Chapter 30
Seeing that Ji Zhixing and Xu Dongyang both had "what are you going to say now?" expressions, Lin Lang immediately recalled the fear of being dominated by his sister at home: "Maybe I'd better not say anything..."
Xu Dongyang immediately replied, "Oh, then forget it."
Ji Zhixing immediately got up, looking like he was about to go out.
Lin Lang glanced at this one and that one, then stammered, "You two can try to interrogate me, and I'll tell you if you do..."
"Hahaha!" Ji Zhixing and Xu Dongyang burst into laughter. They knew Lin Lang would definitely not be able to hold back his words.
"Then tell me," Ji Zhixing pressed.
Lin Lang immediately seized the opportunity: "You're the one who wanted me to say it!"
Ji Zhixing was genuinely curious now. What kind of wicked idea was Lin Lang plotting all this?
"Um, could we... form a club, say a technology club, and then recruit new members..." Lin Lang's voice trailed off.
After listening for a few minutes, Xu Dongyang exclaimed, "Wow, that's Zhou Bapi! You don't have to spend a single penny! Aren't you afraid of being cursed to death?!"
Lin Lang, who was initially feeling guilty, became more assertive after being told this: "Isn't that what the drone club and robotics club do? They even charge their members. We can just not charge them; we're just providing an opportunity for practical training!"
The drone club and robotics club at Guangling University were both formed by students out of personal interest, and the members are all like-minded individuals. Given that their activities require a considerable number of parts such as propellers, joysticks, sensors, and actuators, members are indeed required to pay a fee, and this fee can be substantial.
Xu Dongyang was thinking about the talent problem: "Even if we don't charge money, what kind of useful people can we recruit?" Undergraduate students have limited abilities.
Ji Zhixing disagreed with his view: "I don't think so. We're only sophomores, and we designed such a valuable project from scratch."
Guangling University is, after all, a 985 university. Even though it's jokingly called a "bottom-tier" 985, it doesn't mean the students' level is low; there are still many top students. For example, the School of Chemistry has won first prize in the National Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Design Competition for two consecutive years, and a senior student in the School of Mathematics has already published three SCI papers. Then there are Zhao Yi and Sun Er, seniors in the School of Physics; if they hadn't been dragged down by Fan Yongjie this time, they could at least have won a second prize in the national competition.
Ji Zhixing continued, "Of course, there is definitely a gap compared to master's students, doctoral students, or professional researchers. But in the initial exploration stage, there are many basic things to do, and it is basically trial and error. Perhaps we don't need highly skilled talents."
Undergraduates who haven't yet entered the workforce may lack experience and in-depth knowledge, but they have the advantage of enthusiasm and the courage to think and act. Sometimes, a little ingenuity is far more important than burning the midnight oil.
Another advantage of forming a club is that you can apply to the school for a fixed activity room as their base, which saves you money on renting an office.
Of course, these considerations are based on the fact that they don't have much start-up capital at this stage. Money needs to be spent wisely. In the initial stage, it's not necessary to have talent, equipment, and a laboratory all at once. Even Shi Yanshi's professional laboratory went through a rough start-up phase of renting a house. Therefore, it's not too late for them to recruit experienced and qualified researchers and rent a professional laboratory after they have a general direction.
When Lin Lang saw Ji Zhixing standing up for him, he immediately started trembling: "See? I told you my idea was pretty good."
Xu Dongyang thought about it and agreed that this method was worth a try.
Ji Zhixing added, "However, our project is commercial in nature after all. Simply imitating the drone club or the robot club is definitely not enough. We also need to consider how to ensure that members enjoy appropriate benefits, otherwise it may attract a lot of criticism."
“There are too many things to consider. None of the three of us have any experience. I suggest that we don’t rush into starting a business. We should at least spend some time researching and learning first. Besides, we have something more urgent to do right now.”
"What is it?" Lin Lang and Xu Dongyang asked in unison.
Final exams!
