The top student must be diligent.

Chapter 224 Interview with Time Magazine

This report meeting ended like this.

For the vast majority of people present, although they were still a little confused about what Xiao Yi said, it did not prevent them from cheering for this lecture that was destined to be recorded in the history of mathematics and physics.

I think when they search for news related to the NS equation online in the future, they will probably see a description like this: [After Xiao Yi completed the proof, he held a report meeting in Fei City, Huaguo, and at the end of the report meeting, he received warm applause from the audience.]

At that time, they can proudly tell others: "It's at the scene. It's not a table, nor a chair, nor a microphone. It's in row XX, seat XX."

Perhaps it was because they still had some memories of the report, so the warm applause lasted for a long time, making Xiao Yi feel as if he was not here to give an academic report, but to attend a concert.

What he just delivered was not a report, but a musical feast that lasted nearly two hours. The applause was as if people were hoping that he could give an encore performance.

In the end, he had no choice but to applaud along with the audience.

After about two or three minutes, the applause gradually died down.

Then, the host, Bao Hexin, returned to the stage and said with a smile, "Okay, I know everyone is very excited right now, but this seminar has already lasted for so long, and it's time for lunch."

"We have prepared a sumptuous meal and tea break in the hotel next door. Please follow the guidance of the staff and leave the conference hall in an orderly manner and go to the hotel for dinner. Believe me, the food we prepare today will definitely not disappoint you!"

When they heard about the tea break, most of the people present's eyes lit up, and of course they waited to leave without saying a word.

However, the many bigwigs sitting in the front naturally did not want to leave just like that. They walked onto the stage and began to communicate with Xiao Yi, such as discussing the explosive trend theory, the usefulness of Xiao's space, and where his final proof result could be used, etc.

Of course, their discussion didn't last long, after all, everyone was basically hungry.

"Okay, let's go to the restaurant and talk while we eat. By the way, I also want to know what's prepared for this tea break."

Xiao Yi said to Tao Zhexuan and others with a smile.

Terence Tao and other big names also smiled and nodded.

"Then let's go. I'm also curious about what China's banquet will prepare. I've read some guides before coming here. I heard that there will be some roujiamo, right?"

Xiao Yi laughed and said, "Roujiamo is a famous snack in Qin Province, China, and it is indeed very good. Of course, in our Hui Province, there is a dish called Huainan Beef Soup, which I think you should not miss. In addition, there are Huangshan Shaobing and the like. These things should be available later."

He had heard that the chefs invited to this banquet were all top-notch in the country, so he basically didn't have to worry about the food.

Fefferman was surprised and asked, "Oh! I didn't expect that different regions in your country have different special foods?"

Xiao Yi nodded and introduced the eight major cuisines to this American who had never been to China.

Fefferman was amazed at what he heard, and finally couldn't help but sigh: "I'm tired of eating fried eggs and toast for breakfast, sandwiches and hot dogs for lunch, and steak and pizza for dinner, as well as all kinds of hamburgers."

Xiao Yi shrugged and said, "Different geographical environments naturally lead to different diets. You can often eat steak, but here, steak is considered a high-end dish."

Fefferman spread his hands: "We don't eat steak every day."

Xiao Yi laughed.

Although beef is indeed cheaper abroad, what Fefferman said is indeed correct.

Compared to the somewhat monotonous dishes from foreign countries, the various cuisines in China are more suitable for his stomach.

Without further ado, they headed to the hotel next door for dinner.

However, just when they took a few steps, another person came towards Xiao Yi.

When they saw this person, Terence Tao and others were stunned.

"Mr. Thomas, you are here too?"

Mr. Thomas smiled and nodded at them, saying, "Of course, I will not miss such a report meeting."

Then he looked at Xiao Yi again, walked up to him, extended his hand, and said, "Hello, Professor Xiao, I am Thomas Clay, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Clay Institute, and I am glad to meet you."

Xiao Yi was stunned.

Thomas Clay?
The Clay Institute?

The Clay Institute was founded by Landon Clay as a private research institute affiliated with the Clay family foundation.

So the Thomas Clay in front of him is obviously a member of this family.

As for the Clay Institute, its most famous thing is the seven Millennium Problems it announced in June 2000, and it will give a $6 million prize to any mathematician who solves one of the problems.

That’s why it’s also called the Millennium Prize Problem.

Of course, if inflation is taken into account, $2000 million in 100 is equivalent to $173 million today, so the value of this bonus has actually depreciated.

But it is undeniable that 100 million US dollars is still a huge sum of money even now. You know, the prize money of the Nobel Prize is almost equivalent to this much.

