Chapter Forty-Nine: Seeking Advice on Mathematics

"Where is Cheng Chumo?" Morton looked around and realized that one member of the Iron Triangle was missing.

Qin Huaiyu shook his head and said, "I don't know. That guy sent someone to say he had something to do today and would be late, but he still hasn't shown up!"

Morton thought about it and decided there was nothing to worry about. That fellow roamed Chang’an as he pleased—nothing could trouble him.

Just then, Uncle Fu knocked on the door and announced respectfully, "Young master, there’s a young man outside who claims to be your classmate from the State Academy. He heard you were ill and has come to visit."

"A classmate from the State Academy?" Morton and Qin Huaiyu exchanged glances. Morton's reputation at the Academy was not good; students usually avoided him, and he could believe they’d rejoice at his illness, but a visit was unexpected.

"Could it be Cheng Chumo?" Yuchi Baolin hesitated.

"Impossible! Cheng Chumo always barges in like a bull. Expecting him to observe etiquette? Humph!" Qin Huaiyu scoffed.

"We'll see soon enough. Since he’s come all this way, it would be rude to refuse him. Uncle Fu, please bring him in," Morton said.

Uncle Fu obeyed, and soon returned with a young man.

"Zhu Mingjun!" Morton was greatly surprised. He hadn't expected him; they usually had no interaction except for the contest on Morton’s first day at the Academy.

"I heard you were unwell, Brother Mo, so I came to visit," Zhu Mingjun said, courteous and proper, carrying a few gifts.

"You're too polite, Brother Zhu. We're classmates—no need for such formality. Please, come in!" Morton hurried to welcome him, knowing the Zhu family, though renowned, had achieved greatness mainly in mathematics and had not held high office, so they weren't wealthy.

"Zhu Abacus, so it’s you?" Qin Huaiyu sneered. Zhu Mingjun, famous for his skill with the abacus, was nicknamed "Zhu Abacus."

"State Academy Glutton, yes, it’s me. What of it?"

Zhu Mingjun and the trio obviously didn’t get along, having clashed before.

"Alright, alright, we're all classmates. Let’s not quarrel," Morton intervened.

"Morton, you don’t know how annoying he is. Last year’s exam, he sat next to me. I wanted to sneak a peek at his answers, but he blocked me. I ended up getting five lashes from Master Shen!" Qin Huaiyu complained bitterly.

"That’s your own fault. Those questions were as easy as pie," Zhu Mingjun retorted.

"You're so clever, yet you lost to Morton in just one round!"

Zhu Mingjun flushed red, stung by the memory of his defeat.

"I admit I’m not as good as Brother Mo. Actually, I came today with a purpose: I wish to continue learning mathematics from you," Zhu Mingjun said, bowing.

"You flatter me, Brother Zhu. The Zhu family’s art of calculation is famous throughout the land—I’ve studied it with admiration. We can learn from each other," Morton replied, respectful toward scholars. The Zhu family's mathematical treatise was a required text at the Academy. Morton, after reading it, had been humbled and gained new respect for ancient wisdom.

"You're too kind, Brother Mo. The treatise is merely one of the Ten Mathematical Classics. It doesn’t deserve such fame."

"No false modesty. Take, for example, pi. Your ancestor’s method of dividing the circle by limits is world-class, the first in the world to calculate pi to 3.1415926."

"Speaking of pi, family tradition says our ancestor was inspired by the Mo classics. We owe the Mo family thanks," Zhu Mingjun said, praising his ancestor and not forgetting to flatter Mozi.

"Mutual flattery," Qin Huaiyu muttered disdainfully.

Morton and Zhu Mingjun laughed, their rapport strengthening.

"I confess, I’ve not mastered even a tenth of my ancestor’s mathematics. I’d like to seize this chance to ask Brother Mo for guidance," Zhu Mingjun said formally.

Morton was about to reply when a voice called from outside.

"That’s just as well. I’ve brought someone eager to learn mathematics!" Cheng Chumo strode into the hall, followed by a tall, gentle young man, whose only flaw was a slight limp.

"My name is Li Gaoming. I am fond of mathematics and have heard Brother Mo possesses unique insight. I shamelessly asked Chumo to introduce me," Li Gaoming said, his demeanor pleasant.

"He’s my friend, from Jinyang—a son of a military family. We should look after each other," Cheng Chumo said simply.

"Excellent! Any friend of Cheng Chumo is a friend of mine. In the Mo household, there are no stiff rules. Here, we are brothers," Morton enthusiastically greeted them.

After a round of discussion, Morton was amazed to find Li Gaoming had real mathematical talent, the result of diligent study. Even Zhu Mingjun regarded him with respect.

The three grew more and more congenial in conversation. Li Gaoming and Zhu Mingjun gained intuitive understanding of Morton’s mathematical prowess—it was unfathomable! When they posed a question, Morton solved it with barely a thought; when Morton asked one, they were utterly stumped.

"Brother Mo, please teach us generously!" Zhu Mingjun said, sincerely convinced.

Li Gaoming nodded repeatedly. He realized among the three, his mathematical ability was the lowest, but he could keep pace with Zhu Mingjun. Compared with Morton, however, he was no match at all.

"A true master is a teacher. I, Gaoming, would also like to learn from Brother Mo’s talents!"

Morton thought for a moment, then said with some difficulty, "If you wish to learn, of course, but…"

"But what? Morton, stop hemming and hawing. If there’s any difficulty, we’ll help you resolve it together," Cheng Chumo said boldly.

"Please be candid, Brother Mo. If it involves a secret of the Mo family, we’ll pretend we never asked," Zhu Mingjun added.

He knew the Mo family was strict with their traditions; Mozi, for the sake of keeping faith, had kept the secret of the live fish technique for a thousand years. Morton’s profound mathematics must be a family secret with stringent conditions.

"No, you misunderstand! The Mo family has no such narrow-mindedness. It’s just that the mathematics I learned differs from what you’ve studied. If you wish to learn, you must start from the beginning—as if you were children just starting out," Morton explained.

"Will we be able to solve the disaster relief problem you posed?" Li Gaoming asked.

"Of course. That’s a question I could solve as a child," Morton boasted, though he recalled almost being defeated by the pond problem in elementary school.

"Good, I’ll learn!" Zhu Mingjun affirmed. His family had pursued mathematics for generations. Now, faced with knowledge surpassing his family’s, he would not let the opportunity slip by.

"I came precisely to learn advanced knowledge. How could I leave empty-handed from a treasure mountain?" Li Gaoming said.

"I want to learn too!" Qin Huaiyu and his friends suddenly chimed in.

"What are you lot up to?" Morton shot them a disgruntled look.

"You said we’d start from scratch. Are we not at least as good as children?" Qin Huaiyu protested.

"Yes," Morton nodded firmly.

Everyone burst into laughter.