It's already the end of December, and final exams are just over ten days away. Ji Zhixing hasn't stopped studying lately, but Lin Lang and Xu Dongyang probably still have a lot to catch up on.
Lin Lang let out a howl and fell to the ground: "Heavens! Why did you have to remind me of this!"
Ji Zhixing lightly kicked him: "What's the use of burying your head in the sand? Get up and go study!"
After they won the first prize in the national postgraduate entrance examination and obtained the qualification for postgraduate recommendation, Director Chen talked to them. They could study for another two and a half years without following the usual procedure. They could go on to postgraduate studies whenever they completed their undergraduate credits.
Moreover, they are fortunate enough to have designed a zero-gravity seat project, but they will certainly encounter more difficulties in the practical application of the project's theory in the future, so they still need to continue to acquire knowledge.
After discussing it, the three decided to prioritize the final exams for now. The idea of starting a business would be postponed until next semester, as they would have ample time to research during the winter break.
Because the director had previously helped them organize bidding by company representatives, Ji Zhixing went to the office to inform the director of the decision not to sell the patent rights for the time being.
The director was somewhat surprised when he heard about their decision: "I see. It's good that you've thought it through. You should also explain it to your families."
As a middle-aged man, the director wasn't very optimistic about Ji Zhixing and his team's entrepreneurial choice. The project was good, but turning it into cash would take an unknown amount of time and effort. If it were him, he could simply sell the patent rights and live comfortably for the rest of his life; he wouldn't want to go through all that trouble.
However, the director also understood Ji Zhixing and his team's choice. Young people are energetic and adventurous, and they have plenty of time to waste trying and making mistakes.
After informing the director, Ji Zhixing called Shi Yanshi again. Shi Yanshi also expressed his encouragement and said that if there were any difficulties in the process of starting a business, he could contact him, which sounded like he was considering investing in him.
However, it's too early to think about these things now; the three of them don't even know how to handle the share allocation ratio.
The onlookers, who were originally waiting to see what kind of sky-high price Ji Zhixing and his team's project would eventually fetch, were surprised to find that dormitory 310 rejected all the companies and then started spending their time in the library with their sophomore textbooks.
"Has their patent been sold, or hasn't it been sold yet?"
"I heard from Lin Lang that they seem to have no plans to sell it for the time being, and they'll talk about it next semester."
"Are they trying to hold out for a higher price? Eighty-eight million isn't enough?"
"Isn't this a bit too much of a flirtation?"
"On the contrary, I think they are quite remarkable, as they are able to calm down and focus on preparing for the exam."
"What exam are they preparing for? Don't they already have guaranteed admission to graduate school? Or are they going to take the civil service exam?"
"Hey upstairs, how long have you been skipping class? It's the final exams!"
"Depend on!"
Wow!
Many students who are usually lazy have only now realized that the final exams are just around the corner.
Ji Zhixing originally wanted to drag Lin Lang and Xu Dongyang to the library together, but the "curse of light" made them unable to hold on, and other seats were impossible to get without getting up early because it was already the final sprint stage for postgraduate entrance exam takers.
Lin Lang said he had been getting up early for two months because of the competition, and if he continued, he would die of overwork, so he resolutely refused to get up early. Xu Dongyang was also exhausted both physically and mentally because of the competition and wanted to at least sleep until he naturally woke up every day. So, after the three of them went out together for a few days, Ji Zhixing ended up getting up early every day to report to the library by himself.
In fact, Ji Zhixing had already fully understood and mastered the knowledge taught in class. So he had been reading the books on the reading list provided by the system for the past few days.
In the second stage, the system's reading list includes textbooks for third and fourth-year students, as well as more than twenty extracurricular books.
Ji Zhixing had been squeezing in time to read these books during breaks from the competition, and he still had □□ books left. So he's been making the most of his time to finish reading them, spending almost all his free time in the library.
"Student, it's closing time," the librarian gently reminded the last student remaining in the library.
