Wang Gang was not surprised that Zhou Qingyuan proposed to test Zheng Guangming. The college entrance examination is required to enter university. How can anyone enter the chess academy without taking the test?
In fact, the chess academy examination is more rigorous than the college entrance examination in a sense.
Because the Chess Academy is not only a school, but also a place where the top Go players in the country can communicate and learn together, and have the opportunity to compete with the top Go players from Japan and South Korea.
Everyone in the chess academy, even the students, receive a salary, and if they win awards in major competitions, they can also get a house.
It can be said that after entering the Chess Academy, Zheng Guangming only needs to study Go with peace of mind for the rest of his life and does not need to worry about other things.
At the beginning, Wang Gang and Zhou Qingyuan also agreed that Zheng Guangming could take the assessment, but because he could not see, the assessment method needed to be modified and he could not take the exam with ordinary people.
"Many people in the chess academy question Guangming's ability, thinking that he is blind and has inherent weaknesses in chess, making him easily targeted. Instead of wasting a precious spot in a chess academy on a blind person, it would be better to give it to a normal person.
"Zhou Qingyuan said to Wang Gang.
"Guangming, I'm sorry. Although I have tried my best to fight for you, I am not consistent in the chess academy. However, I have tried to give you a fair assessment opportunity." Zhou Qingyuan apologized to Zheng Guangming.
Zheng Guangming held the blind man's cane and asked Zhou Qingyuan: "Dean Zhou, I don't know what content I need to assess."
Zhou Qingyuan said: "The assessment is divided into two parts, first the literary test, and then Master Wu Yongan will personally assess and play a game of chess with Guangming."
Wang Gang has heard of Wu Yongan's name. In fact, this name is very famous in the Go community.
There has not yet been a Go ranking competition in China, and there is no distinction between 1st and 9th dan. However, Wu Yongan is definitely at the 9th dan level, a generation of Go masters.
"Master Wu will play a game of guided chess with you to determine whether your level can be admitted to the chess academy. Don't worry, just show your normal level." Zhou Qingyuan comforted Zheng Guangming.
"Do I need to win?" Zheng Guangming asked innocently.
Zhou Qingyuan looked a little strange, as if he had heard a big joke.
Who is Wu Yongan? He is almost recognized as a chess master. Although Zheng Guangming is talented, no one would think that he can beat Master Wu.
"It's just a chess guide, don't be nervous." Wang Gang patted Zheng Guangming's shoulder and encouraged him, "Just use your best skills."
Zheng Guangming nodded in understanding.
Zhou Qingyuan smiled, said nothing, and took Zheng Guangming to take the written test first.
Because Zheng Guangming cannot see, Zhou Qingyuan will give the questions for the written test, and Zheng Guangming will answer the questions orally.
The exam questions were not difficult either, covering general Go knowledge. Zheng Guangming got almost full marks.
The only question that lost points was because Zheng Guangming misunderstood Zhou Qingyuan's unclear speech.
In the written test, there was not only Zhou Qingyuan, but also two invigilators. They were both Chess School teachers who questioned Zheng Guangming's level. Most of the questions in the test paper were written by them.
The two of them copied the answers given by Zheng Guangming on the test paper on the spot.
After the exam, Wang Gang led Zheng Guangming out of the classroom and was graded by two teachers. Zhou Qingyuan soon walked out.
"Congratulations, you have passed the written test. The next game is Master Wu's instruction."
Zheng Guangming couldn't wait to ask: "When should we start?"
"Well, Master Wu is usually busy and is not in the chess court now. You have to wait for a while, or you can go to the cafeteria to have lunch first."
Zhou Qingyuan gave Wang Gang, his wife and Zheng Guangming three meal tickets, and he had to go and do some work beforehand.
Wang Gang asked for the direction of the canteen, led Zheng Guangming there, grabbed three portions of rice, and sat in the corner of the canteen to eat slowly.
There are not many people in the Chess Academy, and the cafeteria is not big, but the food is not bad, and it is rare to see meat and fish.
It also reflects from the side that the treatment in the chess academy is good.
Wang Gang and Zheng Guangming were halfway through eating when some people came in one after another, mostly young people in their early twenties, with only three or four middle-aged people over thirty years old, and not a single elderly person.
Go is an age-intensive sport that requires extremely high mental power. Generally, after middle age, energy declines and it is difficult to achieve results in Go.
Even national level chess players who are over fifty have to take a back seat and focus on educating students.
The Chess Academy is the largest Go training base in the country, and naturally there are mostly young people.
Young people gather together and like to gossip.
"Have you heard? The chess academy is recruiting a new player, and I heard he is a disabled person?" A young man said to his companions while eating.
