Study Monster Cultivation System

Chapter 16: Please Remember Your Essay Writing Techniques

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Li Zheng?” Hu Chunmei stood up and asked, “Why did you bring so many books?”

Li Zheng looked up from his dam of books and replied without evading the question, “I’ve gained strength after experiencing humiliation. I’m studying Chemistry intensively.”

At the same time, he tried to keep himself from looking at Lin Yujing.

“Look at him…” Hu Chunmei was slightly consoled. She nodded and said, “That’s what it means to be a good student!”

She still felt bad for Li Zheng when she saw the mountain of books even though she had commended him.

“Li Zheng, don’t be too upset. There’s an explanation for your grades this time,” Hu Chunmei said with a gentle tone. “Mrs. Xiaotang told me that while there were no problems with your grammar or the structure of your essay, you chose a risky question. You would be put at a disadvantage if you wrote this way for your college entrance exams. Mrs. Xiaotang only gave you 30 marks for your essay as a reminder. Take it that your grade has been forced down by 20 points. Look at your ranking again after you add that 20 points yourself.”

Liu Yue shifted her eyes and interrupted, “Does that mean that Li Zheng’s true score is higher than Jiang Qinghua?”

“Stop interrupting like you’re the only one who understands!” Hu Chunmei turned around and scolded, “With Liu Xin occupying the bottom spot, is 300 points enough to make you float on a cloud?”

On the other side of the room, Jiang Qinghua shot a smile toward Li Zheng. “Straight-A Student Li, I got 570 points and am ranked 39. You can do the calculations yourself.”

Li Zheng returned an awkward smile.

He did not mind his ranking in class.

However, if he were to use Jiang Qinghua as a reference point, and if Mrs. Tao, his language teacher, had not marked him down, his total score would be higher than 571. He would be placed within the top 40.

If he continued this way, he would be able to enter the elite class when they were reassigned into different classes at the end of the year.

Li Zheng regained his former spirit when he thought about this.

Li Zheng thought, “I won’t blame Mrs. Xiaotang, of course. On the contrary, I have to thank her.

“I’ll remember now. I should not explore real-world problems when writing an argumentative essay in the future.

“It has to be hypothetical.

“I’ll have to read less of Lu Xun and more newspapers if I want to do well on my essays.

“Zhou Shuren.”

At this moment, Hu Chunmei finally caught her breath.

She said, “Students, I’ve said all I can.

“Go home and have a good talk with your parents about your result slips.

“I’ve taught for 20 years. This is all I can do.

“Please take out your textbooks…

“Oh yes, Li Zheng has already grasped this topic. You can study on your own like Lin Yujing.

“Please flip to page 47.”

Class began.

However, Hu Chumei’s disappointed expression did not fade.

It created an oppressive atmosphere in class.

However, Li Zheng had walked out of his dark clouds a long time ago.

He opened up his pencil case.

A bitter reminder.

“Chemistry: 57 points.”

It was a powerful reminder.

“There will be no more means of retreat. I will eventually understand all of the theorems,” Li Zheng thought.

“I’ll subject myself to hardship to strengthen my resolve and do better. I’ll use the equations I learn to beat Lin Yujing in the future!

“The feeling is here.”

Li Zheng impatiently flipped open his chemistry textbook and returned to the first page.

He tossed away his disgust and started from the very top.

“28 times the speed, full throttle,” Li Zheng said in his head.

“Chemistry, I have arrived.”

…

Time was but a construct when Li Zheng started studying.

Li Zheng was in the ocean of Chemistry.

Information about chemical compounds, decomposition, and chemical replacement floated around him.

Ions, molecules, and electrons were brought on rolling waves.

Radiant blue copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate shone within the deep, boundless ocean.

Li Zheng.

He ingested them all.

In the past, he would not have been able to spend this much energy concentrating on Chemistry.

He would become distracted after studying for a little while and start to doubt what he was doing.

It could not be helped. Everyone’s brain was wired differently. There was a difference in adaptability between the various subjects.

As time passed, a person would not receive positive encouragement in the subjects they were poor at and develop feelings of failure. They would thus avoid the subject, which would ultimately result in an irreversible, terrifying outcome.

Being biased against the subject.

