Chapter 606

For this programming competition, Cao Mingshun still had no intention of participating.

But what Cao Mingshun did not expect was,

that he had merely spoken a potential industry fact offhandedly,

and then Zhu Yun refused to let it go, insisting on dragging him into the World Programming Competition to settle the score,

even saying that if he, Cao Mingshun, lost, he must apologize to Zhu Yun in front of the entire class...

Heh,

was he, Cao Mingshun, such an easily provoked teacher?

Yes!

The experience of being constantly crushed by female programmers during his student days

was itself Cao Mingshun's nightmare,

and now,

his own student actually questioned his words and teaching ability,

making Cao Mingshun even less able to endure it!

So,

Cao Mingshun no longer hesitated.

Even without receiving an invitation to the World Programming Competition, he signed up online first to secure a spot for himself,

then,

Cao Mingshun, brimming with fighting spirit, turned on his computer,

turned on the music,

listened to Cui Jian's rock,

and typed out the first line of code...

Then,

Cao Mingshun could not write any further.

Up to now,

five days had already passed,

yet in Cao Mingshun's computer, there were only a few hundred lines of code, stumbling along, not even one-fifth of the process,

and moreover,

these lines of code were full of bugs everywhere,

running them casually would crash the computer to a blue screen...

Cao Mingshun was stunned.

Thinking carefully,

Cao Mingshun understood the reason.

These years spent teaching,

Cao Mingshun only knew how to help his students better lay a solid foundation,

and then,

he himself only knew how to lay foundations,

having forgotten more than half of everything else,

and even those he had not forgotten

were already out of touch with society, completely unsuitable for current running programs.

Therefore,

it was very difficult for him to produce a good work again!

But,

once he failed to produce a work,

Cao Mingshun would have no way to pass the preliminary group stage,

and failing to pass the preliminary group stage,

meant Cao Mingshun was half-failed.

If Zhu Yun suddenly had a flash of inspiration and really passed the group preliminaries,

then Cao Mingshun,

would truly have to publicly apologize to Zhu Yun in front of dozens of classmates!

Could Cao Mingshun accept this?

No...

Over these past few years,

Cao Mingshun's students had spread across major internet companies,

some even entering the national aerospace field,

and the students he taught were almost all industry leaders.

However,

he, this teacher, would lose to an unknown female student?!

So,

Cao Mingshun could not possibly accept this result, nor could he apologize to Zhu Yun in public.

Thus,

Cao Mingshun typed out a long string of text, then deleted more than half of it,

and finally just pulled out his phone,

called the student he knew well—who, encouraged by him, had entered the World Programming Contest (ajfj) and placed in the top three nationally—

this student,

now works at Tencent, responsible for further optimizing the mobile game port,

and after only two years at Tencent, has already been promoted to team leader.

Moreover,

this student is currently a guest judge for the World Programming Contest's group and regional rounds.

After two rings,

the student on the other end, Hao Hao, was both surprised and delighted: "Teacher Cao, why out of the blue are you calling me?"

"I missed you."

Cao Mingshun smiled and said: "You've been working outside for two years now, yet never came back to visit your teacher."

"Heh, I've always wanted to go back."

Hao Hao quickly replied with a laugh: "But I've been so busy—working overtime till eleven or twelve every night, never resting on weekends. Teacher, when I finally get some time off, I'll definitely come to campus and treat you to a proper drink."

"Alright, I'll wait for you."

Cao Mingshun hummed in agreement, then cautiously asked: "By the way, Hao Hao, are you still a judge for this year's World Programming Contest?"

Hao Hao nodded: "Yes, for both group and regional rounds. I think it's good—seeing young works helps me, so I've never stepped down."

"Oh."

Cao Mingshun hummed again, scratched his head, thought for a moment, then said: "Hao Hao, can you do me a favor?"

"Huh?"

Hao Hao was taken aback: "Teacher, what do you need me to do?"

Cao Mingshun continued: "Here's the thing, Hao Hao—I was forced, forced, to make a bet with your junior, over whether our respective contest entries this year would pass the preliminary group screening."

Hao Hao asked, even more surprised: "Really? Teacher, you haven't entered the contest in years—why now?"

"Heh, didn't I just say? I made the bet with your junior, so I had to enter. If I lose, I have to apologize to your junior in front of all the students!"

"Wow, Teacher Cao, your junior's pretty bold—when has a teacher ever had to apologize to a student?"

"Heh, it's my fault—I carelessly said women are naturally worse at logical thinking, and this kid took offense, accusing me of gender discrimination."

"Enough, none of that matters—what matters is this: Hao Hao, as a teacher, I can't really lose to your junior and have to apologize publicly, can I?"

"Mm, I understand. Teacher, just tell me directly."

"Good. Here's the deal: our win or loss is determined by whether I fail the preliminary screening while she passes. So you don't need to worry about me—just make sure her entry gets rejected."

"Got it, Teacher Cao. I understand. Don't worry—every year, there are over twenty thousand entries just for the group preliminaries; rejecting one or two more doesn't matter. Send me your junior's info later, and I'll let the other judges know."