Back to His Old Dorm

Yenching University is Shen Qi's "home base." With the meticulous arrangements of her family and accompanied by the president of Yenching University, Shen Qi's first activity after returning to China was "strolling through Yenching Garden."

Among the past presidents of Yenching University, there have been many individuals with strong personalities and passionate natures.

The former principal was a chemistry major; he wrote the lyrics and sang the "Chemistry Song," which was hailed by the public as Academic God.

The former president was a physics major. He was very approachable and often ate and chatted with ordinary students at Yenching University in the cafeteria.

The current Principal Lu of Yenching University, Lu, also studied chemistry. His educational philosophy is "to hope that everyone who wants to become a Yenching University student can become a Yenching University student, and to make Yenching University a Yenching University for all the people of the country."

Of course, that's impossible.

Principal Lu, a chemist with a romantic spirit, strolled side by side with Shen Qi on the campus of Yenching University. As they walked, he chatted amiably. "Shen Qi, I studied chemistry and don't understand mathematics, but I know the great significance of the Riemann Hypothesis. You have brought honor to Chinese mathematicians and are the pride of Yenching University."

"Principal Lu, you flatter me," Shen Qi said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Back then, Mr. Chen Jingrun completed the proof of Goldbach Conjecture 1+2, which caused a sensation throughout the country. Soon after, a large number of amateur math enthusiasts came to Beijing carrying sacks filled with papers. They practically broke down the doors of authoritative research institutions, claiming that they had proven Goldbach Conjecture 1+1 and did a better job than Mr. Chen. I, a person born in the 1960s, remember it very well. I was a teenager at the time and lived near an authoritative research institution." Principal Lu laughed as he spoke.

Shen Qi smiled knowingly, "Later, authoritative research institutions had to issue an official announcement: Those who do not understand calculus, please do not be admitted!"

"This true story fully demonstrates Goldbach Conjecture's influence in the public eye. In my mind, Lê Conjecture and Goldbach Conjecture are on the same level, so Shen Qi, you are remarkable; you have accomplished a great feat."

"The country attaches great importance to young, top-notch scientific research talents. Keep up the good work, Shen Qi. Yanda University will be your Strong Force support."

Walking to the boys' dormitory, Shen Qi said goodbye to Principal Lu, saying he wanted to visit his former residence alone.

Going upstairs, with mixed feelings, Shen Qi walked towards his old dormitory. He had always kept the dormitory key; it was in his pocket.

Four years ago, in September, Shen Qi enrolled in the Mathematics Department at Yenching University and lived in this dormitory building.

In June of this year, Shen Qi revisited the place and was filled with emotion.

Click.

Shen Qi opened the door to his former residence's bedroom and entered.

This dormitory room originally housed four people: Shen Qi, Zhou Yu'an, Cai Qing, and Luo Ji.

Shen Qi went to the United States two years ago, while Zhou Yu'an went to the United States last December.

Cai Qing and Luo Ji are still in China, but not in their dormitory at the moment.

Shen Qi entered the dormitory and found two beds empty, while the other two beds had straw mats and pillows on them.

The two empty beds were where Shen Qi and Zhou Yu'an had slept, and nothing had changed.

Two large boxes were on the ground, half-packed. They probably belonged to Cai Qing and Luo Ji, who were about to graduate with their bachelor's degrees and were packing their personal belongings.

Shen Qi noticed a strange detail: it had been almost two years since he left Yanda University, yet his computer desk was so clean, spotless.

There are twelve pen holders neatly arranged on the computer desk, each filled with pens—pencils, ballpoint pens, felt-tip pens, all kinds—the total number is estimated to be around three hundred.

Zhou Yu'an's computer desk was also spotless, but instead of a pen holder, there was a charger plugged in and a mobile phone connected.

As Shen Qi was wondering, someone suddenly walked in, carrying a lunchbox.

"Shen Qi!" the newcomer shouted, extremely excited.

"Luo Ji!" Shen Qi was also very excited; his undergraduate roommate, Luo Ji, had returned from getting lunch.

"Wait, how did you get in here alone? I didn't lock the door?" Luo Ji, being a top student in the Mathematics Department, was able to maintain his rationality and judgment even amidst his excitement.

