A genius? I just love studying.

Chapter 164: He's only a freshman, and he's already applying for the Four Youth Leagues?

"Old Yuan, good news, great news!"

"Hahaha!"

At the School of Mathematics, Jiangcheng University, Wang Qiming walked into Yuan Xinyi's office with a radiant smile, his cheerful voice carrying far and wide.

"What happy event is it this time?"

Yuan Xinyi was puzzled. He checked his email but did not find the email address for the Journal of Mathematics.

"It has to be you!"

"That's a sharp eye!"

Wang Qiming grabbed a teacup from the coffee table next to him, gulped down a cup of tea, and asked with some suspicion, "You still don't know?"

"Chen Hui has published a mathematics yearbook!"

"Annals of Mathematics?"

I then went to the official website of the Journal of Mathematics and found Chen Hui's paper in the latest issue.

Yuan Xinyi was somewhat dazed. He had been busy revising his thesis these days and hadn't paid much attention to the Journal of Mathematics. He never expected that his own thesis would be published before his student's thesis was published in the Journal of Mathematics.

This is understandable, though. His paper is of great importance and far more complex than Chen Hui's, so it naturally requires more time to verify.

"This kid actually solved all these problems!"

Yuan Xinyi was no less shocked than Wang Qiming, after so long since the seminar at Yenching University.
Less than four months!
Although he knew that since the paper had been published in the Journal of Mathematics, there must be no problem with it, Yuan Xinyi still opened the paper and began to study it carefully.

"Hey……"

Wang Qiming was speechless. He had originally wanted to share his joy with Yuan Xinyi, but now it was clearly out of the question.

He wasn't annoyed. He walked back to his office and contacted the publicity department of Jiangcheng University. Such a good thing naturally needed to be publicized extensively.

Of course, he didn't forget Chen Hui's 500,000 yuan reward either; he had to implement it as soon as possible!

Such a talented person shouldn't be discouraged by these minor details. If we can keep Chen Hui at Jiangcheng University, the mathematics department of Jiangcheng University might one day grow into a university comparable to Yanbei and Tsinghua Universities.

……

Tsinghua University

Yun Wei strode into Qiu Chengwu's office.

"What brings you here today?"

Qiu Chengwu asked with a smile. He was very happy to see Yun Wei come over, but he knew that Yun Wei was working on a very difficult project recently, so he hadn't bothered him.

He certainly understood that seeing his classmates achieve such results while he was still standing still, Yunwei was under considerable pressure.

"My research has hit a bottleneck, so I came to chat with Professor Qiu."

As Yunwei spoke, he walked confidently to the coffee table and began to brew tea.

Qiu Chengwu also got up from behind his desk and sat down on the sofa next to the coffee table. "Why don't you tell me about it?"

"I haven't figured it out yet, so I can't say."

Yun Wei smiled wryly, "I just wanted to have tea with Professor Qiu today. We won't talk about academics."

Qiu Chengwu smiled without saying a word. After a moment, he took the tea that Yun Wei handed him and said quietly, "You've been drinking tea with me for so many years, do you know that there are three realms of tea ceremony?"

"The first step is to select the tea, the second is to brew the spring water, and the third is to appreciate its flavor."

The same applies to mathematics—choosing a problem is like discerning new tea; one must smell its aroma and observe its color to know if it contains the true flavor of nature. Brewing spring water is like performing calculations; too fast a heat results in bitterness, too slow in blandness; only with perfect harmony between mind and hand can one achieve a clear and sweet aftertaste. As for appreciating its essence, it's like the sudden enlightenment after understanding a theorem; one must forget the constraints of technique, finding the most complex in the simplest, and understanding the accidental within the inevitable.

He tapped his teacup lightly and continued, “Many people admire the ingenuity of mathematics, but they don’t know that its foundation lies in ‘hard work’. In the past, when I solved the mystery of Calabi-Yau manifolds, it was like a tea farmer guarding the mountain for ten years, observing the clouds and mist at dawn and dusk, and measuring the soil properties in the cold and heat, until finally I saw the turning point.”

Mathematics is not an ivory tower; it must be rooted in the rich soil of culture. Reading the *Records of the Grand Historian* teaches the weight of choice, reciting the *Songs of Chu* cultivates a magnanimous spirit, enabling one to find direction in the labyrinth of abstract concepts. Do not be trapped in the cage of formulas; rather, like the tea ceremony, cultivate harmony, tranquility, and truth. Engage with nature with humility, and connect the arts and sciences with the eyes of a polymath; then true knowledge will naturally emerge.

“Look at the bamboo joints, hollow yet resilient. The way of mathematics is also here—only with an open mind can one embrace the changes of all things; only with a straight exterior and hollow interior can one avoid falling into clichés. If one can study with the mind of a tea connoisseur, honing one's skills for ten years, one will surely become a great talent in the future.”

Yunwei gave a wry smile.

He understood what Professor Qiu meant. He was simply telling him not to rush, that mathematics also requires accumulation, and that as long as he calmed down and did his research well, he would surely achieve great things in the future.

