Chapter 31: Xu You's Doubts Are Significant

Dragging a large suitcase, Xu You arrived at the campus of Shengcheng University.

The internal selection competition for the Physics Olympiad team and the pre-selection training camp were both to be held at the College of Physics of Shengcheng University.

If he successfully made it onto the provincial team, he would continue to attend the provincial team's training camp here.

After reporting to Xu Zhou, Xu You prepared various necessities for living, ready for a long-term stay away from home.

This was Xu You's first time living away from home for an extended period.

However, for Xu You, who was already accustomed to being on his own at home, this wasn't much of a difference.

It was merely a change of sleeping location.

After contacting Hu Shucheng, the two met up on the campus of Shengcheng University.

"Xu You, you brought so much stuff too?"

"Yeah, I might need to stay here for a month, so I brought extra clothes to change into."

"Haha, I thought the same. My mom was worried about the college cafeteria's food not being good, so she packed me several jars of pickles. Let's eat them together."

"That's unnecessary. The college cafeteria's food should be fine. We're here to learn, not for military training."

"You're right. But getting to experience the university campus in advance is pretty nice."

Shengcheng University might not be the top university in the country, but it was still a key university.

Hearing that Hu Shucheng's mother had specially prepared pickles for him, Xu You felt a bit emotional.

For parents, sending their child to a university training camp must be a big deal, right?

Other parents would likely prepare all sorts of things for their child before they leave.

Some might even personally deliver their child.

But Xu You had to handle all this alone.

"Ah, don't think about it. Both my dad and mom are dedicated to their research." Xu You consoled himself internally.

He knew his father, Xu Zhou, worked on material science research.

As for his mother, Wu Jing, even Xu You was not quite clear about what she researched.

He only knew it was very important, possibly even classified.

As a child, Xu You couldn't understand why his parents were often absent, which made him quite introverted.

As he grew older, Xu You understood the significance of his parents' work.

Their work was not just about earning a living but was closely related to the country's future development.

In his spare time, Xu You also followed the latest developments in science and technology.

He aspired to enter a university and dedicate his life to the field of scientific research like his parents.

Unfortunately, Xu You's academic performance had not been outstanding, making that goal seem far off.

But now, Xu You was gradually approaching that once distant goal.

On the way, Xu You saw other students dragging their luggage, apparently also here for the Physics Olympiad training camp.

Some were even accompanied by their parents.

"Physics Department Building 301, this is it."

Upon reaching the designated classroom, Xu You found some students were already there.

Students were chatting in groups, likely from the same school.

After a while, two individuals who appeared to be teachers entered the classroom.

The students quickly ceased their chatter and took their seats.

"Hello, students. I am Hu Zheng from Shengcheng University's College of Physics, your competition coach. This is Teacher Chen Yan, responsible for the camp's management. Please note down Teacher Chen's phone number; she'll be available 24/7 for emergencies."

Students took out their phones to save Chen Yan's number.

"First, let's talk about safety. Shortly, we'll arrange for you to stay at a hotel near the school gate as your dormitory. Everyone must return to the dorm by 10 PM each night. Teacher Chen will check the rooms. If you're not staying in the dorm for any reason, please inform Teacher Chen in advance."

Safety was the top priority for the ten-day camp.

After outlining some key points, Hu Zheng concluded the meeting.

"Some of you are from out of town and may be tired from your journey. We won't have classes today. Starting tomorrow, we'll spend most of our time in this classroom. Please adjust your condition tonight; I hope we can meet again after the selection competition."

Hearing Hu Zheng's final words, some students became serious.

The selection competition in Ningjiang Province considered both the preliminary and selection competition results.

Thus, aside from a few students with top scores, others did not have full confidence in making it to the provincial team.

The next ten days of study and the selection competition would be crucial.

After the meeting, Chen Yan led the forty-some students to a hotel outside the campus.

"Why even have a selection competition? Just pick the provincial team based on the preliminary results."

As the third-place finisher in the preliminaries, Huang Qingzh

ong couldn't help but complain.

"Exactly. Another test is just annoying," Wei Lan agreed.

"Actually, having a selection competition is good. For you two, it's just a matter of answering some questions to make it. For those of us ranked fifteenth or lower, it's another opportunity."

"Heh, don't talk like that. It's hard enough to get into the top fifteen, and now there's a chance to be eliminated in the selection. It's just ridiculous."

This time, Shengcheng Experimental School had over ten students who achieved provincial first-class and entered the training camp.

After complaining about Ningjiang's competition system, they quietly discussed Shengcheng No. 4 School's situation.

"Those two are from Shengcheng No. 4 School, right?"

"Yeah, the curly-haired one is Hu Shucheng. We were in the same training camp last time. The other must be the legendary Xu You."

"It's incredible that No. 4 School snagged the top two spots."

"Ah, I can hardly believe No. 4 School has two such outstanding students. Could there be some issue?"

"Having dealt with Hu Shucheng before, he indeed has something. But this Xu You, there's definitely something fishy."

As a member of the previous provincial team, Huang Qingzhong had some understanding of Hu Shucheng.

To him, Hu Shucheng was a physics prodigy.

It was conceivable for such a student to emerge from No. 4 School.

Yet, the emergence of Xu You this year was utterly unbelievable.

In Huang Qingzhong's memory, Xu You certainly hadn't achieved provincial first-class in the previous Physics Olympiad.

His sudden rise to first place in the preliminaries indeed seemed too abrupt.

(End of Chapter)