Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Lu Zhou looked at the person who spoke, and his eyes lit up the instant he recognized who it was.
Academician Wang Shicheng, chairman of the China Mathematics Society!
He met Academician Wang at the 2015 Chinese Mathematicians Conference.
Lu Zhou remembered that it was at Beijing Normal University. He was still doing his master’s degree when he attended the conference with Academician Lu. He also won a Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award at the conference.
Unlike the international Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award, the domestic Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award wasn’t a lifetime achievement award; it was similar to the Fields Medal which focused on young scholars. However, the age limit was different; it was up to 50- year-old scholars.
“Long time no see!” Lu Zhou shook Academician Wang Shicheng’s hand and looked at the three people standing next to him. He then asked, “This is?”
Academician Wang smiled and introduced the person closest to him. “This is the secretary-general of the China Mathematics Society, Cheng Dayue.”
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “Professor Cheng, nice to meet you!”
Cheng Dayue smiled. “Who said I was a professor? Professor Zhang and Professor Xu are professors, just call me Secretary Cheng.”
Lu Zhou’s eyes lit up. When he heard the other two professors’ names, he immediately knew who they were.
“These two are Zhang Wei and Xu Chenyang?”
Before Zhang Wei could speak, Academician Wang Shicheng said, “I was about to introduce them to you, I didn’t expect you to guess it right.”
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to meet these two great mathematicians. What an honor!”
These two together with God Yun were legendary at Jin Ling University. Lu Zhou heard their names on Jin Ling University campus before, but unfortunately, he had never met them before. He didn’t expect to get the opportunity today.
“No, not quite! God Wei is real, I’m not quite a god yet. Rather, I should say, nice to meet you God Lu!” Xu Chenyang said while shaking hands with Lu Zhou.
Zhang Wei was a coughed and said, “… Don’t call him that, it’s embarrassing.”
Academician Wang Shicheng smiled at these young scholars and said, “Professor Lu, are you available later?”
Lu Zhou said, “Is there anything?”
Academician Wang Shicheng smiled and said, “Nothing, but if you weren’t busy, I thought we could grab some food or something. I know a good restaurant nearby, and it’s much better than the hotel food.”
The “Brazilian-style” lunch provided by the hotel was pretty average; Lu Zhou didn’t plan on eating there anyway. Therefore, he smiled and nodded.
“Sure thing, let’s go!”
On the other side of the planet, the Institute of Mathematics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Xiang Huanan was sitting in the corner of the office, watching the CCTV report on TV. He sighed and spoke with emotion.
“Before this, I thought that kid was talented, but I didn’t expect him to be this insane! He even won the Fields Medal.”
The Fields Medal was the highest honor for mathematicians under the age of 40. No one had ever won the Fields Medal at the tender age of 24.
The Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award, Wolf Prize, etc., were all lifetime achievement awards; they weren’t given to scholars under the age of 40.
After all, to reward a young mathematician for his “lifetime” of achievements almost seemed like a curse…
Academician Wang Yuping sat on the office sofa. He was also watching the TV, and he was sincerely happy for Lu Zhou.
After a while, he suddenly thought of a few students from Yan University. With a sigh, he said, “Unfortunate.”
Xiang Huanan looked at his old friend and asked, “What’s so unfortunate?”
Wang Yuping shook his head; he almost looked depressed.
“The scholars born in the ’80s and graduated in the year 2000 are the most outstanding. Zhang Wei and Yun Zhihui are classic examples. Then there’s also Xu Chenyang, who returned to China… We thought these young talents could win the Fields Medal; I didn’t expect all of them to be defeated.”
Especially Zhang Wei who studied the Kudala Conjecture for his PhD under his supervisor, Zhang Shouwu. He discovered the answer within three months, and when he only took two years to receive his PhD, he shocked the Chinese mathematics community. When he won the Ramanujan gold award, it further boosted his reputation among the academic community.
Professor Wang Yuping was a professor at Yan University; he had heard about the rumors circulating around Yan University campus.
Many young mathematics students greatly worshipped Zhang Wei; they called him “God Wei”.
It was obvious that both the older and younger scholars highly respected Zhang Wei.
However, no one expected Zhang Wei to lose out on the Fields Medal.
Xiang Huanan looked at his sad old friend and smiled.
“It’s not a big deal. From what I can tell, you guys are giving him pressure, disturbing his mental. You’re torturing him!”
“Old Xiang, I’m going to have to disagree with you,” Wang Yuping said as he wasn’t happy to hear this. “Yan University is one of the top mathematics institutions in the country, so what’s wrong with having expectations? How is it torture?”
“You’re a Yan University professor, do you not know?” Xiang Huanan smiled and said, “Who cares if he doesn’t win it? Is the sky going to collapse? Is winning the Fields Medal the goal of mathematics research?”
Wang Yuping shook his head and said, “I know, researching isn’t for awards. I’m just sad that he lost.”
Xiang Huanan looked at his depressed friend and said, “There’s nothing to be sad about. This might not be a bad thing. At least he can let go of his baggage, and focus on mathematics. He might achieve greater success in the future.”
“Don’t give me that sh*t,” Professor Wang Yuping said. He looked at the TV as he continued, “But then again, this Professor Lu guy really is brilliant. I heard his Ukrainian student will do the 45-minute number theory report.”
“You’re talking about the Collatz conjecture, right? I’ve read that thesis; it’s well written.” Academician Xiang said before he picked up his vacuum flask and took a sip of tea. He said, “He has a very good understanding of applied mathematics, so it’s not surprising that his students are geniuses as well. However, I don’t know if the Ukrainian, Brazilian, or Qin Yue is stronger. But I am sure of one thing. In ten years, one of these three will win the Fields Medal.”
Wang Yuping said, “The Qin Yue student has a chance as well?”
Xiang Huanan was surprised, and he asked, “What? Do you want him to study at Yan University?”
Professor Wang Yuping smiled and said, “I can’t convince Professor Lu to come, but surely I can convince his students.”
Xiang Huanan shook his head as he said, “You guys are too late. From what I know, the Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Research Institute already sent him the Thousand People Initiative.”
Wang Yuping was shocked by the news. He asked, “How are they so fast?”
“They’re not fast, you guys are too slow!” Xiang Huanan put down his vacuum flask and said, “Nutty professor, nutty students.”