Peking University has always been a place where talented people gather, and it's not uncommon to find geniuses. However, someone who can simultaneously create Chinese and Latin exam papers is still a rare sight for everyone.

  Especially those Northern University students who were afraid of Latin, were even more shocked and stunned. A rickshaw puller could actually do Latin exercises with his left hand, looking confident and not like he was scribbling randomly. Those Northern University students who always looked down on others and considered themselves the best, couldn't help but feel ashamed.

  The sudden change of events shocked Xu Erda, seeing his own limelight completely stolen, he couldn't help but feel resentful to the point of itching teeth. He didn't have the skill of holding a pen in his left hand, so he could only honestly do his homework, but his heart was already in disarray, and the words he wrote were all crooked and twisted.

  The classroom was quiet, and you could even hear the sound of pens scratching on the test papers. Many female college students' eyes looking at Chen Zikong already had a color of admiration, Lin Wenjing was proud to say: "He is the driver of my family."

  Chen Zikun sneaked a glance at the onlookers, feeling secretly pleased with himself. He then looked at Xu Er again, and coincidentally, Xu Er was also looking at him. Their eyes met, and Xu Er immediately shrank back, feeling guilty.

  Gu Hongming and Liu Shipei exchanged a glance, both showing relief. Others may not be aware of Chen Zikun's true abilities, but they knew him inside out. This young man appeared to be an illiterate laborer on the surface, but in reality, he was proficient in French, Russian, and classical Chinese literature. To be honest, this competition had a hint of unfairness, but after all, it was just a gamble, and who cared about anything else? Moreover, it could motivate their classmates to make progress, so why not? Therefore, they would never expose the truth.

  Chen Zikun's trick fooled the university students, but it couldn't fool the professors who have seen a lot. At first glance, writing with both hands seems very impressive, but after careful analysis, many Westerners write with their left hand, and the Latin alphabet is much simpler than Chinese characters, so it's not surprising that he can write with his left hand. Moreover, most of the questions on this test are multiple-choice questions, which only require ticking A, B, C or D. According to observation, he didn't answer the questions simultaneously with both hands, but rather alternated between left and right, cheating by mixing up the answers.

  Of course, being able to do this is also considered a personal talent.

  Ten minutes passed quickly, the bell rang to signal the end of the exam, and Xu Er stood up with his test paper: "I'm submitting!" Then he pointed at Chen Zikun: "Why is he still writing?"

  Xu Tinggo, who was full of hope that his family's car would win, also chimed in: "Right, why is he still writing? The exam time is up."

  Chen Zikun ignored them and focused on answering the questions, but there were too many questions to finish within ten minutes, even if he had three heads and six arms.

  Wang Yueqi, who had secretly been in love with Xu Da Shao Ye for a long time, chimed in: "The exam time is up, we can't let him continue writing anymore."

  But more voices rose up: "Let him write, let him write!"

  Even the college students who had originally placed their bets on Xu Er also joined in the shouting: "Let him write!"

  Cai Yuanpei smiled and said: "The minority should obey the majority."

  The students cheered, Chen Zikong proudly bowed and thanked in all directions, stealing a glance at Lin Wenjing's small face excitedly red in the crowd, and his writing became even more divine. The amount of questions that Xu Er took an hour to finish, he finished in half an hour, and when he handed in his paper, the classroom erupted in applause.

  The review was conducted openly on the spot by a strong team of professors who collectively scored, supervised by all students present, and finally reviewed by President Cai Yuanpei.

  The final result was soon announced, and Cai Yuanpei read out: "Xu Er, Chinese 88 points, English 79 points!"

  Before his classmates could react, Chen Zikun's transcript was also released: "Chen Zikun, Chinese 90 points, Latin 99 points. The deduction in Chinese is because the essay was not written with a brush pen, and the deduction in Latin is because the handwriting is not neat enough."

  Another burst of applause, and it was clear who had won and lost. Chen Zikun was pushed to the front stage, while Xuer's heart felt sour and regretful, but then he too was pushed forward, only to see Cai Yuanpei stretch out his hand for a warm handshake.

  "Thank you, fellow workers." Cai Yuanpei held one hand of Xu Er and the other hand of Chen Zikun, facing a group of enthusiastic university students, saying: "Now announce the winner."

  Everyone held their breath and waited for the final result.

  Cai Yuanpei smiled and raised both hands, "The result is --- a win-win!"

  Xu Er was a bit dazed, his small eyes blinking repeatedly. Chen Zi Kun, on the other hand, had an extremely elegant demeanor as he extended his hand, "Congratulations, Brother Xu Er."

  "Oh, congratulations." Xu Er hastily shook hands with him.

  The audience applauded again. Students who can enter Peking University naturally have their own strengths and can think it through as soon as they move their brains, so they can understand why the principal announced such a result.

  Cai Yuanpei pressed his hand down, and after the noise subsided, he said: "Fellow students, I suppose you can understand the result I just announced. What we call gambling is merely a means to motivate everyone to study. The two workers are from the lower classes of laborers, they have never been to school, nor have they read books, but that doesn't mean they don't have the ability to learn. They and China's hundreds of millions of laboring people lack not wisdom or diligence, but an opportunity."

