Chapter 444: Chapter 147: The Base Under the Big Pie
In terms of verbal attacks, comparison is always one of the simplest ways to make someone uncomfortable or even angry, regardless of their gender.
"You’re not even as good as XXX..."
"XXX is not only prettier but also gentler than you..."
Or to be more tactful...
"XXX thinks that because of you, this project is difficult to succeed..."
In short, these three question marks highlight Chen Zhuoyang’s complex feelings at the moment. He feels more confused than disappointed.
Someone else might think Qiao Yu is talking nonsense. But Chen Zhuoyang actually didn’t go far; he’s teaching at the School of Mathematics at Jinzhou University, right next to Beijing.
Some news can still be picked up.
Not to mention that he’s more aware than anyone of Qiao Yu’s status in the eyes of Elder Yuan and Director Tian.
Let’s put it this way, given Chen Zhuoyang’s understanding of the two of them. Even if Qiao Yu is only sixteen, if these two really want to push Qiao Yu’s project through, basically, there would be no surprises.
Not to mention Qiao Yu’s strength is solid enough. After all, even at the Huaxia Science Academy, not every academician has had the experience of delivering the opening report at a world-class mathematics conference.
So there’s a real possibility that this project’s failure was due to Qiao Yu’s voluntary withdrawal.
Of course, Chen Zhuoyang is not stupid.
Although on the project team list, he is one of the vulnerabilities, there’s someone who’s an even greater vulnerability than him...
It’s just that Qiao Yu didn’t mention it, so he couldn’t bring it up himself.
But before he could think of how to phrase it, Qiao Yu quickly sent a bunch of messages.
"Senior brother, we both represent Director Tian and Elder Yuan’s reputation now! Being questioned now, what we need to do is slap those doubters in the face hard!"
"Actually, think about it carefully, why do Director Tian and Elder Yuan want our project to apply for the national grant? Isn’t it because they both have confidence in this project?
"Not getting the grant just means we have less money. But are you short of money? No! You’re not short of money; you’re short of the qualifications to continue climbing up the ladder!
"So as long as this project produces results, you can prove yourself. You’re not suited for innovative research; I’ve set up the framework, and you can’t even do repetitive research?
"Once we produce some preliminary results, who will still dare to doubt you? You can’t really expect to rely on teaching to get promoted to associate professor, can you?
"Not that it’s impossible, but how long do you have to wait? Ten years, twenty years? Or even longer? And that’s in a place like Jinda’s School of Mathematics! Of course, I’m not saying Jinda’s mathematics school is bad, but... right?
Honestly, Chen Zhuoyang knows his junior brother is trying to manipulate him, but he has to admit that his junior brother makes a lot of sense.
It’s really hard to stand out in a university solely through teaching. But publishing mediocre papers is actually not difficult. According to Chen Zhuoyang’s original plan, he could write multiple papers in the teaching field to cope with academic assessments.
But it indeed requires a long time, and he would most likely have to stay at the School of Mathematics at Jinzhou University.
Although Jinzhou University is also a top-tier double first-class university with more than twenty A+ level majors, the level of the school of mathematics can be subjective.
The school does have a big shot, and the infrastructure is quite complete, with doctoral programs and postdoctoral stations, but the biggest issue is still its proximity to Beijing...
"Junior brother, stop scolding, stop scolding, just tell me what to do!"
Chen Zhuoyang replied during a break.
"Isn’t this simple? Think about it, Senior Brother Chen, this project of mine can change our destiny, right? You’ve seen my ideas and should know that as long as we can achieve the goal of this Generalized Modal Number Theory System!"
"As long as we develop this system and prove several problems, like the Twin Prime Conjecture, Takeuti Conjecture, Autonomous Form and Galois Representation...even the Riemann Conjecture, can you guess what will happen?"
"That’s right, the whole world will write our Generalized Modal Number Theory System into textbooks! So the question is, who will be the first to touch this system and also the mathematicians most familiar with it?"
"It will be our team, and of course, you, Senior Brother Chen! The universities that first offer this subject, who will compile the textbooks? Who is qualified to be on the editorial board? Who will review related papers? Of course, it’s our team!"
"So even if you only want to teach, I cannot imagine how many schools will want to recruit you! Not just in Huaxia, maybe even foreign universities! Princeton, Harvard, Berkeley Branch, Columbia University, Cambridge, Oxford, Bonn...
By then, you’ll be one of the hottest pieces of cake, and these universities might be begging to offer you a tenured professor position! At that moment, you must hold your ground, Senior Brother Chen! Don’t be swayed by the sugar-coated cannonballs of capitalism!"
Chen Zhuoyang doesn’t know how powerful capitalism’s sugar-coated cannonballs are, but he knows that the grand vision Qiao Yu is painting is truly powerful, too powerful!
On this afternoon when the school year was about to start, Chen Zhuoyang was almost knocked out by it. Really, those world-class math luminaries sincerely inviting him to join prestigious schools was already playing out in his mind...
Honestly, at this moment, one olive branch after another almost filled his mind. That long-lost excitement or ambition for mathematics quietly surged up from his heart once again...
After all, which math enthusiast can resist standing under the spotlight, admired by countless peers?
Not to mention, he might be able to publish a book, a textbook!
When facing the students, introducing himself, he wouldn’t need to write his name on the blackboard, just a casual sentence: "Everyone look at the textbook, the author column, do you see Chen Zhuoyang? That’s me."