"Professor Wang, everyone makes mistakes. It's normal; some are due to carelessness, some to the environment, and some to emotional fluctuations..."
Chen Feng replied, neither humble nor arrogant.
"I'll give you one last chance. Did I, or did I not, write the formula incorrectly?"
Professor Wang Lifeng stared intently at Chen Feng.
Since graduating from the gifted program at Capital University of Science and Technology, he had made virtually no mistakes.
Even if he did make a mistake, others couldn't tell.
Now, Chen Feng was telling him that he had made a mistake in the Poincaré conjecture.
He had been researching the Poincaré conjecture for several years; how could he possibly have gotten it wrong?
"Professor Wang, why don't you take a look for yourself?"
Chen Feng said no more.
Professor Wang Lifeng's mindset was understandable.
It was akin to an elementary school student telling a university student that they had written a math formula incorrectly; the university student would hardly be convinced.
"Alright, since you insist, I'll take a look. However, I'll warn you beforehand, if I find you spouting nonsense, then I'm sorry, you..."
Professor Wang Lifeng spoke while glancing at the Poincaré conjecture he had just written.
After a brief scan, Professor Wang Lifeng's words caught in his throat.
Good heavens,
What was happening?
He had written the Poincaré formula thousands of times, and it was actually wrong.
"What's going on?"
Professor Wang Lifeng muttered to himself subconsciously.
"Professor Wang, it's quite normal. Humans aren't deities; how can they not make mistakes? Furthermore, you only got one vector wrong in the Poincaré formula; it's normal. This vector itself is highly controversial."
Chen Feng said to comfort Professor Wang Lifeng.
"You understand the Poincaré conjecture?"
Professor Wang Lifeng asked instinctively.
"A little bit."
"Then tell me, why did I, by some strange impulse, write one vector incorrectly in the Poincaré formula?"
Professor Wang Lifeng pressed further.
"In the Poincaré formula, the vector actually has two cases: one is three-dimensional, and the other is four-dimensional. Strictly speaking, Professor Wang, you haven't written the Poincaré formula incorrectly; you've simply used a vector variable that the Poincaré conjecture did not consider."
Chen Feng explained word by word.
Professor Wang Lifeng was convinced.
Good heavens,
He had underestimated this young man. His talent in science and engineering was truly extraordinary.
This young man had made a significant breakthrough in the Poincaré formula, which he had spent years researching, in just a few words.
"Chen Feng, it's a real shame you're not pursuing scientific research with your talent in science and engineering."
Professor Wang Lifeng said instinctively.
"Professor Wang, actually, I can pursue scientific research. To be honest, although my talent in science and engineering might not make me a groundbreaking scientist, I can still develop some cutting-edge technologies. However, my thinking is that China, as it has developed to this day, doesn't lack high-tech talent; it lacks excellent political talents. Therefore..."
Chen Feng didn't finish his sentence, leaving Professor Wang Lifeng to ponder.
"Hmm, I've underestimated you again. I didn't expect your vision to be so broad. Very well, you have deeply impressed me. I am willing to accompany you to Hong Kong for cooperation talks. However, I must state one thing: I am only suited for scientific research. Commercial negotiations, political negotiations, and other such matters don't interest me, nor can I do them."
Professor Wang Lifeng replied directly.
"Professor Wang, please rest assured. This trip to Hong Kong will not require you to do anything; you just need to accompany me. As long as you appear in Hong Kong, the cooperation talks will be half successful."
Chen Feng said to reassure Professor Wang Lifeng.
"I don't need to do anything, just show up, and I can help you? Is that even possible?"
Professor Wang Lifeng asked with a puzzled expression.
"Professor Wang, you don't usually spend much time in the political arena, so you might not know some things. In fact, the political arena is very different from the scientific field. The scientific field requires pragmatism and rigor. The political arena is different; it requires playing along, observing others, and adhering to seniority. I have the ability to negotiate cooperation with Hong Kong on my own, but when Hong Kong sees that I am merely the head of the Development and Reform Bureau, they are reluctant to give me the opportunity to talk. Therefore, we need someone like you, a big shot from the Special Office of China, to appear. To put it simply, it's like borrowing a tiger's prestige to make oneself seem formidable."
Chen Feng explained patiently.
"The political arena is too hypocritical; I don't like it at all."
Professor Wang Lifeng stated honestly.
"Professor Wang, actually, no one likes hypocrisy, but people are often caught in circumstances beyond their control."
Chen Feng gave an awkward smile.
After chatting for a while longer, Chen Feng left Professor Wang Lifeng's office and returned to the hotel room where Wang Ziwei was staying.
"You're back so soon?"
Wang Ziwei looked at Chen Feng in astonishment.
She recalled that on one occasion, her father, Wang Jianshan, wanted Professor Wang Lifeng to help with a minor matter, and it took him several days to slowly resolve it.
Yet, Chen Feng had managed it in just one evening.
"Yes, as I said before, if the method is right, things get done quickly. If the method is wrong, things get done slowly."
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"So, Professor Wang Lifeng agreed to go to Hong Kong with you?"
Wang Ziwei asked tentatively.
"Yes."
Chen Feng replied with a smile.
"Chen Feng, I'm very curious, what method did you use to convince Professor Wang so quickly?"
Wang Ziwei asked with curiosity.
"It was simple. Professor Wang Lifeng likes young prodigies in science and engineering, so I showed him my genius side in that regard. In fact, it was nothing major, just a brief discussion with Professor Wang Lifeng about the Poincaré conjecture."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"What? Discussing the Poincaré conjecture? That's one of the most famous conjectures in calculus, and it's very difficult. You have the ability to discuss the Poincaré conjecture with Professor Wang Lifeng?"
Wang Ziwei looked at Chen Feng, completely bewildered.
Chen Feng had been busy in the political arena for the past few years.
Logically, he should have forgotten most of his science and engineering knowledge, so why was he becoming even more capable?
"Teacher Wang, to be honest, after work, I'm usually very busy. I'm busy learning science and engineering knowledge, busy learning traditional Chinese medicine, busy learning traditional martial arts, and busy learning English... Therefore, I'm a rather uninteresting man. I don't fish, I don't shop, I don't like barbecues, and I don't like watching TV dramas..."
Chen Feng explained truthfully.
To reach the pinnacle of Chinese politics, one must continuously enrich oneself.
If one merely drifts along in the political arena and indulges in all sorts of debauchery after work, they are destined to remain a low-level clerk for life.
Dreams are not sustained by sudden impulses.
They require years of persistent effort to support.
"Chen Feng, I'm liking you more and more. You are simply my idol."
Wang Ziwei said excitedly.
A man with dreams, and one who can give up entertainment for his dreams, is the most profound and charismatic man.
To be honest, with Chen Feng's current status, he could indulge in all sorts of leisure activities.
However, Chen Feng did not do so; instead, he worked even harder than he did during his university days.
Therefore, the reason Chen Feng would achieve great things in politics in the future was not solely his talent in politics.
The biggest reason was Chen Feng's striving spirit!
"Teacher Wang, thank you for the compliment."
Chen Feng replied modestly.
"Just a verbal thank you?"
Wang Ziwei said, her face blushing.
"Teacher Wang, I originally planned to thank you properly with my body. However, you are on your period today, which is inconvenient."
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"Chen Feng, how did you know I'm on my period today?"
Wang Ziwei was stunned.
To be honest, she hadn't even anticipated her period arriving several days early this time.
"Teacher Wang, not only do I know you're on your period today, but I also know that your menstrual flow is particularly heavy today."
Chen Feng continued, speaking casually.