How to Convince Him
"Oh? Why can't you accept it?" Dean Gu asked curiously.
Su Li pointed at the cover of the textbook and said, "I don't intend to use this textbook."
"If you don't use this textbook, then what will you use to teach the students?" Dean Gu was truly shocked.
Su Li glanced at Lingdang, who handed Su Li the textbook she had written herself. Holding her own textbook, Su Li placed it in front of Dean Gu and said, "This is a textbook I compiled myself. It's not called 'Arithmetic,' but 'Mathematics.' I plan to teach the students with this book."
"'Mathematics'?" Dean Gu looked at the book in shock, picked it up and flipped through it, even gasping in surprise.
Because he realized that he, a former top scholar and ex-Prime Minister, couldn't understand this book called 'Mathematics' compiled by Su Li!
"What does this mean?" Dean Gu flipped through several pages, finding only a few parts he could understand, the rest filled with strange symbols he couldn't comprehend.
"This is a more advanced mathematics textbook than the currently used Arithmetic. The content is extremely rich, containing profound knowledge never seen before," Su Li explained.
After hearing this, Dean Gu flipped through a few more pages and indeed couldn't understand it. He frowned and said, "Mr. Su, students learn Arithmetic to take the imperial exams. Your Mathematics seems unrelated to Arithmetic at all. If students learn this, how will they take the exams?"
Su Li held the 'Mathematics' in one hand and 'Arithmetic' in the other, her gaze firm and confident. "Dean Gu, since you invited me to be the head of Arithmetic, I won't hide anything. To be honest, once you master my 'Mathematics,' you'll find the content in 'Arithmetic' as simple as one plus one equals two. You might think I'm arrogant now, but I don't want to be overly modest and hide my talents. What I say is true, without exaggeration."
Dean Gu looked at Su Li's determined eyes and confident demeanor. Although he was suspicious of this strange 'Mathematics,' he had broad knowledge and was familiar with Su Li's Arithmetic talents, so he wasn't completely rejecting her claims but couldn't fully believe them either.
After all, seeing is believing, but he couldn't even understand this 'Mathematics.' How could he be convinced?
Although Dean Gu believed in Su Li's talent, he was still the head of Wutong Academy and responsible for the students. If Su Li's 'Mathematics' didn't work, it would delay the students' success in the imperial exams, which he did not want to see.
So Dean Gu thought for a moment and proposed a compromise. "Mr. Su, I know your talents are extraordinary, the best in the world. But your 'Mathematics' is just too... difficult to understand. I'm afraid other teachers, students, and parents won't accept it. How about you use 'Arithmetic' as the textbook? That would be the same."
But unexpectedly, Su Li shook her head firmly and said, "If Dean Gu invited me to teach 'Arithmetic,' then there was no need to invite me at all. There are plenty of Arithmetic teachers in Wutong Academy; any one of them can teach 'Arithmetic.' I don't need to be here. My talents are all in this 'Mathematics.' If I can't teach my own textbook, then what is the point of me coming to Wutong Academy? I know students need to take the imperial exams, but I guarantee, after learning this 'Mathematics,' all the Arithmetic problems you consider difficult will be easily solved, and acing the imperial exam Arithmetic will be a piece of cake."