Wen Qi returned to the hotel and, as soon as he opened the door, spotted Bellossom and Audino curled up on the sofa, completely absorbed in binge-watching a show.
He shook his head helplessly, muttering to himself:
"Bellossom has really led Audino astray. Audino used to be so diligent, and now, following Bellossom, it's even learned to slack off. Truly, 'one takes on the color of one's company.'"
After a simple lunch, Wen Qi decided to stay holed up in the hotel for the day, patiently waiting for tomorrow's results to be announced. Since there was nothing else pressing, he figured he might as well rest and relax.
Meanwhile, after noon, the Breeders' Association was already in full swing, grading the exam papers.
The efficiency of grading was remarkably high, mainly because the multiple-choice questions were mostly handled by machines.
After all, these were standard answers, and the machines processed them at lightning speed with almost no errors.
Before long, the first part was completely graded.
Next, the remaining three subjective questions required manual grading. To ensure fairness and impartiality in the process, the association had strict arrangements in place.
Papers from the beginner-level exam were graded by intermediate breeders, intermediate-level papers by advanced breeders, and advanced-level papers naturally fell to the top-tier breeders.
These breeders were well aware of the weight of their responsibility, grading with meticulous care to give every candidate a fair and accurate score.
Although the number of beginner-level papers was staggering, the association had no shortage of intermediate breeders.
This time, twenty top-tier intermediate breeders were specifically assigned to grade the beginner papers. On average, each person would handle about thirty to forty papers, which was manageable.
For the advanced breeders, ten were selected, and they had far fewer papers to grade—only around twenty to thirty.
As for the top-tier breeders, this level of personnel was relatively scarce within the association.
Typically, the grading of advanced-level papers would involve one of the two vice presidents, along with two senior members of the association.
Under normal arrangements, Vice President Wu Wenfeng would have been in charge of this grading session.
However, since he had recommended Wen Qi this time, to avoid any suspicion of favoritism, the task was handed over to Vice President Li Lang. Like Wu Wenfeng, Li Lang was also a vice president of the association.
Wu Wenfeng, nearly seventy, was a deeply experienced senior figure in the association. Li Lang, on the other hand, was under sixty, making him comparatively younger.
From the current situation, it seemed likely that the future presidency of the association would go to Li Lang, barring any surprises. But things weren't that straightforward.
The current association president, nearly eighty, was about to retire. During this critical period, both Wu Wenfeng and Li Lang were locked in a fierce rivalry, each eagerly eyeing the presidency. As a result, they didn't see eye to eye.
Li Lang's youth was both an advantage and a disadvantage. Being young meant he had ample room for growth, but it also indicated that his foothold in the association wasn't yet solid.
Li Lang had only become vice president in recent years. If he were given another five years to develop and build his network, the presidency would almost certainly be his.
But now, he couldn't afford to wait. The current president would likely step down within two years at most. If Li Lang had more time to expand his connections and consolidate his position, winning the presidency would be a sure thing. However, at this juncture, the outcome was unpredictable.
Wu Wenfeng, being older, had spent years cultivating a vast network within the association.
If the competition for the presidency were to happen now, he actually had a better chance than Li Lang. Thus, the rivalry between the two was intense.
Relying on years of accumulated connections and resources, Wu Wenfeng had garnered widespread support within the association. His backers believed that his rich experience and steady demeanor could bring stable development to the association.
Moreover, his long tenure meant he was thoroughly familiar with the association's affairs and rules, making him more adept at handling issues.
Li Lang, on the other hand, leveraged his innovative ideas and proactive attitude to win over a segment of younger breeders.
They believed Li Lang could inject new vitality and opportunities into the association. His proposals for reform and development also showcased his capability and ambition.
In various meetings and activities within the association, open and covert struggles between Wu Wenfeng and Li Lang were common.
Sometimes, they clashed over differing opinions on a decision; other times, they argued endlessly over resource allocation. Both tried to outshine the other by demonstrating their abilities and influence, vying for more support.
Their competition not only affected themselves but also strained the atmosphere within the association.
Some members who had remained neutral now found themselves torn, unsure which side to back. Teams that had once worked cohesively began to splinter and face conflicts due to the rivalry.
From another perspective, though, this competition had, to some extent, spurred the association's progress. To gain more support, both pushed forward various initiatives and proposed beneficial suggestions and measures.
Overall, the struggle between Wu Wenfeng and Li Lang continued, and who would ultimately emerge as the next president remained an open question.
Soon, Vice President Li Lang and the two senior members entered the room. As they walked in, they saw several employees meticulously organizing the exam papers. Li Lang and the seniors first took their seats, quietly waiting for the papers to be brought over.
Although Li Lang was particularly curious to see how the candidate recommended by Wu Wenfeng had performed, he knew better than to blatantly break the rules.
After all, he and Wu Wenfeng were in a competition, each looking for a misstep from the other. Giving his opponent leverage over such a trivial curiosity would be far too costly.
Li Lang had learned about Wen Qi from the association's director, Wang Dao, before coming. Wang Dao, being relatively young and on Li Lang's side, would always inform him of any noteworthy information. Upon learning that Wen Qi was Wu Wenfeng's recommendation, Li Lang was indeed intrigued and eager to know how Wen Qi had fared.
Nevertheless, Li Lang ultimately chose to abide by the rules.
Soon, the papers were distributed, and the three of them divided them up, each getting about ten or so. Li Lang took a deep breath and began grading with full concentration. He carefully read each answer, assigning scores with precision.
Given that they were all seasoned top-tier breeders, their grading speed was not slow. Before long, all three had finished evaluating their respective stacks.