Chapter 20: Lights Of The Chinese People
“Tsung-Dao, have you met this person at Columbia University?”
Yang Zhenning was in Tsung-Dao Lee’s office, waving the New York Times in his hand and pointing at Lin Ran’s photo as he asked.
Tsung-Dao Lee and Yang Zhenning won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for non-conservation of parity, and the two had extensive academic cooperation throughout the 1950s, jointly publishing more than 30 academic papers during that time.
Subsequently, their relationship broke down due to paper authorship issues, which was hailed as a major loss in the Chinese academia.
Both had astonishing physical intuition, but they excelled in different directions: Yang was better at theoretical derivation, while Lee was better at building experimental models.
At this time, their relationship had not yet broken down; Yang Zhenning was still working in Geneva, and his parents had gone to Geneva multiple times to persuade him to return to China to work; he had already made a decision between China and America, planning to seek opportunities in America.
Based on this premise, he stayed in New York throughout January and February, often meeting with Tsung-Dao Lee.
Tsung-Dao Lee knew what it was about as soon as he glanced at the newspaper; no Chinese or person of Chinese descent at Columbia University was unaware of this new star in the mathematics community.
As soon as he appeared, he caused a sensation across America, and being young with a handsome appearance, he was practically the trump card in the Chinese community.
“I know him; too many people want to meet Randolph. These days, every time I go to his office, his attitude is very polite, but it’s full of mathematicians inside; the problems they discuss are too profound for me. Every time I go, I just have a cup of coffee and leave.
It’s really embarrassing to stay too long; if I stay too long, I’ll even doubt if my IQ is sufficient.
But I’m planning to go see him tomorrow afternoon with President Huang. Do you want to come along?”
“President Huang?” Yang Zhenning asked.
Tsung-Dao Lee nodded and said, “President Huang Yunji of the Overseas Chinese Daily News; he hopes to conduct an exclusive interview with Randolph in person.
Randolph’s idea is that there’s no time like the present, so tomorrow afternoon it is.”
(Overseas Chinese Daily News, January 8, 1960)
The Overseas Chinese Daily News was somewhat unfamiliar to Lin Ran; he only learned of the newspaper’s influence after using Google.
This newspaper had deep ties with China; the founding inscription from 1940 was personally written by a certain someone, and its famous ci poem “Qingpingle · Liupan Mountain” was first published in the Overseas Chinese Daily News.
And the founder of the Overseas Chinese Daily News had already returned to China to work, and would soon become China’s first Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
After China and America restored diplomatic relations, the Overseas Chinese Daily News reported extensively on the mutual visits between the two sides.
This was enough to prove that it had held its ground steadfastly through the turbulent 1960s and 1970s.
Therefore, Lin Ran really wanted to meet its editor-in-chief.
“Sorry, this scene is too rare; I must take a group photo of the three of you.”
In Lin Ran’s office, after some simple pleasantries, President Huang Yunji of the Overseas Chinese Daily News took out his prepared camera and said, “The three of you here are all lights of the Chinese people.
We’ve already decided on tomorrow’s front-page headline: Lights of the Chinese People.
You three are all bona fide lights of the Chinese people!”
As the electric current pulse ignited the magnesium powder, the intense light from the burning flashed through Lin Ran’s office, and the three left behind this precious photo.
“Please tell me your addresses; once I develop them, I’ll deliver them to you right away.” Huang Yunji said.
Lin Ran thought to himself upon hearing this, “This is probably the opportunity they’re seeking to be alone with me.”
Taking the precious photo was certainly an important step; just the group photo of the three on the newspaper could attract so many Chinese people to purchase it.
But more importantly, probably after the photos are developed in the evening, using the chance to come to the residence for a private chat.
“There’s no time like the present; since all three of you are here, how about we conduct an interview targeting the three of you?
Even if the entire newspaper is filled with you three, I believe readers would love to see it.” Huang Yunji suggested.
Lin Ran said, “I have no objection.”
Since Lin Ran had no objection, Yang Zhenning and Tsung-Dao Lee had even less; after winning the Nobel Prize, they had faced endless exclusive interviews.
“Let’s start with Mr. Lin. Could you give everyone a simple self-introduction?”
That evening, as Lin Ran expected, Huang Yunji came to the door with the photos.
“Mr. Lin, here are the developed photos; the three of you look radiant indeed, outstanding representatives of our Chinese people.” Huang Yunji kept up the flattery, giving a refreshing feeling like a spring breeze.
Lin Ran gazed at the photo in his hand, thinking that if he brought this photo to 2020, people would probably think it was an AI-generated effect.
“Thank you, President Huang; compared to the two of them, I’ve only done some insignificant work.” Lin Ran felt that he had merely brought Wiles’s achievement to 1960, which was far inferior compared to Tsung-Dao Lee and Yang Zhenning.
“No, no, no; the media are all saying that at the mathematician conference two years from now, the Fields Medalist will undoubtedly be you, becoming the first Chinese Fields Medalist.” Huang Yunji said.
This was indeed true; Fermat’s Last Theorem plus part of the Langlands Program—if they didn’t award the Fields Medal for this, it would be unjustifiable no matter what.
Lin Ran said, “I’ll borrow your auspicious words.”
After some pleasantries, the other party finally revealed his true intention: “Mr. Lin, what do you think of China?”
Lin Ran pondered for a moment and said, “Unlimited potential; I hope the homeland can be all well.”
Huang Yunji was clearly unsatisfied with this answer: “Has Mr. Lin considered returning to the homeland for a visit?”
Lin Ran shook his head: “Conditions are not yet mature.”
Huang Yunji did not bring it up again, chatted a couple more sentences, and then left Lin Ran’s residence.
Lin Ran knew the other party wouldn’t give up so easily, and he didn’t plan to reveal his cards so soon either.
Because there was too little historical information on Huang Yunji himself, he had no idea if he was reliable.
Especially since he was about to join NASA, which made it even more sensitive.
China had persuaded Yang Zhenning to return multiple times, even arranging for his parents to meet him in Geneva.
For talent like Lin Ran, they obviously wouldn’t give up so easily either.
Lin Ran stood at the second-floor window watching Huang Yunji’s receding figure, sighing deeply, “It’s indeed not time yet.”
The next morning, the latest issue of the Overseas Chinese Daily News featuring Lin Ran, Tsung-Dao Lee, and Yang Zhenning went on sale, selling a full 200,000 copies across all of America in three days.
It must be known that at this time, the number of Chinese households across all of America did not exceed 100,000, yet it sold twice as many newspapers as there were Chinese households.
Many Chinese families bought several copies: first to urge their children to study hard, second as a memento, and third to send to relatives and friends outside America.
The front-page headline read: “America’s Lights of the Chinese People”
