Study Monster Cultivation System

Chapter 159 - 158 Li Yi’s Secret Mission

After writing down the number 564, Li Zheng gave a satisfied tap of his pen.

His feeling, of course, was quite wonderful.

But from Tang Zhifei’s perspective, there was nothing wonderful about it.

The Chinese language class was already in a sorry state.

Li Zheng, you do practice problems during Chinese class, I tolerated it.

Lin Yujing, you start dozing off early in the morning, I tolerated that too.

But what’s the meaning of Jiang Qinghua and Zhang Xiaoke’s actions?

Dismantling each other right in front of the class?

Let’s not talk about Zhang Xiaoke for now.

Tang Zhifei was aware of Jiang Qinghua’s preparations for the physics competition.

She had emphasized more than once about the impact of competitions on regular studies. Knowing Jiang Qinghua had her mind set despite this, Tang Zhifei did not say much, only offering encouragement.

Now, with things looking this way, was Zhang Xiaoke also planning to muddy the waters?

Looking at it now, Li Zheng’s meteoric progress, as if invigorated by chicken blood, really did boost the students’ confidence.

But this fervor had also led some students to lose sight of themselves.

Although Tang Zhifei was very angry, she didn’t directly point out or criticize the two during class time.

It was only when the bell for end of class rang and she was tidying up her lesson plan and summarizing that she spoke up, her words neither too light nor too heavy.

"Teachers can’t drag you by the ears and force everyone to listen to the class," she said.

"Especially for students with better grades, the teacher believes in your self-judgment and time management."

"If facts prove that you do better without listening to the class, the teacher will congratulate and be happy for you."

"But if things don’t go as hoped and the results aren’t as beautiful,"

"I hope you won’t be discouraged and will adjust in time to get back on the right track."

Having said that, she left with the teaching materials in her arms, looking very hurried and quite angry.

Although she had spoken softly.

Still, everyone in the class realized the seriousness of the matter.

"Teacher Tang is angry, she finally lost her temper!"

"Is that even her losing her temper?"

"It totally is, look how she walked off with a twist."

"Who is it? Who is it that doesn’t even listen to Teacher Tang’s class, excluding Li Zheng and Lin Yujing..."

As everyone searched around, Zhang Xiaoke and Jiang Qinghua quickly hid their answer sheets and pretended to pack up their bags.

"Next time we compete... let’s do it during biology class..." Jiang Qinghua murmured with her head bowed, "I really shouldn’t have upset Teacher Tang..."

"English class works too," Zhang Xiaoke asked, turning her head, "did you figure it out?"

Jiang Qinghua’s face stiffened, and she retorted, "Did you?"

"I’m not telling you..." Zhang Xiaoke’s face also turned a bit red.

Both turned to look at Li Zheng.

Li Zheng subconsciously confirmed the answer, "564, right?"

"???"

"???"

"This is a formula problem, master, there shouldn’t be a definite numerical answer, it should be things like ME, MS, R, right? How could it be a single number?" Zhang Xiaoke even began to doubt herself and re-examined the problem, "Did I miss something?"

"Heh," Jiang Qinghua also calmed down and quickly regained the confidence she had last semester, flipping her hair with a laugh, "Even if there was a numerical answer, 564 would be impossible. For this kind of astronomy problem, when it asks for distance, it’s usually measured in tens of thousands of kilometers at least, certainly not a few hundred."

After reviewing the problem again, Zhang Xiaoke turned around with a laugh, "Has master been away from physics for too long? It’s so funny~"

"Ah, everyone makes mistakes," Jiang Qinghua hurriedly raised her hand, "Li Zheng’s touch will come back soon."

"Hehe, I feel like I can finally win one..." Zhang Xiaoke licked her lips and eagerly raised her hand, shouting, "Jingjing, grade the papers."

Lin Yujing, in fact, had been ready for a while.

At this moment, she was holding a small envelope in her hand, still somewhat torn about whether to stand up.

At times like this, Zhang Xiaoke always chose to push hard.

She dashed to Lin Yujing’s desk in a few steps and tucked her hands under Lin Yujing’s arms from behind, embracing her body and starting to drag her over.

"!"

This embrace made Lin Yujing’s skin prickle, as she vehemently wriggled out, took a moment to compose herself, and was then reluctantly pushed over by Zhang Xiaoke.

Without a second word, Zhang Xiaoke slapped her own answer sheet down, "How is it?"

Lin Yujing glanced down, "First question is right, didn’t do the second question, 50 points."

