Chapter 38: In That Case, I Shall Check My Admission Status Too!

If the appearance of Liu Rumeng had dispelled the audience's doubts about the lecture, then the moment Zhang Shengwu stepped onto the stage, the students were thrown into a complete frenzy.

"It’s Zhang Shengwu, the top scorer in the college entrance exam from two years ago! A perfect score in math and only one point shy of a perfect score in the comprehensive science section. He’s not just a top student; he’s a genius, my absolute idol!"

"I was only a freshman in high school back then, and I watched his television interview—he was incredible! Getting to hear him share his study tips today is worth every penny!"

Because Zhang Shengwu had been featured on a provincial television interview, at least a third of the students and parents present recognized him. Nevertheless, Chang Fuyou picked up the microphone and introduced him ceremoniously:

"The person beside me is our province’s 2008 science top scorer, Zhang Shengwu, currently a junior in the Software Engineering Department at Peking University. We are fortunate to have him here today, and he will soon share his insights on the path to becoming a top scorer."

*Clap, clap, clap!*

Thunderous, enthusiastic applause erupted from the crowd. The accompanying parents were particularly excited, as if their own children might suddenly become top scorers just by listening to the lecture.

Meanwhile, Liu Rumeng, who had retreated to the side, looked at Zhang Shengwu and then at Huo Qitai, a wry smile appearing on her face. She realized then that even if she hadn't stepped in to save the day, Huo Qitai had already made thorough preparations; he had genuinely invited a top student from Peking University. Moreover, he was a provincial top scorer—a much more significant achievement than her own tenth-place ranking.

Liu Rumeng looked out at the audience and noticed, as expected, that few eyes were on her anymore; they were all fixed on Zhang Shengwu.

"It seems I was just being narcissistic, then?"

Slowly retreating to her seat, Liu Rumeng said to Vivian, feeling a bit awkward.

"Mengmeng, doesn't this suggest that in your heart, there is a place for this kiss-stealing scoundrel?" Vivian teased, rubbing salt into the wound. "They say that constant longing eventually leads to a response, right?"

"Your head! Vivian, I think you should stop trying to learn idioms. Every time you speak, it sounds so strange," Liu Rumeng replied, feeling gloomy.

...

The person feeling even more frustrated was Zhang Ting, who had been the first to fire shots at Huo Qitai.

"Mengmeng came, and now there's a top scorer? How on earth is Huo Qitai so well-connected?"

Zhang Ting could never have imagined that the Peking University lecture hosted by Huo Qitai would actually live up to its name. The Lin siblings also stared with their mouths agape, looking at the radiant Huo Qitai on stage; he felt like a complete stranger.

Indeed! After the two Peking University prodigies appeared, the protagonist on stage returned to being Huo Qitai. He clicked on his prepared presentation and began to "teach" the now-calm audience.

"Right! It’s finally my turn to speak. Those Peking University geniuses certainly carry weight! If it weren't for them holding down the fort, I’m afraid none of you would be interested in listening to me..."

His slightly humorous opening earned a supportive laugh from the audience, and their focus and curiosity shifted toward him. They were quite puzzled: with two top-tier students present, how could this "nobody" Huo Qitai justify speaking first?

"Now, our lecture officially begins. Everyone, please take a look at the transcripts on the screen..."

*Swish, swish, swish...*

Huo Qitai’s presentation displayed his scores and rankings from every exam since his senior year. Clicking his mouse, he introduced them sincerely.

"As you can see, and as my classmates who attacked me earlier mentioned, my grades in high school were indeed terrible—I was at the very bottom of the First High School. However, please look at the grades and rankings from my final semester. I started at 400 points, ranking in the bottom hundred, and with each monthly exam, I improved by over fifty points, climbing a hundred spots in the rankings. Finally, my college entrance exam score was 579, ranking me 7,264th in the province for science."

Under this unique self-introduction, the audience began to stir once more.

"That improvement is too fast!"

"I’m only at 400 points right now. If I could get a score like his in the college entrance exam, I’d be over the moon."

"Could it be that he used the study methods of the Peking University geniuses to improve so quickly?"