"Huh?" Ji Zhixing finally snapped out of his reverie and back to reality. He glanced at his phone; it was already ten o'clock. "Sorry, I'll be leaving now."
"It's alright, take your time packing." The librarian looked at Ji Zhixing kindly, having naturally recognized him as the school's rising star. He inwardly sighed, realizing that success was indeed no accident; Ji Zhixing's self-discipline and diligence far surpassed that of the average student. His seemingly meteoric rise this semester was all the result of genuine hard work, a gradual accumulation leading to a qualitative leap.
Watching Ji Zhixing pack up his things and walk away through rows of empty seats, he inexplicably took out his phone and snapped a photo. This photo, titled "Back View," later became known to posterity along with Ji Zhixing's achievements, inspiring countless students to persevere and strive in their studies.
After spending several days in the library, Ji Zhixing finally finished reading all the books on the Level 2 reading list. He closed the book, and before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, he heard the system's voice in his mind.
[Friendly Reminder: The host has completed the second-stage task and successfully advanced in overall learning ability.]
Upon hearing the long-awaited system notification, Ji Zhixing's eyes widened slightly. Great! He had finally advanced!
He completed the first stage of the task in just one month, while the second stage took more than four months. It wasn't that he was in a hurry to advance quickly, but rather that if he didn't receive positive feedback for a long time during the long learning process, it would be easy to lose his motivation.
We've finally made it to the next round!
Since they were still in the library, Ji Zhixing couldn't conveniently open the task panel to see what tasks were available at the level three stage. He could only look at the words "Level Three Tasks" at the top of the task list and secretly rejoice.
[Host, after this period of study, your brain has undergone some welcome changes. Would you like to have your brain examined now?]
"Is that so?" Ji Zhixing was slightly surprised. He was, of course, quite curious about the changes in his own thinking: "What do you think?"
The next second, a brain scan image appeared in his profile.
"Is this my brain?" Ji Zhixing asked.
Yes, there are subtle changes in the host's prefrontal cortex, primary motor cortex, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe; the thickness of the corpus callosum and the density of neurons both increase.
Ji Zhixing focused intently on the brain scan image. The light gray-white brain structure was outlined with lines of various colors, and the dense numbers were dizzying. He wasn't a medical professional, after all, and couldn't quite understand it.
"You just said that 'both the thickness of the corpus callosum and the density of neurons have increased.' What do these two changes specifically mean?"
Increased thickness of the corpus callosum indicates stronger connections between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, while increased neuronal density signifies improved brain capacity for information storage, judgment, action, and reaction.
"So, the idea that people become smarter through learning is truly based on substantial changes in brain structure?"
Yes, physical exercise makes the body healthier, which is reflected in muscle definition; similarly, learning exercises the brain, making it smarter, which is reflected in brain structure.
So that's how it is. He had heard before that Einstein's brain was somewhat different from that of ordinary people, and he thought it was mostly innate. Now it seems that ordinary people can also improve their so-called "natural talent" through continuous scientific training!
After sighing, Ji Zhixing checked his phone and realized it was dinnertime. Having successfully completed the second stage of the task and advanced to the next level, Ji Zhixing decided to give himself a break after dinner, without reading or doing any tasks.
Upon arriving at the cafeteria, Ji Zhixing chose the line with fewer people and joined the queue to get his food.
Soon, people around him began to notice this recently popular figure at school.
Ji Zhixing's name is now known to everyone at Guangling University, and almost all the teachers use him as an example to encourage students to strive for excellence.
For most ordinary students, this kind of "other people's child" or "good student in the teacher's eyes" is not very appealing. However, Ji Zhixing's story has some cartoonish and legendary elements, such as scoring a miraculous goal in the sports meet and overcoming a group of doctoral students to solve a laboratory problem.
Furthermore, the potential tens of millions in patent fees further enhanced Ji Zhixing's already dazzling aura. He was indeed handsome and dashing, so the students at Guangling University generally held him in high regard. This was especially true for the first-year students, who generally admired this legendary senior.
