Chapter 48: Wind Rising from the East
November 1900, 11, Qing Dynasty, Ningbo Zhongxi Chucai School.
A young man, still childish but with a resolute face, is sitting under a tree, holding a newspaper and reading attentively.
The autumn air was getting colder and a breeze blew by. He wrapped his clothes tightly around himself, but his eyes never left the newspaper.
The young man is called He Yujie, he is 18 years old this year. He has been smart and studious since childhood. After losing his father at the age of 11, he became more diligent and studious, especially good at ancient poetry and prose. He passed the imperial examination and became a scholar at the age of 15.
However, influenced by the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and having experienced the revolutionary wave of the Reform Movement of 1898, he believed that the Qing Dynasty was corrupt and that the eight-legged essay was a form of ideological suffocation and was completely ineffective.
Therefore, He Yujie decided to give up the imperial examination and study Western learning, research the Western method of investigating things, serve China, and prepare for overthrowing the Qing Dynasty.
So he joined Ningbo Sino-Western Academy two years ago and became one of the first students.
Since 1895, when Zhang Zhidong submitted the memorial "On the Establishment of Schools for the Preparation of Talents" advocating the trend of opening up new schools, various places began to plan to build new-style schools, similar to the high schools of later generations.
It was in this context that Ningbo Sino-Western Academy was established in 1897. More than a decade later, Mr. Sun Yat-sen gave a speech here.
At this moment, He Yujie was reading the conference report discussing Ridgeway's quantum theory.
In fact, he had learned about Li Qiwei two months ago because of the publication of quantum theory.
He even went to Guangzhou directly for this purpose, wanting to meet the other party, but was told by Li Qiwei's family that the other party was still in the UK and had not returned yet.
Helplessly, he could only return the same way, but he kept an eye on Li Qiwei from then on.
In this era, there are Chinese people who can make such great scientific achievements. He Yujie admires him very much and yearns for it.
After the physics class today, the teacher, Mr. Davis, gave him a newspaper and told him to read it carefully.
It turns out that He Yujie was very diligent and studious in school, especially in courses such as physics and chemistry, where he often ranked among the top.
Therefore, many foreign teachers like this young Chinese man and believe that he will definitely achieve great success.
After He Yujie got the newspaper, he discovered that it actually described in detail a conference discussing quantum theory, and Li Qiwei's name was also mentioned in it.
He was fascinated by it, then picked up the newspaper and quickly found Davis, "Sir, can you tell me what the photoelectric effect is?"
Davis smiled bitterly, "I'm sorry, He, I'm just an undergraduate in my country, and I didn't explain quantum theory to you clearly last time."
"I don't understand the photoelectric effect this time. This is already the most cutting-edge physics research."
“The number of people in the world who can understand this formula is probably even smaller than the number of people in school.”
"However, the author of quantum theory, Ridgwell, is truly an indescribable genius. Even in Europe, he is considered a physicist."
Hearing Davis' evaluation, He Yujie felt as sweet as eating honey. Although he was not praising himself, he felt proud of it.
Li Qiwei! This name was firmly engraved in his heart, like a totem.
Who says that all Chinese people are ignorant? We Han people can also produce scientific geniuses that are rarely seen in a century.
He now decided to go to Guangzhou again immediately.
Because a few days ago, Mr. Li sent someone to write a letter saying that Li Qiwei wanted to invite him to study in the UK, and everything had been arranged there, so he didn't need to prepare anything.
If he is willing, he can go to Li's house in Guangzhou and wait within a month.
He Yujie was very excited about this opportunity, but he also had some concerns.
But today's newspaper made him completely determined to go!
Anyway, he is not the only son in the family, he has two older brothers, so even if he leaves home for three to five years, it will not have much impact.
It won’t be too late to show filial piety to my mother after I finish my studies and return home.
Young people like He Yujie, as if destined, received the whole story of Li Qiwei's quantum theory conference. On the other side, in Hangzhou, 16-year-old Xia Yuanzhen (pronounced "Li") was arguing with his father Xia Zengyou.
Xia Yuanzhen, wearing Western glasses and still looking childish, angrily said, "Father, why don't you allow me to study science? Can I defeat the Eight-Nation Alliance if I recite the works of the pre-Qin philosophers every day?"