"I have the key to the main gate, and I've kept it all this time," Shen Qi explained. He was very satisfied with Luo Ji's condition, which was a basic quality that a graduate of the Mathematics Department of Yenching University should possess.

"Oh yeah, I forgot." Luo Ji put down his lunchbox and gave Shen Qi a warm hug. "Boss Shen, you're finally back! We missed you so much! Every day, people came to our dorm to wipe your table, making it super shiny and clean. Some of you are a bit sentimental, though; while wiping it, your nose would tingle and tears would well up."

"Damn it... Is this for me to sweep my grave and express my condolences?" Shen Qi was both amused and exasperated. The first mystery was solved; no wonder his computer desk was spotless.

"Look at what you're saying, it's so unlucky, ptooey ptooey!" Luo Ji spat three times and said, "Shen Qi, your legend has already spread throughout Yenching University. After you went to Princeton to study, students from the School of Mathematics spontaneously came to our dormitory to Shen Qi your table and presented you with a pen, wiping it and putting it in the pen holder. It's like consecrating it, after all, this is your divine throne."

"A divine throne? Based on your description, Luo Ji, it sounds more like my memorial tablet to me?" Shen Qi was truly speechless; the students from the School of Mathematics were incredibly creative.

Luo Ji explained, "Maybe there's something wrong with how I narrated it, but anyway, that's the gist of it. The math students want to bask in your academic aura, to go to Princeton University like you, to get into the Big Four accounting firms, to win awards, to solve the Lê Conjecture, and to become a genius. Their intentions are good, so please don't blame them."

"Bai Shu (a traditional Chinese ritual for praying to the gods) will make me pass the Big Four accounting exams and break the millennium? People who study mathematics shouldn't be so superstitious and ritualistic." Shen Qi pointed to Zhou Yu'an's table and asked, "Where's Zhou Yu'an? Was he also visited by the grave? Why are there no offerings on his table, just a cell phone?"

"Oh, this is my phone, it's charging." Luo Ji put away his phone and said, "Zhou Yu'an is also a top student. Last year, he got the only spot in the whole country for a Princeton University's Mathematics Department, so he's practically a legendary figure. But Zhou Yu'an doesn't have god-like status yet, so he can only enjoy the treatment of wiping tables; he hasn't started the stationery blessing service yet. That's how down-to-earth math students are; they only recognize achievements."

Shen Qi was both amused and exasperated. "The atmosphere at Peking University has completely changed in the two years I've been away..."

"Luo Ji, where will you go after you graduate with your bachelor's degree?" Shen Qi asked.

"I've been accepted into a graduate program and will stay at the university to pursue my studies," Luo Ji said.

"Really? That's great. Which advisor are you with? What's your area of study?"

"I've switched to applied mathematics under Professor Yu's guidance."

Shen Qi and Luo Ji chatted and reminisced about the past. Both of them were still on the path of mathematics, one persisting in theoretical research and the other determined to work in the field of application.

After a while, more and more people came to the dormitory. Another roommate Cai Qing, returned, and the students from the neighboring dormitories also came to meet Shen Qi after hearing the news.

"Cai Qing, you didn't pursue graduate studies, and you found a job—a civil servant? That's great! A secure, stable job with five social insurances and one housing fund—a respectable position."

"Li Zhenqiang, you've also been accepted into a graduate program, working with Professor Xu on Algebraic Geometry? Algebraic Geometry is the most difficult yet most promising research area. Li Zhenqiang, you're truly amazing!"

Shen Qi and his classmates in the Mathematics Department all chose to pursue basic mathematics as undergraduates, and half of them chose to pursue graduate studies, still focusing on basic mathematics.

A quarter of them switched to applied mathematics or other majors, and they will continue to pursue graduate studies.

Of the students pursuing graduate studies, half stayed at Yenching University, while the rest went to other universities or studied abroad.

A small number of the Mathematics Department go straight into the workforce after graduating with their bachelor's degree, and they usually find good jobs. If it were a bad job, they definitely wouldn't take it; they would pursue a master's or doctoral degree instead.

Shen Qi was happy for everyone. Whether they were continuing their studies or about to enter the workforce, none of them were idle after graduating with their bachelor's degrees; they were all contributing to the country.

"I have some time today, let's get together. We should have a graduation dinner, right?" As the class monitor and the richest person, Shen Qi treated everyone to a big graduation meal.