In Beijing, at the Beijing International Mathematics Center on the campus of Yanbei University, Tian Yanzhen looked at the time after receiving the email forwarded by Xue Song.
It's already 5:20 pm.
But it was still early. There was still an hour before dinner, and there happened to be nothing to do today, so Tian Yanzhen downloaded Qiao Yu's paper to his computer and printed it out.
Tian Yanzhen has actually always had an impression of Xue Song. After all, he was once a professor at Princeton. After returning to China, he served as the vice president of Yanbei University. At that time, he was mainly responsible for foreign affairs.
So I have kept in touch with many mathematics professors at Princeton, including Xue Song’s mentor Jul Bhargava.
When Xue Song returned to China, Jul Bhargava also talked to Tian Yanzhen about him as a student.
Instructor Xue Song’s evaluation of him is not particularly high, but it is not low either. It is probably quite satisfactory. This is why he left a private number for Xue Song at that time. He was also willing to listen to what Xue Song said just now. One of the many reasons.
In a sense, there is a small connection between the two. And given Jul Bhargava's status in the world of mathematics, even an ordinary evaluation is enough to show that Xue Song is at least a talent.
But Tian Yan really didn't expect that the first call Xue Song made to him would be about that Qiao Yu.
Just as Xue Song judged, Qiao Yu has not officially been included in the sight of these top bosses.
A strong competition does mean that you have talent in mathematics. But it is hard to say whether you can persevere and develop academically.
The big guys have seen too many young geniuses in their lives. For example, IMO can select a batch every year.
But those who have really made achievements in mathematics are very few. There is only one such amazing mathematical genius like Peter Schulz in the West in so many years. And even at a young age, he has obtained almost all the achievements. Prize in mathematics, but Peter Schulz has yet to prove himself on some big problems.
Mathematics in this era has been expanded from a small lake into a vast ocean by countless predecessors with extraordinary intelligence. Any subdivided field may require a genius to study it throughout his life. Whether it can be pushed forward a little further depends on It depends on luck. This can actually be seen from the proliferation of papers around the world today.
More papers are published year by year, but it’s hard to say what significant progress has been made in mathematics compared to the previous world.
In order to pay tribute to the twenty-three problems Hilbert raised at the World Congress of Mathematicians in Paris, the Clay Institute also proposed seven mathematical problems in the millennium. Now twenty-four years have passed, except for Poincarais The conjecture was solved by Perelman in 2003
Apart from that, other issues are still unresolved.
Even the four-color conjecture among the seven questions has been proved with computer assistance as early as the last century, but the mathematical community still has not come up with a complete set of logical reasoning conclusions.
This is of course not because the IQ of modern people is deteriorating. In fact, with the development of science and technology and the great abundance of materials, the average IQ of the entire human group is also constantly improving.
The failure to produce big results that can shock the world for a long time is simply because it is becoming more and more difficult to come up with results in mathematics research. The emergence of various emerging interdisciplinary subjects has greatly distracted the energy of scientific researchers.
Whether you are really suitable for research work in the direction of mathematical theory can only be roughly determined at the graduate level.
But if we assume that what Xue Song just said is true.
That means that Qiao Yu solved a special cubic Diophantine equation in just ten days without systematically studying number theory, and then spent only two months studying the paper by himself. Writing related knowledge, while completing the first paper in my life.
Xue Song could not find fault with such a paper.
Obviously, this is beyond the scope of ordinary genius. This is simply an innate scientific research body. He is born with all the necessary qualities to do mathematical research.
There is a joke circulating in the mathematics academic community: It only takes two times for a PhD in mathematics to knock on the door of the supervisor's office. The first time is to determine the topic, and the second time is to directly submit the paper. As for the middle part between determining the topic selection and completing the paper, What does it have to do with the tutor? Although the joke is a bit exaggerated, it actually illustrates the particularity of mathematical research to a certain extent.
Let's put it this way, as long as the student has a little bit of talent and the teacher is patient and explains it step by step, it is still possible for the student to understand a difficult mathematical problem. But for an unknown mathematical research direction, how do you ask the instructor to explain it? There is no experimental process in number theory, and it all relies on logical reasoning. Most of the experiences that the instructor can share are very abstract, just like the three times Bodhi Patriarch knocked on Sun Wukong. After all, it still depends on the student's self-learning ability and own understanding, especially the latter. After all. If you cannot understand the essence of the instructor's experience, no matter how you teach, it will be in vain.
No matter how talented graduate students are in mathematics, especially those who study number theory, there are many who have changed their direction with their advisor at least once, twice, and three times before graduation. It’s not that they don’t work hard, it’s that they don’t have inspiration. Thesis I really can’t hold it back. This shows how important self-study and understanding are in mathematical research.
Qiao Yu took advantage of both points.
Not to mention Tian Yan's heart would be moved by such a talented student, even if world-class professors from top foreign universities knew about it, they would also be moved by it...
