Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 25 The Chosen Chen Jingrun
“You don’t really need to worry about that.

You are Chinese and don't understand the logic behind American politics.

"A billionaire's influence in America is enough to make everyone, whether it's Blue Origin or other external auditors, ignore you," Li Xiaoman explained.

Lin Ran was a little surprised. He really didn't know much about America. His impression of America in the past was just superficial and abstract concepts like developed, domineering, siphoning global elites, and good treatment.

As he came into contact with people like Horkheimer, John Morgan, and Arthur Rudolph in 1960, he understood the operating logic of America, and that relationships were far more important than rules.

But he felt that Li Xiaoman's understanding would likely give him a completely different perspective on America. Such a perspective was very important and could become a part of building his information gap advantage.

"Sister Xiaoman, your answer is a bit abstract. What do you mean by ignoring it?
I exist, but they treat me as if I don't exist?"

Li Xiaoman thought for a moment and said, "Yes, it is indeed a bit abstract. Let me explain it to you with an example.

The most straightforward example is corruption, American-style corruption. All its actions are out in the open, and all acts of corruption are laid out in the open and written in reports to Congress.

For example, USAID, the American Agency for International Development, will inform Congress of its problems in detail in its annual report to Congress, and even every citizen can find it through USAID's official website.

But the definitions of these issues all meet standards, either issue alert or no misconduct.

There may be a total of 100 audit issues, and not a single conviction.

The most outrageous thing happened in 2010, when Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake. USAID announced that it would allocate $11.5 billion to Haiti. Combined with grants from other Western countries and donations from people around the world, the final total figure exceeded $50 billion.

In the end, less than one-tenth of this money was actually spent on post-disaster reconstruction in Haiti.

The whereabouts of these five billion dollars are clearly recorded in the USAID report: they were given to foundations in three places, Washington, Maryland, and Virginia, that have various relationships with politicians.

For example, a $400 million feasibility study for a new port in Haiti was declared a failure, with the winning bidder pocketing the money. Another example is a $3 million investment in the Caracol Industrial Park, which hasn't even been completed.

It is obvious that rescuing the injured and post-disaster reconstruction are more important, but more than $3 million is spent on HIV/AIDS relief projects.

The flow of all this money is out in the open, but no one is punished, no one has any problems, and it is all reasonable and legal.

Why is there no accountability? Because the funds were distributed through multiple international organizations, contractors, and non-governmental organizations, the chain of responsibility is long, making it difficult to track down the specific individuals responsible.

It’s difficult to track down the specific person responsible, so I won’t do it.

This is the peculiarity of American logic.

Corruption is so rampant that even if you are a researcher in a commercial aerospace company and have access to a rocket launch device and a large amount of Blue Origin's internal data, all of these things are clearly written in the auditing agency's report to NASA and published on NASA's official website, and no one will turn a blind eye to it.

As the world's richest man, Bezos definitely has this ability.

So you don't have to worry too much.

If you were more careful and didn't make it public, you wouldn't be in trouble."

When Li Xiaoman mentioned American corruption, his face was filled with indignation, giving the impression of a state-owned thief who was powerless to stop it. Lin Ran was also stunned after hearing this. He thought that this was still possible. He must have underestimated America.

"Dean Qian, Secretary Wang from the Science and Technology Commission is here. He's asking if we have any difficult mathematical problems we can't solve. He's asking us to pick some out."

Although Zhang Kewen had been transferred to the Academic Affairs Department as the head of the department, she still served as Qian Xuesen's new secretary because his new secretary had not yet arrived.

"Oh, is it something about Hong Kong?" Qian Xuesen asked. Although his mind was completely focused on the research and development of DF-1 at the moment, he still had some understanding of the outside world.

For example, Fermat's conjecture was proved by a Chinese mathematician, and this Chinese mathematician will go to Hong Kong University to give lectures in the summer. He told the president of the "Chinese American Daily" that he can come to him for any mathematical problems.

The Science and Technology Commission had already discussed this matter with the relevant departments, asking them to make preparations in advance and send someone to ask this famous mathematician for answers when the time comes.

Qian Xuesen did not report any expectations. After the Science and Technology Commission notified everyone, he also sought out Hua Luogeng for discussion. Hua Luogeng meant that the other party's main focus was number theory and algebraic geometry, which had little to do with the differential equations they were going to use in missile research.

He was very clear that although number theory, algebraic geometry and differential equations are mathematics, within the broad category of mathematics, different subcategories are as different as mountains.

So Qian Xuesen didn't take it too seriously and handed the equation he had prepared long ago to Zhang Kewen: "Give this to Secretary Huang."

If so many mathematicians in China can't come up with something, no matter how great the other party is, it would be impossible for them to come up with it in just two months.

After all, the other party can only stay in Hong Kong for two months.

Zhang Kewen was overjoyed and carefully put the paper into an envelope from the Institute of Mechanics and sealed it.

Meanwhile, in the Institute of Mathematics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hua Luogeng was speaking earnestly to Chen Jingrun: "Jingrun, this time I am sending you to Hong Kong to attend Professor Lin's course. You must remember that learning itself is secondary. The most important thing is to build a good relationship with Professor Lin.

The prerequisite for asking you to bring questions is to establish a good relationship with others, so that you can ask more questions and others are willing to spend time on you.

I know you are a kind and honest person, which is certainly an advantage, but from another perspective you are a little dull, which is certainly not a good thing when interacting with others.

So this time when you go to Hong Kong, remember to do more, observe more, think more, and answer more questions. There is no doubt that you have talent. I believe that your talent is enough to impress Professor Lin."

The person who was finally chosen to be sent to Hong Kong was Chen Jingrun. At that time, Chen Jingrun was working at the Institute of Mathematics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, doing research in a number theory discussion group organized by Hua Luogeng, which centered on the Goldbach conjecture.

Lin Ran's field is number theory, and his field is also number theory.

In addition to the overlapping directions, what is more important is that he is good at English and has an amazing memory.

There were not many people who were good at English at that time. Going to Hong Kong, which was England's temporary control area, and dealing with Chinese-American professors, knowing English was extremely important.

Although China didn't expect Lin Ranzheng to be able to solve these problems, what if? If he could really solve them, then the answers must be brought back, especially since these problems were related to intercontinental missile guidance algorithms.

So having an amazing memory is equally important.

Among the three, only Chen Jingrun meets the requirements.

(End of this chapter)