The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 282: Math Was Needed Everywhere
Not long after, Song Yingxing arrived at the school entrance.
From the gate, he saw a vast playground inside, its spaciousness immediately lifting his spirits.
Just as he was about to step in, a sharp shout rang out from the gatekeeper’s lodge: “Who goes there? What business do you have at the school?”
Song Yingxing startled, turning to find a burly man glaring at him.
This man was the school’s “guard.” Li Daoxuan took children’s safety seriously; he hadn’t hired some frail old man but chose a strong fellow instead—someone who could handle trouble. A weak elder wouldn’t cut it.
Song Yingxing cupped his fists in greeting. “This one is Song Yingxing, from Fengxin County, Jiangxi. I’ve come to the school in Gaojia Village seeking knowledge.”
The guard: “Ah! Mr. Song! The Deity instructed that you may freely explore the school. Please, come in! All classrooms and the library are open to you. Just… try not to enter or leave classes while the children are in session.”
Song Yingxing: “Huh? The Deity? Who is that?”
The guard chuckled knowingly. “You’ll understand soon enough.”
Song Yingxing felt puzzled. After a moment’s thought, he suspected Ma Tianzheng’s involvement—these Daoists loved throwing around titles like “Deity.”
Entering the school grounds, Song Yingxing was instantly awestruck by the five-story teaching building. What kind of engineering could erect such a massive structure so high? How was its structure not collapsing?
He hurried inside, planting firm knocks against the wall. Immediately, he sensed its remarkable solidity—unyielding, shaking it was impossible, and collapse? Utterly unfounded.
This construction skill is extraordinary! I must study it later.
He moved to the first classroom…
Located on the ground floor’s very front, beside the entrance hung a sign: “Grade 1, Class 1.”
Song Yingxing glanced inside. A large group of children sat perfectly straight, listening as a teacher taught the foundational text—The Three Character Classic.
Song Yingxing nodded approvingly. This school really is impressive.
He continued on—Class 1-2, Class 1-3, Class 1-4…
The subjects were roughly the same.
But stepping toward Class 1-5, he sensed something off. The figure at the lectern appeared barely twelve or thirteen—and unmistakably a girl.
This girl was Third Miss, entrusted by the Deity to teach “Elementary Math.”
Pointing to the number 5, she declared, “This is ‘five.’ Remember it clearly! Five!”
The children chimed in unison: “Five!”
Peering from outside, Song Yingxing thought: Huh? I’ve seen this symbol! Last night, at the rice noodle shop, that little helper calculated accounts using it. So this symbol represents five?
His feet froze to the spot. He simply stood outside silently eavesdropping.
First-grade math proved understandable. In minutes, he’d memorized the Arabic numerals and grasped the signs for addition and subtraction. Instantly, the equations he saw Gao Sanwa write last night flooded his recollection. Processing them mentally, it clicked: So that’s how it works!
This so-called “Elementary Math” was essentially a remarkably efficient system of calculation.
Using these “Arabic numerals,” complex problems became succinct. Say, 3,232 plus 32? Now simply 3232 + 32—instantly clearer and far easier to compute. This is excellent! I must learn it.
Just as Song Yingxing stole these lessons with glee, recess arrived. Third Miss declared with a giggle, “Class dismissed!” and bolted out the door.
Students stretched lazily, immediately shedding formality.
Song Yingxing: “Eh?”
He hadn’t gotten his fill of sneaky learning.
Unsatisfied! So deeply unsatisfied!
Suddenly, he remembered Young Master Bai mentioning a library—a place housing all knowledge, where he wouldn’t need to pilfer learning class by class.
He promptly dashed through the corridors, scouring the building. Not on the first floor. Nor the second. Third? Fourth? Also empty. Song Yingxing bounded toward the fifth…
On the stairway between the fourth and fifth floors, he encountered a scholar visibly struggling. This was Dian Deng Zi Zhao Sheng, gasping mighty breaths as he hauled himself upward. Seeing Song Yingxing zip past, the scholar wheezed, “Sir… Brother… Pull… Pull me… please… This fifth floor… I… can’t… make it…”
Alarmed by how starved for air the man seemed, Song Yingxing hastily steadied and hauled him to the top.
Zhao Sheng panted, “Hoo… Tha… Thank you… Brother… Thought I’d… drop dead… on four…”
Song Yingxing privately wondered: Just how feeble are you?
Naturally, he kept his complaint silent. Outwardly, he inquired: “I seek directions to the library. Could you guide me, Brother?”
Zhao Sheng: “F… Front… Fifth… door…”
Song Yingxing: “Appreciated!”
Swiftly moving to the library, Song Yingxing surveyed it—shelves neatly lined within, laden with books: The Three Character Classic, Hundred Surnames, Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean…
These held little sway over him. Gliding past, he spotted precisely what he craved on the second shelf: “Elementary Math.” Twelve entire volumes stood alongside each other. Next to them rested “Middle School Physics”—six volumes—and “Middle School Chemistry,” also six…
Song Yingxing snatched a physics volume and skimmed jubilantly: Gravity… I’d sensed this concept but lacked this precise articulation… Mass? Wait—processing mass requires… math! Gears? They cover gears here! Blast it—more math! Buoyancy and weight? Gah! Still math!
He swiftly flipped the physics book. On nearly every page lurked “math”—nine out of every ten lessons demanded it. Ignorant of math’s symbols, comprehension utterly eluded him.
Grabbing chemistry next, he gleefully scanned: Properties of matter… transformations… processes, phenomena… Our laborers mastered bronze crafting in the Shang Dynasty… iron and steel smelting since the Spring and Autumn period…
Hahaha! Exactly my passion! This I burn to learn!
He read intensely…
Thump!
He crumpled face-down, orz-style. Yet again… math.
Rap-a-tap-tap!
Gentle knuckles drummed the nearby desk. Glancing up, Song Yingxing recognized the scholar who’d nearly perished climbing stairs—now recovered and smiling genuinely.
“Mr. Song,” Zhao Sheng reassured kindly, “fret not. The Deity decreed these subjects challenge ordinary folk? Negligible. With such a mind? You’ll grasp this with a wink.”
Song Yingxing snapped his head up. “And you are…?”
Zhao Sheng bowed slightly. “Zhao Sheng. Vice Principal of this school.”
.
!
Chapter 282: Math Was Needed Everywhere
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