The Motherland Hopes You'll Come Home
MIT is right next to the Clay Mathematics Institute. After being interviewed by Discovery Channel, Shen Qi gave a keynote speech on the Riemann Hypothesis at MIT, which was very well received.
At the invitation and organization of the American Mathematical Society, Shen Qi flew to the West Coast of the United States and gave three lectures in UCLA, UC Berkeley and San Diego.
When Shen Qi participated in the Ford Prize selection last year, he paid a $20,000 award fee, which made him a foreign member of the American Mathematical Society.
Shen Qi is a member of the American Mathematical Society, but not of any Chinese Mathematical Association or organization.
Shen Qi has gained a huge following in the United States, from the East Coast to the West Coast, but has not yet participated in any public academic activities in China.
The Chinese Mathematical Society couldn't sit still. Among their 50,000 members are more than 500 foreign members, but Shen Qi, who has been dealing with the Chinese Mathematical Society for several years, has not yet been admitted as a domestic member.
Shen Qi was immediately awarded the title of "Senior Honorary Member" by the Chinese Mathematical Society, with lifetime membership fees waived and enjoying all the benefits of the association.
While showing off in the US comes in a different language than your native tongue, the sense of accomplishment is huge, but the sense of belonging is slightly lacking.
Wang Minxing, the current president of the Chinese Mathematical Society, made a phone call to Shen Qi, "Shen Qi, come back. The motherland eagerly awaits your National First Prize."
Shen Qi was somewhat surprised. "Chairman Wang, Dean Wang, how could I trouble you to call me personally?"
President Wang, who is also the president of the Chinese Mathematical Society and the dean of the Big Mathematics Department, said, "Shen Qi, as you know, I have several roles. Now, on behalf of the Chinese Mathematical Society and Yenching University, I sincerely invite you to return to China before July to share your experiences of success with everyone."
"Okay, I also miss my motherland very much. Dean Wang, see you at Yenching University!" Shen Qi still habitually addressed Wang Minxing as Dean Wang. For him, his alma mater, Yenching University, was above all else; it was his starting point.
Shen Qi's vacation period is from June to August. He has obtained his Ph. D. in mathematics from Princeton University, but has not yet taken up the position of lecturer at Princeton University.
Shen Qi, remotely directing operations from Los Angeles, arranged academic work for his return to China: "Little Yezi, please consult Professor Gong more often; we still need to make breakthroughs in the zero-point equation. As for me? I'll probably stay in China for about one to two weeks. Um, I'll bring you a gift."
"Mary, we need to expedite the research on the RT Third Expression. While I'm back in the country, you'll be in charge of overseeing the project team's daily operations."
"Jonas, you'll be working with Mary on the research project. Make good use of Princeton's resources and don't miss Wednesday coffee time. A casual chat among Princeton professors during coffee time, a sudden flash of inspiration—it might just be the key to breaking through our current predicament. Opportunity often favors the prepared."
"Old Zhou, come back to Yanda with me and let's have some fun. What? You're too embarrassed to go back because you haven't achieved anything? I've already shown off all my skills, you're destined to be just a supporting character?"
"Zhou Yu'an, please don't think like that... Okay then, you stay at Princeton University to study mathematics, I'm leaving, bye-bye."
Having arranged everything, Shen Qi departed from Los Angeles for China, his first stop being home.
There are direct flights from Los Angeles to Nangang City, Shen Qi stayed home for two days to spend time with his parents.
"Son, you're already famous so much before you've even won the Fields Medal?" Fan Yunxia asked, sounding both proud and somewhat puzzled.
"The so-called 'red' status is only within the Mathematics Community; after all, ordinary people can't truly understand the significance of the Riemann Hypothesis," Shen Qi said.
"Dad, don't look at me like that. According to IMU's tradition, my chances of winning the Fields Medal this year are slim. Four years from now, the Fields Medal should belong to me."
"Four more years? You'll be a father in four years! By the way, where's Xiao Ou? Didn't she come back with you? Did you two have a fight?"
"Xiao Ou and I get along very well. She's still in graduate school and doesn't have time to come back. Dad, Mom, I'm leaving for the capital. Take care of yourselves."
The capital city made thorough preparations. The working group to welcome Shen Qi back was mainly composed of people from Yenching University, and the Chinese Mathematical Society sent representatives.
At Peking University, Shen Qi met with the members of the working group and held the first working group meeting, where he listened to the relevant reports from the working group.
The working group reported to Shen Qi a work plan, namely, Shen Qi's itinerary during his return to China:
Keynote speeches, special sessions for Yenching University, special sessions for the Chinese Mathematical Society, and several special sessions for prestigious universities in the capital.
Specialized academic exchange meetings, including sessions for Yenching University and the Chinese Mathematical Society.
The interview was conducted by CCTV Radio Science and Education Channel, Beijing TV, and some portal websites.
During a grassroots activity, I visited a middle school in the capital and, as a math teacher, gave a lively and interesting math lesson to the students.
Attend the award ceremony and receive the "Zhong Jiaqing Mathematics Prize".
"Isn't this schedule too tight?" Shen Qi felt that being a successful person was exhausting. "When I was in America, you didn't tell me this!"
"Shen Qi, take a look and see which activity you can cancel?" asked Sun Erxiong, the head of the working group.
The keynote speeches, the two special sessions with Yenching University and the Chinese Mathematical Society —I can't decline those. The special session with Shuimu University, one of the top universities in the capital, is also indispensable. The friendship between Yenching University and Tsinghua University will last forever; harmonious neighborliness is the main theme.
Shen Qi felt he couldn't miss either of the two academic exchange meetings, as he considered them the most meaningful and valuable activities of his trip back to China. He wanted to hear the opinions and suggestions of domestic mathematics experts regarding the follow-up research on the RT Third Expression.
Shen Qi found it even harder to refuse the offer to teach math to middle school students in rural areas, as everyone knows the principle that a strong youth makes a strong China.
Shen Qi had to attend the "Zhong Jiaqing Mathematics Prize" ceremony; he couldn't embarrass the Chinese Mathematical Society, after all, the association had treated him very well.
Back then, the Chinese Mathematical Society overruled objections and awarded the "Chern Prize in Mathematics" to Shen Qi, who was only 21 years old at the time, and Shen Qi was grateful.
After much deliberation, Shen Qi made a reluctant decision. "Let's postpone the lectures at Beijing Institute of Technology and Capital University of Science and Technology to another time. For the television interviews, we can arrange with CCTV Radio Science and Education Channel."
"Okay, we'll go and communicate." said a man in the working group who was in charge of dealing with the media. He was a key member of Yenching University's public relations department.
The great capital is China's political center, cultural center, foreign exchange center, and science and technology innovation center.
The fact that it has gained recognition from the political, cultural, and scientific and educational circles in the capital basically represents the attitude of the relevant fields nationwide.