Chapter 41: A Rapid Leap Forward in Learning Mathematics (Part II)

From the elite class to the lowest tier, the differences in accommodation, dining standards, and teaching resources are stark. But that’s not enough—not nearly enough. I am well aware of the unruly youths in the worst class, but they serve their purpose. They are like catfish introduced into a pond, keeping the other young fish lively as they flee for their lives.

The meaning of these troublemakers is to simulate the environment of society. To show students the treachery of human nature and the harshness of the world. Do you think the world is safe? Do you think you have no pressure to survive? Sorry, danger lurks everywhere; violence and civilization always coexist.

What are a few petty extortions by delinquents compared to reality? Delivery drivers brawl over assignments; coal ship captains kill for resources; factory foremen risk everything and break the law for status.

All these things truly exist. If you don’t excel academically, you will face them. Want romance? Looking for a partner? Look around: all you see are vulgar, coquettish women, or shifty-eyed, foul-mouthed ruffians.

If you think this is fine, then such people are not worth rescuing or urging; let them rot in the mire. But if you wish to avoid these fates, you must climb higher. The better you perform academically, the further you distance yourself from crude violence and the closer you get to the outstanding heroes and the refined beauties.

Even when it comes to cunning and competition, a contest among the intelligent is always more interesting and stimulating than one among mediocrities.

All this is to let students truly feel: excelling in studies is genuinely useful. Only then can passive learning turn into active engagement, unleashing enthusiasm for learning. That is how our Phoenix Song High School’s university admission rate will rise.

Zheng Kaiming gradually relaxed his brows as he listened. “Principal, your vision is admirable. However, I still recommend the school expel those who seriously disrupt the teaching environment or cause grave harm to other students’ personal safety.”

Principal Liu nodded decisively. “Of course. Simulation is one thing, but I refuse to allow actual harm on campus. The rotten apples must go—transfer them if possible, otherwise expel them outright. The school will show no leniency. Prepare the list, Director Zheng, and report back to me.”

“Understood.” Zheng Kaiming immediately began rubbing his hands together, calculating which troublemaker should be shown the door.

Principal Liu spoke again, “Furthermore, I plan to further strengthen our encouragement and incentive policies.”

“Strengthen?” Zheng Kaiming was puzzled. “How so?” To him, the current policy already emphasized the principle of ‘survival of the fittest.’

Now there is only a rough outline: to allow excellent students to gain more benefits, showcase more talents, and enjoy more moments in the spotlight. Vanity and greed—these are Catholic original sins, but I believe they are useful; at least, when fully stimulated, they can overcome ‘laziness.’

Principal Liu pondered for a moment. “The specifics will need to be discussed at the academic affairs meeting with the various departments, grade groups, and outstanding teachers. For efficiency, Director Zheng, draft an opinion paper and circulate it to all units; we’ll settle it directly at the meeting without repeating ourselves.”

Zheng Kaiming nodded. “Good. Principal Liu, you’re truly decisive. Let me jot down the key points.” He took out his notebook and sat up straight.

Principal Liu nodded and raised one finger. “First: focus on strengthening the assessment of students’ mastery of the basics in each subject. For example, in mathematics, start with the four fundamental operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division…”

Zheng Kaiming wrote diligently, fully focused on recording every word of the principal.

At the same time, Shi Tiexin was also writing diligently, equally absorbed.

No, Shi Tiexin was in fact even more focused—he could be described as single-minded, reaching a state where he saw nothing, heard nothing, and nothing concerned him.

Because a progress bar had appeared before his eyes.

Re-learning the first secret manual of basic mathematics was not difficult. Even though his skill was merely adequate, it didn’t mean he was foolish. Most subjects, you see, what’s taught in textbooks and what’s tested in exams are entirely different levels. Without seeing the exam papers, most students wouldn’t even guess how bizarrely a knowledge point could be twisted.

Shi Tiexin was in the same situation.

This world’s textbooks might have a few exercises, but the secret manual he received contained nothing except a handful of pages, so concise it seemed unwilling to waste a single word. Studying from these pages, reaching ‘adequate’ could already be considered diligent.

Now, taking out a primary school math textbook for review, it was unclear whether it was because Shi Tiexin had already studied the condensed version or because the manual possessed an exceptional ‘step-by-step’ attribute, but his learning process was remarkably smooth. Not only was his progress swift, it was utterly seamless. Things that once seemed hazy suddenly became clear thanks to the manual’s guidance.

At this moment, Shi Tiexin’s vision displayed a response. Those magical characters, which usually only identified manuals and issued tasks, manifested a third function: progress tracking.

A bright, clear bar appeared above the manual, labeled ‘Manual Comprehension Progress,’ and it extended steadily from short to long. Shi Tiexin read attentively, but somehow, he read incredibly fast, and the progress bar grew just as swiftly.

Every second spent studying elementary mathematics, Shi Tiexin was in a curious mental state—both dazed and focused. It was as if his mind simultaneously experienced an enlightening “So that’s how it works, amazing!” and a confident “Of course, it’s simple enough.”

By Shi Tiexin’s estimate, it would take at least a day or two to finish all six books, and another three to five days to fully absorb the content. Yet reality proved otherwise; when the bell rang at the end of the second evening self-study session, the progress bar had already reached its end.

With a snap, the tip of the bar exploded into a burst of brilliant fireworks, and a bold ‘Manual Fully Mastered!’ appeared, accompanied by a joyous animated effect.

The spectacle made Shi Tiexin both amused and inexplicably elated, as if he had indeed accomplished something extraordinary.

Then the true benefits became apparent.

‘Basic Mathematics First Secret Manual Fully Mastered’

‘Full Mastery: In the state of full mastery, initial cultivation progress increases by 30, training efficiency before the Excellent level rises by 10%, and the risk of deviation decreases by 30%.’