He understands the principles, but when he's in that position, he can't do it.

Qiu Chengwu understood Yun Wei's wry smile, so he stopped trying to persuade him and simply asked with a smile, "Have you read the latest issue of the Mathematics Yearbook?"

"No."

Yunwei didn't know why Old Qiu would ask such a question.

"There's a very interesting paper up there; you can take a look."

As Qiu Chengwu spoke, he put down his teacup, got up from the sofa, went to his desk, picked up a stack of A4 papers, and handed them to Yunwei.

"Geometry of Number Theory: Langlands Realization of Symmetry Physics and a New Paradigm for Topological Matter," by Hui Chen!

Yun Wei was shocked. "That little guy really solved those problems?"

He had thought about those issues, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to point them out so quickly. But he also knew that those issues couldn't be resolved in a short time, and he had his own research topics to explore.

But to my surprise, that little guy actually made it in just four months!
Yunwei didn't know how to describe his feelings at this moment. Even though he was often called a genius, he still felt powerless when he saw certain people.

How old is he?

sixteen?

Seventeen?

……

A rising star in mathematics shines: The research findings of Chen Hui, a student from our school, have been included in the "Annals of Mathematics"!
When Jiangcheng University's official account released this good news on various platforms, it was destined to cause a huge uproar online.

"WTF? Am I seeing things? Weren't we just discussing plagiarism issues in SCI journals? How come they're already publishing in the Yearbook of Mathematics? Did I time travel or am I suffering from amnesia? I feel like I missed an episode..."

"+1, me too..."

"I don't know what to say, maybe this is what a big shot is like!"

"Does anyone still think that Professor Chen plagiarized? I can publish in the Mathematical Yearbook, why would I care about your Q1 SCI paper?"

"Those who say Chen Dashen plagiarized, stand up and apologize!"

"Maybe it's plagiarism too?"

"...I'm speechless."

"I'm a PhD student, I'm so desperate for a paper, please help me, Master Chen!"

"The master's student was so jealous he was practically undergoing plasmolysis..."

"An undergraduate student, an undergraduate student is saying, 'Aba aba...'"

The controversy surrounding the plagiarism was already fading, but this incident has once again thrust it into the spotlight. The journal of mathematics is so prestigious that even many people outside the field have heard of it.

This is even more difficult than winning an Olympic gold medal. China has many Olympic gold medalists, but only a handful can publish in a mathematics journal.

Meanwhile, there was also a lot of discussion on foreign websites.
"Wow, this is a true genius!" "Now the evidence is irrefutable, isn't it? They can even publish in a mathematics journal—could it be plagiarism?"

"How can it be considered irrefutable evidence? This only proves that he did not plagiarize, but it doesn't mean that Oliver plagiarized him."

Although there are still some who remain unrepentant, Chen Hui's reputation has been reversed even on foreign websites because of this paper.

U.S. National Institute of Mathematical Sciences,

"That's settled then, Oliver. You'll come with me to the presentation. With our results, no one will question you. Let's leave it at that."

Bryant looked at the comments online and sighed, "I admit I made a mistake. Who would have thought that little guy would grow up so fast?"

Oliver put down his phone, his eyes glazed over.

He always knew he was a genius, and that's why he played games in the research lab. He knew that even if he spent most of his time playing games, he could still do better than most people.

Until that paper came out.

It's impossible to say that he didn't resent his teacher at all.

However, thinking of the upcoming European Mathematical Society meeting, Oliver could only breathe a sigh of relief. The results they presented would only be more sensational than Chen Hui's paper in the Mathematical Yearbook. At that time, at least no one would suspect him of plagiarism.

As the teacher said, that's the end of it.

This is perhaps the best possible outcome!
……

With his backpack on, Chen Hui walked out of the library and strolled towards the cafeteria. The temperature in Jiangcheng in late October had become much milder, and Chen Hui no longer relied on his electric scooter. Instead, he resumed his high school routine and started running again.

He already has a preliminary plan for his future studies and research.

He plans to first prove the existence of the Yang-Mills equation, which is the foundation of everything. Only by proving its existence can other research based on the Yang-Mills equation cease to be castles in the air or rootless duckweed.

After proving the existence of the problem, then proceed to address the issue of quality gaps.

Of course, Chen Hui has no clue yet.

Chen Hui wasn't in a hurry. If he suddenly had a clue about a problem that the entire mathematical physics community hadn't been able to solve for decades, that would be abnormal and would most likely be a wrong clue.

Watching his skill level slowly increase, he knew he would be able to solve this problem sooner or later!

Meiyuan Cafeteria is the closest cafeteria to the library, and it offers a wide variety of dishes. Students can also enjoy a 30% discount, making it one of Chen Hui's favorite cafeterias.

He selected one meat dish and one vegetable dish, went to the automatic checkout counter, took out his phone to pay, and only then did he see several missed calls and messages. His phone is usually on Do Not Disturb mode, but those who know him know that if there is an emergency, he will naturally make a series of calls, breaking the Do Not Disturb restriction.

