Noon.
Peking University's Centennial Auditorium.
"It's starting soon."
"Everyone, hurry up."
"The delegation has arrived."
"Don't push, line up properly."
There were staff at the entrance to maintain order.
The students lined up to enter the auditorium from the main entrance, while the teachers and other Peking University staff entered from the side entrance.
After Zhang Ye entered the auditorium, he parted ways with Professor Zeng, Su Na, and the other Chinese department teachers. This was because he was going to sit in the front row. Firstly, he would be giving a speech soon, so he couldn't sit too far away. Secondly, Zhang Ye would have to entertain the mathematicians from all over the world. They were all elites of their respective countries in the field of mathematics, with one or two world-class mathematicians among them. They had come all the way here to solve the mathematical conjecture, so it would be inappropriate of Zhang Ye not to help them verify it. Now that they had met, if he did not entertain them a little, it would really be inappropriate.
In the middle, in the first row.
Zhang Ye saw someone calling for him.
Xin Ya waved. "Over here."
"Shall we sit in the first row?" Zhang Ye asked.
Dean Pan had reserved a seat for Zhang Ye and said, "Let's sit here. It's already been arranged. The Japanese delegation will be seated upstairs."
Zhang Ye acknowledged and sat down.
Han Henian, who was seated three seats beside him, said, "Did something happen outside just now? Why did the students block the delegation's car on such an important day? "
Zhang Ye said, "It's just a small misunderstanding. It's not a big deal."
Han Henian said, "If that's not a big deal, then it's not a big deal."
Dean Pan said, "It should have been settled."
Although they had been sitting in the auditorium with the mathematicians from all over the world, they still knew about what had happened outside. Someone must have told them about it.
A French mathematician had even heard about it and asked Zhang Ye, "I heard that Professor Zhang doesn't forget a single word after reading it?"
A foreign translator translated it in stilted Chinese.
Zhang Ye smiled and waved it off. "Not at all. I'm not that capable."
In the fourth row behind them, a female teacher from the Fine Arts Department who had just sat down and was also present at the auditorium earlier could not help but ask curiously, "Teacher Zhang, then how did you remember that newspaper?"
Zhang Ye turned around and said to the female teacher, "Because of that news article. there were more numbers."
The female teacher from the Fine Arts Department was puzzled. "Shouldn't it be harder to remember more numbers?"
Xin Ya spoke for Zhang Ye, "Hur hur, we're in the field of mathematics, so we're definitely more sensitive to numbers than other things."
"So that's how it is." The teacher from the Fine Arts Department smiled. "You guys are really good at mathematics."
A young teacher from Peking University's Math Department laughed and said, "Teacher Kong, I don't think it has anything to do with mathematics. The main thing is that Teacher Zhang Ye is so awesome. I've also searched for that news article online, but even if I were to memorize those numbers now, I would still need to spend an hour or two to memorize them, and I might not even get it right." They all knew about what had happened over there. Before Zhang Ye came, they were still discussing it.
Many of the teachers started chatting.
Zhang Ye also chipped in from time to time. From time to time, he would even speak a few words in English to communicate with the foreign mathematician.
There were more and more people in the auditorium, and the environment became noisier. If one spoke too softly, the people nearby might not be able to hear him clearly.
At this moment, a Peking University staff came looking for him.
"Teacher Zhang."
"Calling me?"
"Please come here. I have something to do."
"OK."
Zhang Ye followed the young man away. From the corner of his eyes, he saw that Professor Yan and another Peking University teacher, who were seated in the front row on the right, had also been called over. The few of them went to a quiet area backstage. Although Professor Yan and Zhang Ye were both teachers of the Chinese department, the two of them had a deep grudge against each other. Even if they met, they would not speak.
Professor Yan asked, "What's the matter?"
That young staff member immediately said, "The school's leaders have just instructed us to add to the content of your speeches later. It will mainly emphasize the friendship between China and Japan. Also, the incident that happened earlier did not reflect well. The Japanese delegation's leaders and leaders have expressed their strong dissatisfaction with it. The higher-ups want everyone to be able to criticize the actions of the students today, as well as any other actions that might affect or damage the relationship between the two countries. However, do not mention the specifics of today's incident."
Professor Yan and the other teacher understood. The Japanese Prime Minister's visit to China was at such a critical juncture. For such an unpleasant incident to happen on the day of the Sino-Japanese University Exchange, it would definitely be a little awkward. Or to put it more seriously, it might even be a more dangerous incident. It was too sensitive, and as the top educational institution in the country, Peking University definitely did not want to send out such a wrong signal. Hence, they had to express their stance and firmly criticize such "unreasonable anti-Japanese" actions. They wanted to appeal to everyone to maintain their rationality and objectivity. This was also in response to the current "Sino-Japanese friendship". As for not mentioning the incident that happened today, it was also very understandable. With so many reporters present, such an incident naturally could not be discussed or publicized. It had to be handled in the most stable manner possible.
That teacher said, "Is it too late to change it now?"
The staff member said, "There's no need to change it too much. Just add a few words to mention it. As for what you're doing, you have to decide for yourself. I don't know much about this either. I'm just conveying the intentions of the school leaders."
That teacher said, "Let me see."
However, Zhang Ye was not too happy about it. What was there to add? Was there something wrong with him? He said, "I can't change it. It's an academic speech, so it has nothing to do with me." After saying that, he turned to leave.
That staff member said, "Teacher Zhang, it's better if you add a little something. Just mention it at the end of the speech. For example, after the academic speech, praise the Japanese mathematics world and express that you look forward to the long term cooperation with the Japanese universities. That would be fine too."
Zhang Ye did not beat around the bush and said, "But I'm not looking forward to it."
Looking forward to working with them? When that Japanese mathematician met me just now, he was already at loggerheads with me. He was doubting me and doubting me because he did not believe that Dale's Conjecture could be solved by the Chinese. With that attitude of theirs, you want me to work with them? And look forward to it? Look forward to your sister!
Staff member: "… …" Man, you're too direct!
Professor Yan glanced at him and went back to edit his script.
That Peking University sociology teacher, who also had a speech assignment today, was tickled by Zhang Ye's words, "Teacher Zhang, I'll be going back first. Just add a few words. After all, it's a political mission." He did not really mind. Whatever the higher-ups assigned, he would just say it.
Today's Sino-Japanese University Exchange was a rare event in history. It was also the first time in recent years that the two countries' top educational institutions were cooperating. It was of great significance. If anything went wrong, they would have to bear the responsibility. Just for this exchange, Japan was probably paying close attention to it. Didn't you see that many Japanese reporters had come along with the team? On such an important day, for such an important event, the speaker's script had to be rigorous and comprehensive. It could not be as casual as the opening ceremony or graduation ceremony. If it was wrong, so be it? If it was negligent, so be it? That would definitely not do! For a speech with political overtones like this, other than stuttering, there could not be any other mistakes! If anything went wrong, it would have a huge impact!
That was why the school leaders had such strict requirements for the speech script. Some of the necessary signals had to be clearly stated in the script!
"Teacher Zhang, please." The staff member repeated.
Zhang Ye shook his head, "We'll see. It's too late to change it now."
The staff member was getting a little impatient and said, "You're a Chinese department teacher. Just add a few sentences. How difficult can it be for you? Anyway, this is a request from the school leaders. I've conveyed the message to you. " Everything that needed to be said had been said. His task was also completed. There were still a bunch of other things waiting for him, so he went back to work.
Zhang Ye glanced at him and returned to the auditorium.
I can't even be bothered to give an academic speech, yet you still want to request this and that? Get lost!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