"That must be it! No wonder he was allowed to speak first—he is the most powerful proof of these methods!"

...

By laying out the trajectory of his improvement, Huo Qitai didn't need much explanation to be persuasive.

"That's right! I have mastered a set of effective and scientific study methods, and today I will share them with you. Studying isn't as hard as you think, and the knowledge required for the college entrance exam isn't as vast as you imagine. After all, there are only a few textbooks for the three years of high school; they don't even make a tall stack. So why haven't most of us managed to learn them well? The key lies in inner drive and scientific methods. Next, please look at the screen. Based on my own experience, I have categorized study methods suitable for students at different levels..."

Once these words were out, everyone in the room stared intently at the screen, pricking up their ears for fear of missing a single word. Even the top scorer Zhang Shengwu, invited by Chang Fuyou, watched seriously, finding Huo Qitai quite interesting.

"Inner drive refers to a genuine desire to learn, to identify and fill gaps in your knowledge, and to improve your scores. It is not like completing a task where you stare blankly at your book with lifeless eyes while your hand mindlessly scribbles on paper. Like a headless fly, looking at one problem here and reciting a few lines there—that kind of studying only serves to deceive yourself and your teachers. This is why many parents are puzzled: their children are buried in their desks every day, yet their grades never improve. However, I believe that most of you who paid for tickets to be here today truly want to learn and possess that inner drive. You are willing to focus and study seriously, so why is the effect mediocre? Why, when you work so hard, do your grades remain stagnant? Yet, look at the top students in your class—they don't seem as diligent as you, but they easily achieve results you can only dream of."

*Whoosh!*

As Huo Qitai reached this point, it resonated deeply with the students. These words touched their very hearts. He then pointed to the content on the screen and continued:

"Scientific study methods are the best catalysts for hard work. Sadly, ninety percent of students have failed to master them. You only know how to follow your teacher's explanations in class and complete homework after school, thinking you've finished the learning process. In reality, the teaching schedule is always geared toward the students who are average or even slower. If you always follow the teacher's pace, you will forever remain in that average group. Especially now, in your senior year, you must combine your own situation with more effective and scientific methods."

Huo Qitai clicked his mouse again, and a list of study methods appeared on the screen.

1. Systematic Learning: Form a knowledge tree in your mind for every subject. Sort through the scattered information in your head.
2. Selective Learning: Eighty percent of the college entrance exam consists of basic questions; only twenty percent are advanced. If you aren't aiming for an incredibly high score, abandon those difficult topics and focus on the basics.
3. Modular Learning: By reviewing the syllabus, turn your weak points into distinct modules. Devote an entire morning or afternoon to tackling one module until you fully understand it. This makes your progress clear.
4. Dream Learning: You can memorize difficult or hard-to-recite knowledge right before bed. Your brain will continue to process it in your sleep. I have tested this personally; the effect is excellent.

...

One by one, the study methods and tips were explained with depth and clarity, thanks to Huo Qitai's excellent oratorical skills. Some of these were methods he had summarized himself, but many were "true scriptures" he had gathered from various top students while working as a trainer at New Oriental.

The students below went from dismissive to attentive, and then to frantically taking notes... It was 2010, and in a small city like Jian'an, students mostly engaged in rote memorization; where else would they find such powerful methods? The internet wasn't as developed as it would become, and even if methods were shared online, most students wouldn't think to search for them. Therefore, Huo Qitai’s two-hour lecture was a complete "dimensional strike" for them.

Every student felt deeply enlightened and gained a great deal, finding methods that suited them. Their enthusiasm for learning was ignited, and they couldn't wait to go home and study day and night.

"Mengmeng! This Huo Qitai is truly impressive! Many of his learning theories are the same as what our teachers with PhDs in education say..."

Vivian hadn't taken it seriously at first, but after listening carefully, even she gained a lot. Yet, the more this happened, the more Liu Rumeng frowned, whispering, "He prepared so meticulously and learned so many methods; he must be planning to retake the exam and get into Peking University next year."

