Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 20 The Pride of the Chinese

"Zhengdao, have you met this person at Columbia University?"

In Li Zhengdao's office, Yang Zhenning waved the New York Times in his hand and pointed at Lin Ran's photo and asked.

Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for their work on parity non-conservation. The two had extensive academic collaborations throughout the 30s, and jointly published more than academic papers.

The relationship subsequently broke down due to issues surrounding paper authorship, which was considered a major loss to the Chinese academic community.

Both of them have amazing physical intuition, but they are good at different areas. Yang is better at theoretical deduction, while Li is better at building experimental models.

At this time, the relationship between the two had not yet broken down. Yang Zhenning was still working in Geneva. His parents went to Geneva many times to persuade him to return to China to work. He had already made a decision between China and America and planned to look for opportunities in America.

Based on this premise, he stayed in New York throughout January and February and met with Tsung-Dao Lee frequently.

Li Zhengdao knew what was going on after just one look in the newspaper. Every Chinese and American at Columbia University knew this rising star in mathematics.

He caused a sensation in the United States as soon as he appeared. Coupled with his young age and handsome appearance, he was a king bomb in the Chinese community.

"Yes, there are so many people who want to meet Randolph. These days, every time I go to his office, he is very polite, but it is full of mathematicians. The problems they are discussing are too profound for me. Every time I go there, I just drink a cup of coffee and leave.

I feel really embarrassed to stay too long. If I stay too long, I will even doubt whether my IQ is enough.

But I plan to go see him tomorrow afternoon with President Huang. Are you willing to go with us?"

"President Huang?" Yang Zhenning asked.

Li Zhengdao nodded and said, "Huang Yunji, the president of the Chinese American Daily, hopes to interview Randolph in person.

Randolph means it's better to do it now, tomorrow afternoon."

(Chinese American Daily, January 1960, 1)

The Chinese American Daily was a little unfamiliar to Lin Ran. It was only after he used Google that he realized the greatness of this newspaper.

This newspaper has a profound relationship with China. The founding inscription in 1940 was written by someone himself. His famous poem "Qingpingle·Liupanshan" was first published in the "America Chinese Daily".

The founder of the Overseas Chinese Daily in America has now returned to China to work and will become China's first Deputy Secretary-General to the United Nations in the near future.

After China and America resumed diplomatic relations, the "Overseas Chinese Daily in America" ​​reported the entire process of the mutual visits between the two sides.

This is enough to prove that it still held its ground during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s.

Therefore, Lin Ranting wanted to meet its editor-in-chief.

"Sorry, this scene is so rare. I have to take a photo of the three of you."

In Lin Ran's office, after a brief greeting, Huang Yunji, the president of the Chinese American Daily, took out his camera and said, "The three of you here are the pride of the Chinese people.

We have already thought of the headline for the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper, it’s called “The Pride of Chinese People”.

All three of them are the true pride of the Chinese people!"

As the electric current pulse ignited the magnesium powder, the intense light produced by the combustion flashed across Lin Ran's office, and the three of them left behind this precious photo.

"Please tell me your address, and I will deliver it to you as soon as I wash it," said Huang Yunji.

After hearing this, Lin Ran thought to himself, "I guess this is the opportunity he wants to be alone with me."

Taking precious photos was certainly important, and just putting a photo of the three of them in a newspaper would attract countless Chinese buyers. But perhaps even more important was the opportunity to chat privately at my place after the photos were developed that evening.

"Since all three of you are here, why don't we conduct an interview with all three of you?

Even if the entire newspaper page is filled with three of them, I believe readers will love it." Huang Yunji suggested.

Lin Ran said, "I have no objection."

Lin Ran had no objection, and Yang Zhenning and Li Zhengdao had even less objection. After winning the Nobel Prize, they gave numerous interviews.

"Let's start with Mr. Lin. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to everyone?"

Just as Lin Ran expected, Huang Yunji came to the house with photos that night.

"Mr. Lin, these are the developed photos. The three of you are indeed in high spirits and are outstanding representatives of us Chinese." Huang Yunji kept flattering people, giving people a feeling of being bathed in spring breeze.

Lin Ran stared at the photo in his hand, thinking that if this photo was brought to 2020, everyone would probably think it was an AI synthesis effect.

"Thank you, President Huang. Compared with you two, I have only done some insignificant work." Lin Ran felt that he had only moved Wiles' results to 1960, which was far behind Li Zhengdao and Yang Zhenning.

"No, no, no. The media are all saying that at the Mathematician's Congress in two years, you will be the undisputed Fields Medal winner and the first Chinese Fields Medal winner," said Huang Yunji.

This is the truth. If Fermat's Last Theorem plus part of the Langlands Program were not given to Fields, it would be unacceptable in any way.

Lin Ran said, "I'll lend you my good wishes."

After a round of pleasantries, the other party finally revealed his true intention: "Mr. Lin, what do you think of China?"

After a moment's silence, Lin Ran said, "There is endless potential. I hope everything will be fine for our motherland."

Huang Yunji was clearly dissatisfied with this answer: "Mr. Lin, have you ever considered returning to your motherland?"

Lin Ran shook his head: "The conditions are not yet ripe."

Huang Yunji didn't mention it again. After a few more pleasantries, he left Lin Ran's residence.

Lin Ran knew that the other party would not give up so easily, and he did not plan to reveal the truth so quickly.

Because there is too little historical information about Huang Yunji, he has no idea whether it is reliable.

This is especially sensitive since I am about to join NASA.

China tried to persuade Yang Zhenning to return to China three times and also arranged for his parents to meet him in Geneva.

Obviously, the other party would not give up on a talent like Lin Ran so easily.

Lin Ran stood at the second-floor window, watching Huang Yunji's receding figure, and sighed, "Now is definitely not the time."

The next morning, the latest issue of "Overseas Chinese Daily in America" ​​printed with the biographies of Lin Ran, Li Zhengdao, and Yang Zhenning went on sale. Within three days, 200,000 copies were sold throughout America.

You should know that at that time, the number of Chinese households in America did not exceed 10, but the number of newspapers sold was twice the number of Chinese households.

Many Chinese families buy several copies, firstly to encourage their children to study hard, secondly as a souvenir, and thirdly to send them to relatives and friends outside America.

The headline on the front page reads: "The Pride of Chinese in America"

(End of this chapter)