In the auditorium.
After returning to his seat, Zhang Ye went to look for Dean Pan of the School of Mathematical Sciences, who was sitting beside him. He returned the speech script to him and said, "Please find someone else. I can't do this job."
Dean Pan was puzzled. "What's the matter?"
Zhang Ye said, "The higher-ups have requested for more things to be added."
After listening for a while, Dean Pan finally understood. "It's too late to change someone at this time. That won't do, you have to do it. Teacher Little Zhang, you mustn't drop the ball. How about this, if you don't want to write the script yourself, I'll find someone to add in the things that the school leaders have requested for you. Then you just have to read it out loud." Pan Yang did not really like this either. To him, academics were academics. There was no need to add political overtones to it and create a bunch of stuff that was good for everyone. It would be a little stale. But as a member of Peking University, it was impossible for him to completely stay out of it. So in this big vat of dye, he could only try to find a relative balance.
After ten minutes of persuasion, Zhang Ye did not express his opinion. Since Dean Pan had made an exception to promote him to associate professor, he should give him some face. But from the bottom of his heart, Zhang Ye really did not have a good impression of this bunch of Japanese. If he did not want to do something, it would be very difficult for others to force him to do it.
Dean Pan said, "Then it's settled. Don't say anymore, we're going to start soon."
Zhang Ye said helplessly, "Dean Pan."
Dean Pan pointed at the foreigners and smiled. "The mathematicians from all over the world are also waiting to hear your report and speech. Everyone is looking forward to it."
On the stage, the host was ready. The auditorium was almost 80% full. Those who were supposed to be here were all here except for the Japanese delegation.
"Where are they?"
"Why aren't they here yet?"
"It's already noon. Isn't it time already?"
"Didn't the delegation's motorcade arrive at the school an hour ago? They should be here by now, so why aren't they here yet? What are they doing? "
"I don't know."
"I'm hungry. Hurry up and finish the meeting. We're still waiting to eat."
"Yeah, I've been here for more than an hour, and I haven't had breakfast yet."
The students were all a little listless and listless. When the host came on stage, the venue was silent for a long time. But after the host did not arrive, the huge auditorium became noisy. Discussions were constantly going on. Even the Peking University teachers could not sit still. They kept turning their heads to look at the empty seats upstairs. Some of them found it strange, while others frowned. They did not understand what was happening.
Ten minutes …
Half an hour …
The host seemed to have received the news. He held the microphone and said to everyone, "Everyone, calm down. Please be quiet. The delegation will be here soon."
The reporters who had already set up their cameras at the scene were already yawning.
Some of the foreign mathematicians were not very happy.
The French mathematician looked at his watch.
The British mathematician shook his head.
The Japanese mathematician was not here. He probably went to meet with the delegation.
Dean Pan and some of the teachers from the Math Department hurriedly apologized to the foreign mathematicians and asked them to wait a little longer. To the Peking University students and teachers, they did not have to say anything because this was Peking University's own event. But to these foreign mathematicians, they were all guests. They had already made their guests wait for two hours. This was really not right, so they definitely had to apologize.
Su Na was very annoyed. "Why are these Japanese so unpunctual? Not only are they making us wait, but they are also making the other countries' mathematicians wait as well? "
Another young teacher from the Chinese Department said, "They're putting on such airs!"
Chang Kaige looked at them and said, "Alright, stop talking."
Professor Yan also frowned. "There are so many reporters here. Little Su, Little Wang, watch your attitude. Don't spout nonsense. The delegation must be preparing."
Su Na and a few other young teachers did not think so. Preparing? What was there to prepare for? It had already been more than two hours since they entered the school. Even if they wanted to take a nap, wash up, or even take a shower or blow-dry their hair, there would still be more than enough time. Yet they want thousands of us from Peking University to sit here and wait? Not even a single reason was given? Su Na and the others felt that this group of Japanese people was probably deliberately ignoring them because they had been stopped by the Peking University students. They were looking down on them on purpose!
Suddenly, a German mathematician unhappily said something in German that no one could understand. He then stood up and left the room.
The translator quickly said, "Professor Werner said that he has something urgent to attend to in the afternoon and will be leaving first."
Xin Ya was also embarrassed. Although she was not from Peking University, she was still a member of the Chinese mathematics world. As the host, it was not good for her to let the guests wait for so long. She immediately stood up with Dean Pan to send the German mathematician out of the auditorium. They were very sorry.
After the German man left.
