Genius of the Rules-Style System

Chapter 684: Chapter 380 ’Trend Chasing’ Style of Research_2

With a quizzical counter-question, Edward Witten asked, "You understood that clearly, right?"

Zhao Yi glanced at Edward Witten, then turned to look at the humor-seeking George Smute, deciding to go ask Professor Zhou Li from the School of Sciences.

Professor Zhou Li patiently explained four or five places.

Zhao Yi recorded them carefully and politely said, "Thank you. That was very helpful. I asked Edward earlier about what he didn’t understand and he really... was of no use at all." As he spoke, he shook his head in dismay, looking very dissatisfied.

Zhou Li gently nodded with a smile, expressing an elder’s demeanor.

After Zhao Yi had left to talk to others, Zhou Li felt something was amiss no matter how hard he tried to understand, "The question was about the challenging parts, Edward didn’t help? I did? And it was a big help... doesn’t that mean I’m a fool?"

"Damn the kid!"

Infuriated, Zhou Li scratched his chin, realizing he’d been the butt of Zhao Yi’s joke.

Actually, it didn’t matter much being the butt of a joke, the key was that it was very awkward not realizing it at the time. He quickly turned to look at Hu Zhibin.

Hu Zhibin looked confused, "What’s the matter, Professor Zhou?"

"Ah, nothing."

Zhou Li observed Hu Zhibin carefully for several times before he was sure that Hu Zhibin hadn’t got the joke either. He felt somewhat consoled that at least he caught on quickly. What he didn’t notice was that as soon as Hu Zhibin dropped his gaze, he clamped his mouth shut and deliberately dropped his pen, bending over to pick it up while trying hard not to laugh.

"I mustn’t laugh!"

"I mustn’t let Zhou Li notice!" Hu Zhibin thought resolutely.

With the help of several familiar friends, Zhao Yi understood the difficult parts and focused on explaining them. By the afternoon, he had even started a ’Q&A lecture’, where everyone was free to attend and ask questions on the spot.

Zhao Yi was very patient and took each question seriously.

The academic conference finally officially concluded at six thirty that day with Zhao Yi being surrounded by a group of people, all offering congratulations on the success of the event.

A curly-haired Caucasian, standing with Edward Witten, asked Zhao Yi, "Can you submit to Acta Mathematica this time?"

Zhao Yi didn’t react at first.

"This is Elman, my colleague and an editor of Acta Mathematica," Edward Witten offered as a quick introduction.

Elman shook hands with Zhao Yi and said, "I’ve noticed that your past mathematical achievements were submitted to Mathematical Progress and Mathematics Society Magazine, but this time you chose a Chinese journal. However, you could also consider Acta Mathematica."

Elman didn’t elaborate, nor was it necessary.

Acta Mathematica, one of the four most prestigious mathematics journals, under the Royal Science Academy, is a quarterly with very high standards. The proofs printed are few; being published in Acta Mathematica is considered an achievement in itself.

Zhao Yi laughed, "Actually, I’ve considered submitting to Acta Mathematica. When I was working on proving the Hail Conjecture, I considered it, but it’s a quarterly, and the waiting time is long, and the requirements are high. I don’t know if I can meet the standards."

"Of course, it’s up to standard!"

Elman quickly responded, "If it’s your submission, even if there are minor format issues, there will be someone to help correct it to ensure it passes the first time." He quickly added, "The next issue will be published a month from now. If you can submit by the end of the month, it will be printed in the next issue."

Zhao Yi faltered, unsure what to say. On careful thought, submitting the new results to Acta Mathematica did not seem like a bad idea. After all, the more participation in particle boundary theory research, the better it is; the world’s top journals would certainly offer a good publicity channel.

He finally nodded and said, "Okay." freёwebnoѵel.com

Just as Elman was about to rejoice, a crude voice cut in, "Why not consider Nature?"

A muscular, white man who was over six feet tall, barged in.

His name was Bentley.

Zhao Yi knew Bentley because of his height and looks. At first, Zhao Yi thought Bentley was a basketball player, but he turned out to be a mathematics and physics professor at the California Institute of Technology, and he had links to Nature.

With his rough voice, Bentley said, "I think you could also consider Nature."

Elman immediately objected, "That’s a specialized research paper. Since when does Nature publish long articles?"

"Of course, it’s not going to be a long article; it doesn’t have to be."

Smiling at Zhao Yi, Bentley said, "Just a brief description of particle theory will do. Nature will pay top tier submission fees."

"But Professor Zhao has already agreed to publish the proof in...."

"That’s not a conflict. We are only doing a brief, not publishing the entire proof...."

The two started arguing.

Zhao Yi stood on the side, not knowing what to do. He tried to mediate, but the argument became more heated, with the two starting to look like they might come to blows.

Then he started getting worried for Elman.

Elman, looking scholarly, thin and weak, was definitely not Bentley’s match!

The others simply stood around watching and chuckling.

They were there purely for the entertainment, finding it rather amusing. Many people knew what was going on and couldn’t help thinking to themselves, "Zhao Yi really is a super genius!"