Chapter Seventy-Nine: Setting Out for Battle

The young man truly isn’t unintelligent. She simply hasn’t yet mastered the art of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary; it’s just that he already possesses a solid foundation and is eager to learn, while she’s done the work of organizing, connecting, and thoroughly analyzing the knowledge. With his aspirations clear and his path shining ahead, Wu Tong is completely at ease, able to focus all her energy on preparing for the IMO as the countdown enters its final single digits.

Maintain seriousness, but do not panic—this is the guiding principle for everyone during these last few days of training. They have made meticulous preparations and are determined to demonstrate the spirit of invincibility, ready to triumph in every battle.

On June 30th, before the training concluded, Wu Tong received her admission letter from the Dean of Mathematics at Capital University, Pan Wenhua, who handed it to her personally. “We’re just following the proper procedures—leaving a memento for posterity!”

This was to prevent those with ulterior motives—particularly those shamelessly trying to poach their students from the neighboring institution—from succeeding.

Looking at the uniquely designed admission letter, Wu Tong thought she must be the earliest recipient among this year’s applicants.

On July 3rd, after two days of final preparations, the President of the Chinese Mathematical Society personally came to see them off. Wu Tong, together with five others and accompanied by two professors from Capital University, boarded an international flight to the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan. Astana—that would be its name in the future.

The IMO national team was officially on its journey!

Although the flight was only about three hours, and the total travel time, including waiting and transit, was just over half a day, the plane pierced through the sky, crossing thousands of kilometers to a distant foreign land. The moment they landed in Nur-Sultan, the foreign atmosphere struck them immediately.

Long ago, this land had once belonged to China. But in terms of mathematics, everything here is utterly different from the homeland, making the Chinese visitors feel like strangers in a foreign world. Unfamiliar architecture, unfamiliar faces, unfamiliar languages...

For Wu Tong and her companions, who had lived peacefully in China all their lives, their impressions of countries with “-stan” in the name were limited—war, dust, and backwardness. Compared to Chinese airports, the facilities at Nur-Sultan International Airport seemed rather simple, adding a touch of anxiety to the newly arrived visitors.

However, as they left the suburban airport and headed toward the city, the landscape gradually became more modern: tall buildings, busy traffic—a facade of a modern metropolis that eased their concerns.

This was not discrimination or prejudice, but rather a matter of responsibility. If the environment was too different and they suffered from acclimatization issues or various discomforts that affected their performance, it would be a real pity.

They settled into a hotel provided by the organizers. The first local meal left many of them somewhat unaccustomed, and the majority of the Chinese delegation felt a little out of sorts. Still, the short distance and minimal time difference made the adjustment easier.

After all, from the capital of Xinjiang to here is closer than traveling to Beijing.

As for food, Professor Li made it clear: “You’re allowed to be picky these days—choose what you like. The meat and dairy products here are good. Make sure you get enough meat, eggs, milk, and some vegetables for balanced nutrition. Don’t experiment with anything too exotic. Endure for a few days; after the competition, you’ll be well compensated back home. Let’s show our military spirit—unafraid of hardship or fatigue!”

As team leader, he repeatedly reminded them, “There’s a big temperature difference between morning and night, so pay attention to adding or removing clothing as needed. These days are especially crucial...”

This was Wu Tong’s first time going abroad, and it felt novel to her. The hotel’s food was decent, and since Wu Tong wasn’t particularly picky, she managed to avoid any unpleasant surprises with careful choices.

“Thank goodness this year’s IMO is in Kazakhstan and not India!” Chu Xiaosheng from Shanghai was still shaken after ordering a traditional Kazakh smoked horse sausage, which nearly made him lose his appetite. It’s the kind of dish that polarizes people—those who like it, really like it, but for others, it’s nothing short of culinary horror. Zhang Beibei from East China Normal University and Su Zhikang from Sichuan-Chongqing found it unique and flavorful, while the others merely tried it out of curiosity. Thanks to Chu Xiaosheng’s enthusiasm, nothing went to waste.

The two and a half days allotted for acclimatization passed in this cheerful atmosphere. Out of caution, they didn’t leave the hotel, instead spending their time inside—playing games, dining, discussing math problems, learning while relaxing, and relaxing while learning. All six had spent forty days training together in the same “trench,” and with the resourcefulness of Guo Jiachen and Chu Xiaosheng, the mood was lively.

On July 6th, the 51st International Mathematical Olympiad officially opened, with 517 students from 98 countries and regions participating.

However, aside from the Chinese team, the team leaders and students from countries and regions with well-connected sources looked visibly uneasy this year. Especially when they glanced at Wu Tong—who appeared so young in their eyes—they felt as if God, Allah, and all the true deities had abandoned their lost lambs.

China was already formidable, but this year they had truly gone too far!

To unleash such a trump card upon the rest of them—wasn’t it unfair for a superpower to act this way?

Was it really necessary to have someone who had solved Zhou’s Conjecture, published in SCI journals, appeared in the Annals of Mathematics, and could already be called an international scholar, compete against high school students? How could they possibly compare? Thank goodness there was only one of these overqualified prodigies! If the entire Chinese team were like this, there would be no point in competing—they might as well pack up and go home.

Yet, despite their dismay, there was nothing they could do. Some protested to the organizing committee, but after reviewing all the records, they confirmed that Wu was indeed a high school student—not a college student pretending to be one. In fact, she was among the youngest contestants.

To Western eyes, East Asians already appeared younger, and upon meeting Wu Tong in person, many of those who had been indignant or hostile couldn’t help but soften. It almost felt like bullying a child.

After the opening ceremony, Li Yisheng shared some news he had picked up with his team members.

“I’ve heard that this year’s IMO will be even more difficult!” Li Yisheng glanced at Wu Tong with amusement. “Don’t doubt it—it’s because of you! IMO has always liked number theory problems, and since you solved the Zhou Conjecture, well...”

He spread his hands. Fortunately, they had anticipated this and prepared in advance, so they wouldn’t be caught off guard. Wu Tong was their secret weapon!

Wu Tong shrugged—this was something she hadn’t foreseen.

The IMO spanned two days, with two exams, each consisting of three problems and lasting four and a half hours. Each problem was worth seven points, for a total of forty-two points.

On July 8th, the competition officially began.

At nine o’clock, all contestants were seated and the exams were distributed. The official languages of the IMO are English, French, German, and Russian. Each team leader had been sequestered in advance to translate the exam into their own language.

(End of chapter)