"That’s enough, the one with the most points gets the reward, right?" Zhang Xiaoke eyed the corner of the small envelope in Lin Yujing’s arms, already rubbing her hands together, "Looks like the reward was prepared in advance... I’m getting more and more excited."

"Don’t get too happy too soon..." Jiang Qinghua, her face red, stood up and offered her answer sheet to Lin Yujing with both hands, "I’m just an ordinary physics enthusiast, I just wanted to do practice problems, not for the reward, but of course, if there’s a reward, I won’t refuse it... Anyway, please review it."

Lin Yujing barely glanced at it with the corner of her eye before quickly looking away.

"All wrong."

"What?!" Jiang Qinghua shuddered, shedding a few hairs.

"Hahaha." Zhang Xiaoke snatched Jiang Qinghua’s answer sheet and laughed as she looked at the answers, "What’s this? Straight to MEMS/(R+x)²? What were you thinking."

Jiang Qinghua glared and demanded, "Isn’t it this formula?"

"Ugh, it’s too much of a difference, I can’t even be bothered to explain it to you," Zhang Xiaoke guffawed with sympathy, looking towards Jiang Qinghua, "Keep it up, keep trying, stay strong!"

"Ah..."

Jiang Qinghua collapsed onto a chair.

Other things aside.

Now even her studies were being...

Looked down upon by Zhang Xiaoke...

And it was physics she had crammed so desperately...

Was she not even a match for Li Zheng’s dog disciple?

At this moment, Li Zheng, too, hesitantly handed over his answers with his head down, "I... can’t be 100% sure, but this should be it."

Lin Yujing stood still briefly, as if she had come to a painful decision, and finally accepted the answer sheet.

With just one glance, she immediately bowed her head, clenching the answer sheet tightly against the desk.

Her hair covered her face, silent.

This was also her usual trick to avoid showing her emotions.

"Haha!" Zhang Xiaoke clapped with delight, "Did that piss you off?"

"Completely... completely correct," Lin Yujing breathed out faintly, gripping the answer sheet," even the hidden questions..."

Halfway through, she suddenly shook her head vigorously again.

"No no no, there’s no hidden question, you... you’re just guessing," Lin Yujing slapped the envelope in her hand and turned to pick up the rocket-shaped water bottle from the desk, her hair in disarray as she ran out.

The three of them stood there, dumbfounded.

A moment later, Zhang Xiaoke resentfully grabbed Li Zheng’s answer sheet.

"The first question, we had the same answer... the second one... it looks correct as well..." Zhang Xiaoke scrutinized the paper and demanded, "What does this 564 mean? It looks like you solved the hidden question."

"Hmph, someone who couldn’t even solve the first layer, how could you understand the third?" Li Zheng said, gently picking up the envelope from the desk, "Keep it up, keep trying, stay strong."

"Ah!" Zhang Xiaoke clutched her head in despair, "How come none of these things are getting to you? I’m starting to think you could win an award in the physics competition without even studying, since there are so many Jiangs... so many people to prop you up as denominators!"

"Ah." Jiang Qinghua moaned again, "You’re saying I’m just here to make up the numbers, right? It’s me, isn’t it?"

"No no no..." Zhang Xiaoke quickly tried to console her, "You’re strong, just try harder, and keep it up."

"Is that not just the reverse of what you said just now..." Jiang Qinghua mumbled, bowing her head in resignation, "Forget it... I guess physics competition is not for me... Teacher Tang is right."

"Don’t panic," Li Zheng earnestly reassured her, "For now, just treat physics competition like a hobby. When I start preparing, I can select some problems for you to try. It’s not too late to cram over the winter break."

Jiang Qinghua first brightened at this, but then hesitated, her expression slightly exaggerated, "How can I bother you with that?!"

"It’s fine, I have plenty of time over winter break, and I’m probably going to ask you and Xiaoke out to play basketball and hang out."

"Hey hey hey!" Zhang Xiaoke rushed to stop Li Zheng, "You can’t just spread the word about us hanging out together."

"What are you thinking?" Li Zheng shook his head as he took a seat, "I’m not afraid of rumors, what are you worried about?"

"I so want to hit you!"

Li Zheng let out a chuckle, "My strength and fitness have improved a lot, you can’t beat me."

"I don’t believe it, I’m going to fight!" Zhang Xiaoke flung a series of punches at him.

Li Zheng twisted his body and parried the blows, counterattacking with a flurry of punches like Wing Chun.

Master and disciple trading punches, the skirmish actually looked quite intense.

By the time the bell rang, Zhang Xiaoke finally ran out of steam and admitted defeat.

She clutched her arm, which had taken numerous hits, feeling like crying, "You really hit me..."

