Chapter 40
Previously, Old Bai was truly lazy; he wasn't the type to willingly become a tool for others.
Now... wasn't it Old Bai who was making a fuss himself?
At this moment, when the other party was feeling guilty, Zheng Fa naturally seized the opportunity.
"How about I continue teaching you topology? This knowledge is safest when it's in your own head," Old Bai said, rubbing his head as if feeling a bit chilly. Clearly, he was still reluctant to be a tool, struggling to say more.
"I never said I wouldn't learn; I'm just a bit slow, that's all," Zheng Fa replied with a smile.
He wanted top-notch private tutoring.
He still wanted that tool's brain.
"Actually... I suddenly realized, you are also a raw gem in topology," Old Bai said sincerely.
Zheng Fa sighed softly, "Then your desire to teach martial arts doesn't seem very sincere."
Seeing that he wasn't budging, Old Bai glanced at the milk tea beside Zheng Fa.
Suddenly inspired, he remembered he had a teammate. He shot a furtive glance at Tang Lingwu:
"We're on the same side; don't you want to learn too? Help me plead my case!"
Tang Lingwu nodded, seemingly understanding, walked over to the table, picked up the cup, and personally inserted the straw.
A smile spread across Old Bai's face; Lingwu really understood the importance of service when asking for favors!
But the next moment, he watched in disbelief as Tang Lingwu placed her mouth on the straw.
"Feeding with your mouth?" Old Bai quickly reached out, "That's a bit much for service!"
Tang Lingwu swallowed the milk tea in her mouth, looking at him with a puzzled expression, as if she didn't quite understand what he was saying.
Old Bai stared at her in shock, "Did you drink it yourself?"
"Yeah!" Tang Lingwu nodded.
"Isn't that your initiation gift?" Old Bai pressed.
"I don't want to learn," Tang Lingwu lowered her head.
"You could become fairer!"
"I’m naturally beautiful."
"You could be even more beautiful!" Old Bai was getting anxious.
"That would attract too much attention."
Old Bai hadn't expected Tang Lingwu to change her stance so quickly.
Recalling the passion in her eyes when she spoke about becoming fairer, he couldn't help but shake his head, casting a more unfriendly glance at Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa also looked deeply at Tang Lingwu, understanding her thoughts—she probably just didn't want to put him in a difficult position.
After all, hiring a tool with the level of a university professor from the capital would likely cost a lifetime's worth of milk tea.
Noticing that both of them were looking at her, Tang Lingwu averted her gaze and mumbled, "I’m just a bit afraid of pain and tiredness; I don’t really want to practice martial arts."
Old Bai looked at her, smacking his forehead—having this ally was worse than having none!
He hesitated, staring at the draft book in front of Zheng Fa, furrowing his brow for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh and pushing it away.
This action surprised Zheng Fa.
Old Bai had previously been quite adamant about living a few more years.
"What are you doing?"
"I really don’t have time; I still need to write a book."
Zheng Fa was taken aback, "You really are writing a book?"
"…You thought I was lying to you?"
Zheng Fa nodded.
Old Bai turned to Tang Lingwu, who was also nodding.
"Between the three of us, there's not a shred of trust!"
---
**Chapter 46: A Change**
To prove himself, Old Bai took Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu to another room.
The door to this room had been tightly shut for years, and neither Zheng Fa nor Tang Lingwu had ever entered.
The room was small, about ten square meters, with a row of tall bookshelves against the wall. The books on the shelves were in complete disarray, and several half-open books were scattered on the floor and chairs.
It was clear that this messy study belonged to the lazy old man.
The only thing that stood out was the desk in the corner by the window. Aside from a thick stack of paper and a pen holder filled with pens, there was nothing else on it.
What was most surprising was that the stack of draft papers was neatly arranged, resembling a perfectly cut block of tofu.
"Is this your new book?" Tang Lingwu asked, noticing the peculiar stack of drafts.
Old Bai suddenly became humble, "It's just a thought of mine; I've been working on it for several years."
He turned to Zheng Fa and said, "I really don’t have that much time. I promised to write this book before I retired, but it’s been five or six years since I retired, and I still haven’t finished it."
"The publisher has really called to urge me; I’m not exaggerating..." Under the skeptical gazes of Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu, he mumbled, "Maybe I exaggerated a bit... just a few sentences."