As for now, the reason why Thomas Clay suddenly came to find him was very obvious.

Xiao Yi smiled, stretched out his hand and shook hands with the other party, then said: "Hello, Mr. Clay, I am glad to meet you too. What do you want to talk to me about?"

Thomas Clay nodded, glanced at the people present, and said with a smile: "Obviously everyone is waiting to enjoy today's banquet, so let's go to the restaurant to talk."

Xiao Yi naturally agreed, nodded and said with a smile: "Mr. Clay is right, everyone please."

Soon, they arrived at the hotel next door.

Probably because Huainan beef soup was mentioned just now, Xiao Yi specifically asked for a bowl of Huainan beef soup and brought it to a table.

Thomas Clay also got a bowl and sat next to Xiao Yi.

"Professor Xiao should be able to guess why I came to see you."

Thomas Clay blew on the slightly hot soup and said to Xiao Yi with a smile, "You have solved two of the seven major problems of the millennium."

"Speaking of which, after we announced the grand prize problem plan, Professor Perelman solved the Poincare conjecture within a few years. We were shocked at the time and even began to worry whether the seven major problems we set would be solved soon."

"But fortunately, with your presence, the millennium problem has once again been solved. Your proof of the quality gap problem two years ago was truly eye-opening."

Hearing Thomas Clay's words, Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile: "What about now? After the NS equation is solved?"

"Uh..." Thomas Clay was stunned for a moment, then said honestly: "To be honest, we are a little nervous now."

Xiao Yi suddenly laughed.

The Clay Institute took on the seven Millennium Problems in order to enhance the institute's reputation, and the fact is that they did succeed. As a research institute that was only established in 1998, it is now one of the most well-known research institutes in mathematics, which fully demonstrates that money is really useful.

As long as the seven major problems have not been completely solved, the reputation of their institute will continue.

But now Xiao Yi suddenly appeared and solved two problems in just two moves, which made them nervous.

"Okay, Professor Xiao, we won't say anything else. This time, we are here to invite you to attend the Millennium Prize Award Ceremony that we plan to open at the end of July this year."

"You will prove the mass gap problem at the 2022 International Congress of Mathematicians, so by July of this year, the two-year verification period will have just expired. At that time, at this ceremony, our Cray Institute will present you with a $100 million prize. I hope you can attend then."

Thomas Clay also stated the purpose of his personal visit to China.

Xiao Yi hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Excuse me, where do you plan to hold this award ceremony?"

"Uh..." Thomas Clay was stunned for a moment, then replied, "Of course it's at MIT. The opening ceremony of our Clay Institute was held at MIT, so we also hope to hold the first Millennium Problem Award Ceremony here. As for why it's the first time... You know, Professor Perelman did not accept our award at the time."

"Oh my God, I still can't understand people like Perelman. I heard that he still lives in a small house outside St. Petersburg..."

Looking at Thomas Clay's incomprehensible expression, Xiao Yi curled his lips and finally said, "Uh... Well, I'm sorry, if it's held at MIT, then I may not be able to go."

Thomas Clay was stunned again. "Walter? Professor Xiao, are you sure? Why!"

"Well, strictly speaking, if it is held outside of China, it may not be convenient for me to go." Xiao Yi spread his hands and said, "So, I apologize."

Thomas Clay was stunned.

He never expected that Xiao Yi would also refuse.

It was obvious to him that inviting Xiao Yi this time would definitely be successful.

After all, Xiao Yi is not like Perelman, who is stubborn and unwilling to accept any honor. Xiao Yi accepted the Fields Medal at the beginning. He is more or less a normal person, but his IQ is a little high.

“That’s $100 million!”

Thomas Clay couldn't help but say.

"Uh..." Now it was Xiao Yi's turn to be stunned. He looked at Thomas Clay strangely and asked, "Don't you know my financial situation?"

Thomas Clay gave a blank look, "Do I need to know?"

As a rich kid who often dealt with mathematicians, he had a basic understanding of their financial situations.

Although mathematicians often enjoy very wide respect in society, they don't have much money.

Otherwise, their Clay Institute would not have become a famous institute in the mathematics world just by relying on its financial resources.

But in this regard, Xiao Yi could only remain silent.

"...Well, to be honest, Mr. Clay, a million dollars is not particularly attractive to me, so I probably won't make a special trip to the United States for it."

At this moment, a woman's voice came from the side: "Mr. Clay, it can be seen that your family has not investigated Professor Xiao's worth."

