Mao Zedong drew a circle. 1973 spring came late, it was the end of February, and there was still thin ice on the water.
Chen Jingrun went to the hospital wrapped in cotton-padded clothes and met Luo Shengxiong, the former business director of the Institute of Mathematics. Luo graduated from the Mathematics Department of Peking University in the late 1950s and went directly to the Institute of Mathematics of Chinese Academy of Sciences with his bedclothes on his back. Because of his outspoken love, he didn't get too many sinners and didn't get too much punishment. During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to the May 7th Cadre School in Shayang, Hubei.
Perhaps fearing that he would die soon, Chen Jingrun quietly told his secret to Luo Shengxiong: "I made'1+2', and I wanted to publish it, but I was afraid of being criticized."
Sheng Xiong said, "As long as your proof is correct, don't be afraid."
But Chen Jingrun still dare not take out the paper. Over the years, I was beaten, jumped off a building and was dictatorial because I concentrated on doing business research. He couldn't help worrying.
Not long after, a military representative from the Chinese Academy of Sciences came to inspect the work of the Institute of Mathematics. The representative of the army, surnamed Wang, is a general who has experienced the Civil War. Luo Shengxiong talked to him about Chen Jingrun, saying that Chen Jingrun pushed "a famous conjecture of Goldbach" to "1+2".
The general doesn't know who Goldbach is or the significance and importance of his conjecture.
Luo Shengxiong told him that Goldbach was a German mathematician. In 1742, he put forward the conjecture that "any even number greater than 2 is the sum of two prime numbers". If this conjecture is proved, it will greatly promote the development of number theory research. For more than 200 years, generations of mathematicians dreamed of proving it, and it was listed as one of the most important mathematical problems in the 20th century. Chen Jingrun pushed it to "1+2", which was a remarkable progress. If this achievement is published, it will have a great influence in the field of international mathematics.
The general was very excited and asked, "His paper has been written, why not take it out and publish it?"
"He didn't dare to take it out for fear of being criticized." Luo Shengxiong said.
"Where does he live? You take me to see him. " The general said quickly out of the door.
Luo Shengxiong led the general to Building 88. He patted the door of the hut. It was a long time before he heard Chen Jingrun's delicate voice: "Who is it?"
"It's me, Luo Shengxiong."
The door creaked and Chen Jingrun saw Luo Shengxiong followed by a soldier and opened his eyes in surprise.
The general smiled happily. He patted Chen Jingrun on the shoulder and said, "Young man, I heard that you have made great achievements in research. Don't be afraid, take it out boldly. "
Chen Jingrun repeatedly said "thank you, thank you".
After the general left, he closed the door and meditated. Although the old comrades were military representatives in the college and supported him to take out his papers and publish them, what should I do if someone came to settle accounts with him after the military representatives left? He shuddered at the thought of this.
Chen Jingrun still dare not take out the paper.
A few days later, Wu Henglai, who presided over the work of the party group of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, came to the Institute of Mathematics. He solemnly said to Zhao Weishan, secretary of the party Committee of the institute: "I heard that there is a young man here who has studied a lot, but he dare not publish it." This is very serious. Why dare not take it out? Such an important research result should be reported directly to Premier Zhou. "
It turned out that the military representatives reported the situation of Chen Jingrun to the college party group after returning home.
Soon, the Chinese Academy of Sciences held a general meeting of party member cadres in the whole hospital to convey and implement Premier Zhou Enlai's instruction of "strengthening theoretical research". Wu Heng said at the meeting: "All young mathematics researchers have made a very important research result, which greatly promoted the research of Goldbach conjecture."
Although Wu Heng didn't call the roll at the meeting, it wasn't long before the Academy of Sciences knew that Chen Jingrun was the young researcher who had made important research achievements.
Wu Heng's speech caused an uproar in the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Some people say, how can a typical white specialist like Chen Jingrun be publicized? Isn't this a denial of the Cultural Revolution? Others said sourly, "What's the big deal? If we don't care about politics like him, we can do it. "
Chen Jingrun took out his paper. However, whether the paper can be published has caused another controversy. Someone said excitedly, "Chen Jingrun's paper studies the things of the ancients and foreigners, which has no practical significance and cannot be published. If it is to be published, it must be discussed and approved by all. " They went online and said, "Chen Jingrun's paper must not be published. Which route to take and what flag to plant is a question of right and wrong. "
Some people also stepped forward: "Goldbach conjecture is a world problem, and Chen Jingrun's research results are of great significance, and the paper should be published as soon as possible." They said angrily, "aren't you calling for the liberation of all mankind every day?" Even Chen Jingrun can't be liberated. Who do you want to liberate? "
1In April, 973, China Science magazine sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences, under pressure, published Chen Jingrun's paper "A big even number is the sum of the products of a prime number and no more than two prime numbers".
Wu Heng came over and said with a smile, "Don't be afraid, we are here to take you for a physical examination."
"Take me to the physical examination?" Chen Jingrun opened his mouth wide in surprise. He suspected that he had heard wrong. Over the years, he has been discriminated against, excluded and attacked, and few people really care about him. He looked at these midnight visitors warily, full of anxiety and doubt.
Chen Jingrun was carried into the car by everyone. The car sped along the quiet deserted street and soon turned into the Tsinghua University campus.
Chen Jingrun was taken into a brightly lit room. There are several strangers sitting in the room. Chen Jingrun was at a loss. Someone reported to a man sitting on the sofa: "Director Chi Qun, Comrade Chen Jingrun is here."
The people on the sofa stood up, held Chen Jingrun's hand and looked him up and down: "Comrade Chen Jingrun, we were sent by Chairman Mao to visit you. I heard that you are very ill? "
"Thank you, thank you, I'm fine, I'm fine." Although Chen Jingrun seldom participated in political activities, he knew that this late group was dominant in the education and scientific circles at that time because he listened to the external broadcast of China Central Radio every night.
