Chapter 197 Returning to China

Published on 2023-02-12 20:31 | VIP Chapter

In the end, Xu Chuan still accepted Amelia as a student.

Although it feels a little awkward to accept a former acquaintance as a student, it is not a big deal.

The academic world does not really care about this, not to mention that he and Amelia are not very familiar with each other. The two only had some dealings during IPHO, and they did not even leave contact information.

If you want to say it is awkward, it is actually a bit awkward in traditional culture that the student is older than the mentor.

Among the students he picked before, Roger Dean, the oldest, is already 31 years old, which is more than ten years older than his age of 20.

It's just that the first to achieve is the first, which is not a big deal.

When Terence Tao first became a professor of mathematics at the University of California, he was only 24 years old, and the students he taught were basically older than him.

Although Xu Chuan was a little surprised to accept an extra student, it was not a big deal.

For him, it doesn't matter if he teaches three students or four.

But Amelia's original mentor was probably a bit upset, as an extremely outstanding student just flew away.

But there is nothing you can do about it. After all, you can't stop others from pursuing a better future. (Why does this sound weird?)

Although the professors at Princeton are awesome, it depends on who you compare them with. They are indeed very good compared to other schools, but compared to a top professor who has proved seven millennium problems, they are far behind.

Moreover, before they officially enroll, Princeton has no regulations that students must go after receiving an admission notice.

Only garbage universities will use admission notices to bind students and recruit students.

World-class universities like Princeton, Harvard, and Yale disdain to do such things. You can come or not, and they don't need a student like you.

The days in Princeton passed day by day, and time came to mid-to-late January in the blink of an eye.

Because he promised his alma mater that he would rush back to receive awards and give speeches before the winter vacation, Xu Chuan bought a plane ticket in advance and flew back to China.

After landing and getting off the plane, when Xu Chuan dragged his luggage out of the airport, he saw the people who came to pick him up at a glance.

There was no way, the big red banner in the waiting hall was too conspicuous, and everyone who came and went in the reception hall looked at it twice.

[Congratulations to our doctoral student Xu Chuan for solving the seven millennium problems, the Hodge conjecture! ]

Holding his luggage, Xu Chuan walked quickly towards the direction of the banner, and the photographer who was waiting there was sharp-eyed and took the camera up at the first time.

Xu Chuan was not unfamiliar with this scene. After all, when he proved the Weyl-Berry conjecture before, Nanjing University and Jinling had once picked him up in such a grand manner.

And this time he proved the Hodge conjecture, there was no reason why the scale would be weaker than the last time.

After dealing with the media reporters skillfully, Xu Chuan met the leader who walked over quickly.

"Welcome home, classmate Xu Chuan."

The first person to greet him was Liu Gaojun, the president of Nanjing University. He did not say anything like congratulations, but just patted him on the shoulder cordially to welcome him back.

Xu Chuan smiled and said hello. It can only be said that this president is worthy of being an administrator. He feels very comfortable talking to him.

"Professor Xu, congratulations. You have proved the Hodge conjecture and solved another world-class problem."

On the other side, a middle-aged man came over with a smile and extended his hands enthusiastically.

"This is what a scholar should do." Xu Chuan smiled and shook hands with the big man in front of him. This scene made him feel quite familiar.

Familiar airport pick-up, familiar words, familiar reporters filming and interviewing, but the person who spoke and shook hands with him has changed from Mr. Jiang to Mr. Xu.

Although it is a bit surprising that such a big man came to pick him up in person, it is actually nothing for a scholar who has proved the seven millennium problems.

After all, there are no more than two-digit scholars in the world who have proved the seven millennium problems.

For scholars of this level, let alone meeting Mr. Xu, it is not uncommon to meet people with greater influence.

Of course, this kind of big man at the level of a frontier official came to pick him up in person, which is enough to reflect the country's attention to him.

After exchanging a few pleasantries at the airport and taking some photos by the news media reporters, the group got on a special car.

After having a meal together, Xu Chuan followed several school leaders back to Nanjing University.

In the car, Rong Zhizhuan, the dean of the School of Mathematics, looked at Xu Chuan with a smile and said, "The school has arranged a graduation ceremony for you, and the defense and other things have been removed. You just need to go through the process when the time comes."

Xu Chuan nodded and said, "I'm sorry to bother the dean and all the leaders."

Liu Gaojun smiled and said, "What's the trouble? It's an honor for Nanjing University to have a student like you."

After a pause, President Liu continued, "But speaking of it, the school wants to bother you with something."

"Hmm? What is it? President, please tell me, as long as I can help."

"It's like this. Aren't you a professor at Princeton now? It will take some time for you to return to China."

"After the school's research and discussion, I would like to ask you to hang the title of honorary professor in the school. Just hang the name, and you don't need to work."

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "No problem with that."

Honorary professor usually refers to an honorary title awarded by colleges and universities to scholars who have made outstanding contributions in the academic world.

