"Of course, it's not just interested," Musk cleared his throat, looked at Lu Zhou, and said sincerely, "I have to thank you, your research results have helped me a lot." ”

“…… Glad to help you. For Musk's enthusiasm, Lu Zhou had an embarrassed but polite smile on his face.

To be honest, he was still a little confused about this sudden visit.

Even though his research results may indeed have helped Tesla a lot, but new energy vehicles do not produce batteries, it stands to reason that Musk has no reason to come to visit him.

Maybe it's because he's been busy with patents lately, and every once in a while, someone calls to ask if he wants to sell patents, and when he encounters this kind of person with the label of a businessman, his first reaction is to think about the other party's intentions.

This is not a wariness, it is a purely knee-jerk reaction.

"It seems that the two of you have a lot of interesting topics to talk about, but I am not very interested in anything other than mathematics and rugby," the gray-bearded old Mr. Francis smiled gently, "then, you two talk slowly, and I will be out of company." ”

"Thank you, I also want to talk to Professor Lu alone." Musk said with a smile.

After Mr. Francis left, Musk casually sat down across from Lu Zhou and continued in a sassy tone.

“…… When I was studying economics at the University of Pennsylvania, I wondered what the future of humanity was and what the real problems the world was facing. In the end, I came to the conclusion that new energy, the Internet, and space exploration. ”

Looking at Lu Zhou seriously, Musk continued: "I'm an engineer, and you're an academic. From your point of view, what is the key to solving these three problems? ”

Communicating with this guy, Lu Zhou always had the feeling that he was listening to Shinichi Mochizuki's report. Both of them are probably the kind of dreamers who are immersed in their own universes, and while there is nothing wrong with that, it can be a bit unfriendly to those who try to get to know them.

"It's hard to say on the Internet," Lu Zhou thought for a while and replied casually, "But the other two, I personally feel that they are probably in the material." ”

Although the bottleneck of new energy technology and space exploration technology involves many disciplines, and it is not possible to simply summarize all the problems to materials science, it is interesting that if the problem of materials is solved, many originally complex problems seem to become simpler.

Whether it is photovoltaic power generation or nuclear fusion power generation, whether it is a lithium-sulfur battery or a lithium-air battery, the most difficult part is the material part.

Musk snapped his fingers and smiled: "It looks like we thought of going together, and my team of engineers and I agreed so." I plan to invest $10 billion to build a materials R&D base in Silicon Valley. If you are interested, I would like to hire you as the chief designer of this research institute. ”

Ten billion dollars?!

Hearing this number, Lu Zhou was so startled that he didn't listen carefully to the second half of the sentence.

In his impression, Tesla's sales in a year are not this number.

"Your idea is indeed very interesting, and I believe that if there is such a generous rich man, the entire materials science community will be overjoyed...... But IMHO, can Tesla get that much money? Lu Zhou remembers hearing that Tesla's financial situation is not good.

Musk rightly said, "No, but you have it when you come." ”

Lu Zhou: "......"

He didn't want to say anything other than an MMP.

……

I have to admit that Musk's proposal is indeed very attractive for a researcher.

Replaced by Professor Sarot, I am afraid that without hesitation for a second, he took his lithium-air battery project and rushed to the past.

But for Lu Zhou......

To be honest, not very attractive.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't help you."

As if he didn't expect Lu Zhou to reject this attractive offer, Musk frowned slightly and tried to persuade: "Are you really not thinking about it anymore?" I can assure you that as long as you nod your head, you will never worry about research funding. ”

"I'm a professor of mathematics, and materials science is not my specialty, so you might as well ask for another master," after a pause, Lu Zhou continued, "And even if you promise me endless research funds, my research will not cost so much money for the time being." ”

Although he still wanted to persuade him again, seeing the expression on Lu Zhou's face that he didn't seem to have any intention of changing his mind, Musk could only sigh helplessly in the end.

"Well, I must say, you missed an opportunity to change the world...... Of course, if you change your mind, you can always come to me. ”

Lu Zhou said noncommittally: "If." ”

Leaving his business card, Musk then chatted with Lu Zhou, but he seemed a little lacking in interest and did not have the enthusiasm at the beginning.

After watching Lu Zhou's statement of "using mathematics to change science" in the interview of the Craford Prize, I saw that what he said on lithium anode materials turned into reality...... Musk originally thought that Lu Zhou and himself were all the way, but now it seems that this is not the case.

After continuing to talk awkwardly for a while, he got up and left the party.

With Mr. Musk gone, the surroundings fell silent.

Lu Zhou poured a new glass of champagne into his cup and enjoyed the little time left in the banquet.

At this time, his little apprentice Vera, with Miss Hannah with a happy face, returned to the banquet hall.

Judging by the excited look on Hannah's face, she probably made it.

He had already guessed the result, but Lu Zhou still looked at Vera and asked with a pleasant face, "What is the result?" ”

Vera nodded and whispered, "According to your request, I gave him a complex variable function problem according to the teaching standards at the undergraduate level. It took about half an hour for her to figure out the answer. ”

Lu Zhou nodded and looked at Miss Hannah who was standing behind her.

"Very well, then congratulations, Miss Hannah, you passed my test. Give me an email address, and by the way, let me know the tutor you want to report. ”

For him, it was just a gesture, and of course he would not go back on a promise of this magnitude.

"Okay! Thank you, thank you so much! Hannah nodded excitedly, and the other took out the prepared sticky notes and pens.

Generally speaking, letters of recommendation are sent directly to the tutor to whom the student is applying, without going through the student, let alone letting the student see what is written on the recommendation letter.

And that's why, in a sense, the power of being a professor overseas is really great.

Letters of recommendation written by the same referee, the sentences "I don't recommend it very much" and "I highly recommend" are only grammatically a few word differences, but they determine a person's future.

Generally speaking, though, most professors are happy to recommend promising students to others. Watching the students you recommend become excellent scholars is one of the joys of being a professor.

Looking at the back of Hannah leaving, Vera gently pinched the hem of her skirt and cheered herself up in her heart.

Taking a deep breath, she finally mustered up the courage and spoke, "...... Professor. ”

Seeing that she seemed to have something to say, Lu Zhou, who had just done a good thing, was in a good mood, and asked with a pleasant face, "What's the matter?" ”

Opening her mouth, Vera was about to say something.

However, at this moment, the music on the dance floor suddenly changed tune and played the end of the song.

As the music sounded, the people on the dance floor reluctantly walked out.

Obviously, the prom is over.

As if regretting that he had missed something, his bright eyes looked to the side with a slight loss.

Lowering her head, Vera whispered.

"Nothing ......"

It's just that I want to invite you to dance......