Sun Xiang was the biology teacher for the honors class at Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School.
He held a master’s degree from Zhejiang University, a C9 League school. For most people, a resume like that was a ceiling they could never hope to touch in their entire lives.
At any other ordinary public high school, he would absolutely be the kind of person principals would fight over.
But in the honors class faculty office at Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School, Sun Xiang always felt like he was just a below-average, invisible figure.
It couldn’t be helped. The people sitting around him were either a physics coach who had trained a national training team gold medalist or a master-level math teacher who had helped write the college entrance exams.
Right now, Sun Xiang was walking into the office holding a stack of freshly graded pop quizzes, feeling a little dejected.
The students at Sixth Middle School were already very good, but there was still a considerable gap when compared to the top, nationally-renowned schools.
’I’ve been teaching for so long, and they’ve only just barely managed to grasp the fundamental logic of the three-line system.’
Sun Xiang sighed to himself.
The nucleo-cytoplasmic interaction model of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), the very genetic diagram he had drawn on the board last class, was difficult mainly because it was so mind-bending.
Only when the cytoplasmic gene is S (mutant) and the nuclear gene is rr (recessive), i.e., S-rr, does male sterility manifest.
The maintainer line, N-rr, provides the normal cytoplasm and recessive nuclear genes needed to reproduce the sterile line.
The restorer line, N-RR (or S-RR), provides the dominant restorer gene, allowing the hybrid offspring S-Rr to regain fertility—and these are the high-yield hybrid rice seeds.
It was a convoluted mess. Even the honors class students had to waste several worksheets before they could finally wrap their heads around it.
Sun Xiang walked over to his desk and immediately saw Elder Chen standing there, holding a thermos and wearing a "benevolent" smile.
Standing next to him was a rather unfamiliar student.
’Heh, Elder Chen just loves to torture those kids.’
Sun Xiang chuckled lightly and sat down.
Just as he was about to start writing next week’s lesson plan...
The student who had just been with Elder Chen had already darted in front of him.
"Hello, Teacher. I’m the new transfer student who started today. My name is Li Dong."
Li Dong looked at Sun Xiang, his eyes filled with a desire for... wool—COUGH—for knowledge.
"I still don’t quite understand the nucleo-cytoplasmic interaction model you taught last class," Li Dong asked eagerly.
"How exactly do the nuclear and cytoplasmic genes collude on a microscopic level to suddenly make perfectly healthy pollen sterile? What are the underlying principles of material transfer and metabolism involved?"
Sun Xiang was taken aback for a moment.
It wasn’t because a student was asking a question. In an honors class with such a fervent learning atmosphere, it was normal for students to chase after teachers with questions after class.
It was mainly because... wasn’t this kid just working on problems with Elder Chen a moment ago? Why did he suddenly ditch Elder Chen to come ask about biology?
Sun Xiang glanced back at Elder Chen.
Elder Chen was currently staring blankly at the "Geometric Solution for Instantaneous-Center Trajectory" on a piece of scratch paper. Noticing Sun Xiang’s gaze, Elder Chen looked up and gave a nod, his expression complicated.
His look seemed to say: *I’ve already been insta-killed over here.*
Sun Xiang’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly adjusted back into his teacher persona.
"Have a seat."
To be honest, the question Li Dong had just asked was a bit vague. It felt like he was trying to build a skyscraper without a solid foundation.
But he still decided to explain it thoroughly to the new transfer student, starting from the basics.
"Actually, the cytoplasmic gene S you mentioned is located on the mitochondrial DNA in most plants."
Sun Xiang sketched a simple diagram of a cell on a piece of paper.
"Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, you know that right?"
"So, when this cytoplasmic gene mutates into S, it encodes an abnormal protein that is cytotoxic."
"This protein directly interferes with the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation process, leading to impaired ATP synthesis."
Seeing that Li Dong was listening very intently, Sun Xiang continued.
"The process of pollen development, especially during the uninucleate and binucleate stages, is extremely energy-intensive."
"So, when the mitochondria go on strike, the energy supply is cut off, and the pollen naturally fails to develop."
"The nuclear gene R, however, encodes a protein that can be transported into the mitochondria to degrade this toxic protein, thereby restoring the energy supply."
"That’s the interaction on a microscopic level."
This was where Li Dong’s Basic Attributes played a huge role.
The high school biology knowledge he had previously rote-learned was now like a thread, connecting everything and elevating his understanding.
"Teacher, I get it now!"
Li Dong almost instinctively began to extrapolate.
"So if the problem is with mitochondrial energy metabolism, causing an energy deficit in the pollen..."
"But pollen can’t produce that much energy on its own. Its nutrients must be supplied by the surrounding somatic cells, right?"
Li Dong searched his mind for the biology terms he had crammed over the past two days.
"Like... the tapetal cells?"
"If the toxic protein causes an energy deficiency, does that mean the tapetal cells undergo premature or delayed apoptosis due to abnormal energy metabolism? This would cut off the pollen’s nutrient supply line, ultimately leading to male sterility?"