Most famous scholars have a lot of such titles.

It is similar to what is called "honorary doctor" abroad. It is a very high honor. There is no contractual constraint between the grantor and the grantee, and there is no work, teaching, lectures, etc.

With the reputation and historical heritage of Nanjing University, the title of honorary professor is still worthy of Xu Chuan's identity.

As for the Department of Mathematics of Nanjing University, it must be a blessing.

After all, Xu Chuan is sure to win the Fields Medal next year, and the School of Mathematics of Nanjing University currently has no bigwigs like the Fields Medal winner as honorary professors.

There is no way, who made the School of Mathematics of Nanjing University a weak chicken?

Not to mention ranking internationally, even in China, the School of Mathematics of Nanjing University cannot be ranked.

The School of Mathematics of a top 985 school does not have an academician, which can explain the problem.

However, when he returns to China and takes up a post at Nanjing University next year, the situation will be different.

A Fields Medal winner, a top mathematician who has proved seven millennium problems, is enough to directly raise the status of Nanjing University's School of Mathematics to the top in China.

As for the world-class, that is not something that can be done by one person, and it takes a very long time to settle.

Of course, it is a proud thing to make the alma mater proud of the name of the student.

In the auditorium of Nanjing University, the School of Mathematics prepared a grand graduation ceremony for Xu Chuan.

There were no seats in the audience, and countless students of Nanjing University, from undergraduates to graduate students, to doctoral students, and even professors, were excited to see the figure in the center of the stage.

Envy, worship, sigh, emotion, worship, jealousy. All kinds of emotions intertwined in the auditorium, rolling and mixing, blending into an exciting and trembling atmosphere.

Especially for those students of the same class who are still in their senior year and have not yet graduated, their hearts are even more mixed.

They saw this big guy ascend with their own eyes.

From the perfect score in the entrance speech, to the proof of the Weyl-Berry conjecture, to the Crafford Mathematics and Astronomy Double Award, to the Hodge conjecture among the seven millennium problems.

This big guy's speed of ascension is amazingly fast. When they, who are in the same grade, are still lamenting that they are about to graduate, he has already graduated twice, become a professor at Princeton, stood at the top of the mathematics world, and became a super big guy like a god.

In the past, who could have imagined that there would be such an unattainable god beside him, and even the back of the god could not be seen.

Let alone thinking about it, no one has even dreamed about it.

On the stage, Xu Chuan wore a black and red bachelor's gown and a square bachelor's hat, and accepted the president's tassel-lifting and straightening of the crown with a smile on his face.

When the red tassel moved from the right front side of the hat brim to the middle of the left front side, and naturally drooped to the side of the eye and reflected in his eyes, Xu Chuan was also a little melancholy.

From today, he officially graduated.

"Congratulations, Xu Chuan. I wish you greater, more and more magnificent achievements in your future academic career." After the tassels were removed and the crown was straightened, Liu Gaojun smiled and handed the bouquet and degree certificate in his hand to Xu Chuan, with emotion in his eyes.

The student in front of him was the best of all the students he had taught and met in his decades of academic career.

He was very fortunate that he personally went to greet this student that year.

This journey brought such a student who was only 20 years old and had already stood at the top of the academic world to Nanjing University.

With such an experience, he would have enough capital to brag to professors and leaders of other universities after retirement.

And it was the kind that could make the other party envious and jealous tears flow from their mouths.

Xu Chuan smiled and took the graduation certificate and bouquet from the principal, held them in his arms and bowed deeply.

Liu Gaojun patted his shoulder, hugged him gently, and then turned and walked down, leaving this stage to him.

Xu Chuan held his graduation certificate, looked at the school leaders and students sitting in the audience, took a deep breath, and slowly said:

"Three years ago, I stood here and gave a speech as a freshman representative. In the blink of an eye, three years later, I am back on this stage."

"As a student of Nanjing University, I am honored to be here, and I am very grateful to my alma mater for giving me this opportunity to chat with my juniors and juniors in the school."

After a pause, Xu Chuan added: "Of course, many of you here may have been my seniors."

Hearing this, the audience burst into a small laugh, and the school leaders in the front row also laughed.

For Xu Chuan, it is definitely not his honor to stand here and give a speech with his current achievements, nor is it Nanjing University giving him the opportunity, but Nanjing University's honor and request.

In fact, Nanjing University has gained a lot of improvement because of this student.

The School of Mathematics has expanded twice in the past two years, and the number of students enrolled has increased from less than 100 in 2014 to 200 in 2017, which can be said to have doubled.

The research funding of the School of Mathematics has also increased by nearly 10 million in the past two years. Nanjing University, needless to say, has received hundreds of millions of dollars in funding in both 2016 and 2010.

If nothing unexpected happens, Nanjing University's funding will increase even more next year.

All of this was brought by the extremely young student standing on the stage.

