But after two rounds of eliminations, only around forty students were left in the training camp, and Jiang Chan was still among them. The further they progressed, the more advanced the professors’ lectures became. But no matter how difficult the material was to understand, Jiang Chan could still absorb it all.
Every test she handed in came back with a perfect score. The other students were already hovering around seventy or eighty points, while Jiang Chan alone continued scoring full marks, firmly holding on to the top spot.
Naturally, this made the young Jiang Chan stand out to all the experts. Her background was thoroughly looked into, though there was not much to investigate. Her record could not have been cleaner.
Seeing how brilliantly Jiang Chan was performing now, everyone could not help but marvel at the saying, “Great talent often comes from humble beginnings.” At the rate Jiang Chan was going, as long as she did not mess up halfway through, making the national team was practically guaranteed.
The little old physics teacher was beside himself with joy. Jiang Chan had really made him proud. But when he thought about the biology training she still had to attend later, he became a little dissatisfied again. Could this child really handle two subjects at once?
Life at the training camp was packed from morning to night. Almost all they did was attend classes. There were other students who had signed up for two competitions, but no one besides Jiang Chan had managed to make it into the training camp for both subjects.
As a result, Jiang Chan was constantly rushing around. She would hurriedly shovel down a few bites at mealtimes before racing off to another class.
This was a rare opportunity. There were very few chances to study under professors like these, so she wanted to learn as much as she could while she was here.
By now, Jiang Chan was quite famous throughout the training camp. After all, she was the only person who had made it into the training camp for two subjects, and she was doing exceptionally well in both. Tsinghua University and Peking University had already set their sights on her.
By the third round of eliminations, fewer than twenty students remained. Wang Runhui was still hanging on. Even he had not expected to make it this far. When it came down to it, perhaps Jiang Chan had influenced him.
When a girl as outstanding as her was still working so hard, it felt almost wrong not to study seriously himself.
Jiang Chan continued at her usual pace. The deeper she went into her studies, the more she realized how little she actually knew. This only made her respect knowledge even more.
The professors at the training camp had a very strong impression of Jiang Chan. She had performed exceptionally well all the way to this point. No matter what they taught, she absorbed it, like a dried-up riverbed endlessly taking in water from the outside.
Everyone saw how outstanding she was. Some professors were even considering taking Jiang Chan on as a student. After all, promising students were hard to come by, and anyone could see that she had the makings of a true scholar.
But then they remembered her age. She was only in her first year of high school. It would be better to wait and see how she developed. With that thought, the professors backed off for the time being.
The little old physics teacher and the biology teacher looked at Jiang Chan as if they were looking at a golden Buddha. They had taught for so many years and had certainly seen their share of outstanding students, but they had never encountered anyone quite as exceptional as Jiang Chan.
They probably would never meet another student like her again.
The two teachers sighed at the same time. After exchanging a glance, they both huffily turned their heads away and refused to look at each other.
Seeing the smug look on the biology teacher’s face made the little old physics teacher furious. He was clearly the one who had discovered this promising student first, yet the biology teacher had swooped in and benefited from it.
He was not happy at all!
The biology teacher was a bit of a tease himself. He and the physics teacher were standing outside the classroom while the remaining twenty students took their exams inside. This was the final elimination round. Only the top six would be selected, and those six would join the national team.
The teachers were all waiting outside for the results. Seeing the little old physics teacher looking irritated with everything around him, the biology teacher nudged him with his shoulder. “Still upset?”
The little old physics teacher turned his face away with an angry huff, refusing to acknowledge him. The biology teacher did not know whether to laugh or cry. This old fellow was getting more petty the older he got!
“Come on. Jiang Chan is a great student. If she can handle two subjects and do so well in both, what are you unhappy about? All I did was say a few extra words.”
The little old physics teacher immediately protested. “You call that saying a few extra words? You practically snatched my student right out of my hands! She was originally only going to sign up for physics, but you just had to stick your nose in. Look how exhausted the poor girl is. She was already thin, and now she’s practically wasting away.”
The biology teacher glanced at Jiang Chan, whose cheeks had actually gotten a little rounder, then looked back at the little old physics teacher.
Wasn’t he just lying through his teeth?
Still, he knew the physics teacher’s personality and did not bother arguing. He simply stood awkwardly to the side.
The food at the training camp was excellent. Jiang Chan was at an age when she was still growing, and she had a huge appetite. After all, she was using plenty of mental energy every day. Thinking took a lot of energy too.
After a month at the training camp, all the other students had lost at least a little weight. Jiang Chan alone ate heartily at every meal, and her face had actually grown a little rounder. She looked much more approachable than before.
The proctor from Second High had already gone back after the third round. Every student from Second High had been eliminated this time, so he simply left early. Even City High only had Jiang Chan, their lone remaining student.
The principal of City High was practically beside himself with joy. When he heard how well Jiang Chan was doing at the training camp, and that she was competing in both biology and physics, he simply sent the biology teacher over as well. Even if all he could do was give Jiang Chan some encouragement before the competition, that was still something.
City High might have been a prestigious school with a long history, but its best result in the past had only been first prize at the provincial level. Students from the school had attended the training camp before, but not a single one had ever made it all the way to the end. Jiang Chan had already achieved the best competition result in the entire history of City High.
The principal was already considering whether he should increase Jiang Chan’s prize money. She had made it onto the national team. If Jiang Chan won an award and happened to mention City High in her acceptance speech, the school would never have to worry about attracting good students again.
While the two teachers bickered outside, the results inside the classroom were released.
Just as everyone expected, Jiang Chan ranked first and was selected for the national team. In one week, she would be competing for her country.
When he heard the news, the little old physics teacher was overjoyed. He had never imagined that he would actually teach a student who made it onto the national team. He could ask for nothing more as a teacher!
The biology teacher was also grinning from ear to ear because Jiang Chan had made the national team in biology as well.
The two exchanged a glance. For once, the physics teacher did not give the biology teacher the cold shoulder.
Wang Runhui unfortunately did not make the cut, but he had no regrets. After all, he had already done his best. Once he had packed up his things, he walked over and patted Jiang Chan on the shoulder.
“Good luck! I’m rooting for you!”
Jiang Chan blinked.
What was going on?
She didn’t even know him, okay?
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