His father, Xia Zengyou, was very disappointed. "You rebellious son! Three generations of my Xia family have been well-read in poetry and literature, and are proficient in painting, poetry and prose. They have a deep understanding of classic eight-part essays. Why do you insist on learning those strange and tricky techniques?"
Xia Yuanzhen was disgusted by his father's pedantry and argued: "You always say that others are just cunning and skillful, but why do they have ships and cannons while we can only be beaten?"
"Do you know what a sensation the paper published by Li Qiwei caused? He is my idol."
"No matter what you say, I'll go and make the decision."
The mother beside him seemed to have aged several years in an instant, and sighed, "Fuyun (Xia Yuanzhen's pen name), even if you want to learn Western learning, there are places you can go to. Why do you have to go to England? Can't I ask your father to send you to a foreign school?"
Xia Yuanzhen looked at the aged appearance of his father and mother and cried, "Father, although the old saying goes: Don't travel far away while your parents are still alive."
"But right now, China is experiencing a change that has not happened in thousands of years. Foreigners are rampant and the Qing Dynasty is incompetent. Sooner or later, it will perish."
"Are we going to save China and open up a new future by relying on the eight-legged essay?"
"Besides, I have an older brother and a younger brother. They can take my place temporarily and be filial to you two."
"Please forgive my unfilial behavior. When I return home after completing my studies, I will definitely take care of you two in your old age."
After saying that, Xia Yuanzhen knelt down in front of his parents with a thud, without raising his head, keeping it lowered.
After a long time, Xia Zengyou regained his composure and said softly, "Forget it, go ahead."
Xia Yuanzhen raised his head, his eyes blurred by tears, and he vowed to learn real knowledge and skills.
In Hubei, Xu Jianyin, the 55-year-old general manager of the Baoan Gunpowder Bureau, was sipping tea while listening to his 19-year-old youngest son Xu Qitai's passionate speech.
"Dad, I'm not bragging, but that Li Qiwei is truly amazing. He published the quantum theory in physics and proved it with the photoelectric effect."
"It is said that his achievements are comparable to Newton's. You know, Newton, the Western scientific saint who was hit by an apple."
"So, could you please give me some advice? I want to go to England and study with him."
Xu Jianyin took a sip of tea leisurely and said, "Is it really that great? I'm afraid it's just a rumor. Foreigners just like to brag."
"In terms of Western learning, our Xu family can be said without any modesty to be the number one family in China, and your grandfather was even able to publish a paper in Nature magazine."
"Is there any other Chinese who can compare to my Xu family?"
Xu Jianyin's father is the famous Xu Shou, who was the pioneer of modern chemistry in China, the founder of modern shipbuilding industry, and the name of the periodic table of chemical elements in Chinese.
China's first steam engine, first steamship, first warship, first school to teach science and technology, first scientific lecture, and first scientific journal are all related to him.
Seeing that his father did not believe him, Xu Qitai hurriedly said, "Oh, Dad, I have asked the foreigner, and he said it is absolutely true. Now Li Qiwei has an extraordinary status in the British physics community."
"So I want to learn from him, and when I come back, I can inherit your legacy."
Xu Jianyin laughed and scolded, "How dare you curse your father, you little bastard. But the domestic situation is turbulent now, it's good for you to go to the UK to stay away from trouble."
"But remember, you must learn real skills. Your knowledge of physics and chemistry is not enough for foreigners."
Xu Qitai's face suddenly became full of excitement. He clapped his hands, and then diligently poured a cup of tea for his father.
What Xu Jianyin didn't know was that it was this decision that changed his originally tragic fate.
In real history, on March 3 next year, he would go to the pharmacy to mix medicine and suddenly a machine gun exploded and he was unfortunately killed.
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(Note: He Yujie and Xia Yuanzhen were early Chinese physicists and educators; they trained the first batch of undergraduate physics graduates in my country. Xu Qitai: I couldn’t find his name, so I made it up. His father was Xu Jianyin and his grandfather was Xu Shou. You can check it out if you are interested.)
Thanks to [晨曦星瞳] for the monthly ticket, and thanks to new and old book friends for the recommendation votes. The heroine will appear in the next chapter.
(End of this chapter)