Top Student at Their Peak
Chapter 328 - 125: It’s All About the Mindset_4

Chapter 328: Chapter 125: It’s All About the Mindset_4

This made Tian Yanzhen a bit troubled too.

Not bothering to think about how Qiao Yu had such great skills, to be able to go to the chemistry lab, offer specific suggestions that worked, he asked, "Does this project have a confidentiality agreement?"

"Yes, it’s originally intended to help the client optimize their production line. The technical details definitely can’t be disclosed. Moreover, the project currently has the potential for a patent application. Even if we publish a paper, the technical details will be vaguely handled."

After thinking for a moment, Tian Yanzhen said, "Got it. Okay, let me first ask Qiao Yu what he has in mind."

"Sure, and please thank him for me. Truly a young hero! Professor Tian, I’m even tempted to have him attend our chemistry classes for a second degree. It never hurts to have more skills."

Professor Zhang was full of ideas, but Tian Yanzhen immediately tactfully declined on behalf of Qiao Yu: "Haha, sure, I’ll mention it to the kid later. But don’t get your hopes up. He might have some interest in physics, but chemistry, not so much."

Are you kidding?

Asking Qiao Yu to frequent the chemistry lab? Even if Qiao Yu was willing, as his mentor, he wouldn’t agree.

It’s not that he looks down on chemistry.

But why is exactly the new chemistry building at Yanbei University built outside the East Gate, near Huaqing’s side? The professors at the Chemistry Institute should be well aware, right?

It’s no exaggeration to say that every newcomer entering the lab is a daredevil. There’s no way around it, not everyone’s safety awareness can be built just by teachers’ constant reminders.

Often, it’s only after experiencing danger that one realizes the preciousness of life.

Newcomers in a brand-new chemistry lab are just curious everywhere, dying to touch and explore everything.

Old hands in chemical engineering who enter a new lab will first identify escape routes and locations of various fire extinguishers, with the meticulous even checking if the extinguishers have expired...

Coincidentally, the school happens to be a place for nurturing chemical engineering newbies.

"Ah... next time, if there’s an opportunity, I might have to ask Qiao Yu for help again. Please convey to him that he can ask for anything he needs, and I’ll try my best to fulfill it."

"Alright."

After hanging up, Tian Yanzhen closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.

Then he once again picked up his phone and dialed Qiao Yu.

Soon he heard Qiao Yu’s energetic voice: "Hello, Director Tian, what can I do for you, I’m all ears."

Tian Yanzhen said, "Hmm, seems like you’re in a pretty good mood lately."

"Ha, finding joy in hardship. I have no clue about Professor Li’s project at all. But I’m almost done with another paper, it’s about the analysis of spine-like singularities, especially the analysis of singularities, which I think I wrote quite well. I just plan to finish it and then see where you recommend submitting it."

Goodness, another paper is out.

From its impact, this paper indeed should be able to be published in a quite reputable journal.

So Tian Yanzhen directly suggested: "You might consider Inventiones Mathematicae for this paper. It’s one of the top journals in the mathematical community, published by Springer. However, that’s not what I’m calling about, have you handled Professor Zhang’s project already?"

"Exactly, oh, it was way too simple, I just took a casual look at the data and knew where the issue was, I’m even embarrassed to report it to you. I suspect those guys in Professor Zhang’s lab must not have studied calculus properly during their undergrad. They couldn’t even see such obvious problems.

You could suggest them to come to our Math Research Center for some further study. Have them refresh courses like differential equations, linear algebra, and statistical principles, then they wouldn’t need to come to us for help."

Tian Yanzhen immediately reprimanded: "You can say that to me, but don’t give such suggestions in other occasions!"

"Don’t worry, I’m very well-behaved in the lab, I always praise their technical proficiency."

Tian Yanzhen felt a slight headache, it’s the first time he realized having too brilliant a student isn’t entirely good: "I’m glad you understand. Professor Zhang just called, asking what kind of reward you’d like."

"Reward? I just went to help a bit, and there’s a reward?"

Tian Yanzhen explained: "If you only helped to adjust a model, I wouldn’t discuss any reward. But since you directly offered suggestions, some rewards are worth discussing. Like being a second author on a paper, but this is a horizontal project, and there’s a confidentiality agreement on the technology.

So even if a paper is published, it would only cover the general principle. It couldn’t be published in those top foreign journals. If it’s a domestic journal, it wouldn’t mean much to you. But for horizontal projects, if there’s an outcome, usually the cash reward distribution can be quite flexible."

"Are you talking about cash rewards? That sounds good, I’ve been pondering how to save money these days."

"Are you having difficulties with living expenses?"

"Not really issues with daily expenses, but Director Tian, I have great ambitions. I’m planning to start my own company after graduation. I hope to save up the money for future entrepreneurship during my studies."

Tian Yanzhen felt his blood pressure rising, he said: "You should focus on making major breakthroughs in mathematical theory! What about entrepreneurship? Starting a company? If you make achievements, you’ll never worry about not having money in the future!"

"No, Director Tian, entrepreneurship doesn’t conflict with working on mathematical theory, right? I can research theories on one side, and if I find their application value, I can also turn them into mathematical applications. Earning money means I don’t need to apply for special research funding, I can do whatever research I want and leave more opportunities for others. Don’t you think so?"