Chapter 91: Young People Still Need to Be Tempered

Xu Qingzhou glanced at the data and said, “The results are good.”

“Sample b36 has already reached a field strength of 3.0T, and at a temperature of 7.8K, the field strength can even hit 3.5T!”

Wang Wei’s tone was extremely excited.

“Should we move to the next phase?” Xu Qingzhou, having run the experiments himself, understood the joy of reaping results.

“Professor Zhao has already submitted the report. Next, we need to integrate the niobium-titanium alloy superconducting magnet into the MRI equipment and connect and calibrate it with other components—the RF coils, gradient coils, and so on.”

“Heh, Nanjing University entered this phase half a month ago, but I heard the results weren’t great.”

Unconsciously, Wang Wei had come to treat Xu Qingzhou as an equal, and he smiled: “The follow-up experimental data still needs to be handled by you, younger brother. In function analysis and data simulation, none of us are any good.”

Ren Xiaoling felt a pang of envy, wondering when she could ever be as impressive as this junior, then sighed deeply and resumed organizing her assigned tasks.

Song Yao’s face flushed; with that remark, she felt like one of the obsessive heroines in Ding Jiahui’s anime.

Read! {

In mathematics, talent matters even more—many people spend their entire lives striving, yet still fail to match the breakthroughs others achieve in a flash of insight.

To Gu Zhizhong, Xu Qingzhou was undoubtedly one of the gifted, yet even so, he didn’t believe Xu Qingzhou could solve a problem that had baffled mathematicians for nearly a century.

On Monday, with some free time, Xu Qingzhou took his previous proof manuscript to Professor Gu Zhizhong.

Song Yao had grown used to him and ignored him. The two entered the sports field, found a spot to set down their things, and she said, “Today’s target: four kilometers, ten laps.”

Xu Qingzhou didn’t hide it: “I’m working on the Cramér conjecture.”

“Still not going to smell it?” Xu Qingzhou kept his hand extended.

Song Yao had arrived earlier than Xu Qingzhou, still wearing last week’s outfit, standing quietly beneath the cherry tree by the sports field entrance—beautiful, eye-catching, yet with a cold aura that kept people at arm’s length.

Song Yao’s gaze darkened slightly. She stood with legs and shoulders width apart, bent forward until her back was parallel to the ground, one hand gliding in a graceful arc to rest just before the toe of her other foot, even pressing down lightly.

“The Third City Hospital is about to decommission an MRI unit. Professor Zhao and Brother Gong have already gone over.” Wang Wei said.

There’s a saying: if mathematics is a abyss, ordinary people can only float on its surface.

Seeing Xu Qingzhou wasn’t joking, Gu Zhizhong’s expression grew complex. He sighed and didn’t urge him to give up: “Then go ahead and study it for now.”

“You didn’t even bring water.” Song Yao frowned as she saw Xu Qingzhou approach empty-handed.

“I’m not a dog—why would I sniff you every day!”

Young people are still too arrogant—they need to be tempered.

Xu Qingzhou looked away and silently did two leg lifts, then stretched his ankles slightly, internally grumbling: You think showing off your flexibility makes you impressive, huh?

Xu Qingzhou nodded. Everyone else stopped chatting and got back to their own tasks.

After reading through the proof and derivation, Gu Zhizhong smiled and asked, “What are you researching lately?”

Xu Qingzhou shrugged: “You brought this huge flask—you won’t finish it all. Let me help you drink some, so you don’t have to lug it back.”

Xu Qingzhou met Song Yao’s angry gaze without flinching: “I’m watching how you warm up so I can copy you.”

“The Cramér conjecture? You’re seriously working on that nonsense?” Gu Zhizhong paused mid-sip, his face stunned.

After organizing the data, Xu Qingzhou left the lab and went to the library to study. He didn’t rush to write—he first reviewed all materials related to the Cramér conjecture. “Whatever Teacher Song says.” Xu Qingzhou had no objections.

Even geniuses can easily slip into mediocrity if they’re not careful.

When she finished, she looked at Xu Qingzhou—clearly implying: You said you’d copy me, so get started.

Downloaded papers: “Bounded Gaps Between Primes,” “On the Distance Between Primes,” and so on; then located the research of Euler, Chebyshev, Hardy-Littlewood, and others on prime numbers.

After spending some time with Gu Zhizhong, Xu Qingzhou took his leave and went to the library to organize materials, methodically unraveling the problem, first identifying several directions, then advancing along them. On Tuesday night, after spending two straight days in the library, Xu Qingzhou returned to the sports field.

“Senior, you’re too kind,” Xu Qingzhou smiled and shook his head, then paused and asked, “Isn’t it hard to get approval for MRI equipment?”

The Cramér conjecture is an excellent whetstone—it can help Xu Qingzhou settle his mind and focus deeply on his research.

Though he’d only run twice, he truly felt the joy of exercise—each run seemed to purge all the impurities accumulated in his body.

MRI equipment, especially mid- to high-end 3.0T units, cost tens of millions each. Even decommissioned ones were long gone, snatched up immediately. A 3.0T unit could be taken back by a research institute for study, but for remote hospitals, it might even become their treasured centerpiece.

As if sensing Xu Qingzhou’s gaze, Song Yao felt like punching him—so what if it’s legs? Do you still not get enough of looking at them every day!

That’s why mathematicians tend to be a bit mad—even the School of Mathematics is called the “Insane Asylum” at Jingda.

“What are you planning?” Song Yao eyed him warily.

Beside him, the girl’s slender legs were clad in white socks, revealing a stretch of pale, delicate calf. Xu Qingzhou couldn’t help but glance twice.

“Good, good—the proof is brilliant,” Gu Zhizhong nodded after reading the manuscript, his opinion of Xu Qingzhou rising further. Given time, the School of Mathematics would surely produce another genius to astonish everyone.

"No routine check today?" Xu Qingzhou teased. The past two times, before running, Song Yao had always come close to sniff him.

“You stink too much—I don’t want to smell you!” Song Yao walked past him, swatted his hand away, and snapped: “Get warming up!”

Xu Qingzhou shrugged and followed Song Yao’s warm-up routine.

He thought Xu Qingzhou had gone a little mad.

Song Yao placed her sports gear and water flask on the steps, then saw Xu Qingzhou open his arms, as if waiting for her to come over.

Xu Qingzhou nodded.

After warming up, the two began a slow jog.

!.

Though Song Yao was a bit forceful, she was indeed patient—the exercise intensity wasn’t high; after running about a kilometer, she’d make Xu Qingzhou walk for a while to adjust his breathing, then gradually increase the intensity.

Thirty-five minutes passed.

After running and stretching, the two sat on the steps to rest.

Due to exercise, Song Yao’s fair cheeks glowed with a healthy flush—tempting enough to pinch.

Of course, Xu Qingzhou only dared think it—he’d surely be beaten to the ground if he actually tried.

(End of Chapter)