On the stage, Xu Chuan also smiled and then continued:

"Today, I want to talk to you about how to follow your own academic path. This may bring you a little help."

"."

After the long speech, Xu Chuan looked at the audience, took another deep breath, and spoke in a steady and loud voice.

"Finally, please allow me to end today's speech with the motto of my alma mater."

"Sincere, simple and majestic, inspiring to learn and practice."

"May you all get what you want and live up to your youthful dreams!"

As soon as the words fell, a wave of applause erupted in the auditorium, which lasted for a long time.

After finishing his work at Nanjing University, Xu Chuan declined the banquet from the school, called a few friends, and arranged to have a meal together at the former Xiaoxianzhuang.

As for himself, he came to Xiaoxianzhuang in advance to order food, and his roommate on the other side who received the news quickly rushed over.

Kong Zhong: “Brother Chuan!”

Zhou Lin: "Sichuan God!"

Fan Hong: "Brother Chuan, you are finally back!"

Several friends quickly gathered around, all eager to fight.

Xu Chuan's achievements indeed make people feel different and admired, but that is for people in society. For classmates and friends who are still on campus, despite the excitement, there is not much barrier for the time being.

Xu Chuan bumped fists and joked with his three friends. He also enjoyed this friendship. This is a feeling that can never be reproduced after entering society. It is pure and not mixed with other things.

"Brother Chuan, let's not talk about anything else. Let me give you a drink!"

Kong Zhong picked up the beer on the table and toasted to Xu Chuan with a smile like a martial artist.

Xu Chuan smiled, clinked a glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Sichuan God, how does it feel to prove Huo Qi's conjecture?" Zhou Lin and Xu Chuan touched each other and asked curiously.

"How it feels." Xu Chuan pondered for a moment, and then said with a serious face: "It's probably because you get soft when you win an award, your mouth is dry when you give a speech, and someone gives you money when you sit at home."

Hearing this, the three friends all showed expressions of leisurely yearning.

"Hey, are you the little scientist who proved something on TV?"

In Xiaoxianzhuang, the waiter who brought the boiled fish looked at Xu Chuan sitting at the table and felt familiar. She couldn't help but take a second look and seemed to remember something, and asked curiously.

Although Xu Chuan was a little surprised that someone recognized him, he didn't think much about it. After all, he was in the CTV News Alliance, so he smiled and nodded.

But what he didn't expect was that the service aunt became excited when he nodded to confirm.

"I just said you look familiar. The last time I saw you, I was here with your girlfriend. It was quite interesting to have a little chat here, reading and studying." The service aunt said with a smile while serving the food. It was obvious that she was very interested in it. The scene I saw a few years ago left a deep impression on me.

Xu Chuan didn't pay attention, but as soon as the aunt left, the three friends nearby gathered around, gearing up for interrogation.

"Brother Chuan! Tell me honestly, when did you meet your girlfriend?"

"Yes, you will be treated leniently if you confess, and you will be treated harshly if you resist!"

"Ma Dan, we don't even know about this! Tell me quickly, who is my sister-in-law!"

Xu Chuan was stunned for a moment, and then looked dumbfounded.

"What the hell, I haven't even had a girlfriend, so where can I find a sister-in-law?"

Kong Zhong said with disdain: "If the waiter and aunt hadn't exposed it, how long would you have planned to keep it secret from us?"

Zhou Lin: "What a shame, even though we were talking about a girl, she didn't bring her out to show to the brothers. This doesn't mean we are treated as brothers!"

Fan Hong: "That's too much! Tell me honestly, who is my sister-in-law? Is she the Senior Sister Liu who was exposed before!"

Xu Chuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He shook his head and said, "I really didn't talk about a girlfriend. It was the waiter who misunderstood."

"Really?" The three people in Kong asked with doubtful expressions.

"Really." Xu Chuan replied, feeling the cell phone vibrating in his pocket, and then continued: "Wait, let me answer the call first."

Taking out his cell phone from his pocket, Xu Chuan was stunned for a moment by the caller ID, but then the phone swiped across the screen and answered the call: "Hello, senior."

Xu Chuan smiled and said hello, waved away Kong Zhong who came over to eavesdrop, got up and walked to the window.

"Well, um, are you still in school?"

On the other end of the phone, a quiet voice sounded with a courageous inquiry.

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Of course."

"Can I treat you to a meal?" Liu Jiaxin stood in front of Xu Chuan's former dormitory and asked softly while looking at the locked door.

Xu Chuan: "I'm afraid I don't have time at noon, let's do it in the evening."

After a pause, he continued: "I am eating with a few classmates now. If you don't mind, you can also come over. It is at Xiaoxianzhuang in front of the school, where we used to eat."

"No, no, we can do it at night." Liu Jiaxin said softly, looked at the closed dormitory again, turned and left.

"Okay, then it will be at night." Xu Chuan agreed with a smile.

PS: Chapter 196 has modified some character aspects today. If you are interested, you can check it out.