Taking Up a Visiting Professorship at Yanjing University

Yanjing University Auditorium was brightly lit and filled with distinguished guests.

The principal announced, "Shen Qi's unprecedented proofs of the Riemann Hypothesis and Goldbach Conjecture have earned him ten major mathematics awards, including the Fields Medal, making him one of the most outstanding mathematicians of our time."

"We hereby appoint Shen Qi as Visiting Professor the School of Mathematics at our university for a term of five years. We hope that Professor Shen will generously share his advanced international experience and help our university build a top-notch mathematics team in China and a world-class team!" The president solemnly presented the letter of appointment to Shen Qi.

Shen Qi solemnly accepted the letter of appointment and took office as Visiting Professor at the Big Mathematics Department, Yenching University. He is currently the only Visiting Professor in the Big Mathematics Department.

System: "New achievement! The host has become the seventh Visiting Professor in the history of the Big Mathematics Department. The basic reward is 1 million academic points, multiplied by the mathematical talent coefficient of 2.0, resulting in a final reward of 2 million academic points."

After the meeting, Dean Wang the School of Mathematical Sciences took Shen Qi's arm and asked earnestly, "Shen Qi, when will you return to Yenching University to work full-time? We need you! The people of our motherland are eagerly awaiting your return."

"Dean Wang, you see, I've only been Visiting Professor for less than an hour. Shouldn't I be allowed to enjoy this for a few years first?"

Dean Wang had already planned ahead. "That's easy to say. As long as you're willing to come back—I mean truly return to China—you can continue to be Visiting Professor at the School of Mathematical Sciences. Then you can also serve as the director or head of an institute within the School of Mathematical Sciences. Wouldn't that be perfect? Think about it, Shen Qi."

"Okay, I will seriously consider it." Shen Qi's current position is a full-time professor in the Princeton Mathematics Department and Visiting Professor the Big Mathematics Department at Yenching University. Of course, he would plan a way out for himself. He is familiar with his alma mater, Yenching University, and can give it priority.

The earthquake prediction controversy from the first half of the year has not yet completely subsided. The reason Shen Qi was able to return to China smoothly for a short time was twofold: firstly, he did not resign from his position as a professor in the Princeton Mathematics Department, and secondly, his girlfriend was staying in the United States.

"Yantai University welcomes you back to teach and hold a position at any time. So, Professor Shen, as our Visiting Professor, your responsibility now is to spend at least one month each year at Yantai University to share international best practices with us. Today is already September, so let's start counting from next year." Dean Wang was understanding. Sharing international best practices was one aspect, but Yantai University's Big Mathematics Department needed a Chinese Fields Medal- winning professor like Shen Qi to uphold its reputation. There was only one such person in all of China, and only one like him.

"Dedication to one's job is a basic professional ethic. I have accepted the appointment letter, starting from this year." Shen Qi had already informed the Princeton Mathematics Department, and National Preliminary for a month this time.

Without hesitation, Shen Qi immediately shared his international best practices with the faculty and students of the Big Mathematics Department.

The first session was a lecture by Professor Shen Qi at the Science Teaching Building of Yenching University.

Domestic universities rarely have visiting (lecture) professors, after all, there are only so many truly outstanding people, and some of them are particularly reluctant to talk to others.

If a university's department or college has a visiting (chair) professor, it's the most enviable major, and that major and college will undoubtedly have a prestigious reputation within the university.

"Shen Qi is back! Visiting Professor of the School of Mathematical Sciences!"

"Visiting Professor under 25 years old, what a genius..."

"Let's go, let's go see the master!"

"Professor Shen studies mathematics, what does that have to do with our civil engineering?"

"If you're bad at math, the house you design will collapse."

"You're trying to trick me into learning math again!"

The large classroom was packed; Shen Qi's semi-public lecture attracted many students from outside the School of Finance.

Shen Qi spends only a month a year at Yenching University, giving three to five lectures. He doesn't simply read from the math textbooks.

Lectures given by Visiting Professor are usually both educational and entertaining, explaining professional knowledge and industry trends while also interspersing some interesting industry anecdotes.

"I never lie to anyone about learning math. How did I learn math? I was tricked into learning math by my high school homeroom teacher. So, if you have younger siblings, do you know how to choose a homeroom teacher for them?" Shen Qi's opening remarks immediately drew laughter from the audience.

"The most popular research area in contemporary mathematics is Algebraic Geometry, which, to be more specific, involves using the language of Abstract Algebra to analyze high-dimensional graphics... Wait, many of you here aren't from the mathematics department, are you?"

"How did I figure it out? Of course, I confirmed it through their eyes. People who study math have different eyes."

"Half of you wear glasses, so you're probably not from the math department."

"When you reach a certain level in mathematics, you will have a clear liver, bright eyes, and sharp hearing and vision."

Wow!

The audience burst into laughter. "Professor Shen, you're trying to trick us into learning math again!"

Shen Qi's presence here is the best proof; there's no need for grand pronouncements or deliberate hype about the greatness of mathematics or the respect mathematicians command.

The conversation between Shen Qi and the students of Yenching University was relaxed and pleasant, while the tea party with the key members of the School of the Big Mathematics Department had a slightly formal atmosphere.

Dean Wang hosted a tea party where key members of various disciplines and Visiting Professor chatted freely while munching on sunflower seeds and drinking tea.

When the country introduced the strictest-ever regulations to punish academic misconduct, everyone applauded.

"This time they're really serious. In the past, multiple departments jointly managed the academic front, but the result was that everyone was in charge and no one was in charge, leaving things to their own devices, which eventually led to a major problem," said Sun Erxiong, who had just been promoted to director of the Algebra and Number Theory Teaching and Research Section of the School of Mathematics. He was beaming and looked quite prosperous.

"Who can argue with that? Now, the science and technology sector is taking the lead in the academic front, concentrating its firepower on punishing academic misconduct. Anyone who dares to fabricate data will be barred from participating in science and technology projects, and will not receive any funding, permanently. This is very serious. Without funding, those who violate academic integrity will lose their pursuit of life and enjoyment. It's like striking a snake at its vital point—this is a ruthless move!" Lu Guozhen said. He and Sun Erxiong were promoted on the same day, and he is now the Director of the Department of Analysis.

"It's the same abroad. Professors who can't get research grants live a miserable life. Their students leave them, their wives complain about them, it's so pitiful." Shen Qi about the international situation. He wasn't very familiar with other countries, but the United States punishes academic misconduct extremely severely. There are people who commit academic fraud in the United States, Shen Qi had seen them. In the end, they were disgraced, their families broke apart, and they suffered mental breakdowns.

"There has indeed been chaos in the domestic academic community for a long time, but we are pleased to see that the country has taken strong measures. The relevant detailed rules have been sent to the middle and senior management of various universities and will be fully implemented soon. Our academic environment is developing in a positive direction, and the number of overseas senior scientific research talents returning to China is increasing year by year, which tells us something." Dean Wang glanced at Shen Qi inadvertently.

"Dean Wang, my esteemed teachers, there's no need for further words. Yanda University is my second home, and I know that in my heart," Shen Qi said vaguely.

"See? I told you long ago, Shen Qi's most outstanding quality is that he acts with a clear conscience and follows principles in his work." Sun Erxiong lit a Yellow Crane Tower cigarette with satisfaction. He got promoted and received a raise. The 0.5 Zhongnanhai became the Yellow Crane Tower in 1916.