Xin Ya complained, "Dean Pan, what's going on? Peking University said that they wanted to hold this exchange and needed some heavyweight guests. That's why I pulled some strings and managed to get them here. Professor Chen and the others also spoke, but they've waited for so long and it still hasn't started. How am I supposed to explain this to these foreign mathematicians? "
Dean Pan immediately said, "I don't know what's going on either. Let me ask them." He suppressed his anger and made a phone call. "Hello, where are they now … Who are you talking about? The delegation … What do you mean you don't know? Aren't you in charge of receiving them … Hurry up and ask them!"
He hung up.
About a few minutes later, the other side called back.
The reply he received was still the same. The delegation was about to enter the venue. It seemed like they had been doing a closed-door interview. During that time, some of the delegation members had complained that they were hungry and had not eaten anything since they had just gotten off the plane. As a result, they ended up having a meal together. It was prepared by Peking University's number one cafeteria. The food for 50 to 60 people was sent directly to the lounge reserved for the delegation.
But when Xin Ya and Dean Pan returned, they still did not see anyone from the Japanese delegation. Even the Peking University leaders, Bai Yi, and the others who had accompanied them had not arrived yet!
The auditorium was getting noisier and noisier.
All sorts of news was flying around.
"Are they going to come or not?"
"I just heard that they're doing an interview."
"What? They're doing an interview at this time? So many of our students and teachers are waiting for them. Can't they just record the interview after the meeting? Why did they have to do it at this critical juncture? "
"It's not just an interview. They're even having a meal."
"Surely not?"
"Why not? I just heard it from the cafeteria staff."
"I heard about it too. Cafeteria No. 1 was originally open for business, but when they received news that the delegation would be having a meal, they immediately closed the doors. A few Peking University teachers wanted to go in for a meal, but none of them were able to. I heard that they were specially preparing food for the delegation and even sent it over. Even the school leaders don't get such treatment. They're too arrogant!"
"We're starving, and they're eating?"
"F * * k, what kind of people are these little Japanese people!"
"Aren't Teacher Bai Yi and the others accompanying them? How could they agree to it? Why didn't they let the delegation come to the auditorium first! Can't they eat at any time? Are you the only ones hungry? We're still hungry! "
"Bai Yi? Hur hur, didn't you see Teacher Bai's attitude on that matter? He's been in Japan before, and his wife is even Japanese. She's from Tokyo University and has always been a supporter of friendly relations with Japan. He even published a thesis on it, so how can you expect him to do that? "
"That's too unfair. The foreign guests are people, but we students are not? Besides, there are still other foreign guests here. How can those foreign mathematicians make them wait like idiots? "
"Look, another one has left!"
In the front row.
A Korean mathematician could not wait any longer. He bade farewell to the others and went out for a meal. Dean Pan and a few teachers from the Peking University Math Department personally escorted him out. They even called for a car and got a teacher who knew Korean to go along with him.
The English mathematician looked at Zhang Ye. "Zhang."
Zhang Ye looked back at him.
The English mathematician said in a serious tone, "If it weren't for your speech, I would have gone back a long time ago."
When Zhang Ye heard that, he quickly said in English, "I'm sorry, but they should be here soon. Please wait a little longer."
Even Zhang Ye felt very embarrassed. Naturally, he was also getting angry at those Japanese people. If Zhang Ye did not like those people from the Japanese delegation two hours ago, then right now, they had really angered Zhang Ye! On this matter, the Japanese delegation's disrespect towards Peking University and China was written in their bones. At such an important event, with so many people waiting, all they got in return was a leisurely meal? Professor Yan and the others, as well as the school leaders, had been saying how important this exchange event was, but from the looks of it, only Peking University thought so. The Japanese delegation did not feel that it was important at all and did not attach any importance to it at all!
Another ten minutes had passed!
When he looked at his watch, it was already 1: 40 PM!
The welcome party that was originally scheduled had been delayed by a full two hours and thirty minutes! Not to mention sitting here idly for more than two hours, even if you enjoyed watching a two-hour movie at the cinema, you would still feel tired after getting up from your seat and stretching after the movie ended. Not to mention sitting around in a daze with nothing to do, it was easy to imagine everyone's state and mood!
"Hey!"
"They're here!"
"Damn!"
"They're finally here!"
Upstairs, more and more people were taking their seats.
A few of the Japanese delegation's leaders sat at the very front with some arrogance. Bai Yi and a few of the Peking University staff had been accompanying them the entire time, smiling as they waited for them to take their seats. A few of them sat beside them. As Bai Yi might be giving a speech, he turned around and went downstairs. When he came back, he gestured to the host.
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.
