I control the AI ​​empire thanks to the geniuses in my group.

Su Zhou wanted the textbook compilers to come and see for themselves whether this logical flaw actually existed.

The third period in the afternoon is computer class.

The computer lab at Chongming Middle School is located on the third floor at the east end. More than forty Lenovo desktop computers are lined up in a row, all with their screens lit up. According to the teaching plan, today was supposed to be a day for typing practice, but Su Zhou had no interest in Kingsoft Typing Tutor at all.

He opened his browser and typed in the search bar: "Contact information for the editorial department of People's Education Press".

The first search result was the official website of the People's Education Press. He clicked on it and browsed through it. At the bottom of the "Contact Us" page, he found an email address, which was the dedicated email address for textbook feedback!

Su Zhou took a deep breath, opened the web version of QQ Mail, and began composing an email.

He wasn't a fast typist, but his thinking was extremely clear, and he finished writing an email in ten minutes.

After confirming that there were no typos or logical errors, he clicked the send button.

"Sent successfully".

Su Zhou let out a long breath.

Believe it or not, I did what I had to do.

Zhou Wenbo, sitting next to him, glanced at his screen and whispered, "What are you doing? Writing a love letter?"

"Yes, it was written by the People's Education Press."

"Are you crazy?"

Su Zhou smiled but didn't explain.

three days later.

Beijing, Xicheng District, seven-story building.

Chen Guodong, the chief editor of the mathematics editorial office, was holding a thermos cup and flipping through the summary table of textbook errata feedback for this quarter.

He had to go through this form every month, and most of the feedback was trivial. It was either a printing error reported by front-line teachers, such as a symbol being printed crookedly on a certain page or line, or a parent complaining that the answer to a certain exercise did not match the teaching material. After checking, it was found that the teaching material was printed incorrectly.

You might only come across a handful of truly valuable feedback pieces throughout the year.

He opened another email with a fairly standard subject line: "On the Logical Rigor of the Example Problems on Page 87 of the Seventh-Grade Math Textbook."

"The textbook solution to the equation (a−1)x = a−1 is to divide both sides by (a−1) to get x=1. The implicit premise of this solution is (a−1)≠0, that is, a≠1. However, the textbook does not impose any restrictions on the parameter a. When a=1, the original equation becomes 0·x=0. At this time, x∈R, the equation has infinitely many solutions. The textbook directly gives the unique solution x=1, which is logically incomplete."

"It is suggested to add case-by-case discussion to the example analysis: ① When a≠1, x=1 ② When a=1, x is any real number, or explicitly add the precondition a≠1 to the question stem."

"Mathematics is an extremely complex and intricate edifice of gears. Any logical compromise made during the basic education stage is like planting a landmine in the foundation of the future edifice. If students are allowed to develop the habit of dividing directly without checking whether the unknown term is zero in the first year of junior high school, then when they come into contact with calculus, this weak logical foundation will bring about a devastating disaster."

"Take the power function rule for indefinite integrals in advanced mathematics as an example: ∫x^n dx = x^(n+1)/(n+1)+ C. The absolute logical premise for this formula to hold true is that n≠-1."

"If students carry with them the bad habit of taking things for granted from the first-year junior high school textbook, when they encounter n = -1, that is, when calculating ∫(1/x) dx, they will confidently apply the formula and arrive at the absurd result that the denominator (-1+1)=0, thus completely obliterating the existence of the logarithmic function ln|x| and causing the entire logical system of real analysis to collapse instantly."

He concluded by adding, "The above are merely my humble opinions; if there are any inaccuracies, I humbly request the corrections of the teachers."

Chen Guodong put down the thermos.

This set of textbooks has been revised three times and twice since its revision. Mathematics teachers across the country have used it for so many years, and tens of millions of students have done this problem. How come no one has formally pointed out this logical flaw?

Chen Guodong forwarded the email to the editorial team's work group, adding a sentence: "Everyone, take a look at this feedback. My initial judgment is that this teacher is right."

There was a quick response in the group.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Zhao Fang was the first to reply: "I just went through the original manuscript, and it's true that no limiting conditions were added to 'a'. This was an oversight when it was finalized and typed back then. Strictly speaking... it's a logical error."

