Chapter 226: Lin Ran’s First Lecture Of The Semester
“What I want to say is that the environment the country has created for us now is already good enough.
It was also the Goldbach Conjecture; Mister Chen Jingrun, after working on the Goldbach Conjecture, could only gaze at the starry sky of mathematics from a room that was at most 20 square meters.
Gauss lived on Kurze Street for nine years before moving to the Göttingen Observatory; after Hilbert arrived in Göttingen, he always lived at 29 Wilhelm-Weber Street, and their living conditions were not particularly good either.
As soon as I returned, Shanghai Jiaotong University arranged for me an apartment far better than those back then.
When I decided to return to China, I never thought about the environment; the environment must be created by our own hands.
Material conditions and personal reputation are just external things; whether it’s mathematical research or research work in other fields, the most important thing is people.
Hilbert was on Wilhelm-Weber Street, Göttingen was the global center of mathematics, and this street was the core of the Göttingen academic community.
Here, Hilbert discussed academic problems with Felix Klein, argued with Luitzen Brouwer about transfinite numbers and set theory, and mentored a group of students including Hermann Weyl and Richard Courant.
But by 1943, Hilbert passed away in a melancholic mood in Göttingen. Before his death, he lamented the decline of Göttingen: Mathematics? Nothing left!
Why?
Because the people were gone.
Hilbert’s students were scattered all over the world. Hermann Weyl participated in creating the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study and established a new world mathematics center in Princeton; Richard Courant went to New York University, which is now the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University.
People are the most important. The most important component of the environment is people.
When China has many Fields medals, many top journal publications, and the world’s most cutting-edge mathematical research, I believe such an environment can attract Chinese and even global mathematicians.
Therefore, when I made the determination to return to China, I was very clear that I came back to create the environment, not to have the country provide me with any environment.”
Lin Ran was wearing a mask and protective suit; his determination could only be vaguely seen through the goggles.
The leaders from Shanghai who came were applauding while inwardly sighing that, as reported by Baihua Society, he was indeed watertight.
Lin Ran’s impromptu speech throughout expressed the idea of President Kennedy’s famous quote: “Don’t ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country.”
He frequently cited classics, using Shiing-Shen Chern, Hilbert, and Gauss as examples, proving the superiority of the environment provided by the country while expressing his own mission.
No matter who came, they would find it impeccable.
Even if someone was found in advance to help write it, it couldn’t be written this well.
The “good” here refers to it fitting Lin Ran’s identity, fitting the identity of a great mathematician.
If someone else wrote it, it might be more flowery, but writing it with such sincerity and fitting the identity would be unlikely.
It was actually because there had been an interview with Baihua Society before, so this time the Chinese side also hoped Lin Ran could say a few words.
To boost morale properly.
To avoid always saying that China’s top talents go to America, second-tier talents go to Europe, and third-tier talents stay in the country.
Clearly, this phenomenon has improved significantly in recent years, but recently it’s being hyped up again.
The local Shanghai mathematics academicians who came to attend the welcome ceremony felt a bit strange after hearing it.
Why Göttingen again.
You’re not a Göttingen graduate, have you even been to Göttingen.
Why does he keep mentioning Gauss and Hilbert, citing classics even about their residences.
Shouldn’t you talk about Yang Zhenning? He taught at Stony Brook University for a long time, or Shing-Tung Yau and Shiing-Shen Chern; the former taught at Stony Brook University for two years, the latter had deep ties with Stony Brook University.
Talking about Göttingen isn’t wrong, after all, it was once the mathematical holy land, but it still feels a bit off.
After this speech was released by local Shanghai media, it spread widely on social media.
Netizens’ viewpoints were mainly divided into two types: one is that Lin Ran has too much vision, and scholars staying abroad due to conditions should take a good look; the other is waiting to be slapped in the face, waiting for Lin Ran to go abroad and slap his own face.
But Lin Ran no longer cared; on one hand, he was staying in the hotel for fourteen days, playing with NASA in 1960 at night to continue the Apollo Program, and during the day in the hotel perfecting his Apollo Moon Landing plan for 2020; on the other hand, he was directing the staff arranged by Shanghai Jiaotong University for him to do this and that.
Xiao Li is an administrative staff member at Shanghai Jiaotong University.
To be precise, he is a newly appointed counselor in the Mathematics Department of Shanghai Jiaotong University.
He just graduated with a master’s degree and stayed on campus to become a counselor.
It’s just that in recent years the job market has been good, so staying on campus with a master’s isn’t too difficult.
After all, in Shanghai, staying on campus as a counselor to buy a house is simply an impossible task; the salary doesn’t even catch up with that of a delivery rider.
