CHAPTER 649: CHAPTER 200 HIGH-LEVEL RECEPTION_2

Can’t blame Qiao Yu for being rude, keeping his phone on after the plane landed.

According to Old Zheng, this flight was operating under private flight rules, Part 91 operations, which didn’t require phones to be turned off during takeoff and landing.

Most were messages from Philadelphia asking if he was safe. The one that puzzled him the most was a text from the mobile carrier.

"Huaxia Promotional BU and Huaxia Technology BU jointly confer the title of Outstanding Youth Scientist to Qiao Yu, hoping that all young people will learn from Qiao Yu and strive to become outstanding youth scientists."

What’s a pleasant surprise? This is it! He received a commendation text even before leaving the plane.

The text noted it was a public service message from the carrier. This likely meant that all three major carriers sent it out, which means potentially everyone in Huaxia received this message.

Whether people notice it is another matter, but it does give him a bit of pride.

As the plane finally landed and taxied within the airport, Zheng Xiweng came directly to him.

"Like I mentioned before, once we get off the plane, there will be a high-profile welcome ceremony. Many leaders from Beijing and the ministries are here, and there’s TV coverage. So please, watch what you say."

"Like on TV? A lot of people as soon as I get off the plane?" Qiao Yu asked curiously, then opened the curtain to take a look outside.

But the plane was still taxiing slowly, so he couldn’t see anything.

"Pretty much, depends on what TV you’re watching. This is, after all, a civil airport, so maybe not that exaggerated," Zheng Xiweng replied uncertainly.

He only learned about this three hours ago, but Qiao Yu had been cooped up in his bedroom, and he was too lazy to disturb Qiao Yu over this trivial matter.

If Qiao Yu were resting, it would be fine. But having spent a lot of time with Qiao Yu, he had heard that mathematicians’ inspiration is quite mysterious and includes the concept of enlightenment.

The insight to solve the Riemann Conjecture was reportedly an enlightenment. So Zheng Xiweng thought it unnecessary to disturb Qiao Yu over such a trivial matter.

If Qiao Yu were in the middle of an enlightenment in his bedroom and got his inspiration disrupted, it wouldn’t be good.

"So should I change into formal attire?" Qiao Yu asked.

"I think that’s up to you. Anyway, you’re being promoted as a student in Huaxia. Wearing what you’re wearing now might make you look more energetic."

...

As the plane finally parked and the cabin door opened, Qiao Yu stepped out of the plane and indeed found it to be quite the big scene today.

The first thing he noticed was a huge banner far more spectacular than at Star City No.1 Middle School: "Welcome the youngest Fields Medalist—Qiao Yu from Yanbei University’s School of Mathematics Talent Class, back to the country and school!"

Without a doubt, the banner was probably funded by Yanbei University.

What further left Qiao Yu a little flustered was, surprisingly, two rows of what appeared to be senior elementary school students holding flowers to welcome him...

The scale of the event was indeed somewhat high.

After all, it was still summer vacation, organizing so many students must have taken considerable effort, thought Qiao Yu.

Behind the student array stood several rows of middle-aged and elderly people, presumably the leaders there to greet the flight.

With sharp eyes, Qiao Yu spotted his old principal from Railway First Middle School, Zhang Tiejun, and the good guy.

Although the two were standing in the back row, only showing their heads, they distinctly stood out among a bunch of unfamiliar faces.

Honestly, this detail really moved Qiao Yu, but it also reminded him of something that made him feel guilty.

Oh no, when the good guy took him to Xiao Zhou to participate in the Little Alibaba Math Competition, he promised the good guy that if he ever won the Fields Medal, he would definitely take him to the award ceremony.

But more than a year had passed, and he actually forgot!

This made Qiao Yu feel very guilty; the good guy was such a good person, yet he forgot about him at the critical moment.

Although he didn’t forget to mention the good guy in his Fields Medal acceptance speech, he didn’t invite him to the ceremony to see him win the award?

"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and get going!"

Following closely behind Qiao Yu, Zheng Xiweng immediately sensed Qiao Yu’s shift in mood and quickly reminded him.

Alright, there’s no way around it now. Fortunately, he’s still young; if he can’t manage this time, he might just win the Fields Medal again next time, and he’ll be sure to remember to invite the good guy...

Based on his understanding of the Fields Medal, it’s never been prohibited for someone to win it twice. The reason no one has done it before is primarily due to the age limit of forty.

The usual winners are already in their thirties, and the Fields Medal is awarded only once every four years, so indeed, winning twice is very hard to achieve.

But he’s only 17, with a long 23 years until he turns forty, meaning he has about five chances.

Qiao Yu couldn’t believe he couldn’t win the medal again! There are five Millennium Prize Problems still unsolved!

No precedent exists, and if all else fails, he could have a word with the president of the International Mathematical Union. He can’t believe those old folks would truly ignore his achievements if they were significant enough.

If they refuse, he might just question the credibility of the Fields Medal entirely, and if pushed, start a new mathematical award to compete with it!

There’s always a way when you dare to think it through!

With this in mind, Qiao Yu was filled with confidence. Although he promised the good guy he would take him to the International Mathematicians Conference to see him accept the award, he didn’t specify which time? It all seemed reasonable!

So Qiao Yu smiled, waved to the people below, and then boldly stepped down...

"This is..."

"Hello."

"Qiao Yu, welcome back to the country. On behalf of the Department of Science, I extend to you the warmest congratulations..."