The editorial team followed up, saying, "Old Chen, this is no small matter. This example problem has been directly used in mid-term and final exams in many provinces. If we acknowledge this flaw, subsequent errata notices will have to be sent to the teaching and research offices of all provinces across the country."

Chen Guodong typed a line: "If you have to admit something, you have to admit it. We're textbook compilers; how can we educate students if we don't correct our mistakes?"

"There is no dispute about the facts; the teacher's analysis is completely correct. I suggest we reply to the other party to express our gratitude first, and then proceed with the internal correction process."

Chen Guodong paused, then added, "This person's way of thinking and expression are quite professional. Look at the calculus examples he gave; he should be a very knowledgeable front-line teacher, possibly even from a university background. Lao Zhao, isn't your Chengdu business trip team currently in the Sichuan-Chongqing area?"

"While we're at it, let's pay this teacher a visit and see if it's possible to invite them to join our pool of external review experts."

"Perfect timing, the pool of external review experts is short-staffed."

Zhao Fang replied: "Received. Xiao Hu and I happen to be in Chengdu. The address left in the email is... Chongming Middle School? Okay, we'll go there."

That afternoon, an extremely polite official reply email was sent from the People's Education Press's dedicated feedback email address and quietly landed in a QQ email inbox.

Meanwhile, the owner of that QQ email address is currently sitting in the classroom of Class 3, Grade 7.

A black Buick minivan slowly pulled up outside the school gate, and two people got out.

Walking in front was a woman in her early forties, with short, neat hair and a work ID from the People's Education Press hanging around her neck; she was none other than Zhao Fang, the deputy editor-in-chief.

Following behind was a young man wearing glasses, Hu Kai from the editorial team, carrying a briefcase containing a formal letter of appointment as an external reviewer and a copy of the latest textbook proof.

"Is this the place?" Hu Kai looked up at the large characters above the school gate: "Chongming Middle School".

"The navigation is correct." Zhao Fang pushed up her sunglasses. "Let's go find the principal first."

The two gave their workplace names, and the security guard quickly made a phone call to have a teacher from the academic affairs office come to pick them up.

What they didn't know was that Chongming Middle School wasn't just visited by them.

The principal's office is on the second floor of the administration building.

Ma Jianguo, the principal of Chongming Middle School, sat upright behind his desk, while a lean middle-aged man sat on the sofa opposite him.

The man's name is Zhang Hengyuan. He is the head coach of the Olympic Mathematics Training Base under the Municipal Education Bureau and a former member of the National Training Team. He is known in the industry as "Zhang the Half-Immortal" not because he is accurate in fortune telling, but because he has an accurate eye for selecting promising young talents.

More than half of the students he selected eventually made it into the provincial team, and every line on their resumes was dazzling.

Every September, Zhang Hengyuan would visit various key junior high schools in Chengdu to personally assess the new batch of promising math Olympiad candidates.

Today it's Chongming Middle School's turn.

"Principal Ma, I won't bother with any more polite words."

Zhang Hengyuan went straight to the point: "This year, there are two more spots for the provincial team than last year. Our base plans to recruit a batch of promising talents. Your school has always had a strong foundation in math competitions, so I'd like to come and see if there are any suitable candidates."

Ma Jianguo couldn't stop smiling.

The coaches from the math Olympiad training center personally came to select students; that's incredibly generous of them.

If they can really produce a provincial team player, then Chongming High School can add another line of gold-embossed text to its admission brochure next year.

"Coach Zhang, you're too kind. I've already asked the academic affairs office to notify the math group, and they'll bring you the information on several top students from the first-year honors class right away!"

Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the office door.

"Principal Ma, we have a guest."

Director Wang from the Academic Affairs Office poked half his head in: "Two editors from the People's Education Press said they've come to visit one of our school's teachers."

Ma Jianguo was taken aback.

People's Education Press?

Which is the People's Education Press that publishes the textbooks?

Come to their school?

"Please come in, please come in!"

Zhao Fang and Hu Kai entered the office and exchanged business cards with Ma Jianguo and Zhang Hengyuan.

After exchanging a few polite greetings, Zhao Fang took the lead in getting to the point.

