Confidence Boosted by Career Success

Princeton University made two decisions.

First, through friendly consultation, Shen Qi was relieved of his position as professor in the Princeton Mathematics Department.

Second, after further friendly consultation, Shen Qi was awarded the title of Princeton Honorary Professor.

The president of Princeton presented Shen Qi with an Honorary Professor certificate and a Princeton Tigers jersey with the number 235, which are the first three digits in the prime number table.

The Princeton Tigers Football Team have announced the permanent retirement of their number 235 jersey, which bears the name "KEY" on the back.

Normally, the highest jersey number in American football is 99.

The Tigers may have been playing a joke; they paid tribute to Princeton legend Shen Qi in a special way.

Shen Qi received gifts from his friends at Princeton. Director Feierman presented him with a silver coin featuring the American national emblem, depicting an eagle grasping an olive branch and an arrow in its two claws.

"The eagle represents the American spirit, Qi. The doors of Princeton will never be closed to you. You can fly back anytime," Director Feierman said earnestly, shaking Shen Qi's hand.

Professor Faltings presented him with a high-end pen, saying, "A pen is the highest honor at Princeton. Qi, you deserve this honor."

Professor Lyndon Strauss presented a coffee pot, saying, "We Israelis have suffered greatly from war, and we yearn for peace more than any other nation. The coffee pot symbolizes peace; only in peace can we enjoy coffee quietly at home. Presenting a coffee pot is our most sincere blessing as Israelis. Qi, I wish you and Ou a lifetime of peace and happiness."

Shen Qi was deeply moved. "May the world be at peace, and may your family be happy."

Witten strolled over from the neighboring Princeton Institute for Advanced Study and gave her a spring scale used in physics experiments. "Keep it safe, goodbye."

Shen Qi asked, "Edward, what is the symbolism of the spring scale?"

"I just grabbed it from the table. Goodbye." Witten strolled around for a bit and then left.

Mary gave him a bullet casing, which was hanging on a metal necklace. "Qi, may you be unstoppable, defeat all enemies, take care."

"You probably can't take this out of the pass, right?" Shen Qi accepted the bullet casing necklace. Regardless of whether he could take it out of the pass, it was a thoughtful gift from his colleague.

Ralph presented Shen with a cowboy hat, saying, "Professor Shen, visit Texas sometime. Take care."

"Thank you." Shen Qi took the cowboy hat and asked Ralph to come with him to the office.

A large cardboard box was placed on the ground and sealed up.

Shen Qi patted the box and said, "It contains all my mathematical manuscripts from my time at Princeton. Some have been lost, but everything I could find is here. Ralph, this box is for you; keep it as a souvenir."

"This is far too precious!" Ralph dared not accept such a generous gift.

"If I tell you to accept it, then accept it. Just don't lose it; I'll be coming back to check from time to time."

"So Professor Shen is still going back to Princeton? That's great! I'll keep this suitcase for you for now, you absolutely must come back!"

Shen Qi left decisively, leaving behind all his manuscripts. The significance of him taking them back was not as great as the significance of leaving them at Princeton. A Chinese mentor handing over to an American student is a kind of inheritance.

After selling their Mercedes-Benz and Bentley and packing up everything they could, Shen Qi and Ou Ye prepared to return to China.

Before returning to China, Shen Qi and Ou Ye treated Zhou Yu'an to dinner.

"They're gone, they're all gone." Zhou Yu'an became sad as she ate.

"Don't be like this, Zhou Yu'an," Ou Ye comforted him.

Shen Qi said, "Zhou Yu'an, you'll be graduating with your doctorate soon, right? The Mathematical Research Center at Peking University is short-staffed. If you can't find a job after graduation, remember to come find me."

"Looking for you? Shen Qi, from the Olympic Math national team to Yenching University, and then to Princeton, I've always lived in your shadow! Do you really think you're an omnipotent god? Even if I, Zhou Yu'an, starve to death, even if I jump off this cliff, I won't go looking for you!" Zhou Yu'an shouted, his expression agitated.

After he finished howling, Zhou Yu'an asked curiously, "Professor Shen, Director Shen, what are the benefits like at your Mathematical Research Center?"

"Damn it, this acting is awful!" Shen Qi kicked Zhou Yu'an and said, "The treatment is so-so, just lunch provided, take it or leave it."

"You two are such a pair of clowns." Ou Ye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She suddenly felt that having a few lively brothers was quite nice. She didn't have a single best friend. Shen Qi was her everything.

Princeton is ultimately just a stop on life's journey. After handling all their affairs in the United States, Shen Qi and Ou Ye boarded an international flight to China.

Seven papers in the four major mathematics journals, one mathematics monograph, two PRL papers, and one Science paper.

With two doctoral degrees in mathematics and physics, Professor Nian, he proved several conjectures and received several awards.

Shen Qi left the United States and flew further and further away.

The farther away we are from the United States, the closer we are to China.

As the plane began its descent, Ou Ye's heart pounded with excitement and joy.

Shen Qi frequently travels between China and the United States, while Ou Ye hasn't been back to China for a long time and misses her parents.

Shen Qi and Ou Ye did not tell anyone else their flight numbers, only to Old Ou.

There's no need to jump right into work as soon as you get back to China; you should reunite with your family first.

Beijing Capital International Airport.

Old Ou successfully picked up Shen Qi and Ou Ye.

"Dad!" As soon as Ou Ye saw her Old Ou from a distance, her eyes immediately reddened and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Little Yezi!" Even a tough guy like Old Ou was moved; his daughter was the person he cared about most.

"Hello, Uncle Ou." Shen Qi dragged two large suitcases as he approached Old Ou.

Old Ou snatched the suitcases from both hands and carried them away, still as brave and vigorous as ever.

Old Ou started the car and drove away from the Capital Airport: "Going home first."

"Yes, I can finally go home!" Ou Ye exclaimed, jumping for joy.

Shen Qi observed the surroundings as much as possible, trying to speak as little as possible. They were on their way to Ou Ye's house, a place he had never been to before.

"You're quite familiar with my dad, and you've met my mom too," Ou Ye said softly, holding Shen Qi's hand.

Shen Qi nodded. "Uncle Ou and Aunt Ye are both very good people."

"How good is it?" Old Ou glanced at Shen Qi in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Shen Qi said sincerely, "Well, the moment I met Uncle Ou, I felt an instant connection with him. I felt like we knew each other in a past life, like we were very close. Aunt Ye's visit to America last time also made me feel incredibly warm. In short, I think Uncle Ou and Aunt Ye are both very kind to me."

"Do I not know whether it's good or not?" Old Ou asked.

"..." Shen Qi was embarrassed.

Old Ou was a straightforward man. "Shen Qi, I wasn't that great to you before. But now, I wouldn't dare treat you badly. You're Great Scientist, the country needs you, and I'm very happy to see you return to China to develop your career. Enough of this nonsense. When you get to our house, we'll treat you to the best food and drinks. That's all."

Shen Qi looked out the window, lost in thought. This society is so realistic; a man has to achieve something in his career, otherwise he can't hold his head up high when he goes to his girlfriend's house.

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