Chapter 6: Craving Mom's Wontons
Xu Ming casually opened his workbook, prepared his scratch paper for calculations, and lowered his gaze to the first problem.
"Given a_n = 2n-1·3, find the sum of the first n terms of a_n, S_n."
If it were the day before yesterday, he might have been willing but powerless.
But now, all that remained was a sense of utter confidence.
After carefully examining the problem, a solution quickly formed in his mind, and his entire thought process was clearer than ever before.
"Is this a sum of arithmetic-geometric series problem? I can use the method of differences to calculate it."
As he mumbled softly, the pen in his hand was already moving.
"S_n=1·3+3·3+5·3+……+（2_n-1）·3"
"Multiply by the common ratio q, then use the method of differences."
"Simplify..."
"S_n=1+（n-1）·3"
From reading the problem to writing down the answer, it only took a little over a minute. Especially when setting up the formula for subtraction and simplification, he didn't even need to think much; the derivation flowed effortlessly.
With a great boost in confidence, he temporarily suppressed the excitement in his heart and immediately entered 'problem-solving mode'.
As time ticked by, he solved the blank problems in the workbook one by one, not even stopping during the long break between classes.
Only when he had filled in most of the blanks did he check the answers.
"They're all correct!" He pulled out the ripped-off answer key, saw the accuracy rate was a hundred percent, and his face was full of joy.
In these few classes, he had solved at least dozens of problems, and achieving such a result was indeed something to be proud of.
Besides the credit for his revision, the significant improvement in his Formula Derivation ability helped immensely. It deepened his memory of various formulas and theorems, and crucially, allowed him to apply them flexibly to different problem types.
Avoiding the pitfall of merely plugging in formulas.
Furthermore, some theorems he had mastered during university also came back to him.
"Given the current situation, if I just do more practice problems from now on, I have a real chance of getting a perfect score in the college entrance exam math."
Xu Ming mused to himself, already looking forward to the college entrance exam.
Just as he was envisioning his future, proving conjectures, becoming a renowned professor, and entering the highest echelons of mathematics, his arm was suddenly nudged by Qian Hong.
"Xu Ming, wanna go to the internet cafe this afternoon? We can get two hours on a computer."
Qian Hong turned his head, extended an invitation to team up, and was already tidying his desk as he spoke.
Hearing this, Xu Ming glanced at the clock on the back wall, realizing it was almost time for lunch dismissal. He was surprised at how quickly time had passed while he was solving problems.
Snapping back to reality, he shook his head and said, "You go ahead, I need to go home for a bit."
He couldn't even remember the last time he'd been to an internet cafe, and even now, it held no appeal for him.
Besides, his plans for this afternoon had already been set.
In his previous life, after graduation, whenever Xu Ming encountered a difficult obstacle, he would recall the warm scenes of living with his parents as a child. This would give him motivation and a belief to persevere.
However, the images of his parents in their younger years had become increasingly blurry, as if they had been erased from his memory.
Being able to see them again in person now was arguably the greatest stroke of luck.
Qian Hong wasn't surprised by Xu Ming's refusal. He pouted and began recounting things that happened at the internet cafe.
"Last time I met a guy from the Third High playing Warcraft, he told me how to increase my DPS in raids. This time I'm going to try it out and see if it actually works."
Xu Ming listened to all of Qian Hong's words but was skeptical.
He claimed to be playing games, but it was highly likely he was chatting with his online girlfriend. Xu Ming knew Qian Hong too well when it came to this.
Sure enough.
Immediately after, he heard Qian Hong say, "Do you want me to log on to your QQ for you?"
"No thanks, you just log on to your own account." Xu Ming smiled knowingly, not exposing his deskmate's true intentions.
Speaking of which, his eight-digit QQ number had actually been registered with Qian Hong's help.
Unfortunately, after entering society, people around him gradually stopped using it, so he just kept it logged on his computer every day, treating it like another desktop pet.
Before the bell rang, the younger students from Grades 10 and 11 upstairs had already left their classrooms.
A huge crowd of people streamed down the stairs, making it much livelier than usual.
As for their class, Li Wenhui, who had been sitting at the podium, only moved his stool back to his seat after the bell rang.
As everyone was eager to leave, he didn't forget to shout something.
"Roll call at 6:30 PM in the classroom."
But not a single person responded.
Xu Ming had his own plans. Instead of going with Qian Hong, he left the classroom and first returned to his dorm to get some things.
With a backpack full of dirty clothes on his back, he followed the flow of people out of the school gate.
Looking up and ahead, he saw students in small groups of three to five, some heading to restaurants to get better food, others, like Qian Hong, making a beeline for nearby internet cafes. Of course, at this time, the main clientele of the internet cafes were still students from other high schools in the county.
After all, for those who could get into Dongping First High, most had a certain baseline of academic achievement.
They would actively study.
They weren't completely demoralized or given up.
Walking on the streets of Dongping County, Xu Ming's eyes darted left and right, recalling the various shops lining both sides.
During this time, old men riding tricycles waved at him, but he politely declined them all with a shake of his head.
He still insisted on walking.
Finally, after turning two corners and entering a new street, Xu Ming stopped in front of a small handmade wonton shop.
He took a deep whiff, his entire face radiating pure bliss.
"It smells so good!"
Before Xu Ming graduated middle school, he was a typical 'left-behind child,' with his parents working in big cities to earn money.
On weekends and holidays, when he returned from school, he would go to his uncle's or aunt's house for meals.
The year of the Senior High School Entrance Exam, he performed exceptionally well and got into First High, becoming the 'child of another family' that neighbors and relatives talked about. This made his parents determined to return and be with him, so they rented a house and a shop in the county town.
And opened this handmade wonton breakfast shop.
Dongping First High, as the best high school in the county, was seen by everyone as a gateway to university: getting in meant you already had one foot through the doors of a bachelor's degree program.
With a bit of effort, even a key university might be possible.
In comparison, the student quality of Second High and Third High lagged significantly.
As for Dongping Fourth High, which barely had any presence, it was affectionately called 'Hope High School' by everyone.
Those who knew, knew.
Unfortunately, after entering First High, he found that his once-proud grades were only considered average in his class.
He took quite a blow back then.
Moreover, due to his relationship with Zhang Yingxin, he not only didn't get placed into a key class, but his scores also couldn't be maintained.
Ultimately, to attend the same school as Zhang Yingxin, he was foolish enough to disregard his parents' objections and choose an expensive private third-tier university, and every time he thought about it, he felt an urge to slap himself.
Temporarily pushing these messy thoughts to the back of his mind, Xu Ming took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Xu Jianguo and Wu Xiulan, the husband and wife, were both wearing aprons and cooking wontons. When they glanced up and saw their son, happy smiles instantly appeared on their faces, and their movements quickened without them even realizing.
Xu Jianguo, not one to express his emotions easily, was the first to speak.
"You're back?"
Though it was just three short words, Xu Ming clearly understood the deep fatherly love they contained.
"Mm-hm."
He nodded vigorously in response, and his mother's concerned voice immediately reached his ears.
"You haven't had lunch yet, have you?"
"No, I didn't eat at school. I want to eat the wontons Mom makes." Xu Ming met his mother's gaze, grinning widely and guilelessly.
(End of Chapter)