They Were All the Same to Me

Having served as an academic leader at Yanshan University for so many years, and even as chairman of the Hua Nation Mathematical Society, Elder Wang was a man with quite a temper.

After leaving the principal's office, he stubbornly refused to ask a single Jin University professor for help. Instead, he asked students for directions all the way until he found Lu Zhou's office.

After hearing Academician Wang's request, Lu Zhou, who was seated behind his desk, stopped writing.

"Go to Yanshan University to give the presentation?"

"Yes." Not hiding his true thoughts, Academician Wang said bluntly, "Whether in terms of academic atmosphere or academic ability, our Yanshan University School of Mathematics is far stronger than Jinling University's School of Mathematics. A world-class academic conference like this is a window through which Hua Nation's mathematical community faces the world, and it will also be an important opportunity for Hua Nation's mathematical community to integrate with the world. I know this presentation is yours, and you have the right to decide where it is held, but I still hope you can consider the bigger picture and reconsider."

Hearing that, Lu Zhou smiled. "May I ask you a question?"

Wang Shicheng said, "Ask."

Lu Zhou said, "Which do you think is more important—the window, or what is inside the house?"

Wang Shicheng said, "Of course what is inside the house is more important."

"I think so too." Lu Zhou nodded, paused for a moment, then continued. "Whether Hua Nation's mathematical community can connect with the world does not depend on where this window is opened, or how many windows are opened. It depends on how well we build what is inside the house, and what outstanding achievements we produce. So, you asked me to reconsider from the bigger picture. I can tell