"Principal Ma, it's like this. A few days ago, our editorial department received a textbook feedback email from your school, pointing out a logical flaw in an example problem in our seventh-grade math textbook. After internal discussion, we confirmed that the teacher's analysis was completely correct. This was indeed an oversight in our editing process."

She paused, her tone carrying an undisguised admiration: "To be honest, we've used this problem for so many years, and so many teachers and curriculum researchers across the country haven't raised any objections. The fact that this teacher from your school was able to discover this problem shows that his mathematical literacy and logical sensitivity are quite outstanding."

"In his email, he also gave an example of calculus, which led us to believe that the teacher's math skills must be quite good as well."

"We came here today for two reasons: first, to express our gratitude in person, and second, to talk to this teacher and see if he would be interested in joining our pool of external textbook review experts to help us oversee the revision of subsequent versions."

Ma Jianguo was stunned.

Did their school have teachers pointing out errors to the Education Press? And they actually found the correct ones, so the Press came all the way over to thank them?

"May I ask which teacher this is?" Ma Jianguo rubbed his hands together, his face beaming. "Our school's math department does indeed have several key teachers."

Zhao Fang opened her phone's notes app: "The sender's email address is signed Su Zhou."

"Let me check," Ma Jianguo said, turning to Director Wang. "Old Wang, check Su Zhou's profile. Which teacher in the math group is he?"

Director Wang took out his phone and scrolled through the faculty and staff contact list, but couldn't find it.

I flipped through it again, but still nothing.

He looked up, his expression somewhat subtle: "Principal Ma... we don't have a teacher named Su Zhou at our school."

"Impossible, right?" Ma Jianguo frowned. "Could it be an external hire? Or an intern teacher?"

"We've checked, and there's nothing there." Director Wang hesitated for a moment, "But... there's a student named Su Zhou in Class 3 of Grade 7."

Zhao Fang and Hu Kai exchanged a glance.

Zhang Hengyuan's hand, which was holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

Ma Jianguo's smile froze on his face, maintaining an extremely standard leader's smile, as if his brain had stuck and was rebooting.

"...A student?" Zhao Fang's voice changed slightly. "A first-year junior high student?"

"Let me double-check." Director Wang began frantically scrolling through his phone, checking the student registration system, the class roster, and the academic records. With each step, his expression became more and more interesting.

Finally, he put down his phone and said awkwardly, "It's confirmed. Su Zhou, Class 3, Grade 9, student number 037, homeroom teacher Li Qiang, just enrolled this September."

Just enrolled?!

Zhao Fang's mouth was slightly open. The prepared letter of appointment for the external review expert suddenly seemed absurd in her mind. She had come to Chongming Middle School to hire an experienced front-line teacher to join the editorial team, but the other party turned out to be a first-year junior high school student.

Zhang Hengyuan was the first to come to his senses.

He slammed the teacup down on the table with a crisp click, and his eyes lit up.

"A first-year junior high student, able to independently discover logical flaws in the People's Education Press textbook? And knows calculus?" Zhang Hengyuan leaned back on the sofa and said loudly, "Principal Ma, I'm here today to select promising talents, and I'd like to meet this Su Zhou."

Ma Jianguo was still processing this information when he heard this and nodded repeatedly: "Of course, of course, I'll have someone go and call them..."

"Wait a minute." Zhang Hengyuan waved his hand. "I not only want to see him, but I also want him to participate in the selection test I brought today."

Ma Jianguo was taken aback; Zhang Hengyuan was indeed as decisive and efficient as the legends said.

He was about to agree when he suddenly remembered something, picked up the phone on his desk, and dialed an internal line.

"Liu Zhi? This is Ma Jianguo. Come to my office now, I need to speak with you about something."

After hanging up the phone, Ma Jianguo picked up his teacup and took a tactical sip, his mind racing with calculations.

He's a cunning old fox who's been in the education system for decades, and he knows all too well how easy it is for a sudden genius to backfire. Su Zhou's email to the People's Education Press was indeed impressive, but the problem is, Su Zhou is only in the first year of junior high!

What if that email involving calculus was copied from the internet? Or perhaps it was ghostwritten by a university professor relative?

Therefore, we must call Liu Zhi over and ask him to clarify the matter.

He can't afford to lose face in front of others!