  The classroom was so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping on the ground could be heard.

  "And you, the elite from all over the country, students of Peking University, you have the best teachers, the best environment, and the most relaxed learning atmosphere. Your parents, your teachers, and the country have invested so many resources for you to study, all in the hope that after you succeed, you will strive to become strong and build a great and prosperous China where everyone has access to education, food, work, and opportunities to attend Peking University."

  A long and warm applause, the professors also stood up to applaud, the students were even more excited, Xu Er was moved by Principal Cai's inspiring speech, his eyes turned red, he wiped away tears with his hand, and joined in the applause.

  The applause subsided, and Cai Yuanpei said: "The result is what I decided, but as for how to compensate the money, you can take care of it yourself. I only represent the school to give a gift to the two candidates. Just to show our sincerity."

  He took out two Peking University badges and pinned them on Xu Er and Chen Zikun's chests, shaking hands with them: "The gates of Peking University are always open to you both, welcome to apply to our school in the near future."

  Gu Hongming stood up and said slowly, "I'll say a couple of words. This gamble was originally meaningless in terms of winning or losing. It's not easy for you students to save some pocket money. How about this? We'll consider the money lost in this round as mine. If I remember correctly, all of you bet 213 yuan, except for one female classmate who bet two jiao on me. Is that female classmate here today?"

  Lin Wenjing was shyly pushed out by her classmates.

  Gu Hongming smiled and said: "Thanks for trusting me so much. You've paid two jiao, now I'll give you twenty yuan, are you satisfied?"

  Lin Wenjing lowered her head and said softly: "Satisfied."

  Gu Hongming burst out laughing, and had someone bring two thick stacks of silver dollars to Lin Wenjing, saying: "Two hundred thirteen taels, I've also prepared them. Here, take them to Brother Chen."

  I came forward, presenting a tray full of glittering silver dollars. Xu Er's eyes widened as he watched from the side, his gaze so intense it seemed like he wanted to pounce on them and clutch them all to his chest.

  Chen Zikun also rubbed his hands and twisted: "How can this be good?"

  Kung Hsiang-ming tapped him with a small stick: "If it's yours, take it and don't be polite."

  Several parties to another gambling contract also stood up, including Liu Shipei, Huang Kan, Hu Shi, Fu Sinian, Luo Jialun and Xu Tingge. They had just consulted with each other and decided that Hu Shi would announce the result.

  Hu Shi said: "The hardworking spirit of the two workers is worth our study. In order to reward them, we professors each contributed 260 yuan, a total of 520 yuan, as assistance for their further studies."

  The professors' kind act made the classmates cheer and applaud, Chen Zikun and Xu Er were overjoyed. A few hundred yuan was just a month's salary for the professors, but for Xu Er, it would take him ten years to save that much, and for Chen Zikun, it solved his urgent need for bicycle funds.

  Cai Yuanpei smiled as he watched the students' heated discussion, when suddenly someone approached him and whispered: "Principal Cai, it's a call from the Premier's office, please go over."

  "What's wrong?" Cai Yuanpei furrowed his brow.

  "It might be Professor Chen's affair... Minister Fu of the Ministry of Education was also summoned."

  "Alright, I'll go." Cai Yuanpei quietly retreated from the scene. The recent newspapers had been reporting on the Peking University professors and leaders of the New Culture Movement fighting and quarreling in the brothels, which made him extremely passive. Although he clearly knew that this storm was stirred up by a group of conservatives led by Xu Shuzheng within the government, as the president of the university, he had to take on this responsibility.

  ……

  The professors dispersed, Xu Tingge and his group took Xu Erqing to celebrate, Wang Yueqi also followed them to join in the fun, the large classroom was left with only Lin Wenjing standing alone, smiling at Chen Zikun.

  "Uncle, I want to thank you, helped me win a lot of money." Lin Wenjing said.

  "Hehe, it's Uncle who should be thanked, Uncle won more money!" Chen Zikun patted the saddle bag and walked up to ask: "School's out, going home?"

  "Hmm." Lin Wenjing nodded slightly.

  "I'll send you." Chen Zikun said naturally.

  Lin Wenjing didn't think there was anything wrong with it and said, "Okay."

  His voice was both tender and sweet, Chen Zikun's half body had melted, his beautiful dream had come true, he wore the Peking University badge on his chest, the canvas bag on his shoulder was filled with big bucks, more importantly, there was a beautiful girl by his side.

  Two people walked side by side on the way home, gray bricks and tiles of the alley, long calls, the eaves of the Forbidden City in the distance, and the quietly sprouting willow trees, forming a unique painting of old Beijing.

  There were vendors selling pinwheels by the roadside. Chen Zikong, being wealthy and generous, took out a big coin to buy one, which Lin Wenjing held in her hand, puffed up her cute cheeks to blow it, but felt that the wind power was not enough, so she ran around with the pinwheel, her white scarf fluttering in the wind, and her silvery laughter echoing through the alley.

  Chen Zikun followed behind with a smile, unaware that this ordinary day in the spring of 1919 would be one of the most unforgettable days of his life.