So the competition isn’t intense.
After all, master’s graduates from the Mathematics Department have plenty of good jobs to choose from right now.
Xiao Li staying on campus was instead seen as an unwise choice, because his family background isn’t particularly good, far from being able to buy him a house in Shanghai.
The first task assigned to him by the Mathematics Department was to connect well with the work of the big shot newly recruited back to the country by the Mathematics Department and satisfy all the other’s requirements.
Xiao Li thought to himself, good thing I’m a man; if I were a woman, would I have to satisfy all requirements too?
This job actually has a bit of the nature of a personal assistant.
Looking at history, it’s absolutely top-tier good fortune.
Like the Secretary Zhang arranged for Dean Qian after he returned to China, who later rose all the way to department head level.
In terms of age, seniority, and ability, just based on the eloquence and political awareness Lin Ran has shown, mixing to vice president or president at Jiaotong University would be more than enough.
By then, wouldn’t I be his absolute confidant, easily getting an office director position or a spot in the Mathematics Department’s administrative management sequence?
So Xiao Li was extremely diligent, feeling like pie in the sky; if he hadn’t just arrived and not been assigned specific counselor work yet, this good opportunity wouldn’t have come to him.
Not to mention, Lin Zhongqing, the president of Shanghai Jiaotong University, added him on WeChat, chatted with him briefly, then required Xiao Li to do a good job on the service work and report weekly on the tasks Lin Ran assigned him.
Lin Ran had added his WeChat when he was still in America and started assigning work.
“Xiao Li, I’ve rented a house next to Jiaotong University, need to trouble you to contact a renovation company and help me renovate and decorate the room in the style of the photos I send you.
For specific costs, just send me the quotation later, and I’ll transfer it directly to the renovation company.”
“Okay.”
Then came a batch of photos, addresses, and the specific location of the rental.
(1962 America Air Force dormitory photos)
NASA employee early assigned dormitories are about the same as this.
Xiao Li was stunned after fully understanding the task.
Because the house Lin Ran mentioned next to Jiaotong University wasn’t next to Jiaotong University at all; it was in Kunshan.
And it was in Huaqiao, Kunshan, which can’t be considered Shanghai at all.
Even there, it was a villa in a very remote area; an entire townhouse villa upper and lower units were all rented by Lin Ran.
Xiao Li then realized that Kunshan is also considered next to Jiaotong University.
Those real estate agents selling houses in Kunshan must be going crazy promoting that this is Jiaotong University district housing; Professor Lin Ran knows about it, personally certified by the new Mathematics Department professor at Jiaotong University.
And the modification was to transform the original house into the style of an America Air Force dormitory, cramming four people into one room.
Some paint schemes are also typical iconic America Air Force patterns.
(Interior of the abandoned Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois.)
Something like this.
Xiao Li was completely baffled by this.
What on earth is Professor Lin trying to do.
Not only him, Lin Zhongqing, who learned what Lin Ran was doing, was equally baffled, and while baffled, seemed to catch a glimmer of inspiration.
“Lin Ran wouldn’t be planning to play a cosplay game with these old guys, would he?”
He knew what cosplay was; universities are always more up-to-date than old timers of the same age.
“No, what kind of new cosplay project is this?
Transporting a group of at least eighty-year-old old men to China to participate in cosplay of roles they once played.
Sending this group to that godforsaken place in Huaqiao, Kunshan, tricking them into thinking they’re going to the moon, then scamming all their pensions.
Charging monthly.
Still want to join the NASA moon landing cosplay? Then hurry up and send the money.
Ten thousand US dollars is not too little, a hundred thousand US dollars is not too much.”
Lin Zhongqing felt he had figured it out.
Isn’t there a virus outbreak right now?
Everyone can’t go out, locked in the villa, playing this niche cosplay game with Lin Ran every day.
Lin Ran himself is a mathematician and aerospace major graduate, allowing him to increase the realism of the Apollo Program cosplay; at least for some orbital calculations, launch simulations, etc., Lin Ran can really explain them clearly.
Using this niche perverted cosplay tourism project to scam all the pensions of these old timers.
What a divine way to make money.
Lin Zhongqing figured it out.
What Apollo Moon Landing, the full name should be Apollo Moon Landing Plan Simulation Retirement Tourism Project.
Lin Zhongqing thought to himself, as expected of a remarkable person to come up with such a niche perverted money-making idea.
If it were him, he couldn’t think of it no matter what.
Of course, there are still many doubts that can’t be explained clearly.
For example, how Lin Ran knows their specific locations, how he convinced these people, and how to make them willingly pay for subsequent charges.
But with the big picture confirmed, these are minor details.
