Chapter 133: Dual Winner Of The Nobel And Fields
“Thank you to the conference for giving me this award. To be honest, I’m not surprised. It would be surprising if you didn’t give it to me,” Lin Ran said.
Laughter erupted from the audience below.
“The beauty of mathematics lies in the unknown and the challenge. When I was in Göttingen, I often wondered what achievements I could make.
When future generations open history and see my page, how much of the beauty of mathematics they could feel from me.
At that time, I actually lacked confidence, able to solve those seemingly impossible problems.
Thanks to Professor Seagull’s guidance, he told me that only ordinary people believe most in their own abilities. The more outstanding you are, the higher the standards you set for yourself.
He gave me a very good hint, telling me that the reason I was stuck was because I set too high standards for myself, not a problem with me.
Although at that time I actually just wanted to publish a PhD paper to smoothly get my degree, Professor Seagull’s hint gave me great help. I started to really set very high standards for myself. I wanted to solve Fermat’s Conjecture, shock the mathematics community, and become famous globally as soon as I emerged.
In the end, as everyone has seen, I did achieve that.
Perhaps without Professor Seagull’s hint, I might just be a PhD in Mathematics who published ordinary papers, scrambling between Berlin and Paris for an associate professor position.
So everyone, the beauty of mathematics lies in its unknown and challenge, and the beauty of life is also in this. I hope this achievement can inspire more mathematicians to explore those seemingly impossible fields.”
After Lin Ran finished speaking, he scanned the entire audience. His speech caused the audience below to nod frequently. Clearly, the difficulties mentioned gave many mathematicians a sense of substitution.
After the acceptance speech ended, the audience erupted in prolonged applause.
Döblin was full of confusion: “Professor, how come I didn’t know you had this style?”
Seagull countered: “You’ve never been my student, how would you know what style I have!”
Döblin said: “I heard it from Moser and Maller.”
Seagull said matter-of-factly: “The style when you’re old is different from when you were young.”
Moser is one of the founders of KAM theory, and Maller is a famous number theorist; both are Seagull’s students.
Seagull has very high requirements for students and never thinks the standards set by students are too high. This is evident in his own PhD paper “ber einige Anwendungen der Theorie der quadratischen Formen.”
After Lin Ran returned to his seat, Jenny whispered in his ear: “Professor, you spoke so well. I must do an interview with you. I believe all Americans want to see this interview.”
Lin Ran nodded to the mathematicians who turned to applaud and cheer for him, while saying: “No problem.”
“Professor, as a double winner of the Nobel Prize and Fields Medal, what do you think is the secret to your success?”
In the conference hall of a high-end hotel in Stockholm, sunlight streamed in from the window outside, making the entire room exceptionally warm.
At the same time, the sunlight shone on Lin Ran’s face, making him glow with golden light, giving the illusion of being bathed in golden light.
In Jenny’s eyes, there was only one feeling: so handsome.
Sixty years later, Chinese people with fully supplied nutrition are top-notch in both mental outlook and physical health, and Lin Ran’s appearance can be described as handsome without exaggeration.
This is also an important reason for Jenny’s persistence; Lin Ran’s personal image alone is attractive enough.
Lin Ran said without thinking: “Like Sir Newton, this is because I stand on the shoulders of giants.
They have already paved the road for us; I just need to do some minor work.”
Newton stood on the shoulders of predecessors, I stand on the shoulders of successors—what’s strange about that?
“Professor, in just two short years, you achieved what many mathematicians couldn’t in a lifetime. This has excited many young mathematicians about your feats while also making them depressed.
Do you have any advice for these young mathematicians?”
“My suggestion is that mathematical research requires extreme interest in the object of study, so you can be fully focused. Without strong intrinsic motivation, it’s hard to succeed.
If you’re not interested in what you’re doing and rely purely on instinct, it will be very difficult for you, because in the first two years of entering modern mathematical research, you’ll find so much to learn, even small problems you can’t solve, and you’ll doubt your own abilities greatly.
Without interest as the driving force, it’s hard to get through this stage.
Once you pass this stage and make a small achievement, you get satisfaction from solving difficult problems. The satisfaction prompts you to seek new problems or harder ones, then gain greater satisfaction, forming a positive cycle that puts you in a good state.
For young mathematicians, only after entering this good state can your mathematical path truly begin.
People who can become mathematicians naturally also have the abilities and interests for other industries. They will face a very difficult choice: whether to become a mathematician or do some other profession.
Gauss once wavered between mathematics and linguistics, Pascal gave up mathematics early for theological research, Descartes and Leibniz were also famous philosophers. Some mathematicians later became physicists, while others went the opposite way, from physicists to mathematicians.
Mathematics has never been a closed system. Besides being a mathematician, I am also an outstanding aerospace engineer.
If you think your mission is mathematics, I suggest you enter this cycle as soon as possible, otherwise you might discover something more interesting than mathematics in the world, and then our world might lose a Gauss.”
