199: Showing favor

Lin You had originally planned to take Wang Xiaoyi to the hospital for a check-up on the Fifth Day of the Lunar New Year, but after dropping off Sister Wen Chun, it was already close to three in the afternoon, which wasn't a good time.

Lin You brought Wang Xiaoyi back to Ancheng No. 7 Middle School, unlocked the grade 12 class 7 classroom, and the two began studying together.

In this Nine Provinces Joint Examination, Wang Xiaoyi scored 592, not far from the 600-point threshold. The Aerospace University in Nandu City has an admission score line of around 610 within the province, so Wang Xiaoyi would need above 620 to safely choose her desired major.

For others, it is hard to return to an intense study regimen after the holiday, but Wang Xiaoyi had always firmly believed that knowledge changes destiny. While studying was hardship for others, for Wang Xiaoyi, studying was happiness.

The Sixth Day of the Lunar New Year.

Early in the morning, Lin You met up with Wang Xiaoyi and headed straight for Ancheng Central Hospital.

After the doctor's consultation, and for safety, Lin You proactively requested a full battery of tests, including Gastroscopy, X-ray, and enhanced abdominal CT... performing every test he remembered 29-year-old Wang Xiaoyi undergoing in his memory fragments.

During the process, the doctor looked at Lin You as if he were an idiot, but since Lin You was willing to pay for the tests, the doctor couldn't stop him.

While Lin You was going downstairs to pay a fee, he heard a shout from behind him as he was scanning the QR code.

“Lin You?”

Lin You turned around and saw someone unexpected.

“Senior Apprentice Sister Tang Zhenyi?”

After Lin You paid the fee, they talked nearby and realized neither was there for their own treatment. Lin You was accompanying Wang Xiaoyi, and Tang Zhenyi was nursing and looking after Professor Zheng.

“Is Professor Zheng also at this hospital?”

“Professor Zheng returned to his hometown for the New Year to visit relatives. He caught a cold, and combined with some underlying geriatric conditions, his family sent him to the hospital for a few days of recuperation.”

Lin You had already made up his mind to attend the Department of Mathematics at Nandu University and internally regarded Professor Zheng as his future teacher. He couldn't help but ask with concern, “Is it convenient to visit Professor Zheng? If so, I'll go see him after I finish my current tasks.”

Hearing this, Tang Zhenyi picked up her phone and made a call. After apparently receiving consent from the other end, she hung up and smiled, “Professor Zheng said yes, he wants to see you too.”

Before parting, Lin You suddenly asked, “Senior Apprentice Sister Tang, you know Zhang Leyun, right?”

Not many students from Ancheng get admitted to Nandu University, and even fewer are from Ancheng No. 7 Middle School. During her five years studying at Nandu University, Tang Zhenyi only got to know about a dozen Junior Male/Female Schoolmates. Zhang Leyun and she are both women and good friends.

Tang Zhenyi was slightly surprised, “You know Leyun?”

“She is my Class Teacher's daughter. I visited my Class Teacher's home recently and happened to talk to her about you, Senior Apprentice Sister.”

As Lin You spoke, he confirmed that Senior Apprentice Sister Zhang Leyun had not told Senior Apprentice Sister Tang Zhenyi about his decision to enroll in the Department of Mathematics at Nandu University.

As expected of Old Zhang's daughter! Such high caliber!

Although this was not a secret, since Professor Zheng admired Lin You, it would certainly yield better results if Lin You proactively told Professor Zheng himself.

After all, unlike their first meeting, Lin You was now a 711-point student, and the level of attention he received would naturally increase slightly.

Next, after asking for the location of Professor Zheng's ward, Lin You temporarily said goodbye to Senior Apprentice Sister Tang Zhenyi, found Wang Xiaoyi, and continued accompanying her through the tests.

Half an hour later, Wang Xiaoyi finished the last test. The report would take an hour to retrieve. Lin You saw that it was only 10:30 AM and prepared to visit Professor Zheng.

“Maybe I should just wait here for the report by myself.”

Wang Xiaoyi was a bit socially anxious, but Lin You still pulled her along. “I heard that university relies entirely on self-study. Teachers only cover the basics in class. If you want to study deeply and truly learn skills, you have to ask teachers for guidance. Come with me to meet a real Professor and Academician. Later, when you're at school, you'll be braver when facing lecturers or Associate Professors.”