While Ji Zhixing was queuing for food, the students around him either gossiped with each other or whispered among themselves, their eyes and conversations all focused on Ji Zhixing.
Ji Zhixing has been encountering this situation every time he goes to the cafeteria lately, but fortunately no one bothers him much, so he pretends not to hear it.
Finally, it was his turn. He said to the lady serving the food, "Auntie, sweet and sour pork, oyster scrambled eggs, and green vegetables."
Then I put the meal card on the card reader. "Beep! Your balance is insufficient!"
Oops, Ji Zhixing suddenly realized he hadn't topped up his card in a long time. He had won first place in the 3000-meter race at the sports meet, and the 1000 yuan reward from the school was directly deposited into his meal card. He had been eating in the cafeteria for two months and hadn't paid attention to how much money he had left. He didn't expect it to be too little today.
Fortunately, Zhang Biao happened to be nearby and swiped his card for Ji Zhixing, saving Ji Zhixing from embarrassment.
After finishing his meal, Ji Zhixing was about to go to the recharge window to top up his meal card when the system suddenly issued a notification.
[Friendly reminder: The reward for this task is a set of meal cards.]
Oh right, there are also mission rewards.
The reward he received when he advanced from level one to level two last time was "one set of clothing for each of the four seasons". Although the price of each piece of clothing far exceeded his expectations and he felt it was a bit wasteful, overall it was still a very practical reward. He wouldn't need to buy any more clothes or shoes during his university years.
And the reward for this mission sounds really useful—a meal card! Isn't that exactly what he needs right now? It's like he got exactly what he was looking for. Ji Zhixing mentally gave a thumbs up to his thoughtful great-grandchildren.
He had originally worried for a while about those 12 luxury watches worth a total of 100 million for his great-grandchildren, fearing that the rewards they would arrange later would all be in such an extravagant style. Fortunately, the clothes and meal cards were quite practical.
It was this "group" that made him slightly uneasy.
He had initially thought the "one set of each season's clothing" meant one set of clothing for each season, but it turned out that one set was a dozen, totaling 48 sets. Moreover, each set was a complete outfit from head to toe. For Ji Zhixing, who usually only had two or three sets of clothes to rotate, this was far too many.
And this time, I don't know what's going on with the meal cards. Surely they're not going to give him a dozen cafeteria cards, are they? Hmm, maybe one card each from the six main cafeterias and six smaller restaurants on campus? But those cards are valid for all twelve cafeterias and restaurants, so is it really necessary?
Ji Zhixing asked the system, and the system said that the meal card had not been processed yet and it was unwilling to reveal the news in advance, for fear of ruining the surprise that his great-grandchildren had given him.
Ji Zhixing didn't press the matter further. After all, it was just a meal card; it couldn't be anything too shocking.
When Xu Dongyang returned to the dormitory, he was about to go out for dinner and pack some food for Lin Lang when Lin Lang was engrossed in writing at his desk.
Ji Zhixing smiled with satisfaction as he looked at Lin Lang's earnest expression. He walked over and peeked at the note, only to see that Lin Lang had written on a small piece of paper: "Hello classmate, it's fate that I found this. The money is yours, but please give me 1 point at the end of the semester. Thank you! Thank you!"
ha? !
Looking to the side, there were several rolled-up 20-yuan bills, and you could vaguely see that there were strips of paper rolled up inside.
Ji Zhixing smacked Lin Lang on the forehead in exasperation: "You're not studying anymore! You've started indulging in feudal superstitions!"
Lin Lang then realized that his plan had been exposed and was greatly alarmed!
During this time, Ji Zhixing's academic brilliance had grown stronger, and with a touch of Professor Yan's charisma, Lin Lang couldn't help but feel somewhat inferior in his presence. Now, caught red-handed by Ji Zhixing, he lowered his head, looking aggrieved and not daring to speak.