"Hehe! Isn't that right? A good woman fears a persistent man. This Huo Qitai is definitely going to pester you. Mengmeng, it seems you only have one year of freedom left. Next year, he might really chase you all the way to Peking University!" Vivian joked.

...

The Director of the Education Bureau, sitting in the front row, listened with total concentration, nodding in approval.

"Principal Wang, your school is full of hidden talent. Although Huo Qitai's score wasn't high, his eloquence is remarkable, and his summary of study methods is excellent. Looking at the grades he displayed, it seems he only started applying these methods in his final semester! Doesn't that mean if he had more time, he could have done even better? Which school did he apply to? We should know the results today."

Facing Director Zhong's inquiry, Principal Wang felt a bit awkward. He had someone check earlier, and to his surprise, this Huo Qitai was incredibly bold—he only filled in the Economics Department at Peking University and left everything else blank. In the entire First High School, only two people had applied to Peking University: Liu Rumeng and Huo Qitai.

Principal Wang could only smile helplessly and say truthfully, "Huo Qitai is likely planning to retake the year; he filled out his application randomly, listing only the Economics Department at Peking University."

"He’s applying to Peking University with a 579? And for the competitive Economics Department?" Director Zhong was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "It seems he is truly confident about retaking the year! Good! It’s worth encouraging. If he can continue to work hard using these methods, perhaps our Jian'an City will produce another Peking University student next year."

...

After Huo Qitai finished sharing his methods, the original plan was to end the lecture and distribute materials. But since two Peking University students were there to help, Huo Qitai naturally made the most of it, inviting them to share their own methods.

However, both Liu Rumeng and Zhang Shengwu were talented, "gifted" learners. They didn't really have advanced methods; they simply remembered information after one look and grasped complex problems instantly. Consequently, the tips they shared were only applicable to people with their level of talent. Especially with Huo Qitai’s brilliant performance preceding them, their sharing felt dry and lacked substance.

In the end, even the top scorer Zhang Shengwu, after speaking, paid tribute to Huo Qitai, praising him highly.

"My study methods are essentially just practicing and thinking more—things I've done naturally since I was young. They don't really apply to most people. I personally feel that the truly effective and targeted methods were those shared by Huo Qitai earlier. Even I benefited a lot from listening to him. Like all of you, I should learn more from him..."

His words resonated deeply with the students. They knew best what kind of "shoes" fit them. Having heard both Huo Qitai’s methods and those of the two Peking University students, they easily discerned which were more practical. At that moment, the stature of Huo Qitai in their minds surpassed that of Liu Rumeng and Zhang Shengwu combined. Many of them shared Director Zhong's view: if Huo Qitai had more time to study, he could certainly achieve much more.

"Alright! Have you all noted down the study methods from our two Peking University guests? As for the methods I mentioned, there's no need to write them down. We have thoughtfully printed them into booklets. When you leave, you can collect one at the door with your ticket. It contains not only the methods I spoke about but also a series of study materials and practice problems I have painstakingly compiled. Whether you can achieve a satisfying score next year depends on these materials. I hope you won't let your 999-yuan ticket—or your youth—go to waste. Use your inner drive and scientific methods to achieve an unprecedented score in the coming year! Thank you all!"

After his closing remarks, Huo Qitai bowed deeply to the audience. The entire hall erupted in enthusiastic applause. Every student who had come to listen felt it was worth it. Only Zhang Ting, Lin Yan, and their group maintained cynical expressions, believing Huo Qitai was just spouting nonsense; how could someone who couldn't even get into a good school teach others how to study?

As the closing music played, the lights in the hall came up, and the audience prepared to leave, still feeling unfulfilled. At that moment, Huo Qitai spoke into the microphone again, quite playfully:

"Oh! I’ve been so busy with the lecture that I forgot to check my own admission status. Liu Rumeng got into Peking University—I'm so envious! I wonder what school I’ve been admitted to? Let me check my status too."

With that, under the gaze of all the departing audience members, Huo Qitai used the computer on stage to enter his admission ticket number and password, and clicked [Search].

...

[PS: The study methods in this chapter are real. I have tested them personally, and the results are excellent. I hope they are helpful to any students reading this book.]