Wang Xiaoyi only made a slight refusal; she never refuses Lin You.

Ancheng Central Hospital has a specialized Cadre Treatment Department, primarily serving leading cadres above the deputy county level and retired cadres.

Professor Zheng was staying in a Cadre Ward. After Lin You and Wang Xiaoyi registered at the Treatment Department service desk, a nurse led them to Professor Zheng's ward.

The ward was very spacious, furnished with a hospital bed and a companion bed, along with a sofa and a private bathroom. Light streamed in from the balcony, making the entire room very bright.

Lin You and Wang Xiaoyi walked in side-by-side. At a glance, there weren't many people in the ward: besides Professor Zheng lying on the bed, there was an Old Lady of similar age to Professor Zheng, a young man in his twenties, and Senior Apprentice Sister Tang Zhenyi.

“Professor Zheng, Happy New Year~”

The custom in Ancheng is that as long as the First Lunar Month hasn't passed, greeting someone with “Happy New Year” is acceptable.

“Lin You, Happy New Year~ Quick, sit down.”

Tang Zhenyi had called ahead to inform him, and Professor Zheng had been waiting for Lin You. After Lin You sat down, the two parties introduced themselves. Professor Zheng was clearly in good spirits, smiling and nodding at Wang Xiaoyi as well.

Although Professor Zheng was old, he had been young once. He guessed this young girl must be Lin You's girlfriend; otherwise, who would accompany a Classmate to the doctor during the Lunar New Year?

That Old Lady was Professor Zheng's Wife, and the young man in his twenties was a younger relative of Professor Zheng in Ancheng. Professor Zheng had been hospitalized for three days, and all visitors had already come, so today only a few close caregivers remained.

“Lin You, I've been following your scores recently. Truly, the young surpass the old! When I last saw you, you had over 650 points, and this time I heard you scored 711, ranking first in the Nine Provinces Joint Examination. I foolishly worried you wouldn't get into Nandu University and wanted you to apply through the Strong Base Plan. Now, you must be heading to Qingbei, right?”

It was clear that the incident from Professor Zheng's childhood had a profound impact on him, leading him to pay extraordinary attention to Lin You, who had also experienced a similar event while acting heroically.

Lin You looked confused, tilting his head and asking, “Does Qingbei have a Professor Zheng? If not, I'm definitely going to Nandu University. I was worried Professor Zheng wouldn't think much of a simple high school student like me.”

Professor Zheng immediately understood that Lin You had researched his background, but he didn't mind. The status of an Academician is inherently a powerful tool for attracting talent and investment. He initially didn't let Tang Zhenyi tell Lin You, fearing it would create a situation of “the big bullying the small,” making it seem like he was “forcing” someone to apply to the Department of Mathematics at Nandu University.

Professor Zheng burst into laughter. Even he was highly regarded towards a student who could score 711 points, a level comparable to the top scorer in the college entrance examination.

Moreover, Lin You's step-by-step rise was practically a legend among high school students. With such an experience of continuous effort and catching up, he would surely be diligent in academic research later on, and his baseline would certainly not be low.

“Good, good, good. Maintain your scores for the next six months. When you enroll in September, report to my office, and you will study mathematics under me from then on!”

Lin You had the maxed-out entry (skill) with him and could start immediately. Hearing this, he opened his mouth somewhat shyly, “Professor Zheng, could you compile a reading list for me when you have time? My high school studies are basically finished. Recently, I've just been doing practice problems to stay sharp. If I have time, I'd like to start learning university courses early.”

Lin You seemed overly ambitious, but in Professor Zheng's eyes, this was exactly what he wanted. Professor Zheng believed that most high school courses were merely tools used to prove one's learning ability and achieve higher scores to enter better universities.

Lin You had already proven himself, and not wasting time repeatedly doing practice problems was the correct choice.

“Excellent, excellent, excellent!” Professor Zheng was a little excited and sat up straight.

His Wife on the side complained, “You're such an old man, why do you get so worked up so easily?”

Professor Zheng didn't mind. He held his Wife's hand and smiled widely at Lin You, saying, “From now on, just call me Teacher. Your Teacher's Wife is right; health is the capital for revolution. I'm currently hospitalized, but once I'm discharged, I will help you properly plan your study route.”