two young ladies ready?”
“The competition begins—please, Mr. Meng, present the question—”
As the competition started, the surroundings instantly fell silent. All that could be heard was the elderly Mr. Meng stroking his beard and reciting clearly:
“A young lady is washing dishes by the pond when a neighbor passes by and asks, ‘How many dishes are you washing? How many guests are dining?’ The lady replies, ‘I am washing sixty-five dishes. Two guests share one bowl, three share one soup bowl, and four share one meat bowl. Can you guess how many guests are dining?'” [Note: The question is sourced from Baidu search.]
After hearing the question, Xue Wanran breathed a sigh of relief. It was somewhat challenging, but not overly difficult. She could solve it, but as for Qiao Yin across from her… well.
Confident of victory, Xue Wanran picked up her brush to begin calculating…
“The answer is sixty people.”
Before Xue Wanran could even finish writing a single number, Qiao Yin across from her announced the answer. Xue Wanran looked up in astonishment.
“Qiao Yin, even if you want to win, you can’t just guess and shout out answers…”
“Correct.”
Xue Wanran could barely hold her brush. She stared at Qiao Yin in disbelief. “Impossible. She must have guessed. This question doesn’t count.”
Xue Wanran openly reneged, and while the crowd found it distasteful, they also didn’t believe Qiao Yin could have answered correctly so quickly.
Seeing this, Qiao Yin generously said, “Then test me with another one.”
After speaking, she looked at the elderly Mr. Meng and blinked. “Old sir, make it a bit harder.”
Mr. Meng was amused and chuckled. “Alright, alright. I’ll present another one.”
He thought for a moment and posed another question.
“Five cats need to divide a pile of fish, but they can’t split it evenly. So, they agree to divide it tomorrow. During the night, one cat secretly gets up, throws away one fish, and finds the remaining fish can be divided into five equal portions. It eats its share and leaves. The second cat gets up, also throws away one fish, and again the remaining fish can be divided into five equal portions. It eats its share and leaves. The third, fourth, and fifth cats all do the same—each throws away one fish, and the remaining fish can be divided into five equal portions. How many fish were there in total?” [Note: The question is sourced from Baidu search.]
Before the question was even finished, Xue Wanran was already confused, staring blankly with her brush in hand, completely at a loss.
Not only her, but even the self-proclaimed learned scholars and beauties watching below were stumped. Even Lu Jinzhi furrowed his brow, counting on his fingers as he concentrated on the calculation.
“The answer is three thousand one hundred twenty-one.”
Qiao Yin’s voice suddenly rang out, startling everyone. They all looked up at her in unison.
Mr. Meng, in particular, was full of admiration, his voice trembling as he announced, “Completely correct!”
This declaration was like a drop of water falling into a pot of oil—the entire entrance of the academy erupted in commotion.
“Is it real? Such a difficult question, and Qiao Yin actually got it right!”
“Heavens, so fast?! Could she be a math genius?”
“We really underestimated her before. She just didn’t study much, but she’s not foolish.”
Qiao Yin stood in place, listening to the exclamations of amazement, clearly sensing that the way people looked at her was no longer filled with disdain and mockery.
This was an experience she had never had in the four years since coming to this world.
A surge of warmth rose in her heart. Her gaze searched for Xie Yu’an but instead caught sight of Lu Jinzhi in the crowd, his expression dazed.
She paused for a moment, a question flashing through her mind: Why is Lu Jinzhi here too? And what is that expression on his face?Lu Jinzhi did not notice the peculiar expression on his own face, only feeling as if all the sunlight had poured onto Qiao Yin, making her suddenly radiate a dazzling light that was impossible to look away from. It was just like the first time she appeared before him, full of spirit and vigor, pressing him against the corner of a wall.
Lu Jinzhi noticed Qiao Yin’s gaze, seeing her smile at him and walk toward him.
Qiao Yin wasn’t actually that bad. If she was willing to yield, he would no longer dwell on what had happened before. This year’s birthday had truly left him very dissatisfied.
Lu Jinzhi thought this to himself, then placed his hands behind his back, straightened his chest, and waited for Qiao Yin to rush up to him.
Qiao Yin quickly walked up to Lu Jinzhi. She reached out, parted the crowd, swiftly passed by Lu Jinzhi, and walked toward a figure standing behind the crowd.
Lu Jinzhi’s expression instantly stiffened.
[Note: The math problems appearing in this chapter were all sourced from Baidu searches.]