Lin Zhongqing thought, “By then, Lin Ran wouldn’t need to hire white maids to cook for these old white men, would he?
After all, meals made by Chinese aunties aren’t authentic enough.”
It really is, but Lin Ran doesn’t plan to find Americans, but plans to find Slavs.
And specifically import older Slavic women.
Lin Zhongqing quickly dialed a phone call: “Xiao Li?” he asked.
Xiao Li picked up the phone immediately, almost standing at attention: “President Lin, it’s me, you instruct.”
“It’s like this, do a good job on Professor Lin’s arrangements, the school definitely won’t treat you poorly.”
Had to paint a pie.
How could a leader not paint a pie.
Lin Zhongqing knew Xiao Li must live near the school, running to Kunshan every day to supervise the renovation, and at a time like this, wearing a mask and taking the subway for two or three hours was indeed very hard.
“Additionally, the school has another task for you; subsequently, your office location will often be in Kunshan.
These villas will later have Americans moving in.
There should be a total of 27 Americans; you are responsible for taking good care of them.
Don’t let any one of them have an accident.”
Xiao Li was dumbfounded: “27 Americans? Ah?”
Lin Zhongqing listed out the list Lin Ran gave him, then mentioned his general guess, and finally said sternly: “Xiao Li, you also know who Buzz Aldrin is, and who these Americans are.
They are all prominent figures in America; if any of them has an accident in China, we won’t be able to explain it.
So this task is entrusted to you!
You need to be stationed in Kunshan subsequently, responsible for taking good care of them, not letting any of them have an accident.
Also, if they run around, you stop them; in short, you have to manage everything about these Americans!”
Xiao Li wanted to cry without tears.
He really wanted to cry without tears.
No, president, what are you saying?
Not only do I have to take care of them, but also manage them; am I worthy?
Xiao Li felt he hadn’t taken on a good job, but a top-tier bad job.
If this job goes wrong, he might ruin his whole life.
What a top-tier big pit.
After the call, Xiao Li then understood that blessing turns into disaster, and destiny’s gifts all come with a price tag.
He called his best college roommate who went to a big company to do data analysis after graduation.
There were four people in their dorm; none chose to continue for a PhD.
Everyone knew they weren’t the material for it.
“Zhao Gou, fuck, I’ve run into huge trouble, quick, give me some advice!”
“Hey, wait, I’m still at the company; wait for me to find a quiet corridor to chat.” Xiao Zhao’s days clearly weren’t easy either.
“Hello hello, can you hear me?” Xiao Zhao said.
Xiao Li nodded: “Yes, what’s up? Still working so late.”
Xiao Zhao sighed deeply: “Big companies aren’t that easy to survive in.
And the Mathematics Department is said to be related to data analysis, but actually has no relation at all; the statistics we learned in college has zero overlap with the tools needed for data analysis in big companies; there’s a ton of lessons to catch up on.
Big companies are super pushy; leaders are all experts at PUA, sigh, don’t mention it; let’s talk about you, what’s wrong, suddenly so urgent.
Aren’t you with the true god?
What’s there to complain about being with the true god.”
Lin Ran’s internal nickname among them wasn’t Lin God, but true god.
After all, in the Mathematics Department, there are too many “gods”; only true god has enough prestige.
The first moment Xiao Li was assigned to follow Lin Ran, he announced this good news in the dorm group.
Everyone unanimously congratulated him.
Being with Lin Ran meant the path to the top within the Jiaotong University system was already paved.
Combined with Lin Ran’s speech during the Baihua Society interview, everyone agreed that this guy was definitely a master of struggle no less than Gang Tian.
Top-tier academic ability, first-class struggle skills; Xiao Li just waits to rise with Lin Ran.
They even suggested that Xiao Li see if there’s a chance to follow Lin Ran for a PhD in pure mathematics.
If he could become a student, going the academic route would be great too.
Anyway, everyone felt Xiao Li had stepped in dog shit luck, even regretting why they didn’t choose to stay on campus.
So Xiao Zhao was very curious what exactly Xiao Li had encountered.
“No, the task he assigned me is very perverted, extremely niche and perverted.” Xiao Li said.
Xiao Zhao drew out his tone and whispered in shock: “It couldn’t be…”
Xiao Li quickly interrupted: “Of course not; he brought 27 white men over eighty from America here for retirement, and the school wants me to take care of these 27 old men.
Fuck, I have to both watch them and manage them, not letting them have any accidents.
With my English level.
How am I supposed to manage?
Am I worthy?
And among these 27 people, there’s Buzz Aldrin.”
“Buzz Aldrin?”
“The second moon lander Buzz Aldrin, America’s famous astronaut.