Zheng Fa looked at the obviously different desk and nodded, "You really do value this book."
"Valuing it is a stretch; as I said before, in mathematics, I’m just a nobody." Old Bai rubbed the draft paper on the desk, pondering for a moment before asking Zheng Fa, "Do you know why I’ve always been reluctant to teach you?"
"Because I learn slowly?"
"Well, being a bit slow is one reason," Old Bai was always straightforward about his disdain for Zheng Fa's intelligence.
"Is it because I have to take the college entrance exam now?" Zheng Fa guessed again.
"That’s part of it, but the main reason is that you’re not the type of person suited for mathematics."
Zheng Fa was taken aback, not quite understanding why the old man said that.
"I’m not saying you have a bad character; it’s just that doing mathematics shouldn’t be too goal-oriented. And you..." Old Bai glanced at Zheng Fa, "Are you interested in learning topology, or are you just fascinated by those strange patterns?"
Zheng Fa frowned.
"Isn't it better to be practical?" Tang Lingwu chimed in.
"What is mathematics?" Old Bai suddenly asked.
"Uh?"
"The essence of mathematics is the study of things that do not exist," Old Bai said to both of them. "Do imaginary numbers exist? Are natural numbers found in nature? Can points, lines, and planes in geometry be found in the natural world?"
Zheng Fa remained silent; he still didn’t understand what the old man was trying to convey, but Old Bai seemed to have found his teaching rhythm:
"Mathematics, at its core, is an abstract system of axioms that do not exist. In a way, you can think of it as a set of purposeless game rules invented by humans, which just happen to explain some aspects of the world." He spoke passionately.
"That’s why many theoretical mathematicians look down on applied mathematicians. They say we should all be the mother of science, but how come you’re so soft and pliable like a..." Looking at the youthful faces of Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu, Old Bai swallowed the inappropriate term he was about to use and changed it to, "a fallen woman."
Seeing that Zheng Fa still didn’t understand, Old Bai clarified further: "If you’re learning topology just for those patterns, let me ask you, have you ever considered whether topology can truly analyze all those patterns?"
Zheng Fa nodded.
"That’s the strange thing about science: you can be right a thousand times and still not be sure you’re right. But if you’re wrong once, then you’re really wrong. At that point, would you still want to learn topology from me?"
Zheng Fa understood his point; the old man was indirectly advising him not to lose sight of the bigger picture.
"I want to learn; even if I’m slow, I still want to learn," Zheng Fa said slowly. Even without those symbols and patterns, he was genuinely interested in the knowledge of this world.
"Then I suggest you learn well with me," Old Bai said, seeing the determination in Zheng Fa's eyes, which didn’t seem like a lie. His expression softened a bit, and he comforted Zheng Fa, "It’s okay to be slow; you haven’t fully grasped high school knowledge yet. Topology is a second-year undergraduate course at Jingcheng University. You need at least a first-year undergraduate knowledge base to really get started. It’s normal to be slow right now."
Old Bai meant well, but Zheng Fa still refused:
"But I still want you to help me analyze those patterns."
Zheng Fa was clear in his mind; he was interested in mathematics, but only as a tool.
Just like Old Bai's brain.
"I really don’t have that time!"
Zheng Fa turned to Tang Lingwu, pointing at her and asking, "Didn’t you say she’s already learned university-level courses?"
"Uh?"
"Since I have to start from high school, why not learn from her?"
There’s no problem that can’t be solved by borrowing a brain; if that doesn’t work, then just borrow another one.
Tang Lingwu was momentarily stunned, pointing at herself, "Me?"
"I’ll teach you martial arts, and you teach me mathematics, okay?"
Tang Lingwu hesitated, glancing at Old Bai.
Old Bai frowned but didn’t deny Tang Lingwu’s ability: "That’s a solution. If you encounter anything you can’t teach, just ask me. In fact, teaching him will greatly enhance your own understanding of those concepts, though it might take up your time..."
"I’ll teach! I want to learn martial arts!"
"Weren’t you just saying you didn’t want to?" Old Bai scoffed.
Tang Lingwu remained silent, just smiling with her lips pressed together.
Zheng Fa grinned as he pulled out those draft books: "So, which one do we start with today?"
Old Bai was dumbfounded.
He pointed at Tang Lingwu: "She’s become your teacher, and she can still practice martial arts."
"Right."
Table of Contents
