33: Chapter 33 Jiangcheng City Local Chronicles: Dongshan Volume

Inside were Hand-drawing line diagrams of dougong brackets, accompanied by neat, small regular script annotations.

From the simplest "one dou two sheng" to the complex "liujin dougong," there were seventeen types in total.

Each diagram was meticulous, with cross-sections drawn even for the mortise and tenon joints.

"This is too precious," Chen Zhen said.

"The old gentleman said that since he has no children anyway, keeping it would just let it gather dust, so it's better to give it to someone who understands it," Mother took a sip of porridge. "He also said that for the museum exhibition next month, he will be there as a volunteer guide, and told you to go find him then so he can explain it to you in detail."

"Okay."

Chen Zhen carefully set the booklet aside.

...

For his morning study, Chen Zhen first lit the calming incense and then held a Mint leaf in his mouth.

With both methods used simultaneously, the effect was remarkable.

His mind was as clear as if washed by morning dew, and his focus was so sharp he could hear the rhythm of his own breathing.

He opened his math workbook; today's goal was to conquer the comprehensive problems on functions and derivatives.

Usually, these types of problems required repeated reading, drawing diagrams, and trying different approaches.

But today, under the quadruple enhancement of Deep Understanding, Mind Mapping, calming incense, and Mint leaf, the problem-solving process became exceptionally smooth:

After reading the problem statement, the relevant knowledge points automatically lit up in his consciousness network.

Function properties, derivative definitions, extremum determination, and image transformations.

His hand automatically began to draw, the pencil lines accurately outlining the function's trend.

The steps to solve the problem arranged themselves naturally in his mind, from deriving conditions to reaching the conclusion, with almost no hesitation.

A final, difficult problem that usually took twenty minutes was completed in eight minutes today.

Checking the answers, they were all correct.

[Efficient learning triggers flow state]

[Learning Dimension experience + 55]

[Cultivation + 0.48]

[Special prompt: Under multiple buff environments, learning efficiency has reached the current limit value]

Chen Zhen put down his pen and exhaled a long breath.

Flow state.

In psychology, this describes that optimal experience of total concentration and selfless immersion.

He had only experienced it occasionally when playing ball particularly well before; he hadn't expected to be able to enter this state while studying.

Moreover, the System prompt "reached current limit value" meant that to go any higher, he would need to improve his own Realm or unlock new buff abilities.

The concept of a Bottleneck appeared for the first time.

But he wasn't anxious.

Cultivation is a slow, grinding process, and so is learning.

The limit is not the end; it is the starting point for the next stage.

For the remainder of the morning, he used his Mind Mapping ability to organize the core knowledge network of high school mathematics.

When the fifteen minutes were up, his temples were slightly swollen, but the "knowledge map" in his mind had already taken initial shape.

Algebra, geometry, statistics—three main trunks, with clear branches and distinct nodes.

Future reviews would no longer be about memorizing formulas in a scattered way, but about starting from the map and following the clues.

...

Mother returned early at noon, bringing two lunch boxes: "The Library gave out lunch boxes today, there was an extra one, so I brought it back."

Inside the lunch box were shredded pork with green peppers and Mapo tofu, with the rice packed tight.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"I ate, I ate at the Library." Mother sat down, watching Chen Zhen eat, "Slow down, don't choke."

As Chen Zhen ate, Mother talked beside him.

She said a batch of new books had arrived at the Library, that the old lady who borrows romance novels didn't come today, and that she had to go help out at the community center for the afternoon to register health information for the elderly.

They were all trivial matters, but listening to them, Chen Zhen felt at ease.

After finishing his meal, Chen Zhen took the initiative to wash the dishes.

Mother packed her things to go to the community center, saying before she left: "I'll cook dinner when I get back, don't worry about it."

"Okay."

After Mother left, the house quieted down.

Chen Zhen returned to his room, not immediately starting his afternoon study or Cultivate.

He sat at the desk, closed his eyes, and felt the tranquility of this moment.

The shouzhong token felt slightly warm against his chest.

The lingering scent of the calming incense still curled around the tip of his nose.

