Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Regardless of whether it was expected or not, the opening ceremony of this year’s mathematics conference came to an end. The two Loo-Keng Hua and Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Awards were settled in the applause.
Someone was unhappy?
The rewards did not care about your feelings!
The shutter sound from cameras was loud as the second the opening ceremony ended, the reporters started to swarm toward the stage.
The reporter from Daily Mail asked a question first.
“Professor Qiu, there are rumors that you have had a disagreement with the mathematics department at Yan University. Is this true?”
With a smile, Professor Qiu Chengtong, “Of course it’s fake. I’m Wang Shicheng’s old friend, and we talk often. Wang Shicheng, don’t you agree?”
Professor Wang Shicheng had a stiff smile as he said, “Of course. I admire Old Qiu’s work on partial differential equations.”
Professor Wang Shicheng was not lying as Professor Qiu Chengtong was one of the leading mathematicians in the country.
If it was another weak person?
Wang Shicheng would have berated them.
Professor Qiu did not have a good temper, and he disliked domestic learning values.
Everyone were academics, so they had a certain demeanor.
Not to mention, the President and Secretary-General of the International Mathematical Union were here, so no matter how troublesome their own people were, he still had to be calm on the outside.
On the other hand, it was not only Professor Qiu Chengtong who was being surrounded by reporters. Even the winners of the Loo-Keng Hua and Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Awards were also surrounded.
Especially Lu Zhou.
A 21-year-old winner was really amazing!
This was big news to the reporters.
A reporter rushed over and chased after Lu Zhou to ask, “Mr. Lu Zhou, what thoughts do you have with regards to winning the Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award?”
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “I’m very excited. I don’t have any thoughts!”
A foreign journalist rushed over and asked in fluent Chinese, “Mr. Lu Zhou, the rumor is that Professor Qiu and Professor Lu have beef and that this Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award was given to you by Qiu Chengtong. Is this true?”
Lu Zhou rolled his eyes and said, “It’s my first time meeting with Professor Qiu. He’s a respectable scholar. I have no comment regarding personal issues!”
“Mr. Lu Zhou, can I please get your WeChat?”
A young female journalist from the journalism department of Beijing Normal University came over.
However, would Lu Zhou be tempted by her beauty?
Of course not!
In order to avoid being entangled by this lady, Lu Zhou chose to be interviewed.
The questions were firing at Lu Zhou, and he soon felt numb in his head. He quickly moved through the crowd.
Motherf*cker, why is it so difficult to accept an award…
On the other hand, Professor Yang Zhiguang was comfortable with such a scene. He always had a smile on his face that offended no one.
When Lu Zhou finally escaped from the Beijing Normal University auditorium, he sat in Yan Xinjue’s car.
“Where is Professor Lu?”
“Professor Lu went to eat with his old friends. We’ll eat back at the hotel,” said Yan Xinjue. He smiled and said, “Lu Zhou! Not bad! 21-year-old Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award winner. You’ll probably earn the Fields Medal by the time you’re thirty.”
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “Speaking of which, how did you guys know beforehand that I would win?”
“I accidentally knew it since Professor Lu is very well connected. I think he got it from Old Qiu. Then one day, he spilled the news when drunk and I heard it,” said Yan Xinjue while he was driving the car. He added, “I actually wanted to tell you, but Professor Lu wouldn’t let me. Don’t blame me.”
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “Of course not, why would I blame you? It’s not like you should have leaked it.”
Yan Xinjue asked, “What next? Are you still going to develop toward mathematical physics?”
“Yes,” said Lu Zhou as he nodded. He then said, “Mathematics is an important scientific research tool. It’s like a knife, and it can be used in any discipline. The work of a mathematics researcher is like sharpening this knife. But, I’m not only interested in sharpening the knife, but I’m also interested in using the knife.”
Yan Xinjue said, “Not bad, that’s some nice bullsh*ting. I look forward to seeing you on stage in Stockholm.”
Stockholm was where the Nobel Prize was given.
However, this award was only given to major scientific discoveries. It was not easy to get.
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “I hope.”
…
The opening ceremony of the 12th Chinese Mathematical Society came to an end. An official congress was held in the afternoon and the next board of directors, as well as the next secretary-general and chairman, were selected
While the conference was going on, Lu Zhou was on Weibo.
He had to admire the journalists. They had already sent out the press releases.
The journalists attached a short video and eye-catching titles for clickbait.
[Surprised! Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award winner is a 21-year-old!]
[Named the Chinese Fields Medal, anyone that won the Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award is a genius…]
[Who could’ve thought that this year’s Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award was given to him!]
[…]
Without surprise, this hot news was once again on trending.
The short video showed Lu Zhou on stage. The first media outlet that posted this video had their comment section blow up.
[What is the Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award?]
[It’s one of the most famous mathematics prizes! How do you not know?]
[21 years old, isn’t that a bit young? I remember most of the past winners are in their forties…]
[How many forty-year-olds can achieve this level of success? This guy will probably win the Fields Medal!]
[Praise the Chinese Mathematics Society for not being ageist!]
[Wu Yan and old dog Zhu must be furious!]
[…]
Lu Zhou did not know about the discussion online.
At night, he went to the dinner hosted by the Chinese Mathematics Society.
As the Shiing-Shen Chern Mathematics Award winner, and as the youngest winner of all time, Lu Zhou became the star of the party.
Many young scholars wanted to speak with him.
Even the older scholars respected his humbleness and passion.
Even the academician from China Mathematics Society, Wang Shicheng, was eager to speak with him.
Not just that, Wang Shicheng praised Lu Zhou’s work in front of many people. He also offered Lu Zhou to go to the University of Yan.
Lu Zhou was tempted as the mathematics department of the University of Yan was top in the country. Not to mention, under the University of Yan, he might become the youngest academician ever.
However, he still had to keep his word. Lu Zhou already agreed to be part of the University of Jin Ling’s training program.
Therefore, he euphemistically refused this invitation and told Professor Wang the reason, which was that he had already received the offer from Princeton and that he would go next year to get his PhD.
When Professor Wang heard his explanation, he was understanding. Professor Wang said that if Lu Zhou ever wanted to teach or speak at the University of Yan, he would be welcomed with both arms open.