I found a seat and sat down, carrying my tray.
The call was from Zhao Defeng, the principal of Rongcheng No. 2 Middle School, and Chen Hui called back.

The phone was answered after only one ring, and Zhao Defeng's incoherent voice came through, "Hey, Xiaohui, you published a paper in the 'Annals of Mathematics'?"

"Ah."

Chen Hui nodded.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before Zhao Defeng's slightly trembling voice came through, "I knew you'd amount to something!"

"Xiaohui, you must study hard!"

"To win glory for the country!"

"No. 2 Middle School is proud of you!"

"Don't worry about things at home. No one at No. 2 Middle School can touch your uncle and aunt!"

Chen Hui found it somewhat amusing, not understanding what the principal was talking about, but he understood what the other party wanted to express. "Don't worry, Principal, I will study hard!"

"That's good, that's good!"

Zhao Defeng muttered a couple of things to himself, then suddenly said, "Then I won't disturb your studies any longer. I'll hang up now. Come back to visit your alma mater when you have time. No. 2 Middle School welcomes you back anytime!"

After saying that, Zhao Defeng hung up the phone, looking as if he was afraid of disturbing Chen Hui.

Chen Hui smiled. He still felt very affection for these elders who had helped him in the past. It felt good to make them proud!
After hanging up the phone, I opened the message.

It was sent by teacher Yuan Xinyi, asking him to come to the office when he had time.

Chen Hui didn't know what was going on. After finishing his meal, he took his clean plate to the dish return area and then walked towards the School of Mathematics at the top of the hill with his backpack.

"Doing great things quietly!"

Yuan Xinyi looked at Chen Hui as he walked into the office, his smile impossible to hide. His Ph.D.-level paper was about to be published, and his student was so promising. He had completely shaken off his previous gloom and was now riding high.

"So, what are your next research plans?"

That was the real reason he called Chen Hui over. He felt that there wasn't much he could teach Chen Hui anymore, but he was still capable of helping Chen Hui find research directions and analyzing the current state of mathematics.

Of course, he also had some good news to tell Chen Hui.

"The Yang-Mills equations!"

Chen Hui's answer froze Yuan Xinyi's smile on his face.

After a long pause, Yuan Xinyi tentatively asked, "Why don't you reconsider?"

"Eat rice one bite at a time. Perhaps you can continue studying condensed matter physics or quantum mechanics first, and then study that topic in a few years."

Chen Hui pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I feel the time is right. Now might be the best time to study this problem!"

He truly had this feeling; this intuition, though seemingly unseen, was both wondrous and undeniably real.

Yuan Xinyi didn't say anything more. The world of geniuses is really unpredictable. Although he was confident in his mathematical knowledge, he also trusted Chen Hui's own choices. He shouldn't rely on his years of experience to arbitrarily guide a genius, because the final result is often not good.

He once saw a child prodigy who went to university at age 10 and earned a doctorate at age 16, but under his parents' misguided guidance, he became a lazy, parasitic adult. In his words, "Since you want to arrange my life, then I will hand over my entire life to you."

Yuan Xinyi wasn't arrogant enough to do that, so even though he didn't quite agree with Chen Hui's choice, he didn't stop Chen Hui after he made the decision.

Perhaps Chen Hui can indeed solve this problem, but he has seen too many brilliant talents fall into the pit called the "Millennium Problem" and never recover.

Some people simply waste a few years afterward, while others dedicate their entire lives to it.

Hopefully, Chen Hui will be different.

"Perfect timing, here's an application form. You can apply for a project based on the topic you want to research, and you should be able to get around two million in funding."

As Yuan Xinyi spoke, he took out an application form and handed it to Chen Hui. "Of course, if you want to get approved, you must have a general plan. At the very least, you must convince the reviewers that you can complete this project, or rather, let them see that you have the hope of completing this project."

Application form for the National Natural Science Foundation of China's Excellent Young Scientists Fund project!
Upon receiving the application form and seeing the title, Chen Hui's pupils constricted slightly. He knew exactly what it was: Outstanding Young Person among the Four National Young Talents Program!

The Excellent Young Scientists Fund is the "golden threshold" for the career development of young researchers in China, and its application difficulty is highly commensurate with its academic status.

Successful selection not only signifies recognition of research capabilities, but also a comprehensive enhancement of resources, opportunities, and academic influence. As the country continues to attach importance to basic research, the competition for Outstanding Young Scientists Fund will become increasingly fierce, and the requirements for the quality and innovation of research results will continue to rise.

Successfully applying for the Excellent Young Scientists Fund not only grants you 200 million yuan in research funding, but also signifies entering the elite ranks of young scholars and is crucial for promotion to professor and building a research team!

Many professors at the university try their best but end up empty-handed, while he, a freshman, starts applying for the Excellent Young Scientists Fund?

Is this feasible?
Chen Hui looked up at Yuan Xinyi and asked, "Can I apply?"

Yuan Xinyi laughed again, "Do you think just anyone can publish in the 'Annals of Mathematics'?"

"If you can't, how many of those currently in positions of power dare to sit still?"

(End of this chapter)