Chi Qun solemnly conveyed the instructions of Chairman Mao and Jiang Qing to Chen Jingrun. Chen Jingrun was shocked. He never dreamed that Chairman Mao would personally care about and ask about this little guy's health. His lips trembled with excitement and he said over and over again, "Thank you, the great leader Chairman Mao."
That night, Chi Qun invited medical experts to consult Chen Jingrun overnight. The consultation results showed that Chen Jingrun was seriously infected with pulmonary tuberculosis and peritoneal tuberculosis and had to be hospitalized immediately.
After the negotiation, it was almost dawn, and Wu Heng personally sent Chen Jingrun back to Building 88. At this time, the residents of Building 88 are spreading a message to each other: "Chen Jingrun was taken away last night for eavesdropping on the enemy station!"
It turned out that when the mysterious car was parked in front of the building last night, it was discovered by the waiter in the reception room of Building 88. She thought, Chen Jingrun this unlucky, was taken away in the middle of the night, there will be something good.
See Chen Jingrun came back by car, followed by leaders in the yard. People were whispering and dumbfounded.
Chen Jingrun is in no mood to listen to gossip, and his mood is very heavy. The original excitement has passed, and now his mind is full of sorrow.
He didn't go back to his cabin and went directly to Secretary Li's house. Li Shangjie was about to go to work when Chen Jingrun came in morosely and asked him what had happened. Chen Jingrun told him everything that happened last night and said, "They want me to go to the hospital. I don't want to go. Who knows if I will come back to exercise in the future? "
Li Shangjie advised him, "You are very ill. You should go to the hospital. You often have a fever like this. It won't work if it is delayed for a long time. Anyway, you should cure the disease first. "
Chairman Mao's instructions exploded in the Academy of Sciences, causing strong repercussions. People are running around telling each other, and some intellectuals who are still under the pressure of various hats are secretly excited and happy. Even the "white expert mode" like Chen Jingrun has been liberated, and it is naive to want to show it.
However, some people are extremely dissatisfied: "Chen Jingrun is a typical white expert, and such people should not be advocated. The central leadership instructed to deal with such a typical white specialist because some people did not truthfully report the situation to the central government. " They organized some party member to write letters to the Central Committee, accusing those who reflected the problem of beautifying Chen Jingrun, lying about military intelligence, deceiving the Central Committee and Chairman Mao, and saying that Chen Jingrun's achievements were worthless and meaningless.
This afternoon, Li Shangjie was informed to send Chen Jingrun to 309 Hospital immediately. Li Shangjie hurried to Building 88 and informed Chen Jingrun to pack his bags quickly. A car took him to the hospital at 6 o'clock.
At 6 o'clock in the evening, the car drove downstairs on time, but there was no Chen Jingrun in the hut. I looked in the corridor, but I didn't see him. I looked downstairs, but I didn't see him either. At this time, I got a call from the General Office of the Central Committee and asked if Chen Jingrun had gone to the hospital. Li Shangjie was in a hurry, and everyone who started learning math went out to look for it.
People are calling Chen Jingrun's name in the street. For the first time in my life, Chen Jingrun has attracted so many people's attention.
I've looked everywhere, but I haven't seen Chen Jingrun. Ge, an old man in the hospital, rode his bike to the railway overpass in Dazhongsi. At dusk, he saw Chen Jingrun walking up and down under the bridge in that faded blue cotton coat and a cotton hat with a drooping brim, with his hands in his coat pockets.
"Xiao Chen, everyone is looking for you everywhere. How did you get here? Hurry back. " Ge shouted loudly.
Hearing Ge's voice, Chen Jingrun began to move in the opposite direction to mathematics. Ge was in a hurry and rode over to hold his hand.
"I'm not going back" Chen Jingrun struggled.
But Lao Ge is very strong. He struggled hard and failed to get rid of it. Ge called the office from a roadside telephone booth. Looking back, I found Chen Jingrun sobbing on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
He murmured: "In the difficult period of' 63, I donated the saved food stamps to everyone. When the movement came, I was accused of corrupting and wooing the working class. 1966 and 1967, I didn't join any factions, and I didn't even dare to say anything. As a result, I was caught in the dictatorship team. Hospitalization costs a lot of money. What will happen if future sports come? "
Ge realized that Chen Jingrun didn't want to go to the hospital for fear of being punished by sports.
When the bus came, Lao Ge advised Chen Jingrun to get on the bus.
It was getting dark, and the car left the city and drove along a shady road to the 309 hospital of the People's Liberation Army in Montenegro. Chen Jingrun never dreamed that in a few years, his fate would be closely linked with the fate of a woman in this hospital.
Along the way, Chen Jingrun curled up in a cotton-padded jacket with a sad face. The sudden change of fate brought him extreme fear and anxiety instead of excitement and joy. He doesn't know when fate will push him to the top and throw him to the bottom. For many years, although he tried to hide in his own mathematical world, he witnessed every ebb and flow of political movements and the ups and downs of the fate of people he knew and didn't know. Mr. Xiong Qinglai was once known as a great master, but later he jumped to his death, a tragic death. Mr. Hua was very successful in the past, but later he was brutally persecuted. Let's talk about himself first: in the early 1960s, he made his mark in the field of number theory research, and was regarded as a typical example of "safety, drilling and mystery" by the college. Who knows, during the Cultural Revolution, "security, drilling and fascination" became his unforgivable crimes. He can easily control the dazzling digital world, but he can't understand this surly and often black and white society. Afraid of the ups and downs of fate, all he wants is a quiet tour in the mathematical world.