Li Zheng had always tried to avoid being biased against the subject to much success.

Furthermore, the more Li Zheng, who had no interest in Chemistry, forced himself to study, the more pain he felt.

He could not find the comfort he got when he studied mathematics or physics.

All he felt was as though he was chewing on wax at the same time as having doubts about what he was doing.

This time, he chose to vigorously memorize the textbook.

He was going to memorize all of the chemical equations in the books.

He was going to get his body to produce an instinctive reaction to the chemical symbols.

He wanted to be able to produce an answer to a chemical equation the moment he saw it without having to think about it.

“Heaven rewards the diligent. Bring it on!” Li Zheng thought.

…

Ring…

The bell interrupted Li Zheng’s thought process.

He did not know how long he had been studying.

He raised his head to look at the clock. Only one period had passed.

He then looked at his energy.

[16.6/27]

“So I’ve already studied for 16 hours,” Li Zheng thought.

“I’ve exhausted a large portion of today’s energy.

“It’s time to check the results.”

Li Zheng opened the study interface.

Before this, his score for Chemistry was 63. It would be easy to complete the “Passion for a Single Subject” mission if he managed to increase it to 80 after an effortful study session.

He briefly scanned the subject scores, then became wide-eyed.

[Chemistry: 65 ↑]

Li Zheng thought, “It only increased by less than two points even after 16 hours of enhanced studying?”

“That’s half the reward for 28 times the effort!

“I’ve clearly… almost memorized half of the book.

“Is Chemistry truly this hard?”

Li Zheng stood up aimlessly, lost.

He felt awful.

He thought, “Now that it has come to this, it’s too late for me to use a study method to consolidate my knowledge.

“The only strategy I have left is to study past the syllabus.”

He charged out of the classroom and climbed to the fourth floor.

This was the territory of the third-years.

Unlike the second-years’ area, the entire territorial block of the third-years was enveloped in a studious aura.

There were not many people in the corridors even though it was the period between lessons.

The people who were in the corridors seemed deep in thought as they walked.

Some people even memorized vocabulary as they walked.

An environment like this felt dependable.

Li Zheng could not help but look forward to coming here.

However, he did not have the time to observe his surroundings. He quickly walked toward the door of Class 3-1.

The classroom was filled with students even though it was the break between classes. Almost everyone was studying by themselves in their seats.

It was as though this was a group of monks reciting their sutras.

An aura of studious authority assaulted Li Zheng.

What gave Li Zheng a surge of emotion was the clear notice on the blackboard.

“239 days to the college entrance exam.”

Time was of the essence. The students were studying even as they breathed.

While Li Zheng was in a daze, a giant figure suddenly obstructed the path in front of him.

The figure completely blocked off the divine aura of the realm of study within the classroom.

Li Zheng looked up.

It was Qiao Bixia…

“She’s from the third-year elite class?” Li Zheng thought.

“Is it because she can throw a lead ball really far?”

“Yes?” Qiao Bixia stared at him with wide eyes. “What have you come here for?”

“Forgive my impertinence…” Li Zheng said in a fluster, “I’m looking for Xu Mengxi.”

“Oh.” Qiao Bixia turned her head and said, “Mengxi, someone’s looking for you.”

Then, she puckered her lips at Li Zheng, “Don’t leave after school. I’ll see you at the court.”

“I wouldn’t dare…” Li Zheng quickly moved aside and allowed Qiao Bixia to pass.

Li Zheng felt as though the ground was trembling as he looked at Qiao Bixia’s figure bouncing into the distance.

“A book should not be judged by its cover,” Li Zheng thought.

“I did not expect Qiao Bixia to also be a member of this level of study.

“Help me with this.” Xu Mengxi hugged a bundle of study materials and walked toward the door. “There’s quite a bit here. It’s impossible to finish reading it in a day. You can return it to me tomorrow afternoon.”

“No problem. I’ll photocopy it if I don’t manage to finish.” Li Zheng fetched over the study material and nodded, “I can’t thank you enough for your great benevolence.”

“Haha, I told you not to be so funny.” Xu Mengxi waved her hand and laughed. She then asked, a little worried, “You don’t look too good… Did Jingjing bully you again?”

“Bully? Her, bully me?” Li Zheng opened his eyes wide in disbelief.