Free Web NovelChapter 578: Chapter 336: Old Qian, you are really a genius! _2
After returning to Yanhua University, he seriously read those two books and Zhou Youjin’s research manuscripts, learning a lot from them.
This is the process of knowledge accumulation.
Zhao Yi’s purpose of studying topology was to solve Fermat’s Last Theorem. While he researched and learned from the books, he also applied his own ideas. This relentless persistence continued for several days.
Obviously.
To solve one of the world’s top mathematical problems, having knowledge isn’t enough; the direction of thinking and inspiration are even more important.
Zhao Yi felt that his ideas were feasible, but something still seemed to be missing.
What was missing?
He thought about it for several days in a row but couldn’t figure out what it was.
In the eyes of others, Zhao Yi appeared to be ’obsessed.’ Every day, whether in class, eating, resting, or even before bed, he held a book and carefully pondered. He never seemed to stop, and his usual response time became somewhat slow, as if he was always immersed in his own world.
Monday.
Zhao Yi walked along with a book in his arms, while Qian Hong accompanied him, talking about matters related to the Particle Boundary Theory course.
The course would have an exam.
Qian Hong had prepared a test paper and delineated the exam scope for students. She wanted Zhao Yi’s opinion, but after Zhao Yi hesitated for a long time, he just nodded and said, "Whatever you decide is fine."
"What are you thinking about? You seem to be in a daze, not focused," Qian Hong asked with concern, "I heard from others that you’ve been like this for a few days now."
"The framework problem of spatial topology."
Zhao Yi explained, "I’m considering a smoothness property problem in space, just like a curved surface. After topological analysis, the values at a certain point on the surface are smooth. Smoothness means that we can prove that the positive positions and the negative positions are both non-natural numbers."
"..."
Qian Hong stared for a long time, her mind racing. She felt like she understood every word, but why couldn’t she understand it when it was put together?
What was this all about?!
Qian Hong sighed and simply gave up, "I can’t help you with this."
"Just keep going!"
"Good luck!"
Zhao Yi laughed and decided to stop thinking, planning to go to the student dormitory for a spin. He hadn’t been there for more than a week, and being at a standstill had been frustrating. Going to play games with friends didn’t sound bad. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
At that moment, Qian Zhijin suddenly came over, shouting from a distance, "Zhao Yi, wait for me."
Zhao Yi stopped.
Out of breath, Qian Zhijin said, "I just went to the teaching building looking for you, but the class was already over. I’ve been chasing after you!"
"What’s the matter?"
"It’s Director Zhang from the Physics Department at the Science Academy. He called me again, asking for your opinion. I told him last time that I’d ask you again, but I guess you’d still refuse."
"Right."
Zhao Yi shook his head, "I don’t really understand colliders. Building one would be the same with or without me."
"Pfft~~"
Qian Zhijin suddenly laughed, "You really think he’s looking for you to build a collider?"
"Otherwise?"
"The collider thing is still inside the hen’s stomach, no, it’s like the hen hasn’t been fucked by the rooster yet..." Qian Zhijin suddenly felt that something was amiss and quickly glanced left and right to make sure no one else was around to be reassured. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
Such image-ruining words must not be spoken in front of others.
Qian Zhijin simply pulled Zhao Yi to the side under a tree and whispered, "He’s looking for you to take sides!"
"Taking sides?"
"Yeah, you don’t know? A lot of people have been arguing over whether to build the collider or not, and no decision has been made yet. It’s a massive investment project, and there’s no doubt about the technology. Director Zhang will definitely support it – he’s the head of the physics department, and the project would be very beneficial for physics research."
Qian Zhijin said seriously, "From the moment he called me, I knew he wanted you to take a side. You did the right thing by refusing. Even if you agreed, I would have advised you against it."
Zhao Yi smiled bitterly, "It’s really complicated."
In fact, the inside story wasn’t that complicated, and as long as one cared to follow the news, they could roughly understand it. However, he hadn’t been paying attention to the academic news and thought that the collider construction project had already been approved.
Qian Zhijin said, "Anyway, it’s best not to get involved in this. In my opinion, just don’t talk about it. The controversy is too big, and there are risks no matter if you agree or not."
"Many people are now scolding Yang Zhenning, saying he’s not supporting the construction of the collider and has ulterior motives. It’s not very pleasant to listen to."
"Don’t take a side either; not joining and not expressing your opinion is best. As for Director Zhang, I have once again declined for you."
Qian Zhijin offered his advice.
Zhao Yi nodded, "I have no intention of joining and won’t say anything."
The two of them had been standing for a long time, and they were getting tired, so they walked and talked instead.
Qian Zhijin continued, "In fact, it’s not easy to avoid this matter, and there may be repercussions even if you avoid it. This year is an election year, and you will definitely be nominated. At that time, it’s hard to say how the Physics Department of the Science Academy will react. Zhang really does have some influence."
Zhao Yi didn’t care at all, "If I get elected, great, if not, it’s fine, it doesn’t affect my research."
"That’s true."
Qian Zhijin nodded, "I know your attitude, but this year is really different."
"Why?"
"Because of you!" Qian Zhijin laughed, "In previous years, the academician elections were uneventful." He pointed to the nearby small pond, where the water was calm. "No matter who was elected or who lost, it didn’t have much impact, and not many people would care."
"It’s different this year; there’s a stir, and many people are paying attention to you. If you get elected, you’ll be the youngest academician, setting a precedent and being a role model for young scholars. In the future, young people will strive for it, looking at results rather than experience. Older people with few achievements will be affected if they want to be elected."
"That’s putting it positively. So, there will definitely be people against your election, but there will also be many people who support it – otherwise, they won’t have a chance to be elected!"
Qian Zhijin continued, "On the other hand, if you don’t get elected, it will cause an even greater stir. When the news gets out, what will people say? The solver of Goldbach Conjecture isn’t elected? Does being an academician depend on experience and relationships, not results?"
"By then, what’s the point of being an academician? Don’t degrade it to the level of ’experts,’ making it a sarcastic term."
Qian Zhijin kept talking, as if he had thoroughly understood all the ins and outs.
Zhao Yi casually listened for a moment but didn’t continue listening.
He genuinely didn’t care about the academician election. As for the twists and turns behind the election, it didn’t matter how others thought or acted, as long as it didn’t involve his research and didn’t directly affect him.
However, he caught a hint from Qian Zhijin’s words, "’Not a single ripple? Ripples? Ripples caused by me?’"
"Ripples caused by me? Ripples caused by me..."
Zhao Yi kept repeating these words.
Qian Zhijin quickly stopped talking, furrowed his brows, and looked at him, puzzled, "What are you saying? What’s going on?"
Zhao Yi seemed to be seriously asking, yet also talking to himself, "Ripples caused by me? I’m just one person, a single point. Can a single point create ripples and affect the whole...?"
"Yeah? What do you mean?" Qian Zhijin joined in the conversation.
Zhao Yi suddenly took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Yes, a single point, making the calm not calm. It makes sense and is a good idea!"
He grabbed Qian Zhijin’s shoulder and shook it, "Old Qian, you’re a real genius!" He said excitedly, running away.
Qian Zhijin was left puzzled, watching Zhao Yi’s figure disappear into the crowd. He couldn’t help but touch his cheek and murmured to himself, "Am I a genius?"
"You’re undoubtedly a genius. Do you even need to say that?"
"It’s redundant!"
He grinned, unable to suppress the curve of his lips. Sometimes, being praised unexpectedly felt really good!
