Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 311 Breaking the Ice in Mathematics
"Old Hua, you're about to return to Yenching to preside over the Sino-American Mathematicians Conference. There's something I need to remind you of."

On the eve of Hua Luogeng's departure from District 51, Dean Qian summoned him for a talk.

Dean Qian's political wisdom and keen sense of smell go without saying, so we must listen carefully to what the other party has to say.

Hua Luogeng understood this principle well.

"Dean, please tell me directly, I will definitely pay attention," Hua Luogeng replied.

Dean Qian reminded him: "Chen Jingrun will definitely attend the Mathematicians' Congress as a representative this time. Many of the researchers in your Institute of Mathematics must know him. Remember to emphasize repeatedly: listen more and talk less, don't talk nonsense, control your expression, and especially don't let the Americans know that Chen Jingrun ran away from China."

His experience of traveling from Hong Kong to New York was already a sensitive one.

Hua Luogeng understood, "I understand, and I will definitely emphasize it repeatedly to ensure there will be no mistakes."

Dean Qian corrected, "It's not that we won't do it, it's that we can't. If something goes wrong, it will not only affect Chen Jingrun himself, but may even affect the safety of Baima. This is a consequence we cannot afford."

Even though Hua Luogeng had already thought of this point, and it was included in the key points of the Mathematicians' Congress that he had recorded, he repeatedly said that he would definitely consider it repeatedly.

Because China also sent a delegation to the International Congress of Mathematicians held in Moscow in 1966, the members of the Chinese delegation repeatedly emphasized the "discipline issue" before they went.

The disciplinary issue here is actually the true identity of Chen Jingrun, the winner of that year's award.

However, the Yenching authorities did not tell the mathematicians that Chen Jingrun had been sent out; they thought he had run away.

If the outside world knew that Chen Jingrun had fled abroad, it would spark heated discussions and have a negative impact on the domestic situation.

At the City University of New York, Chen Jingrun had already taken up a professorship, succeeding Harvey Cohen and becoming one of the leading figures in the field of number theory at the university.

Today, a special guest came to his office: Professor Fox, the head of the mathematics department at Columbia University.

"Professor Chen, this is an invitation letter from China. We will be holding a mathematicians' exchange forum with China in Yenching. Hua Luogeng is from Yenching."

When the name Hua Luogeng came out of Fox's mouth, the non-standard Chinese and the meaning of the whole sentence almost brought Chen Jingrun to tears. If he hadn't experienced so much, he certainly wouldn't have been able to control his emotions.

"This is an invitation letter to you, inviting you to attend this mathematicians' exchange forum in Yanjing. Professor Chen, would you be willing to participate?" Fox asked.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Jingrun said, "I'll consider it, but I'll probably go, Professor. I'll call you before tomorrow to let you know."

Even though he desperately wanted to go back, after years of wandering, New York, though nice, was not his hometown.

During his seven years in New York, Chen Jingrun became increasingly able to understand the sentiment expressed in Lin Ran's "Watching from the Wall," and also increasingly understood the professor's sentiment when he said in an interview, "Here, in the international cocktails, I am still a piece of ice that refuses to melt."

But he couldn't agree immediately; he needed to obtain the consent of the relevant parties.

Even as his reputation grew and the professor's power in America increased, he actually took on fewer and fewer tasks, and apart from occasionally contacting his nominal father, he rarely contacted his contacts anymore.

But at this point in time, whether it was the mathematicians' conference held in Yenching or his return to Yenching to attend, Chen Jingrun was very clear that he had to obtain the consent of the relevant parties no matter what.

This is a responsibility I must fulfill in my current role.

However, the reply delighted him; after being deciphered into English, it was just one letter: Y.

Chen Jingrun knew this meant he could go, and he was filled with mixed emotions.

The delegation consisted of 52 people, including 40 mathematicians and two physicists, excluding America's staff. They were Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang, or rather, Chen-Ning Yang and Tsung-Dao Lee.

Chinese mathematicians included Zhou Yuanshen, Chen Xingshen, Chen Jingrun, and Zhong Kailai.

The Sino-US Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Examination was a nationwide selection process, admitting only about 20 students per year. The examination was held six times in total: four times before the War of Resistance against Japan and twice during the war. The sixth examination admitted 21 students, including Yang Zhenning and Zhong Kailai.

Zhong Kailai was a student of Hua Luogeng, a master in the field of probability and statistics, and a figure who truly founded a school of thought in probability theory.

