Banquet Hall of Yanda Guest House.

Li Mo was wearing his washed white shirt and carrying a schoolbag, looking out of place in the crowd.

"Now we invite the world-famous mathematician Professor Smith from Princeton. Everyone applauds." On the rostrum, a middle-aged man who looked like a leader raised the microphone and said passionately.

A foreigner in his 60s stepped onto the podium with the support of a female student.

Zhang Xuemei actually came to Yan'an University, and Li Mo discovered that the female student was the senior sister who they had dinner with last time and broke up on bad terms.

This was also the first time he saw Smith himself. He had a hooked nose and a pair of sharp eyes that did not match his age, scanning the audience from time to time.

"It is our great honor that the distinguished Professor Smith has traveled thousands of miles to come to our school at Yantai University. Now I would like to invite Professor Smith to speak." The middle-aged leader took the lead in applauding.

Zhang Xuemei leaned into Professor Smith's ear and said a few words. The old man shook his head and did not speak. He was still observing the crowd in the audience, as if he was looking for someone.

Zhang Xuemei, who was on the stage, looked slightly startled, and she leaned into the old man's ear again, as if she was trying to persuade him. The old man shook his head firmly and said something with disdain. After hearing this, Zhang Xuemei picked up the microphone with embarrassment and said:

"Professor Smith will not make a formal speech because he is tired from the trip. I am here to say hello to the students of YSU on his behalf."

There was sporadic applause and bursts of laughter from the audience. The middle-aged leader on the rostrum said with a red face: "After all, Professor Smith is also an old man in his 60s. He will inevitably feel uncomfortable after sitting in the airplane for a long time. I think so

Well, this welcome meeting will end here, let Professor Smith take a rest first."

Looking at the crowd preparing to disperse, Professor Smith, who had always looked arrogant, whispered a few words. Zhang Xuemei nodded and went to the middle-aged leader to explain a few words.

The middle-aged leader thought for a moment, then picked up the microphone and said, "Please come to the stage, Li Mo, and accompany Professor Smith to the hotel."

Li Mo, who was about to leave in the crowd, was stunned. Remembering what Ying Sa Sa said on the phone, he strode up to the podium and said, "Hello, Professor Smith, I am Li Mo." He stretched out his right hand.

Li Mo felt as if his hand was being held by an iron pliers, "iamsmith", the old man stared at him with a scrutinizing gaze for half a minute.

"Professor, let's go back to the hotel first. This is not a good place to talk." Zhang Xuemei reminded him in English.

It seemed that Yanda really valued Professor Smith. Li Mo looked around the suite, which was as big as 200 square meters.

"Li Mo, we have met, there is no need to be formal." Zhang Xuemei helped the two of them make tea.

"Thank you!" Li Mo took the cup, "I don't know what Professor Smith wants from me. Could you please ask Miss Zhang for me?"

Professor Smith did not take the cup, but looked him up and down with strange eyes.

Zhang Xuemei didn't seem to hear Li Mo's words, and just chose a corner of the sofa to sit down.

Li Mo felt that the atmosphere at the scene was a bit strange and was about to get up and leave.

"You were the one who proved the Coraz conjecture and the four-color conjecture?" Professor Smith asked in proficient Chinese.

This foreigner actually knew Chinese and spoke it so proficiently that Li Mo was stunned for a moment.

Zhang Xuemei in the corner of the sofa chuckled, "Professor Smith can speak 23 languages. He is a language genius."

Li Mo calmed down and nodded, "Yes, I was lucky enough to be able to prove these two conjectures."

"In the world of mathematics, there is no luck, only genius." The old man was quite dissatisfied with his modesty. "Although you only proved two basic conjectures, you are still quite talented."

Li Mo didn't answer this time. He wanted to hear what the old man's purpose was.

"But if you continue to stay in China, your talent will only be wiped out. If a genius cannot grow in the right soil, it will ultimately be a waste of time. I think you also know that time means a lot to mathematicians.

What are you talking about?" The old man said while constantly observing Li Mo's expression with his shining eyes.

"If a mathematician cannot make world-renowned achievements before the age of 30, then he will be reduced to a mediocre person. At Yanda, are you sure you can make any achievements? Of course, problem solving is a game played by children.

It doesn’t count.”

Li Mo just listened quietly from the side without saying a word or showing an expression.

The old man continued: "Mathematics is a subject that pays attention to the inheritance of teachers. If Riemann and Dirichlet had not joined the Göttingen School and inherited Gauss's career, would they have made such great achievements?"

"If Galois had not entered the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, would he have been able to study group theory in his short life?"

"And our Princeton School has produced mathematical masters such as Gödel, Noether, Nash, and Shannon, and we are world leaders in almost every field of mathematics."

Mentioning Princeton, a haughty expression appeared on Professor Smith's face unconsciously.

"And what does Yanda have?"

"If you join us at Princeton, with your talent, you are very likely to win a Fields Medal before the age of 40. Just like my Indian student."

After Professor Smith finished speaking, he picked up the tea cup on the table and took a sip, "If there is anything in the East that deserves my praise, it is this tea. It has a hint of bitterness and a long aftertaste. It is simply a gift from nature."

Zhang Xuemei, who was sitting next to her, stood up gracefully and helped the professor refill the water. He glanced at Li Mo, who was still silent, and said with a smile: "Professor Smith rarely values ​​people so much. Maybe you should consider our proposal."

.”

Li Mo came to his senses and realized that the two people in front of him were here to act as lobbyists for him to study abroad.

Now that he understood the other party's purpose, he did not intend to pretend to be confused. "Thank you Professor Smith for your kindness. Princeton is a world-renowned mathematics mecca. Being able to study there is the dream of countless mathematics enthusiasts. Maybe one day, I will also

I will study before the meeting. But not now. I feel that my foundation is still very weak."

Hearing Li Mo's clear rejection of him, the old man's face showed a bit of anger. No one had ever refused his invitation in person. But the young man in front of him rejected him again and again.

"Young man, you have to understand that you only have one chance."

Li Mo looked at Professor Smith's livid face and felt a little funny, "I think clearly. Thank you for your kindness. If there is nothing else, I will go back first."
Chapter completed!