After hearing this, Jenny applauded: “Professor, of course you are an outstanding aerospace engineer.
When I chatted with colleagues from European newspapers on this topic, they all agreed that without you, NASA’s launches wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.
Including the professor, in your academic report at the opening ceremony this time, you talked about the field combining computers and mathematics.
You once said mathematicians are birds and frogs; this viewpoint has been approved by many mathematicians.
So professor, for mathematicians spanning multiple fields, like you spanning mathematics and aerospace, is bird or frog not quite suitable? Have you thought of any new metaphors?”
Lin Ran thought for a moment: “I think it’s still birds, just birds that have seen a broader world.
In the past, birds might only be on the land of mathematics, but birds like me can fly across boundaries between disciplines and see another mainland.”
After Lin Ran won the award, the outside reaction was muted—it was like you should have won it two years ago, but it was delayed until today.
Except for Chinese newspapers making a big deal of it, other newspapers at most had one report on the science page.
Only the New York Times, because of Jenny’s interview, published Lin Ran’s feature report plus interview article in full on the second page.
Because of the ready popularity, the newly built T apartment in Flushing specifically for people of Chinese descent had a large photo of Lin Ran on the side, with “Light of the Chinese, Randolph Lin’s choice, the latest Fields Medalist” written below.
Fred Management Company’s employees heavily promoted this when selling to Chinese people.
“Sir, this is our Randolph Apartment launched specifically for Chinese people. A single room’s monthly rent is only 60 US dollars, 30 US dollars cheaper than similar quality single-room apartments on the marketplace. A two-bedroom apartment is only 100 US dollars, also 40 US dollars cheaper than similar quality apartments on the marketplace.
And more importantly, compared to similar quality apartments on the marketplace, ours is newly built, with brand new renovations and design, having the highest space utilization rate in the current Flushing area.” Fred Management Company’s staff’s sales pitch was very skilled.
But the Chinese people cared more about: “Does Professor Lin live here?”
“Of course, why is this apartment called the Randolph Building? It’s because Mr. Lin lives here!” the staff said righteously. “Mr. Lin generally works in Washington, but when he returns to New York, he occasionally stays here.”
The staff knew Chinese people weren’t fools and wouldn’t believe someone of Randolph’s status would live in cheap apartments, so they just emphasized “occasionally.” “We have an agreement with Mr. Lin; he has to stay here for a few days each year.”
For Chinese people, the price here is low, it’s called the Randolph Building, the location is decent, and there’s even a chance to see Lin Ran—simply perfect.
Additionally, how does Fred make money? On one hand, it’s the rent from full occupancy—generally, 80% occupancy for apartments is already good. The Randolph Building, thanks to Lin Ran’s endorsement, attracted a lot of Chinese residents, with vacancy rate not exceeding 5%.
On the other hand, his apartments are mainly built with loan support from the Federal Housing Administration. Projects with Lin Ran’s name can get better loan conditions.
These two combined decide that he can still make profit even with cheaper rent.
Lin Ran’s prestige and White House identity make New York, as the Donkey Party’s base, willing to provide conveniences to Fred just for his face.
FHA, that is, the Federal Housing Administration, was established in 1934 as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal, precisely to provide housing opportunities for middle- and low-income families.
This program’s loan interest rates are between 4.5% and 5.5%, much lower than contemporaneous commercial loans of 6 to 8 points. Plus Fred’s long-term cooperation with FHA officials, and with Lin Ran’s tiger skin, he can get loan rates even lower than 4.5% and longer repayment terms.
For real estate developers, real estate is the shell; the financial operations under the shell are their profit source. Hu Peidai sixty years later was like this, and Fred sixty years ago was the same.
So don’t talk about America having no political-business dealings; America’s political-business dealings are all out in the open, not minding being discovered at all.
However, although Lin Ran winning the Fields Medal didn’t cause much discussion, soon, one event would explode his fame globally:
Cuban Missile Crisis.
In October, Lin Ran was working at Redstone Arsenal as usual; only when there was something would he leave Redstone Arsenal for Washington.
But that early morning, the telephone in his room kept ringing.
“Hello, this is Randolph.” Before Lin Ran could finish introducing himself, Lyndon Johnson’s voice came from the other end: “Randolph, right now, immediately, a special plane will pick you up to the White House. I’m waiting for you at the White House.”
Lin Ran turned on the light, picked up the Patek Philippe Mathematician limited edition from the bedside table, and looked at the date: the 16th.
This Patek Philippe was custom-made by Jenny from Patek Philippe a year early to celebrate his Fields Medal win; it’s the only one in the world. The round Calatrava-style case symbolizes the perfect circle and infinity in mathematics; the dial center is decorated with a spiral pattern in the golden ratio, paying tribute to classics of mathematical aesthetics.
It also includes moon phase and perpetual calendar.