Sun Xiang just stared at Li Dong, no longer continuing his explanation.
’Abnormal apoptosis of tapetal cells?’
Is this something a goddamn high school student can deduce?!
This is a fertility mechanism that isn’t explored in-depth until undergraduate or even graduate-level courses in plant developmental biology and molecular genetics!
"You... have you studied this before?"
Sun Xiang asked.
"No, but I’ve come across this stuff before and couldn’t understand it. After your explanation just now, Teacher, it just feels like this has to be the way it works."
Li Dong was being completely sincere.
Standing not far away, Elder Chen heard their entire conversation clearly.
Anyone who had a desk in this office was a top scholar in their own right. And while he didn’t quite understand the specifics, what Li Dong was saying sounded well-reasoned and logically consistent. It was obviously not just baseless rambling.
Elder Chen looked at Li Dong’s back, his heart filled with secret astonishment.
’Does this kid have any weaknesses?’
Chinese: ...
English: ...
Elder Chen knew very well: many people could study hard, master knowledge, and get perfect scores. Those were called top students.
But between a top student and a true "god of studying," there lay an unbridgeable chasm called "Knowledge Transfer and Fundamental Insight."
Top students master what is known. A god of studying, on the other hand, can use what is known to find the edge of the unknown...
That was true genius!
’As expected of a teacher from Sixth Middle School. Your expertise is truly on another level!’
Teacher Sun’s explanation had been incredibly satisfying for Li Dong. Now he was ready to hurry back to the group chat and fleece Mendel.
Just then, the office door was pushed open.
Director Liu Limin walked in. He glanced around and visibly sighed in relief when he saw Li Dong.
"Li Dong, what are you doing over here?" Liu Limin beckoned to him.
"Come on, follow me to the principal’s office."
Then Liu Limin nodded at Elder Chen and Sun Xiang.
"Elder Chen, the principal wants to see you too. Sorry to trouble you, but please come along."
Elder Chen nodded and put down his thermos.
When Li Dong heard he was going to see the principal, his mind was still on the task in his group chat, so he quickly clutched his stomach.
"Director Liu, my stomach suddenly hurts a bit. Can I use the restroom first?"
"Make it quick. We’ll wait for you in the hallway."
Liu Limin waved his hand dismissively.
He took the complete logical chain he had just gotten for free from Sun Xiang—about "nucleo-cytoplasmic interaction, mitochondrial toxic proteins, impaired energy metabolism, and abnormal apoptosis of tapetal cells"—and sent it directly to @Mendel.
After sending it, he waited for over a minute.
Mendel’s reply finally popped up on the screen.
[Gregor John Mendel]: Oh.
And then...
That was it!
Li Dong stared at the word "Oh," and his whole mood soured.
’I went through all the trouble of faking a bathroom break to explain microscopic genetics to you, and you don’t even send a red packet, just a single ’Oh’?!’
"Are all you biology guys this shameless? What a freeloader!"
Li Dong didn’t even realize that Mendel might not understand any of the words he was using, like "mitochondria" or "toxic proteins..."
But Mendel wasn’t Joule or Newton. They would ask questions and express doubts when they didn’t understand something.
Mendel, on the other hand, would just go and do it quietly. He would go and research. Although he didn’t understand the words, he understood the logic.
So, he didn’t treat Li Dong with the same doubt and dismissal that others had treated him with.
Li Dong waited a little longer, but seeing no new messages, he could only exit the group chat resentfully.
[Ronald Fisher]: Please give him some time...
Back in the faculty office, Sun Xiang was still sitting in his chair.
He watched Li Dong and the others leave, feeling very strange.
The student gave him a contradictory impression of being both a rookie and an expert.
When he first asked his question, his fundamentals seemed shallow, even amateurish.
But after a brief explanation of the principles, he was able to race down the logical chain and deduce deeper, more professional concepts.
’Just what in the world is he?’
The head principal of Sixth Middle School was away in the provincial capital for a few days, attending a national forum for principals of key high schools. Therefore, the one in charge today was Vice Principal Zhao.
Liu Limin brought Li Dong and Elder Chen to the principal’s office.
"Principal Zhao, I’ve brought them."
Liu Limin knocked on the door.
"Please, come in."
Vice Principal Zhao was a slightly heavyset, middle-aged man with a kind-looking face.
As soon as they entered, he immediately stood up, shook Elder Chen’s hand, and treated him with extreme courtesy.
"Ah, Elder Chen, sorry to make you come all this way."
"Not at all, not at all. Principal Zhao, just tell me what you need."
Elder Chen gave an easygoing wave and naturally took a seat on the sofa.
Vice Principal Zhao turned his head and looked at Li Dong.
"You must be student Li Dong, correct? Please, everyone, have a seat."
Only after everyone was seated did he begin to speak.
"The reason I’ve gathered everyone here today is this."
"Student Li Dong, now that you’ve transferred to our Sixth Middle School, the school will definitely provide you with the highest level of support and opportunities."
"So, have you heard of... the Qiu Chengtong Middle School Science Award?"

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