"And you weren’t?" Li Zheng retorted, shaking his wrist.

"But is it the same when a guy hits a girl? You’re bullying me!"

"I didn’t, I only used fifty percent of my strength."

"Liar, you were all out," she accused.

"Let’s go another round then, feel for yourself what it’s like when I really go all out."

"I was wrong, I admit it..."

When the math teacher, Zhu Hongbo, walked in, Li Zheng finally held his breath and focused, casually speaking over his shoulder to the back right.

"Qinghua, if you still can’t let it go over the winter break and want to give it a try, I’ll help you. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to."

"I..." Jiang Qinghua was taken aback, and after a long ponder, finally put away the Russian 500 questions, "Well... we’ll talk about it then, thanks."

He intended to leave it there, but couldn’t help asking, "What does 564 actually mean?"

"A distant journey," Li Zheng murmured, stroking the envelope, "He and ’Her Journey’."

"..." Jiang Qinghua was usually hardhearted.

But this time the impact.

Was just too great.

This wasn’t just ordinary lemon sour anymore.

It was sulfuric acid.

Damn it... why did I ask...

Although it hurt, one fact had become very clear.

Only by mastering physics could one enter Lin Yujing’s heart.

All gaps are gaps in expertise.

No, it’s far from time to give up.

Grudgingly clenching his teeth, he dug out another 500 questions.

…

In math class, Zhu Hongbo actually taught quite well.

But Li Zheng still wasn’t listening.

It was only after Zhang Xiaoke and Jiang Qinghua had settled down that he finally took a good look at Lin Yujing’s reward—

An envelope.

This was naturally not just any envelope.

It was a special commemorative envelope celebrating the successful launch of the Chang’e-2 mission.

The size was the same as a regular envelope, with a conceptual image of Chang’e-2 printed on the bottom left corner, a spaceship core resembling a cardboard box in the center, and solar panels unfolded on either side.

In the top right corner, there was a commemorative stamp worth 1.20 yuan.

On the postal code area at the bottom right corner, the number 564 was clearly written.

Indeed…

Both the question and this reward

Had been prepared well in advance.

Li Zheng carefully opened the envelope.

Inside, there was also a Chang’e-2 commemorative postcard.

Only, next to it, there wasn’t an address specified, but rather a well-crafted message.

[Exchange Coupon]

[With this coupon, you may exchange it for one "Wandering Planet" movie ticket with Lin Yujing during the winter vacation of 2019 (January-February).]

[Expired coupons will be void!]

[Void!]

[Absolutely void!]

Li Zheng was stunned for a long time.

Such a deep scheme.

A nested doll of tricks.

That’s it?

Your reward is way too lame compared to my precious satellite model, isn’t it?

How rare is a movie ticket that you need to say it’s void three times?

But when I think about it…

I’ve only read the science fiction novel "Wandering Planet", which is really good.

And now it’s been made into a movie.

It’s still worth watching.

Although this reward is a bit stingy, it’s just what I need.

With that in mind, Li Zheng picked up the postcard and looked towards Lin Yujing.

At this moment, Lin Yujing was still pretending to be asleep, with her face turned this way, almost buried in her arms, her left arm occasionally moving stiffly.

Based on Li Zheng’s years of experience observing Lin Yujing,

She was pretending to sleep.

In fact, she was secretly observing through the gap between her elbow and the desk.

Master Ye indeed was a stingy person, even so timid when observing an opponent. Unlike me, Ximen Chui Xue, who watches openly and unblinkingly.

Since he knew Lin Yujing was secretly observing, Li Zheng picked up the postcard and nodded with it.

In an instant, Lin Yujing turned over, hiding her face in the curtains and pretending to sleep facing the other way.

Well, that’s the signal received.

"Wandering Planet" is, after all, one of the leading science fiction novels in the country. Even if the movie effects are poor, the genre is still a rare treat for me.

Even Old Li and Ning’er, who haven’t been to a movie theater in seven or eight years, would surely enjoy it.

Well then, after exchanging the tickets with Lin Yujing and using it as an excuse, I’ll buy two more for them, and the three of us will go together.

A science fiction movie festival for the studious family.

YES!

…

Because of the parent-teacher meeting, school let out early at three in the afternoon.

Li Zheng hadn’t touched a basketball in a week and was itching to play, so he contacted Qiao Bixia again and had her pin down Lin Yujing and Xu Mengxi to organize a harmless and relaxing basketball game.

On the other hand, parents gradually began to arrive at the school.

Among them was a parent named Li Yi who arrived especially early; the meeting was at three-thirty, but he arrived half an hour ahead of time.

