I Inherited 5,000 Years of Family Property

"Professor Ding, I have assigned this project to your group. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me at any time."

"Professor Liu, this project is exactly in your field of research. I have collected all the necessary knowledge points in this file. The initial understanding might be difficult, but let's keep in touch!"

...

That day, all professors of engineering and science from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology gathered at the school's research center. Over a hundred professors and associate professors listened quietly to Zhang Menglong as he assigned tasks, much like students.

Although Jiangnan University of Science and Technology did not yet officially have an academician, there were several scholars who held titles such as Yangtze Scholar, Young Plan, Thousand Talents Plan, Hundred Talents Plan.

"Feel free to ask me if you have any questions," a phrase they usually said to their students, but when had it been the case for someone else to guide them?

However, they obediently listened like chicks. Some of the professors had strived for years without ever seeing a national project, yet Zhang Menglong managed one hundred fifty-eight projects in a year— who would dare to disobey him?

Throw money at it? Was this something you could solve by throwing money? The state didn't lack funds either, and if it were simply a matter of money, it would have blown up on social media the next day.

Initially, some expressed disdain, but once Zhang Menglong easily analyzed a topic, far surpassing their understanding, everyone fell silent.

Ignorance isn't a sin, but arrogance is!

Moreover, everyone now shared a common goal – to emerge as a dark horse in the national scientific research university evaluation occurring a month later and to triumph astonishingly – a truly heartwarming achievement, wasn't it?

"Zhang Menglong, I have a question," a professor said with a troubled expression.

"Please go ahead, Professor Gu."

"Currently, the internet and the scientific community have a rather poor opinion of our school, which greatly impacts us. Is it really appropriate for us to have so many projects?"

"There's nothing inappropriate about it," Zhang Menglong chuckled. "They're just jealous. Once they are all convinced, they will keep quiet."

"It's not as simple as you make it sound," Professor Gu said. "Although we now have advanced equipment and are confident in handling these topics, producing results isn't something that happens overnight. We old folks might be criticized harshly for a year, and not everyone can endure that."

"Don't worry, Professor Gu," Zhang Menglong said. "This skepticism won't last long, at most ten days to half a month."

"That quickly?"

"I think we might have some leads by today!"

All the professors looked puzzled. Had Zhang Menglong spent money on some PR?

"Hello, may I know if this is the Scientific Research Center of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology?" Just then, a foreigner with a bag entered. The man bore a Western appearance, not particularly handsome, but quite manly.

"What's going on? Weren't we supposed to have an important meeting here without letting anyone in?" Han Jinyu chided the professor responsible for logistics and storage at the research center.

"I'm sorry, Professor Han, he insisted on coming in, and I couldn't stop him," said the female professor, and given the significant difference in their builds, she truly couldn't have stopped the foreigner had he insisted on entering.

"Never mind, you may leave," Professor Han said angrily.

"Excuse me, sir, what can I do for you? This is a private area of our school, and if you wish to visit, please go elsewhere," Han Jinyu said, holding back his anger.

"I'm sorry, but I am actually looking for this Scientific Research Center," the foreigner said. "Let me introduce myself, I am Mohart, an editor from the journal 'Nature.' I am here to meet... umm... Mr. Zhang Menglong and Mr. Han Jinyu. Are these gentlemen here?"

The foreigner spoke in heavily accented Huaxia language, which showed some understanding and sincere respect for Huaxia culture.

Even Han Jinyu, who had been quite angry, softened a bit upon the clumsy presence of the foreigner. However, hearing the title 'editor from 'Nature,' all the professors, including Han Jinyu, showed looks of astonishment.

'Nature,' along with 'Science' and 'Cell,' are considered the three most prestigious scientific journals globally. Getting published there meant significant contributions to human advancement, and everyone around the world aspired to have an article featured in these journals.

However, the acceptance rate at 'Nature' was extremely low, and Jiangnan University of Science and Technology had managed only one paper in one of its subsidiary journals in the past three years.

Despite these achievements, after graduation, the student was immediately appointed as a professor at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology.

The most astonishing part was that even this university couldn't retain him, as he was then specially appointed as a professor by another prestigious institution.

According to the standards of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, anyone who could publish an article of this caliber would receive a cash reward of 1.5 million just from the university itself.

This shows just how prestigious this journal really was.

And today, the editor from Nature actually paid a personal visit.

What did this mean, had he come to solicit a manuscript? It certainly wasn't likely that he was here for tourism. But did their school have any professors impressive enough to warrant such a visit from an editor? Zhang Menglong and Han Jinyu?

Even if they had submitted an article and it was accepted, at most they would have received an email or a phone call.

Unless, this article was not just publishable by Nature, it must have held even greater significance.

"I am Han Jinyu."

"I am Zhang Menglong."

Upon seeing this Mohawk, Zhang Menglong already knew the visitor's background.

"May I ask, who is in charge of the paper on dark matter?"

"Dark matter?"

"Isn't Han Jinyu supposed to be researching polymer materials? When did he start studying such fundamental physics?"

"They dare to research this? The whole world has been burning money on it for a hundred years and hasn't figured anything out, yet they managed to publish a paper?"

The professors present immediately began to whisper among themselves.

...

Han Jinyu glanced at Zhang Menglong and then tactfully stepped behind him. Although he was the mentor, the project, from its initiation, testing, to the final analysis and writing of the paper, was all managed by Zhang Menglong. Han Jinyu had only played a supporting role and did not dare nor wish to take the credit.

"Mr. Zhang, we sincerely invite you to publish this paper in our magazine, and if you have any requests, you can freely make them!"

This statement once again shocked everyone. The editor from Nature personally came to solicit a paper and even declared that any demand could be freely made. Just what level was their paper?

"Why should I publish my paper in your magazine?" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "Are you that impressive?"

Is Nature just impressive?

All the professors genuinely wanted to slap Zhang Menglong on the spot. This was Nature! Nature! Their laboriously written papers didn't even qualify for a chance at revision, and Zhang Menglong dared to question if they were impressive.

A regular professor with a Nature paper could use this accomplishment to try for an academician or even a slightly lesser title.

"Mr. Zhang, our Nature is the most authoritative science magazine in the world!"

"Just one of them, right?" Zhang Menglong remarked, "Science isn't necessarily worse than you."

"Mr. Zhang, if you are willing to publish your paper in our journal, we are willing to support your application for this year's Nobel Prize in Physics and cover all the review expenses!"

"The Nobel Prize?" If the professors were just surprised earlier, now they were absolutely dumbfounded.

The Nobel Prize? Such a thought was beyond their wildest dreams. What posture in sleep would even conjure such a dream?

Yet, Zhang Menglong merely showed a disdainful smile, "Psh, just a Nobel Prize? Do you think I care about that?"