Dad, Please Try a Little Harder

Translator: Inschain Editor: Inschain

After replying to his son, Qian Wenlin felt the response might not have been proportionate in its weight.

Although his reply showcased the demeanor of an elder and was in line with the etiquette of correspondence between father and son, given that his son had detailed his practice experiences, his own reply seemed a bit aloof.

He then gathered his thoughts and composed a slightly lengthier email:

“I’ve read your letter. It’s evident you’ve put great effort into your practice, and some of your insights have also been beneficial to me.

Recently, while practicing this ‘Wudang Secret Circulation Skill’, I’ve had some reflections. For instance, how does one differentiate between cultivating the body and the mind?

In my opinion, your body reflects your state of mind.

If you find it challenging to calm your mind, then start by calming your body.

So, how to cultivate the mind?

The breathing method mentioned in meditation is wonderful. Breathing is like an instinct, a representation of life. Its sensations are subtle and can often be done without thinking, hence often overlooked.

But when you intentionally focus on it, it becomes vivid. Each inhale and exhale represents the present moment.

Regarding breathing, I have a tip. When trying to find your breath, first take a deep, rapid breath. Notice the points – your nose, trachea, and chest – where you feel the air passing through the most.

This can help you identify its flow and maintain concentration.

Moreover, whether in practice or in life, forget what others have taught you.

Disregard theories, concepts, biases, and stereotypes. Seek the true essence of life. Explore what it genuinely feels like to be alive. Experience the profound and intricate meaning of life firsthand, and don’t just accept others’ interpretations. Witness it yourself.

Regards.”

Not long after the email was sent, Rocky replied, “Dad, you’re awesome!”

In the boys’ dormitory at Seacoast Normal University.

After replying to his dad’s email, Qian Quan reread the email his father had

sent.

To be honest, I was quite impressed.

Much of my insight came not only from the “master level chess” and the

“Grandmaster level Wing Chun” initiations that provided some overarching inspirations but also from the refinement of theories shared by Zhang Xiang’er and Gong Xuanzhu.

Yet my father figured it all out on his own.

On December 3rd, a Sunday, it was Qian Quan’s day for his second driving test.

Without any surprises, he passed with a perfect score of too.

Meanwhile, his roommate Guo Hongyi finally passed the theoretical part of the driving test.

“In fact, for the first and fourth tests, I’m just like everyone else with no advantage. But for the second and third tests, pardon my directness, I’m certain I’ll pass them in one go.” Guo Hongyi, having successfully passed the first test, regained his confidence.

After boasting, he quickly urged Qian Quan to share his experiences with him.

In the afternoon.

Qian Quan made a trip to Jiaotong University and had a chess meeting, which was a form of work, with Li Zhiyi.

in chess, Qian Quan remained unbeaten, but the iteratively improved “One Nine Equals Nine” nearly pushed him to his limits.

In Go, victories were hard to come by for him, whether against “Three Times

Nine” or the technically advancing Li Zhiyi.

“Can ‘Two Times Nine’ evolve further?” Qian Quan inquired curiously.

Li Zhiyi frowned slightly, shaking his head, “Its computing power is almost at its limit. That’s why I suspect you’ve got a chess Al program in your brain too.

Qian Quan chuckled, “I do feel a bit challenged. Tell your brother, ‘Two Times Nine’ can be launched.”

“Right,” Li Zhiyi agreed.

They discussed launching a nationwide Al chess challenge to promote their first product “Two Times Nine”.

The competition would be open to everyone with a single game determining the winner. The proposed prize was 150,000.

After a bit more conversation, Qian Quan left for his campus.

Just as he was leaving, Li Zhiyi mentioned, “The facial recognition for locating missing children idea you had… It’s technically possible.’

“Really?” Qian Quan exclaimed.

“But the accuracy is questionable since children’s faces change,” she added. “That’s true,” he acknowledged, “And some children might be taken to remote areas where machines can’t reach.”

“We can start by targeting human traffickers,” Li Zhiyi suggested.

“How so?”

After a few moments of silence and a playful glance, Li Zhiyi whispered, “It’s classified. You can’t tell anyone.

“Promise I won’t.”

“An early warning system,” she revealed.

Qian Quan looked puzzled.

So she explained, “We can use facial recognition on known traffickers, track their behavior patterns, and then use that data to predict their motives and issue an early warning.”

“That’s groundbreaking,” Qian Quan was astounded.

Li Zhiyi nodded, “We just need to train the Al well.”

“Wouldn’t that require some official permissions? Like access to cameras?” Li Zhiyi stared intently at Qian Quan, with a look that was half-smihng, half-serious. After a brief silence, she said, “Come closer and lend me your ear.” Confused, Qian Quan quickly leaned in.

Li Zhiyi whispered a stream of words into his ear.

The more Qian Quan listened, the more astonished he became. By the time Li Zhiyi finished, the look Qian Quan gave her was filled with a mix of shock and admiration.

It was clearly the look of a muggle beholding a magician.

-This is an incredible humanitarian effort, Ajiu,” he said, using a nickname for Li Zhiyi.

“You have to keep it a secret. Don’t mention a word.”

“I won’t. In fact, you shouldn’t have told me.”

“But I wanted to.”

-If you ever need any help in the future, just let me know.”

Li Zhiyi simply nodded in acknowledgment.

On the way back from Jiaotong University to Seacoast Normal University, waves of emotion churned within Qian Quan. It felt as if a fantasy had stepped into reality.

In simple terms, what Li Zhiyi had just introduced to him was a streamlined version of MOSS.

For a liberal arts student like Qian Quan, it was already sufficiently shocking, novel, and powerful.

If it went online in the future, he genuinely wanted to be a part of it.

However, Qian Quan also harbored caution. What if one day, this system evolved into the full version of MOSS?

It used to be just a thought, but now there was a clear path towards it.

Back at the university, he received a message on WeChat from Ding Linlang, announcing the good news. Her new book Masters Love was about to be released in a simplified version.

This was something Qian Quan had anticipated.

Before the book’s release, he had predicted its success.

The simplified version was just the beginning; the big break was yet to come. Of course, by this point, she might have had some inklings herself. Adaptations of fantasy and this kind of novel targeted toward a female audience are still in vogue today.

There’s no helping it; this type of historical romance genre that can make a star out of newcomers every so often is just too favored by investors.

What’s the most common question producers in the entertainment industry like to ask?

“Do you have any successful examples to benchmark against for this project?” And this genre did have its success stories, ranging from mega-hits to smaller successes.

However, there were also those that tanked.

Indeed, with both success and failure under her belt, she could draw on valuable lessons while also sidestepping potential pitfalls.

“Once the simplified version is out, how far off can a screen adaptation be?” Qian Quan replied.

“If they really buy the rights, I’ll treat you to a week’s vacation in Sanya.”

“Deal.”

“Do you mean you’re from Xianzai Films?

The editor of New Story Monthly, Qing Mo, inquired over the phone.

-Yes, I’m a planning editor from Xianzai Films. I’d like to inquire about the film and TV rights of Porcelain Anniversary.. Are they with your company or the author?”