Then, a foreign woman with big wavy blonde hair came over.

She walked up to Xiao Yi and introduced herself: "Jennifer Aikena, a reporter for Time magazine."

Xiao Yi nodded at her and said, "Hello, Ms. Aikenna."

Jennifer Aikena smiled at him, and finally said to Thomas Clay beside her: "Mr. Clay, Professor Xiao is the chairman of the largest Bitcoin algorithm software provider. This alone makes Professor Xiao's net worth $30 billion."

"In addition, Professor Xiao's three patents for lithium-sulfur solid-state batteries are worth at least $100 billion according to market assessments. They are high-quality patents and will inevitably increase in value in the foreseeable future."

"So the $100 million you just mentioned is really nothing to Professor Xiao. Even $700 million is the same."

Thomas Clay looked at Xiao Yi in shock.

So, wouldn’t the two things together be worth $130 billion?

This is richer than his family!
“This…I…”

Finally, Thomas Clay stood up and had no choice but to leave: "Sorry, Professor Xiao, I have to excuse myself first."

Jennifer Aikena smiled as she watched Clay leave, then looked at Xiao Yi and said, "Then, Professor Xiao, can I interview you? Time Magazine has been following you for a long time, and now our editor-in-chief has finally decided to interview you. At the same time, we have also decided to make you the cover character of the next issue."

Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows.

The cover of Time magazine?

He didn't expect that the other party would be willing to give such a position to him, a Chinese.

After all, the cover of Time magazine is an important window for Western society. Putting a Chinese on it is like promoting China.

After thinking for a while, he said, "Of course there is no problem with the interview, but whether to answer your questions is up to me."

"Of course." Jennifer nodded with a smile, and then asked, "Then, can we find a place to start our interview? My photographer colleague is right at the door."

Xiao Yi pointed to the bowl of Huainan beef soup in front of him and said, "Wait until I finish eating first."

Jennifer was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course no problem."

……

Xiao Yi finished the Huainan beef soup in no time, and then went to find leaders such as Bao Hexin and asked them where they had a suitable place for the interview.

When Bao Hexin heard that Xiao Yi was going to be interviewed by Time magazine and could even be the cover character, he of course arranged the conference hall where the lecture had just been held for him without saying a word.

After some preparation, the interview officially began.

"So, Professor Xiao, what do you think is the most important research in the world? Mathematics? Physics? Or something else?"

The first question is quite unique.

Jennifer smiled and said, "We all know that you are not only a mathematician, but also a physicist and a materials scientist. But what kind of research do you think is more important?"

Xiao Yi thought for a moment, and finally gave an original answer: "I think it should be education."

Jennifer obviously didn't expect Xiao Yi to answer like this. She was stunned for a moment, and then asked curiously: "Education? I can probably understand, but why do you think so?"

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "I wonder if you have heard of this technology that often appears in science fiction works, called knowledge inheritance technology?"

Jennifer asked: "Knowledge inheritance technology? Could it be that knowledge is passed on to future generations?"

"Yes, but not entirely. Knowledge inheritance technology is a way to transfer all the knowledge a scientist possesses to others, so it doesn't matter if they are descendants or not."

"In this way, even a young person who has just reached adulthood, after enjoying 18 years of happy childhood, does not need to go to school or do homework. At the age of , he can receive knowledge inheritance technology and immediately become a top scientist."

"Then, this young man will be able to play a huge role in scientific research by taking advantage of his youth."

Jennifer exclaimed: "That sounds great. If I can inherit your knowledge, I will be able to understand those math papers you wrote that look like incomprehensible books?"

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Yes."

"That's great, but by asking this question, do you mean to say that you are researching such technology?"

Xiao Yi shook his head and said, "Don't forget the question you asked me at the beginning."

"So back to the original question, what does such a technology have to do with education?"

"Obviously, we don't have this kind of technology at the moment, and we don't even have any theory that would allow us to master it."

"But if you think about it carefully, education itself is a kind of knowledge inheritance technology, but it can't make a young person become a top scientist immediately like in science fiction."

"However, when we are born, then start to receive education, and then grow up, the process is to inherit knowledge. The difference is that we need to learn by ourselves and make efforts."

"Moreover, due to differences in education, the knowledge acquired by each person is also different."

“And this is exactly the purpose of research education.”

"Through educational research, the efficiency of education can be improved, and everyone can receive more knowledge."

“Is this a step closer to knowledge inheritance technology?”

Xiao Yi asked back with a slight smile to Jennifer.

Jennifer's eyes widened: "Amazing!"

(End of this chapter)