Of course, Zhong Kailai and Hua Luogeng did not have a good relationship. When Zhong Kailai graduated from Southwest Associated University, he asked his advisor for his opinion on whether he should stay at the university. Hua Luogeng immediately replied that he would not stay. If it weren't for Xu Baolu's insistence on keeping Zhong Kailai, Zhong Kailai would have had to go back to teaching in middle school.

Unlike other mathematicians, Chung Kai-lai did not choose to return to China in the 1950s, and later in the 1980s he only briefly visited China and held short courses, unlike Chern Sing-Shen, Yau Shing-Tung and others.

He even died in the Philippines because his wife was Filipino.

Chung Kai-lai went back with him this time because Hsu Pao-lu wrote him a letter. Chung Kai-lai respected Hsu Pao-lu very much. The Complete Works of Hsu Pao-lu was published with funds raised by Chung Kai-lai. He also took the lead in writing an article in the "Annals of Statistics" to commemorate Mr. Hsu.

They will first go to Hong Kong, then transit through Hong Kong to enter Guangzhou, and then head north from Guangzhou.

The delegation assembled in New York and then traveled to China, with Jenny accompanying them throughout as a special correspondent for The New York Times.

Before heading to China, Lin Ran not only wrote a letter to the conference organizers, but he also wrote a song and asked Jenny to help him find Chinese musicians and singers in New York to cover it, and then bring the cassette tape and the song back to China.

Because of her school in New York's Chinatown, Jenny had a great influence and easily gathered musicians who could play Chinese classical instruments.

However, she didn't quite understand what the professor was trying to say.

Before flying to Yenching, Jenny specially invited the Chinese scholars to dine at a restaurant owned by the Hearst family, where the song was played on a cassette player.

After the song ended, the scholars in the audience looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Everyone, this song is called 'Ten Years in the Human World.' The professor asked me to bring this song back to China. I don't quite understand what the professor is trying to express. Do you all understand?"

Jenny handed Lin Ran's manuscript to everyone present. After reading it one by one, everyone looked at each other in surprise. The song was very nice, and like "Watching from the Sidelines," it was a familiar pop music style that combined classical Chinese music with pop music.

That's the meaning, no matter how they try to understand it.

After gathering together, everyone understood that this summit of mathematicians from both countries was entirely orchestrated by Lin Ran.

Including Jenny's appearance, as mathematicians who had attended the New York Mathematicians' Evening, Chen Xingshen and Chen Jingrun were well aware of Jenny's identity.

Even so, after much thought, they still couldn't understand the meaning the song was trying to convey. "I'm sorry, Miss Hearst, after listening to it, I couldn't quite understand what the professor was trying to say, but I think the last sentence, and how I set the stage for the next chapter, probably refers to the professor's hope to lay the groundwork for the next chapter in the relationship between the two countries?" Chen Xingshen spoke first.

Everyone was really confused. They thought it was a song expressing longing for their homeland, but it turned out to be "Ten Years in the Human World," and the whole song didn't convey any longing for their homeland at all.

As the mathematician who had the most dealings with Lin Ran among those present, Chen Jingrun knew that Lin Ran would never write this song casually.

In his view, the professor's behavior could not have been unintentional.

Moreover, Chen Jingrun was increasingly able to understand the state of mind that Lin Ran wanted to express in "Watching from the Wall".

However, Chen Jingrun did not speak, but simply watched as these scholars unleashed their imaginations in interpreting "Ten Years in the Human World".

Yang Zhenning felt the emphasis should be on the fact that "the scenes that amaze the world are nothing special," expressing that the professor's achievements were amazing, but these were nothing special to him.

Li Zhengdao felt the key point should be the sentence, "Look at the impermanence you calculated and the hesitation you felt when you came, and you finally have the courage to stand alone against the absurdity of the world."

In short, everyone has their own understanding, and different people have completely different understandings, but no one can interpret them from a unified and holistic perspective.

Similarly, when Lin Ran sent out the song, it had already been obtained by a certain IA party, since it was part of what was to be taken to China.

After Larry King translated it into English and submitted it to his superiors, the intelligence analysts at a certain IA were equally baffled.

No one could figure out the meaning behind the song "The Professor Asked Someone to Help Him" ​​no matter how hard they racked their brains; it was even more difficult to understand than "Watching from the Sidelines".