After all, Patek Philippe’s workshop is in Geneva. Compared to Rolex which basically doesn’t accept customs, and Cartier which at the time couldn’t match Patek Philippe in uniqueness and scale, Patek Philippe is absolutely the best choice.
However, Lin Ran’s attention was not on the watch itself, but on the date—this was a familiar date. He only became familiar with it after cramming lessons hard after arriving in this spacetime. Before, he only knew there was the Cuban Missile Crisis; how could he know the details, let alone remember the time point so clearly.
As Lin Ran guessed, when he walked into the Cabinet Room in the West Wing of the White House at 1 p.m., it was packed with White House senior officials, and a whiteboard was covered with photos.
“Randolph, come, sit.” Kennedy had Lin Ran sit next to him.
Lin Ran knew this was the effect of the “hotline.”
The hotline was a factor; besides the hotline, Lin Ran’s own performance was also a factor.
One of the top brains of this era, of course, had to participate in the discussion of this era’s hardest problem.
At the scene, besides Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, there were National Security Advisor Bundy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Secretary of Defense McNamara, Secretary of State Rusk, and Air Force Representative LeMay.
After Lin Ran sat down, the discussion even paused for a moment, with Secretary of Defense McNamara giving the late-arriving Lin Ran a general introduction to the situation:
“Randolph, U-2 reconnaissance aircraft discovered suspected medium-range ballistic missile launch sites when flying over Cuba yesterday, that is, October 15th. After analysis by the National Photographic Interpretation Center yesterday, the existence of the launch site and missiles was confirmed.
The Soviet Union has constructed launch sites and already deployed some medium-range ballistic missiles. We estimate these missiles may carry nuclear bomb warheads and could directly threaten the American mainland.”
After hearing this, Lin Ran rubbed his forehead: “This is really bad news. We can’t accept this!”
Actually, as a Chinese person, from a neutral third-party perspective, this was entirely made by America.
You yourself first deployed 45 medium-range ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey, only 2000 kilometers in straight-line distance from Moscow.
Then you stirred up the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
It was perfectly normal for the Soviet Union to choose equivalent retaliation in Cuba.
But his current identity meant he could only righteously say that the Russians were too much, this was outrageous.
In plain words, the Soviet Union was also cowardly. If not cowardly, really nailing down in Cuba, you could last a few more years.
And ridiculously, Cuba becoming a socialism country wasn’t due to your system, but Castro’s 1961 speech at the UN General Assembly: I say I am, and I am.
Even more ridiculous, the Russians aren’t anymore, but it still is.
After hearing Lin Ran’s speech, John Kennedy followed: “This is truly shocking.
How dare the Soviet Union deploy nuclear missiles in our backyard? Do they think we’ll sit idly by? We must give them a taste of their own medicine!”
McNamara said: “I suggest we consider a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent more weapons from being transported in. This avoids direct military conflict while leaving the Soviet Union a way out, making space for negotiations.”
LeMay shook his head: “No no no! A blockade is too weak! We must immediately airstrike Cuba, destroy the missile bases, and give the Soviet Union a lesson.
Cuba dares to call itself a socialism country; we’ll give them a lesson to taste.”
LeMay lived up to being LeMay, full of thoughts of missile bombing.
Rusk thought for a moment, then said: “Even if the Soviet Union doesn’t react, what we do carries great risk.
Diplomatically, it will cause consequences, leading to strong reactions from our European allies.
I suggest solving it through diplomatic channels: pressure through the United Nations on one hand, and negotiate with the Soviet Union on the other.”
Robert Kennedy, also Kennedy’s brother, said: “I agree with Rusk’s view. Airstrikes would lose us moral points.
Japan sneak-attacked Pearl Harbor, we strongly condemned them; if we do the same, how are we different from Japan?”
After hearing this, Lin Ran felt that compared to America’s later generations, this group of White House bureaucrats still had some face.
At least not too double standards.
They wouldn’t come up with top-tier antics like fist.jpg stars and stripes.jpg fire.jpg.
The current White House is at least a group of normal people.
After roughly hearing everyone, Lin Ran had a more intuitive understanding of the various opinions.
LeMay wanted bombing and fighting; McNamara’s suggestion was blockade, a soft confrontation, not as hardline as bombing; Rusk and Robert Kennedy hoped for negotiations, pressuring through the international community, then negotiating to solve it.
John Kennedy wavered among these opinions; his bottom line was solving the problem, absolutely not letting Cuba continue to have Soviet medium-range missiles.
As for Lyndon Johnson, he had no opinion, silent throughout like Lin Ran.
Everyone discussed for a long time without result.
McNamara interrupted: “Everyone, I think we have a top mathematics master here; we should hear the professor’s opinion.
He taught me a lot in game theory; I think the professor should have better ideas than us.”
Lin Ran pulled away from the Sudoku game on his notebook, lifted his head looking at the White House senior officials all turning to him: “I want to say, why don’t we directly ask Nikita what he wants?”