"What's wrong with disabled people? There are no regulations in the Go world. Disabled people cannot play chess. As long as they have one hand, they can play chess."
"You didn't know this! This disabled person didn't have his hands and feet cut off, but he was blind."
"If a blind man plays chess, he will have to play blind chess, which is not easy."
"When did our chess academy even have blind people?"
"What kind of chess can a blind man play? Can he remember every move? Don't know where Tian Yuan is until the end of the game."
Wang Gang and Zheng Guangming listened to the questions coming from around them, but they didn't get angry and continued to eat quietly.
The reason why the two of them are so good at nourishing qi is not really because they are broad-minded.
Wang Gang has confidence in Zheng Guangming. He feels that as long as Zheng Guangming shows his normal level, he will definitely be able to slap many people in the face.
Zheng Guangming is not angry because he has heard many doubts for a long time. In Jichun and even Jiangliao, anyone who has doubted him has never defeated him on the chessboard.
"Did Guangming eat well?" Zheng Juan was not so well-behaved.
"Sister, I'm fine, I've heard all the harshest words." Zheng Guangming said calmly.
"Let's go after eating! There is an assessment in the afternoon, you need to rest." Zheng Juan took Zheng Guangming and walked out of the cafeteria.
Those who had just laughed at Zheng Guangming suddenly saw a child passing by with a blind man's staff, and they were all embarrassed.
Wang Gang reluctantly packed up the dishes and hurried to meet Zheng Juan and Zheng Guangming.
The three of them didn't go far, so they basked in the sun outside the house for a while to calm down.
This is what Wang Gang taught Zheng Guangming. After a meal, blood from the brain flows to the stomach, and people will feel sleepy. At this time, it is best to stand up and walk, or blow in the cold wind to refresh yourself.
Playing chess consumes too much mental energy and is actually not suitable for taking a nap.
At around two o'clock in the afternoon, Wang Gang finally saw Master Wu Yongan.
Although Wu Yongan is a great master in the Go world, he is not too old, only in his early forties. He has an elegant temperament, simple clothes, and a paper fan in his hand.
It's just that it's freezing in Beijing right now, with the coldest temperature reaching minus 20 to 30 degrees. Why is Wu Yong'an using a fan? Is he pretending to be thirteen?
"This is Zheng Guangming! It's a pleasure to play chess with you." Wu Yong'an greeted Zheng Guangming as if coaxing a child.
Zheng Guangming stretched out his hand to shake hands and politely said to Wu Yongan: "Nice to meet you, Master Wu."
Wu Yong'an said: "I'm sorry, I have mysophobia and I never shake hands with others."
Zheng Guangming retracted his hand in embarrassment and said: "Master Wu, because I can't see, when we play chess later, I will dictate and my sister will help put the pieces, okay?"
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter who plays it." Wu Yong'an said, "Don't be nervous, it will be over soon."
Wang Gang found that Wu Yongan seemed very confident, or he looked down on Zheng Guangming a little.
The place where chess is played is a small room, and the chessboard has been placed. Dean Zhou Qingyuan has been waiting for a long time, and he will be the referee.
Wu Yongan confidently asked Zheng Guangming to play first with the black piece.
Zheng Guangming sat down and said, "Sister, Tianyuan."
Zheng Juan was stunned, a little surprised as to why Zheng Guangming played Tianyuan in the first place. He usually started from the four corners.
However, Wu Yongan understood Zheng Guangming's thoughts in an instant. He asked Zheng Guangming to hold black and leave first. Zheng Guangming played Tianyuan, indicating that he would not take advantage.
"Humph, kid, you seem to be very confident in yourself."
"I may be modest about other things, but when it comes to Go, I think I am not weaker than others."
Zheng Guangming suddenly burst out with a strong self-confidence, a self-confidence that was invincible in all Jiangliao, and also a self-confidence in his only means of survival.
Wu Yongan began to put away his contempt.
To be honest, when he promised Zhou Qingyuan to accompany Zheng Guangming to play a game of coaching chess, he was just trying to save the face of his old friend and never thought that Zheng Guangming would be his opponent.
But when Zheng Guangming started playing chess, Wu Yongan was slightly surprised by the dramatic change in his momentum.
"Okay, let me see what level you are at."
Wu Yongan picked up a white stone and started his first move.
As Wu Yongan himself said, the game ended quickly.
Half an hour later, Wu Yongan was staring at the chessboard with sweat on his face, and the folding fan in his hand was torn by him without even noticing.
On the chessboard, the black stones formed a big dragon and killed all the white stones. Even a Go beginner could see that the white stones were helpless.
After playing a game of chess with Wu Yong'an, Zheng Guangming successfully entered the chess academy, and the legend of a blind chess master began to spread in the chess academy.