After printing the paper, Tian Yanzhen put on his glasses and began to read the paper attentively. It was still in English.
It can be seen from the abstract and introduction alone that Qiao Yu is at least very proficient in using English in the field of mathematics.
For example, for terms like Diophantine, Torsion and Lattice in the introduction, English professionals who do not understand mathematics will not understand their specific mathematical meanings.
For a student who has not attended high school seriously for a few days, to be able to write an introduction of such a standard without the guidance of a tutor is already a sign of his skill. This paper is indeed worthy of his careful look. Just like this with Xue It's like a pine tree. It's seven o'clock in the evening when I see it.
Outside the office, Academician Tian's secretary had already looked at the door several times, but he saw Mr. Tian sitting attentively at his desk, holding a pen in his hand and doing calculations on the manuscript paper next to him from time to time. This must have happened before. I was reading the paper, so the secretary didn’t dare to disturb me.
He has been following Tian Yanzhen for several years, and he naturally knows that it is easy to talk at other times, except when the boss is in a good mood while reading the paper, he cannot disturb him.
It's just that usually the boss has already gone to eat at this time, but today he didn't say hello in advance, and he couldn't leave on his own, so he could only make a phone call and find someone to go to the canteen and order two set meals.
The meal had been delivered, and when he was not sure whether he should send it in, there was finally a noise in the office. He quickly picked up a box of lunch and looked at the door. Sure enough, Tian Yan was actually standing in the office doing a simple pull. Stretching. He knocked on the door twice quickly, then walked in with his lunch box.
"Professor Tian, ​​it's already half past seven. I asked someone to bring back a lunch box. Do you think we can have a simple lunch in the office?"
"Hey, it's already past seven o'clock. I originally planned to take a quick look at a child's paper, but I was so absorbed in it that I forgot about the time. Let's just eat something. By the way, have you eaten yet?" "Professor Li just brought the rice, and mine is still outside."
"Then bring it in and let's eat together." Soon the two lunch boxes were placed together.
"Xiao Su, Qiao Yu, do you know?"
"Ah, I know. I got full marks in the finals of the competition last time. It's a pity that I didn't come to the award ceremony and couldn't see it." "It doesn't matter. If nothing else happens, we should be able to see him more often in a while."
"Oh? Are you interested in that kid?" Xiao Su was a little surprised. After all, the boss is almost seventy and has been in a semi-retired state recently. He has become more cautious in recruiting students.
"Professor Xue Song from Yujiang University recommended him to me. It seems good so far, but I still need to observe. By the way, the leader of this year's IMO national team is Professor Xiao from the research center, right?" "Yes."
"Remember to remind me that next year's IMO team leader will still have to be shouldered by our professor from Yanbei University." "Okay, I will write it down later. Is this to facilitate the observation of Qiao Yu?"
"Almost."
"Should we also fight for the candidates for deputy team leader and observer?"
"Haha, that's not necessary. By the way, you can go back after dinner. I still have some small things to deal with." "Okay, Professor Tian."
Soon after the meal was finished, the matter was explained.
Tian Yanzhen sat back at his desk again, opened his mailbox, and wrote a letter to Professor Jul Bhargava of Princeton, who was also Xue Song's mentor. The content of the letter was also very simple, with a simple greeting followed by inquiries. Xue Song's performance during his time at Princeton University.
However, it is not aimed at inquiring about academic aspects, but rather based on some basic impressions of the tutor on the students, such as personality, moral character and other considerations.
Although tutors do not interfere too much in students' private lives, especially foreign tutors, professors like Jul Bhargava who have won the Fields Medal will still get to know the students well when they accept them. .And after getting along with each other for several years, I must have a general impression.
After tutor Xue Song's email was edited and sent, Tian Yanzhen replied to Xue Song with another email. The main message was that he had read the paper and it was well written.
Other than that, he didn’t comment too much and didn’t offer any suggestions for modification. As he said on the phone, he just wanted to take a look.
And this is not his research direction, and no journal will ask him to be a reviewer for this kind of paper. In short, after a very decent response, he planned to go home.
What he didn't expect was that when he was about to turn off the computer, Jul Bhargava replied.
He looked at the time and saw that it was just eight o'clock. According to his understanding of these professors' schedules in Zeng Linston, they should not have arrived in the office yet. It was a bit unreasonable to do so quickly. But he didn't care about the time it took to read one more email.
"...I have the impression that Xue is a very diligent and persistent student. Of course, I don't know him in particular, but I have heard other people's comments about him, saying that he has the almost rigid attitude that is unique to Chinese people. Aloof and righteous... Well, this is the translation. The reason why Tian Yanzhen understood it this way is because the other party used the words Aloof and Strict to describe Xue Song.
To be honest, these two words are not really complimentary in the Western context, but this is exactly what Tian Yan really wants to see. If Xue Song really had this kind of character, he probably wouldn't bother writing this paper for Qiao Yu. Fake.
