Chapter 312 - 122 These people... have they all gone mad?_6

Words : 1407 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 312: Chapter 122 These people... have they all gone mad?_6 No choice, joining a research group that’s been established for over half a year means first having to understand all the previous work done by the collaborators.But Qiao Yu is quite familiar with this kind of work.It’s mostly just a mental review, not requiring much time, since these mathematics research projects have cycles calculated in years anyway.So Qiao Yu also decided that upon returning to Yanbei, he should join a project group, balancing both sides and not favoring one over the other.Thus, after getting off the car at the gate of Yanbei University and bidding farewell to the other professors, Qiao Yu took the initiative to keep Director Tian back."Director Tian, why not give me a bit more responsibility too? After all, I’m just idling around every day. You could also introduce me to a project group; when I’m tired of looking at the information here, I can work on something there to take a mental break."This statement caused Tian Yan to roll his eyes at this guy uncontrollably, asking, "Idling around, huh?"Qiao Yu retorted confidently, "Think about those serious high school students who have to get up at five-thirty in the morning and can only go to bed at eleven at night, memorizing words while eating. I’m already quite idle. What’s that saying again?Right, ’Endure the hardest trials to become the highest.’ As long as you don’t study to death, study as hard as you can... A genius not only needs to be smarter than ordinary people but also needs to be more diligent! Otherwise, wouldn’t it be embarrassing if someone caught up?"Tian Yanzhen felt a bit sentimental; indeed, youth is still good, with endless energy.But since this kid made the request, Tian Yanzhen decided to meet it."Alright, since you consider yourself idle... how about this, I won’t let you do theoretical research. Professor Zhang Zuolin from the School of Chemistry just contacted the research center with a horizontal project that’s hit a snag. She’s looking for help from us, so if you’re free, you can help them out."Qiao Yu was taken aback and asked suspiciously, "Horizontal project from the School of Chemistry? What does that mean?"Tian Yanzhen shook his head and said, "Why is your focus always so weird? A horizontal project typically involves commissioned research or cooperation with enterprises, more for practical application.Vertical projects refer to those approved by superior units for initiation, such as if you apply for a project from the Natural Science Foundation in the future, that would be vertical. The School of Mathematics and the research center here usually deal with more vertical projects.For example, the project Elder Yuan invited you to join today is a project initiated by the Huaxia Natural Science Foundation, which is a vertical project."Qiao Yu thought for a bit and said, "Aren’t horizontal projects able to make money? Like today, they were talking about the project Peter Schultz did with Microsoft, surely that’s a lot, right?"Tian Yanzhen glared at Qiao Yu again: "When enterprises cooperate with university labs, funding issues are definitely resolved but definitely not as much as you think. And if you’re just helping out, why do you care about whether others make money or not?""Oh." Qiao Yu nodded, but he felt that Director Tian’s sudden irritation was surely because he touched on a blind spot in his knowledge...But Qiao Yu continued to ask, "So do you know what this project is about? Why do they need our mathematics department’s help?" Tian Yanzhen replied, "It’s common for the chemistry lab to ask us for help with mathematical modeling. As for their project, it seems a state-owned company commissioned them to develop a cobalt-based catalyst to improve methanol conversion efficiency. I’m unclear on the details; you’ll find out when you get there.Tomorrow I’ll give Professor Zhang your WeChat. She’ll have a doctoral student responsible for moving the project forward contact you. Just do the work as requested and don’t meddle in affairs that aren’t your concern. Consider it a practical mathematics course."Then, noticing Qiao Yu looking thoughtful again, he reminded, "Professor Lu Huazhou from the research center is quite proficient in this area and has collaborated with the chemistry lab several times. I’ll send you his WeChat too. Feel free to consult Professor Lu whenever you face any issues; just be humble."/p>Qiao Yu nodded confidently, saying, "Oh, okay! Director Tian, don’t worry, I guarantee to accomplish the task!"Tian Yanzhen advised, "Hmm, it’s best if you can help, but it’s okay if you can’t. They won’t blame you. The main reason for getting you involved in these projects is for you to learn about the specific applications of mathematics in other disciplines.In the future, you’ll definitely be doing theoretical mathematics research, but currently, Huaxia lacks applied mathematicians. The research center also needs to cultivate some applied mathematicians who can adapt to the development phase in Huaxia. So my request for you is just to gain understanding.Focus your main energy on the project at Huaqing, as making achievements in Professor Li’s project could greatly aid your future development. After all, it’s a Natural Science Foundation project."Qiao Yu roughly understood.Indeed, Director Tian still cared for him...But it didn’t matter. Actually, from Qiao Yu’s perspective, doing more horizontal projects is pretty good.After all, it’s definitely easier to earn money from companies.Thinking of this, Qiao Yu couldn’t help but ask, "By the way, Director Tian, if a horizontal project achieves results, does the patent belong to the lab or the enterprise?"This time, Tian Yanzhen didn’t even answer, glancing at Qiao Yu before turning his head towards the lights in the research center, saying leisurely, "You’ll know once you become the research leader of a specific project. Alright, go back to the center, I’m heading back too."...Qiao Yu returned to his room in low spirits.Sigh, Director Tian treating him like a kid and bluffing him is really quite frustrating.Becoming a research leader— isn’t that inevitable? What harm is there in discussing it in advance?Casually placing the materials on the edge of the table, Qiao Yu sat in front of his large desk in the dorm room and began to review today’s encounters.Clearly, compared to Director Tian, his grandmaster is more eager and aggressive in hoping to raise him up as quickly as possible; otherwise, he wouldn’t have forcefully put him into the research team.Although to be fair, the team really needs him, Qiao Yu thought that the reality probably involves significant recommendations from his grandmaster.Director Tian’s recommendation just felt perfunctory.Not even requiring him to produce results, just asking him to understand — this clearly paves the way for him in the future.But it’s understandable since Director Tian is only in his sixties, while Elder Yuan is almost eighty. So Elder Yuan’s more aggressive mindset is understandable.Ultimately, time waits for no man...Still, Qiao Yu figured that since he took on these tasks, he has to do well on both sides.Not to mention from the perspective of realizing personal sideline ideals, it’s undoubtedly that doing applied work is more financially rewarding than theoretical work. In short, every step should be steady.With plans made for the future in his heart, Qiao Yu took out his phone and glanced at it, suddenly discovering that his phone was "exploding"...Well, using the word "exploding" was a bit exaggerated, considering he uses a domestic phone, which is still quite secure, but using "blown up" might not be too much.Because today he was the keynote speaker, and to ensure that his presentation wouldn’t be interrupted, Qiao Yu had specially set his phone to Do Not Disturb mode.After the lecture, he was chatted up by a group of professors the whole time, then went to eat, and on the way back, he was talking with Director Tian, so he never took his phone out to look. As a result, now he has seven missed calls, and his notification bar is filled with various @ messages from WeChat.Seriously, just opening WeChat takes half a day...Qiao Yu subconsciously glanced out the window...Everything seemed normal, it didn’t look like doomsday, right? Had everyone on WeChat gone crazy?!

Chapter 312 - 122 These people... have they all gone mad?_6

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