Ji Zhixing was speechless. He had felt a little sorry for Lin Lang when he heard Lin Lang planning the use of those photos during the defense session, but now it seemed that Lin Lang deserved to be beaten at home! This guy just needed someone to keep a tight rein on him from time to time!
"Do you know that this is illegal?!" Ji Zhixing slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily.
"Huh?" Lin Lang was startled. "It shouldn't be that serious... It's just a bit of metaphysics..." Lin Lang's voice trailed off.
"Who said there isn't!" Ji Zhixing shouted, threatening him. "Article 53, Paragraph 1 of the 'Higher Education Law of China' stipulates that university students should study diligently. What about you? Where is your diligence?!"
"Huh?" Lin Lang didn't expect him to say that.
With a "pfft," someone laughed. Ji Zhixing turned around and saw Qiu Lan, who was on the same basketball team as Lin Lang, as well as the Physics Department basketball team.
Qiu Lan originally came to ask Ji Zhixing about the formula in that secret manual, but she didn't expect to overhear Ji Zhixing scaring Lin Lang like that.
"I didn't make this up, it really is true!" This morning, while he was reading in the library, "The Curse of Light" accidentally stumbled upon a freshman law student. When he looked up to relax, he saw this passage in the student's book, and he found it quite interesting. Of course, to intimidate Lin Lang, he didn't actually say the whole thing.
"Is there really such a clause?" Lin Lang had thought Ji Zhixing was bluffing him. "Wow, if Professor Yan knew about this clause, he would sue us one by one!" Lin Lang clutched his heart, feigning fear.
Seeing him start acting silly again, Ji Zhixing glared at him and said, "You better straighten up and stop doing this nonsense." Then he reached out and tore open all the money rolls on the table, took out the little notes inside, and threw them into the trash can.
"Waaah—" Lin Lang collapsed onto the table and wailed, "There's only one week left, I can't do it!!"
There are 15 subjects in the final exam, 5 of which are general courses that require rote memorization, and 10 of which are professional courses that require brainpower. For the past two months, he has been focused on the competition. Although he has finished his daily homework under the pressure of Ji Zhixing, Ji Zhixing cannot stop him from daydreaming during class.
With only a week left until the final exams, Lin Lang felt that if he didn't come up with some clever tricks, he was guaranteed to fail. Failing before was one thing, but this time, he'd gotten a first-class national exam and then failed again—how embarrassing!
However, he neither had the desire nor the guts to cheat, so he could only resort to some mystical methods...
Ji Zhixing was so angry he almost laughed: "Alright, I'll give you a lesson!"
Since he had just leveled up, there was no need to rush into the third stage of the task. Lin Lang had indeed put in a lot of effort for the competition, and as his friend, he certainly couldn't just watch Lin Lang take shortcuts or fail the exam.
"Alright then..." Lin Lang wasn't ungrateful, so he had no choice but to prepare for a week of intense preparation for the final exams.
"Um..." Qiu Lan, who had been standing by watching the commotion, said, "Could you take me with you? I need to catch up on my lessons too."
"Sure!" Ji Zhixing readily agreed. Herding one sheep or two sheep is the same, so there's not much difference. Besides, he wanted to see everyone studying hard. For most people, studying truly is a very good and correct path.
"That's great!" Qiu Lan said hesitantly, seeing that Ji Zhixing didn't seem reluctant at all. "Could I tutor another student who has learning difficulties?"
"Sure! No problem, come whenever you want. Let's do it tonight, I'll start the class in my dorm at 7 pm sharp before the final exams."
News spread incredibly fast in the dorms. Within half an hour, all the academically challenged sophomores in the Physics Department knew that Ji Zhixing's tutoring classes had started!
A note from the author:
The fifty-third point mentioned in the text is real; you can search for it. I originally included the full text of the first section in my author's notes, but it was locked, so I had to delete it...
Also, the mention of brain structure in this chapter is merely to emphasize that ordinary people can substantially improve various abilities through learning. There will be no mad scientist plot or systemic conspiracy later in the story, so don't worry.
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