Finally, the whole matter was reported to Lyndon Johnson, who then gave his approval, allowing Jenny to take her to Beijing.

In fact, Lin Ran didn't think much about it at all. He simply felt that other works like "Me and My Motherland," "Nostalgia," and "My Motherland" sounded a bit strange to him.

After he obtained the door, he spent three years in the 2020 timeline and seven years in the 1960 timeline, totaling ten years. After writing the song, he felt it was so interesting that he wanted others to hear it too.

It was very hot in Yanjing at the end of July, and it was clearly not just the temperature that was hot.

A rare mix of excitement and tension filled the auditorium of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This was the first time they had held an event with America, and America's presence in the community reappeared in Yanjing after twenty years.

A banner in both Chinese and English, reading "The First Sino-American Mathematicians' Congress," hangs on the exterior wall of the auditorium. Geometric patterns adorn the banner, symbolizing the universal beauty of mathematics.

Inside the auditorium, long wooden tables were neatly arranged, with teacups and notebooks on them, and a large banner on the wall read: "Science serves the people."

Mathematicians from China and America sat on either side, the air thick with anticipation and caution.

On the stage in the center of the auditorium, Hua Luogeng, dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit, pushed up his glasses and walked toward the microphone.

With a serious expression, he said in Chinese: "Distinguished guests, mathematicians from China and America, welcome to Yenching!"

Mathematics is a universal language. Today, we gather here to share knowledge, strengthen friendships, and contribute to the advancement of science.

Clearly, Lin Ran can talk about mathematics beyond national boundaries and ideologies, while Hua Luogeng cannot.

The interpreter translated Hua Luogeng's words into English, and polite applause rang out from the audience.

Professor Fox stood up, took a letter from his suit jacket pocket, and said in English: “I am giving the opening speech on behalf of Professor Randolph Lin. Although he was not able to be here in person, he was one of the organizers of this conference and made it a success. I thank Professor Hua for his warm welcome. This reminds me of fifteen years ago when we strolled together on the Columbia University campus and talked about mathematics.”

Arriving in Yenching, I felt the city's profound heritage. Mathematics brought us together; it is a combination of logic and beauty.

I hope this conference will serve as a starting point for cooperation between scholars from both countries. The following is a speech from Professor Randolph Lin:

Hello everyone, I am very pleased to see that the mathematics communities of both countries have this opportunity to sit down and have a chat. America is a mathematical powerhouse, but China also has many outstanding mathematicians. The active Chinese mathematicians in America fully demonstrate one thing: Chinese people are capable of doing well in mathematics.

And with the largest Chinese population, the motherland of the Chinese people, I believe that China can also become a mathematical powerhouse, one of the world's centers of mathematics, and produce its own Fields Medal winners.

After these words were translated into Chinese and spread throughout the auditorium, the Chinese people, who were eager to gain so-called international recognition, burst into enthusiastic applause.

This was said by Lin Ran. Everyone here knows who Lin Ran is. In a sense, he is the number one mathematician of our time. Even if Grothendieck were to bring out algebraic geometry, he could at most only manage a draw.

Lin Ran's approval was quite inspiring for the Chinese people present.

"From a material perspective, Chinese mathematicians face a more challenging research environment, yet they are able to achieve world-class results in many fields. I sincerely admire them all."

I hope that China can resume its government-sponsored study abroad program to America, which will accelerate the development of mathematics in China, and even in other fields. Finally, I would like to say that mathematics is a bridge, and I hope it can connect our hearts.

Then Fox took a box of books from behind him and walked up to Hua Luogeng. "Professor Hua, these are Professor Lin's works. He hopes I can pass them on to you."

Hua Luogeng took it from the other party, and applause rang out again, the atmosphere slightly relaxed.

Chen Shengshen sat in the front row, his gaze sweeping across the room, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He knew that this conference had not come easily.

After the opening ceremony, a solo erhu performance of "Horse Racing" ignited the atmosphere in the venue. The American mathematicians marveled at the rhythm and power of the music and applauded enthusiastically.

The following morning, the conference proceeded to the keynote speech session.

Chen Xingshen took the stage as the first speaker.

He began in English, with the interpreter providing simultaneous translation: "Ladies and gentlemen, today I will share the latest advances in feature classes in differential geometry."

The conference lasted for a full week, during which the mathematicians presented their latest progress. Jenny, in particular, met with the Chinese representatives, bringing with her cassette tapes and song manuscripts.

(End of this chapter)