He naturally came with a mission.

This mission was very well hidden and highly confidential.

The whole world must have only him knowing about it.

That mission was—

Family introduction time!

Before meeting the family, he undoubtedly spotted his son at the school gate.

From a distance, he saw Li Zheng playing basketball with some girls, with others watching.

The most boisterous among the onlookers was that ostentatious girl he had seen in the hospital.

Li Yi frowned at that moment.

But when he saw Lin Yujing, his brow relaxed.

Seeing Qiao Bixia, his brow tightened again.

Seeing Xu Mengxi, he relaxed once more.

He couldn’t help but take off his glasses and rub his eyes.

It was too difficult.

The reason for the difficulty was that, up until now, Li Yi still wasn’t sure which one was Lin Yujing.

Today, he had to figure it out, no matter what.

With this determination, Li Yi stepped into the teaching building and, following the messages in the parents’ group, made his way to Class Four of the second-grade seniors.

The students had just left, and Tang Zhifei was alone in the classroom, standing at the lectern, practicing his speech.

"Dear Parents, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this parent-teacher meeting..."

"No good, all nonsense..."

"Good afternoon, parents. Today is..."

"No, too boring, well then..."

"Parents, I’ve missed you so much!"

"Hahaha... that’s funny..."

"No, no, think of something else..."

"Yo, long time no see, everyone."

"Hahaha that’s so Zhang Xiaoke."

"..."

Li Yi waited for a long time and couldn’t stand it anymore, finally "Ahem..." he coughed and peeked into the classroom door.

Tang Zhifei jumped, quickly straightening up her appearance.

Upon seeing it was Li Yi, she breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me to death, I thought it was someone else..."

"Ah, working hard, Teacher Tang," Li Yi said, chuckling as he walked into the classroom, looking around.

"Li Zheng is over there, the second to last row," Tang Zhifei pointed directly towards Li Zheng’s seat, somewhat apologetically stating, "I’m really sorry, you and Li Zheng’s mother are so busy, you actually didn’t have to come."

"Hey, how could I miss a parent-teacher meeting," Li Yi continued looking around, even though Li Zheng had already privately messaged him the seat location, yet Li Yi stubbornly embarked on a "L-shaped" path through the classroom, scanning the name tags on every desk.

"The second to last row..." Tang Zhifei said.

"Ah, the person hasn’t arrived yet, just strolling around, it’s uncomfortable to sit," he replied.

"Well... suit yourself..." Teacher Tang squinted her eyes as she said, "It’s a pity, Lin Yujing’s parents couldn’t make it due to some issues."

"Huh?!" Li Yi suddenly turned around, his eyes wide with shock.

Then what am I even doing here???

Wouldn’t it be better to cut a few more tumors?

"Just kidding, Lin Yujing’s mother will come," Tang Zhifei snorted with laughter, her eyes narrowing further, "I guess I know why things have been going smoothly for you, Teacher Li."

"Ah, I was just..." Li Yi scratched his head, "just wanted to communicate a bit, to guide our kids together, not to rush into... rush into... Hey, it’s actually not too early... I was with Li Zheng’s mom when we were 16..."

"Enough, Teacher Li!" Tang Zhifei hastily raised her arm, "You already talked about that a lot during the dinner that day."

"Did I? I drank too much, forgot, haha..."

"Alright, you don’t need to look anymore," Teacher Tang pointed towards the center window, "Lin Yujing’s seat is the one by the window."

"Oh, it’s alright, I’m just walking around... huh, Li Zheng is playing basketball?" Li Yi took the opportunity to move closer to the window by Lin Yujing’s desk to observe the desktop.

On the surface, this set of desk and chair was very tidy.

But upon closer inspection, it wasn’t hard to notice that the colors on the desk were uneven.

This shape.

It looked like someone had been lying with their head down on it, causing the desk to change color.

Before he could think further, Tang Zhifei also came up to a window in the front row: "Li Zheng is really good at basketball, but he usually likes to play with Lin Yujing, Xu Mengxi, and Qiao Bixia. Oh? Zhang Xiaoke is there too."

"Wait wait... you just mentioned a lot of names..." Li Yi strenuously lifted his glasses, trying hard to peer towards the distant basketball court, "Which one? Which one is Lin Yujing?"

"That one, the thin one."

"They all aren’t fat."

"No way, Qiao Bixia is quite sturdy."

"That... that’s a girl?"

"Mind your language, Teacher Li, Qiao Bixia has a very good relationship with Li Zheng."

"Ah? Another one?"

"..."