The Unspoken Understanding
Academician Pan was particularly surprised. "You've got the goods ready so quickly? I need Einstein's manuscript of 'The Universe Through My Eyes'!"
Academician Pan possessed a certain degree of counter-surveillance awareness, Shen Qi followed up on Academician Pan's words, saying, "It is said that the manuscript of Einstein's review article has long been lost. I went to great lengths to obtain Gödel's German translation from an American friend."
"So what you call 'goods' are actually Gödel's manuscripts?" Academician Pan asked.
Shen Qi retorted, "Academician Pan, be straightforward. I'm just asking you, do you want it or not? Where can you get Einstein's manuscripts these days?"
Academician Pan quickly said, "Gödel it Gödel, I'll take it! I wouldn't dare trouble our Fields Medal laureate to deliver it to my door. I have a student who is currently on a business trip in the United States, I'll have him visit you at Princeton University, and you can give him the German version of Gödel's manuscript. Thank you, Shen Qi, collecting manuscripts from famous physicists is one of my hobbies, thank you for helping me fulfill my wish. I won't say more, I will always remember your kindness."
The following day, a Chinese physics researcher arrived at Princeton. He was a student of Academician Pan and was on a business trip to the United States for a project.
The handover of goods went very smoothly. A Chinese professor handed a file bag to a Chinese researcher who was on a business trip to the United States. This was a routine procedure that would not attract any attention.
"Professor Shen, on behalf of Academician Pan, I thank you." The researcher shook hands with Shen Qi, his expression calm but his heart filled with excitement, which could be felt from the strength of his grip.
Shen Qi smiled and said, "Yan Gong, please pass on a message to Academician Pan for me. I hope that Academician Pan can break the world record again in the field of quantum mechanics, so that the Chinese team can firmly hold the world's number one position."
"Don't worry, I will definitely convey that message."
Take care and have a safe journey.
"Take care of yourself, Professor Shen."
Yan Gong and Shen Qi's meeting lasted only a few minutes before they parted ways, everything left unsaid.
Before the Christmas break, all professors in the Princeton Mathematics Department held a meeting to summarize the year's achievements and shortcomings, and to look ahead to the coming year.
Shen Qi ranked seventh in the department's professor performance evaluation this year, a drop of one place compared to the same period last year.
"I haven't produced many results in mathematics this year," Shen Qi said with deep self-criticism. He hadn't written a single mathematical monograph or completed a single mathematical paper as the first author this year.
Under Shen Qi's guidance, Yu Lei Ralph published two papers in four major mathematics journals. These are Shen Qi's only two formal research achievements this year, completed in his capacity as a mentor.
"Qi, you're busy with physics, but a person's energy is limited after all," Director Feierman said. Everyone in the department knew that Shen Qi keen on earthquake prediction in the first half of this year, which consumed a lot of his time and energy.
Shen Qi came to Princeton University for graduate studies when he was 20 years old. The Mathematics Department at the time was Charles Feierman.
Shen Qi will turn 25 next month, Feierman will remain the Mathematics Department.
"My energy is limited too. My second term Mathematics Department will end next year. Hey, I'm already 70 years old. Shouldn't you find someone to replace me?" Head Feierman looked around, feeling exhausted.
The unwritten rule in Princeton University's Mathematics Department is that the Mathematics Department is rotated every three years, with everyone taking turns serving as head.
The top leaders of Chinese universities wield almost absolute power, unlike in the United States, and even less so at Princeton. Princeton's president is a history professor who also has to teach undergraduate courses, and he gets criticized if he doesn't teach well.
The Mathematics Department at Princeton University has some power, but it is mostly for the purpose of serving the people.
After Feierman's first term Mathematics Department ended, all the full professors in the department recommended that Feierman serve another term as head of the department.
Several years have passed in the blink of an eye, Feierman's second term as department head will end next year. The former Academic God, now a septuagenarian Feierman doesn't want to continue. Being a leader in the United States is not very interesting.
"Charles, no one in the Princeton Mathematics Department has more prestige than you. I think you could serve another term as department chair," Professor Lyndon Strauss suggested.
Feierman immediately exploded. "Three years after that, then another three years, then another three years!"
Pfft~
Shen Qi laughed, almost spitting out his coffee.
Feierman looked at Shen Qi: "Qi, you'll be the next department head."
Shen Qi waved his hand and said, "Charles, this is not appropriate. I am too young."
Including Feierman, all the mathematics professors present were exceptionally intelligent individuals. Feierman said regretfully, "Qi, so one day, you will still leave Princeton."
"Hoo..." Shen Qi sighed softly, neither confirming nor denying. He had spent almost five years in the Mathematics Department at Princeton University, where the people treated him very well. If there was a pure land in America, for Shen Qi, that pure land was the Princeton Mathematics Department.
Shen Qi sincerely stated, "I have spent far more time studying and working at Princeton than in China. Regardless, I love Princeton; it prospers because of God's power."
"She prospers because of God's power," said American Fields Medal winner Feierman.
"She prospers because of God's power," said German Fields Medal winner Faltings.
"She prospers because of God's power," said Israeli Fields Medal winner Lyndon Strauss.
More than half of the professors in Princeton University's Mathematics Department are non-US citizens. Historical data shows that Princeton University mathematics professors who did not become US citizens eventually returned to their respective home countries.
Some things can't be forced. Feierman said to Shen Qi, "Qi, thank you for your contributions to Princeton over the past five years. Wherever you go, you will always be Princeton's best alumnus. I would like to make a small request of you: regarding the proof of the Hodge conjecture, I hope you can complete it as a professor of mathematics at Princeton."
"I can promise you that, Charles," Shen Qi immediately promised. Hodge conjecture that it was a gift he was preparing for China, and perhaps also the last gift he would leave for Princeton.
After the professors' meeting, Shen Qi, Yu Lei, Ralph discussed the progress of the Hodge conjecture Algebraic Geometry section.
"Progress is going smoothly. Yu Lei and Ralph, you've worked hard. Enjoy your upcoming Christmas break. After the break, we'll launch a full-scale attack on this project!" Shen Qi was satisfied with the two doctoral students' positive attitude in tackling the difficult problems.
On the Chinese side, Shen Qi called Lu Guozhen of Yenching University and Director Wu the Morning Star Mathematics Center.
Shen Qi learned that relevant national ministries and commissions attached great importance to the two basic mathematics projects he was leading.
Lu Guozhen's Hodge conjecture Mathematical Analysis section and Director Wu's topology section both applied for 973 Program, and the two projects were approved separately. The three branches of the military worked together to overcome the super problem of the Hodge conjecture.