The ball of Qi in his Dantian lay dormant steadily, rising and falling gently with his breathing.

In his mind, the knowledge network and clue network unfolded quietly, waiting to be activated.

...

At two in the afternoon, Chen Zhen arrived at the Bookstore.

Old Wu was not at the counter today, but was rummaging for something in a pile of old books at the very back of the Bookstore.

Hearing the doorbell ring, he poked his head out to look: "You're here? Find a place to sit yourself, I'm looking for a book."

Chen Zhen didn't sit, but walked over: "Grandpa Wu, what book are you looking for? Let me help you."

"A book about local chronicles, it should be in this pile." Old Wu pointed to the half-person-high stack of books at his feet, "Never mind, it's not urgent, you first help me categorize those things of Engineer Gu that we sorted out yesterday."

"Okay."

Chen Zhen walked to the counter, where the three big piles sorted out yesterday were placed:

One pile was Engineer Gu's professional books and tools, one pile was his personal miscellaneous books and copies of research notes, and there was another pile of scattered items like letters, maps, and specimens.

Chen Zhen thought for a moment and decided to handle it this way:

The professional books would be filed into the Bookstore's "Geology/Science" shelf, arranged by author and year.

The usable compasses and magnifying glasses among the tools would be cleaned and stored separately, while the rusted or damaged ones would be disposed of properly.

Old Wu clearly didn't intend to sell the personal miscellaneous books and research notes.

Chen Zhen found a sturdy cardboard box, lined it with moisture-proof paper, and placed them in one by one.

He closed the lid and attached a label: "Materials left by Mr. Gu Mingyuan."

He used file bags to separate the letters, maps, specimens, etc., labeled the contents, and put them into the same cardboard box.

When he got to the kraft paper envelope and the wooden box, he hesitated for a moment.

These were explicitly left by Engineer Gu for the "later comer," so logically he should keep them himself.

But it wasn't safe at home, and keeping them at the Secret Base... wasn't absolutely secure either.

Finally, he decided:

The content of the letter was already memorized in his brain, and the key coordinates of the map had already been entered into the System.

The physical items could be temporarily stored at the Bookstore.

After all, this was Old Wu's territory; it was safe.

He put the envelope and the wooden box separately into a small iron box and brought it to Old Wu: "Grandpa Wu, can this... be temporarily stored with you?"

Old Wu raised his head from the pile of books and glanced at the iron box: "Old Gu left it for you, you should keep it yourself."

"It's not convenient at home, and I can't carry it with me all the time," Chen Zhen said, "If it's with you, I can rest assured."

Old Wu looked at him for a few seconds, then took the iron box: "How long?"

"Until I... have the ability to keep it safe."

"Fine." Old Wu shoved the iron box into the bottom drawer of the counter and locked it, "I have a key here; come get it when you need it."

"Thank you, Grandpa Wu."

"Stop with all the thanking." Old Wu clapped the dust off his hands and finally pulled a thick booklet from the pile of books, "Found it, this is the one."

Chen Zhen caught a glimpse of the cover: "Jiangcheng Local Chronicles · Dongshan Volume," 1960-1980.

Old Wu opened the booklet, quickly flipped to a certain page, and pointed his finger at a line of text: "There, right here."

Chen Zhen leaned in to look.

It was a brief entry: "In March 1975, a meteorite shower fell in the Dongshan area, with scattered landing points, the largest fragment weighing about 1.2 kilograms. The Municipal Geological Bureau collected some samples and cataloged them."

Below it was a small note: "According to observations, there was an abnormal light phenomenon in the night sky before the meteorite fell, lasting about two minutes."

The "unnamed meteorite fragment" mentioned in Engineer Gu's notes was actually recorded by the authorities, though the description was more concise and classified as a conventional astronomical phenomenon, a "meteorite shower."

But the "abnormal light phenomenon" in the note matched Engineer Gu's observation.

"Take this booklet and read it," Old Wu handed the local chronicles to him, "There are some other records inside that might be useful to you."

Chen Zhen took it: "Thank you, Grandpa Wu."

"Saying thanks again." Old Wu waved his hand, "Go on, there's not much work today, you can go back early."