Chapter 472

Xu Qingzhou was still at the opening ceremony, but at this time, the internet in the Xia Nation had already exploded.

"Awesome, the sole winner."

"Heh, a Xia Nation person, why is he pulling out English at a time like this? Can't he be more confident?"

"Stupid troll, go watch the replay in a bit. He finished speaking in Chinese. For academic exchange, using English is convenient for professional terminology. Is there a problem?"

"Holy crap, the Fields Medal, the big boss is awesome!"

"Ah, newbie here, asking, what is the Fields Medal?"

"The Nobel Prize of mathematics. Let's put it this way: until now, this is still the first homegrown winner from our Xia Nation."

"If I remember correctly, he's only 22 this year."

"Another day of just making up the numbers in the world."

"Xu Shen is awesome!"

In reality, at the mutton hotpot restaurant on the Changchunyuan Food Street of Kyoto University.

Five people were sitting around a table.

On the windowsill opposite them was a tablet computer, which was clearly showing the live broadcast of Xu Qingzhou receiving the award.

The seats were occupied by Chen Shiqi, Xu Zhengyang, Kong Xianbo, Zhai Ziqiang, and Zhang Shuyi.

Two couples and one single dog.

"Awesome, awesome! Come, a toast to Old Xu!" Xu Zhengyang raised his glass.

"A toast to Old Xu."

"A toast to Old Xu!"

At Kyoto University, students returning from evening dates suddenly discovered that a banner had been hung up at the school gate at some point.

【Warmly congratulate our school's honorary professor Xu Qingzhou for winning the Fields Medal】

Seeing this banner, someone slapped their head: "Oh, right, there's a live broadcast of the Rio International Congress of Mathematicians today."

"Xu Shen won the award, and he's the only winner this session," a passerby from next door spoiled the news.

"Damn, as expected of Xu Shen!"

In the Mathematics Department office, four people were gathered in front of a computer.

"Good, good!"

Gu Zhizhong looked at the young man on the screen with tears in his eyes; this kid had fulfilled the dreams of generations of mathematical researchers.

Behind him, two newly recruited graduate students had expressions of admiration on their faces.

On the side, Meng Bin was filled with emotion.

Four years ago, it was in this very office that he met Xu Xu Shidi Xu.

It was just as he had thought during their first meeting: in front of this junior brother, it would be strange if one wasn't crushed.

At the same time, across the land of the Xia Nation, pride rose in the hearts of countless people.

Rio de Janeiro.

"The proof of the Riemann Hypothesis is not the end, but the beginning of the eye of the storm—when our encryption systems collapse, when quantum computers redefine 'randomness', when physicists call for a new mathematical language in superstring theory, I look forward to the day when young people will stand here and say: 'Look, this old man's theorem is just the first chapter of our textbook.'"

"..."

In the corner, Amir, who had always regarded Xu Qingzhou as his rival, sighed.

Within reason, but beyond expectations.

After Shigefumi Mori finished speaking and announced there was only one winner, everyone knew who it was.

But given this person's achievements, it didn't seem like a big deal for the International Congress of Mathematicians to change its customs.

That's right, every mathematician's contribution to the cause of mathematics is indispensable and is an eternal achievement of human rational civilization, but if we talk about utilitarian social benefits and academic value, there has never been such a situation of direct crushing.

A complete crushing.

Before Xu Qingzhou solved the Riemann Hypothesis, everyone could accept this gap slightly. As for now, to use an analogy, it's like an academician participating in a selection with a group of kindergarten children.

They were not on the same level.

No matter how you chose, it would be abrupt, just like a straight line in three-dimensional space and a hypersurface in a four-dimensional manifold—seemingly close, but actually unable to coexist in the same coordinate system.

Therefore, when Shigefumi Mori proposed that Xu Qingzhou was the sole winner, everyone had only one word in their hearts: Well-deserved!

Having had such an opponent was, in another sense, a stroke of luck. At least, there had been a terrifyingly strong opponent in one's life.

On stage.

"At this moment, this medal belongs to every anonymous peer who shared preprints on arXiv, and to every mathematical researcher who gave me ideas."

Xu Qingzhou paused slowly, scanned the room, and said in a deep voice: "Friends, what I want to say is that mathematics has never been a monologue of a genius, but a symphony of the stars of humanity."

The three-minute acceptance speech ended.

Xu Qingzhou walked off the stage amidst applause and returned to his seat.

Next, the Secretary-General of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) went up to give a report, announcing the composition of the awards committee for this conference, the selection process for the conference speakers, and so on.

Xu Qingzhou leaned closer to Song Yao, squeezed her hand, and asked in a low voice: "Handsome, right?"

"It's okay."

Song Yao felt she couldn't let this person get too proud. Although she seemed to have no resistance to the way he looked in a suit, if they were in a different environment... she would definitely pull him over and give him a few kisses.

Bullying Xu Qingzhou while he was wearing a suit sounded very exciting.

"That means super handsome."

Xu Qingzhou smiled faintly, having already seen the flash of heat in the tsundere's indifferent gaze; she clearly liked it very much.

Next were two special segments.

First, paying tribute to deceased mathematicians, and then the Brazilian cultural showcase segment.

At 11:30 AM local time, the morning opening ceremony ended.

"Congratulations, Professor Xu."

Shigefumi Mori and members of the Mathematical Union came over to offer their congratulations.

"Thank you, I appreciate the medal awarded by the International Mathematical Union," Xu Qingzhou replied with a smile.

Shigefumi Mori smiled and said: "Because of you, the committee argued for two months in a row. You know, some old fossils don't want to break the old rules."

"It seems I won in the end."

"Obviously."

Just as the pleasantries were finished, Tan Yizhen and the Secretary-General of the Mathematical Society, Chu Jiangfeng, walked over together.

Tan Yizhen was beaming, his smiles all bunched up: "Professor Xu, congratulations! Your winning this time is not only a personal breakthrough but also a historic moment for the Xia Nation's mathematical community! Professor Xu, we have waited too long for this day."

Xu Qingzhou said with a smile: "Finally lived up to expectations."

Chu Jiangfeng had a look of pride between his brows and asked with a chuckle: "What are you planning to research next?"

Xu Qingzhou said: "Condensed matter, I plan to look at superconducting thin films."

"Condensed matter, not mathematics?" Tan Yizhen was stunned.

Xu Qingzhou nodded.

"You kid, still taking the unconventional path..." Chu Jiangfeng said helplessly.

Tan Yizhen also smiled and said: "Young people really have the drive, unlike us old folks who no longer have the energy to do other things."

Xu Qingzhou took Song Yao to take a group photo with the Mathematical Society delegation, then went to the media center to accept interviews from global reporters. For him, the opening ceremony was completely over.

After the morning opening ceremony, registration opened for the 21 mathematical field sub-venues, and participants began to sign up for the warm-up.

(End of chapter)