Yes, emotions have been aroused, and it would be a shame if it turned out to be just a joke.
Star City, Tieyizhong, Qiao Yu also stretched greatly.
After eating in the cafeteria, he began to come back and correct his senior brother's paper. Yes, correct, not revise.
Anyway, as long as he felt there was a problem, there would be a red line to mark it, and then a simple note next to one or two sentences as to why it needed to be revised. But even so, until the bell rang for the end of the second period of evening self-study, he was considered worthy. The paper has been revised. The biggest educational significance for Qiao Yu today is probably that it made him understand that papers are also divided into three, six, and nine grades.
In this world, there are not only excellent papers that make people put it down after reading them, but also junk papers that make people feel overwhelmed and confused at a glance.
It is no exaggeration to say that several times Qiao Yu wanted to ask this senior in person why he created this thing. Did he have a grudge against his mentor and deliberately take revenge on Lao Xue? Or maybe the math student showed his unyielding attitude against the world. The spiritual method is to write such a paper to pollute the database?
As for the final review comments, Qiao Yu didn't write them down. Mainly because he couldn't restrain his emotions.
For an author who wasted a whole night of his time, Qiao Yu really couldn't say anything good against his will, so he thoughtfully left a sentence at the end: "It is best that the final review of the paper be approved by the instructor himself." After doing this. Afterwards, he sent the corrected paper to Xue Song.
Then I just felt relaxed.
Since Lao Xue has approved his paper and said that it has met the submission standards, it means that during the next seven-day National Day holiday, he can think about nothing and relax. This is the life a young person should have, Be able to pamper yourself from time to time.
Of course, another young man didn't think so. Xiaozhou, Yujiang University.
Xue Song finished the work at hand and opened his mailbox to take a look. At the top was the email replied by Tian Yanzhen. Although there was no clear statement in the reply, Xue Song couldn't help but smile knowingly.
Many times there is no need to say anything else in the email, as a lot can be seen from the response time.
For example, if you read a few pages and are not interested, you can just leave the paper there for a few days, and then you will remember it when you open your mailbox. It is useless to make random comments that may seem pertinent. It is just a template to deal with it. It seems to give people the impression that they take it very seriously, but in fact they are not distracted at all and focus on coping.
On the contrary, this kind of email that only responds within a few hours without giving any professional reply and just making casual comments is more sincere. The next thing will be simple.
The paper has been converted to PDF format, and the next step is to go through the submission process. Generally, almost all journals have their own submission systems on their official websites.
This metaphor is completely unreasonable, but for Xue Song, who often submits papers, it is naturally familiar.
He basically has Qiao Yu's information here, including name, work unit, research field, correspondence email, then select the paper type, fill in the title, abstract, keywords...
When helping Qiao Yu write the cover letter, Xue Song applied at the end to avoid several notorious reviewers in related academic fields, and then suggested two reviewers that he thought were very suitable.
This is probably a hidden benefit of returning from studying abroad with a big boss. Having a great mentor can always get some information that others don't know much about, and then you can make the best choice when submitting to foreign journals.
After he finished all this and was about to turn off the computer and get off work, Qiao Yu's email came over again.
Really, Xue Song, who had almost calmed down, probably glanced at the email replied by Qiao Yu, and felt an unknown fire coming out of his heart. Especially after opening the attachment and seeing Qiao Yu's dense notes, And the last piece of advice is that I can’t suppress my anger after all.
So he took out his cell phone without hesitation and dialed his beloved disciple directly. "Qin Jingru, come to my office now."
"Ah? Boss, now? Are you still in the office so late?"
"Yeah, why don't you guess why I'm still in the office now? If you can't guess, please let me see you within fifteen minutes, otherwise you won't show up in my office in the future!" After that, Xue Songbian hung up the phone directly. If Qiao Yu was asked to comment, this would still be unreasonable.
We clearly agreed to let people guess first, but they hung up the phone before they even guessed. This is a true-false question forced into a multiple-choice question.
It's just that for students, no matter what questions the instructor asks, they have to bear it.
Xue Song gave him fifteen minutes, but Qin rushed to the instructor's office out of breath within ten minutes. This means that he is single and does not have a girlfriend yet.
If you are on a date with your girlfriend by Xiaohu Lake, you may not be able to get back even if the ride-hailing driver steps on the accelerator. "Boss, I'm here."
Bang, a stack of printed papers fell directly on the table. "You should take a look first."
Student Qin frightenedly picked up the paper and looked at it, and then swallowed subconsciously. He had just sent the paper to his tutor yesterday, but it was full of comments in red letters.
"Hurry up, don't waste time, turn over a few more pages, especially the last page!"
Qin reluctantly flipped through a few pages, and then quickly turned to the last page, where he saw a line of eye-catching red text at the bottom. "It is best if the final review of this paper is personally reviewed by the instructor."
Chapter completed!