CHAPTER 523: 207 WITNESS THE MIRACLE

The Chunzhou First Middle School research office had been temporarily converted into the grading center for the winter camp.

A carefully selected grading team assembled by the committee was hard at work, meticulously grading the test papers.

Due to the abstract nature of mathematics, there is not just one path to the correct answer for problem-solving questions; hence, manual grading was necessary.

The grading standards were strictly aligned with those of the national college entrance examination.

Six questions were divided among six grading groups.

During the initial grading process, the committee would define an error margin, "a." After two rounds of random grading, the average score would be calculated. If the difference fell within the margin, the test papers would continue to be distributed among the graders. If the discrepancy remained within the specified range, the paper would then be escalated to the group leader.

The final score for a student would be determined as the average of the two most consistent scores across four rounds of grading.

With over 500 papers to be graded in just two days without error, the dozens of graders were practically working without rest, food, or sleep.

Inside the grading room, no one uttered a word. Every person was deeply focused on their work. This was a matter that concerned the future of students who had diligently studied for years—it was not to be taken lightly.

At the main desk, Xie Feng, the grading group leader, set down his red pen and reached for the nearby thermos. He twisted it open to take a sip, only to discover it was empty.

His assistant, quick on her feet, approached with a tea pot and refilled the cup.

"Group Leader, you’ve worked hard. It’s getting late. You should take a break in the room next door and have your lunch."

According to the rules, all members of the grading team, including the group leader, were not allowed to leave the room until grading was complete.

However, graders were human and needed food and rest, so a lounge was set up separated by a door. Inside were simple beds, snacks, refreshments, and tea. Meals were delivered at fixed times to ensure everyone could eat.

After nearly a full day of work, meal breaks were the only moments they could catch their breath.

But with the deadline looming, it was certain that no one would be sleeping tonight.

Xie Feng rubbed his temples and was just about to stand up when suddenly a voice called out.

The voice, loud and startling as thunder on a clear day, instantly drew the attention of everyone in the room.

Xie Feng frowned and looked over, his expression faintly displeased.

The speaker was a female grader from Group Six, approximately thirty years old. Her features and demeanor were exceptionally rigid—she embodied the stereotypical image of a teacher to a fault.

She held a test paper in her hand, her gaze burning with astonishment behind her spectacles, as she exclaimed in disbelief, "I’ve witnessed a miracle."

Group Six was responsible for grading Question Six—a problem that required a higher level of expertise compared to the other questions. This time, Question Six was based on the Navier-Stokes equations, one of the seven great unsolved problems in physics.

The committee had not intended to deliberately stump the students. From the early planning stages of the winter camp, De Ren’s teaching team had been involved, aiming to select promising students from the camp and establish the Young Talent Class—a mission shrouded in secrecy, known by few.

Thus, in order to evaluate the students comprehensively, the committee had racked their brains while designing the exam. After vigorous debate, this monumental question was ultimately chosen.

As one of the seven global unsolved problems of this century, it had proven incomprehensible to generations of geniuses over the past hundred years, let alone a group of teenage high school students.

Many brilliant minds had met their downfall in the face of this challenge.

The committee knew there was no expectation of a true solution. Considering no one could solve it, the goal was to gauge the logic and creativity demonstrated in the students’ thought process and to identify the most exceptional candidates.

The woman quickly stepped forward and handed the test paper to Xie Feng. "Group Leader, we’re about to witness a miracle."

Frowning deeply, Xie Feng glanced down at the paper.

The first thing he noticed was the beautiful handwriting—elegant with a distinctive flair. Such writing could easily compete in a calligraphy contest.

He inwardly sighed, thinking, "The words reflect the person," and a blurry image of the student seemed to form in his mind.

When his gaze landed on the first line, he remained composed. But as he continued reading, his astonishment grew progressively stronger.

At his level, emotional restraint was second nature. Yet, in front of all the graders, he visibly lost his composure this time.

All eyes in the room were now on Xie Feng, and an unspoken feeling began brewing among the graders.

A grader from Group Three leaned over to a colleague and whispered, "We’ve got a dark horse."

Test papers often followed predictable patterns, just as the rote paths of millions of examinees under the system of standardized education.

But this time, a certain student’s work had left her with an extremely vivid impression. Not only was their handwriting remarkably beautiful, but their thought process in answering was genuinely astonishing—worthy of admiration.