To be precise, these people are all former NASA employees, each with a resume that was once brilliant.” After complaining, Xiao Li told him the president’s guess.
Xiao Zhao’s voice rang out: “It really is quite niche and perverted.
An elderly retirement tour group under the guise of Apollo Moon Landing; I’ve never heard of a group like this.
These Cold War era living fossils, every one of them has a hefty pension; the true god is going to squeeze a wave of gold coins hard from them this time.
Fuck, Lin Ran; this name really wasn’t chosen wrong.
These Cold War era living fossils burned their lives for the Apollo Program during the Cold War; now the whole person is just embers left, one step away from extinguishing.
Lin Ran still wants to squeeze the last bit of value from them; isn’t that just reigniting the embers one last time?
The true god is too awesome; he could think of such a money-making method; how come I couldn’t think of it.
Strong in mathematical research, watertight in interviews, and able to think of such niche perverted money-making methods.”
Xiao Li wanted to cry without tears: “No, Zhao Gou, the problem is what do I do now?
If any one of these people has an accident, I’m done for, right?”
Xiao Zhao said: “Support electric baton to the countryside; buy an electric baton first, and for the disobedient, just zap them.”
Xiao Li was speechless: “You’re really a dog; if I dare to zap them upfront, they’ll have an accident right after and get me sent in.
Can you be serious; I’m really panicking!”
Xiao Zhao organized his words: “Why panic? Wait for the true god; this isn’t something you can handle; see what he says.
He definitely has a way.”
The Lin Ran who had a way was in the hotel preparing to participate in CCTV’s program.
“Back to School”
This is a program CCTV does every September 1st.
Almost all primary and secondary school students across the country watch the live television broadcast.
As the first lesson of the school year.
This year, after Lin Ran’s airport speech, the propaganda people in Yanjing decided that the opening first lecture of this year’s “Back to School” would be given by Lin Ran.
Let him give the first lesson of the school year to primary and secondary students nationwide from the hotel via remote connection.
No one is more qualified than Lin Ran.
“Classmates, school is starting; are you ready to welcome the first lesson of the school year with full enthusiasm? Never procrastinate, for tomorrow is endlessly piled up; waiting for tomorrow in life leads to all things falling into delay.
The first lesson of school is a new starting point, new hope; I wish everyone cherishes time and strives hard.
For learning, my greatest experience is that the pleasure gained from knowledge is endless. ‘With spare time, one can pursue scholarship’; I hope classmates cherish this great time for reading.
This time, our opening first lesson is presented by our country’s famous mathematician, Professor Lin Ran, who just solved a century-old difficult problem.
Professor Lin Ran, due to just returning to the country, is still in the hotel, so we can only hand over our screen to Professor Lin via remote connection.
I hope this lesson brings inspiration and motivation to everyone.”
After Sa Beining’s simple opening remarks, the screen cut to a slightly blurry Lin Ran.
Yesterday, staff had already fully equipped and delivered the equipment and done debugging.
The image was blurry, but the sound was clear.
Lin Ran tapped the microphone, then said:
“Hello everyone, I’m Lin Ran; I’m very happy to have the opportunity to give the first lecture of the school year to primary and secondary students nationwide.
This is my honor.
As we all know, Mister Liang Qichao once said, ‘If the youth are strong, the nation is strong’; you are the hope of the country, the pillars of the nation.
I hope to bring everyone a little inspiration through today’s lesson.
I’m famous for mathematics, but what I’m good at far exceeds mathematics.
My undergraduate was in aerospace, then I got two PhD degrees, in mathematics and artificial intelligence, so I span many fields.
Actually, if I wanted, I could probably get another PhD in philosophy.
What I want to tell everyone through the above is not how great I am, but that human potential is infinite; you can achieve far more than you think.
Life is like walking down a long corridor, facing choice after choice at each node.
Kindergarten chooses which kindergarten, elementary school chooses which elementary, junior high and high school choose disciplines, university chooses major, after university graduate studies, work, going abroad, etc.; countless choices await you.
But you’ll find the doors of choice gradually decreasing.
In childhood, your life possibilities are infinite; everyone says I want to be an astronaut, a pilot, a scientist, but by high school, nearsightedness reminds you that you’re done with being an astronaut; one door closes.
Physical exam results tell you you’re done with being a pilot; another door closes.
Not-so-great scores on exams tell you you’re done with being a scientist; another door closes.
By university graduation, you find you’re not that interested in your major, didn’t do well, feel you might be more interested in other majors, but there’s no time to give you another four years.
Majors you feel might suit you better or be more interesting can’t be chosen anymore; more doors close.
As life moves forward, more and more doors keep closing, until it seems you can only go forward, no turning back”
