Five people stared in dumbfounded silence.
They could understand Qiao Ze's requirements being strict, but was this merely strict?
The prerequisite for PhD graduation is three papers in the top four mathematics journals?
Doesn't that mean you could get in line to apply for Jieqing right after graduation?
The question is, is it that easy to get into the top four journals?
"Any questions?" Qiao Ze noticed their confusion and asked.
"Well, Qiao, isn't the requirement of three top-tier journal papers a bit too high?" Xu Yue asked tentatively.
"Is it difficult?" Qiao Ze asked.
The five nodded their heads like chicks pecking at grains.
"Spend a whole year laying a solid foundation in 2024, publish only three papers in 2025, take one year to work on your dissertation in 2026, and complete your defense and graduate by May 2027. Is it really that difficult?" Qiao Ze asked again.
This time nobody dared to move.
They all looked utterly bewildered...