A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 659 Return to Yan University
After receiving the invitation to go to Tokyo to attend the observatory director's meeting, Gao Lu came again to say goodbye to Li Yu, "Mr. Academician, an important topic at this meeting must be about the solar eclipse observation just completed by the British. In terms of relativity, you are Experts, even in Japan there are not many who know it, so you should be the director."

Li Yu smiled and said: "I don't know how to popularize the theory of relativity in Japanese and let them study it on their own. In addition, many papers on observation data are ready-made, so there is no need for me to go there."

"Those calculations are quite complicated." Gao Lu said.

"It is indeed complicated, but the UK has reviewed it at least three or four times and there will be no mistakes," Li Yu said.

Gao Lu said: "I read the invitation letter from the Japanese. They also hope to study how to make Asia's astronomy catch up with Europe, so that they don't even know about this kind of solar eclipse observation project."

"I don't know about solar eclipse observation because no one understands the theory of relativity. Although I understand it, I don't have time to go to the equator to observe it. So the problem is not in astronomy." Li Yu said.

"Mr. Academician, do you mean the difference is still in physics?" Gao Lu asked.

"That's right," Li Yu said, "Today's astronomy will not make any progress if we just rely on observations through telescopes with our eyes. If we want to develop astronomy, we can only rely on physics. Not only the gradually mature spectral analysis, but also the emerging Theory of relativity, atomic physics, quantum mechanics, etc.”

Gao Lu sighed: "If this is really the case, I, the director of the station, can't even do it. I am too far away from the teacher's standards. I am already in my forties and I don't have that much energy to learn."

Li Yu comforted: "Your task is not only to observe by yourself, but also to cultivate the next generation. The young man last time was a good seedling."

"I'm afraid that going to Tokyo will disgrace our family," Gao Lu said.

"As I said just now, there are very few people in Japan who understand the theory of relativity. What are you worried about?" Li Yu said with a smile, and then took out another paper, "I will publish this in the American "SCIENCE" and the domestic "Science Magazine" immediately. An astronomy paper was published in the name of the Beijing Observatory and myself, which is enough to impress the Japanese. "

"What paper?" Gao Lu knew that every one of Li Yu's papers was shocking.

Li Yu said casually: "In the article, I proposed the theory that atoms in the stellar atmosphere are in an ionized state. At the same time, I calculated the proportions of elements in various ionization equilibrium states based on the temperature and pressure of the atmosphere. Preliminary estimates are that in stars, hydrogen and Nitrogen makes up almost 99% of the ingredients."

Gao Lu was surprised: "The proportion of hydrogen and nitrogen is so high? Isn't that just an atmospheric mass?"

"With such a large mass, the core pressure must be very high." Li Yu said.

"It's conceivable," Gao Lu paused, "No, it's hard to imagine! Roughly speaking, what kind of material can withstand such great pressure, and what kind of state is it in?"

Li Yu smiled: "This is a very good scientific research topic."

"But it still seems to be pure physics," Gaolu said.

"So you understand why I say that current astronomy is fundamentally physics." Li Yu said.

Gao Lu admired it: "As expected of Mr. Academician, he explained this truth to me in just a few words. Moreover, Mr. Academician's vision is too sharp. If this project is researched, it will definitely be another feat in the field of astronomy."

Li Yu nodded and said, "Without a doubt."

The matter of nuclear fusion has just gained some momentum this year.

The British Rutherford actually touched the threshold very early through alpha particle experiments, and then Aston conducted more precise tests to verify that the lost mass was exactly in line with the mass-energy equation, which laid the experimental foundation for nuclear fusion.

However, the theoretical development of nuclear fusion will take several more years.

-

Li Yu and Gao Lu arrived at the Tianjin Port Terminal together. After seeing Gao Lu off, Li Yu did not leave because Lu Bicheng returned to China after receiving a degree from Columbia University in the United States.

Lu Bicheng got off the ship and asked: "I heard that the Japanese girl Konoe Akiyuki has another idea recently? You won't..."

Li Yu stretched out his hand and said, "You can check it, there is no missing part."

Lu Bicheng smiled evilly and said, "I believe you."

Returning to the capital after many years of absence, Lu Bicheng was extremely happy and full of fighting spirit to show off her skills in promoting backward women's rights in the country.

Li Yu personally cooked a large table of dishes for her. Looking at the table full of familiar Chinese food, Lu Bicheng almost burst into tears: "In the United States, it's difficult to gain weight. What do you eat every day?"

Fengling said: "We planted some vegetables on the idle land of Mr.'s factory, otherwise we would really starve and lose weight."

Lu Bicheng said: "Fortunately, I can buy more soybeans in the United States, so I can eat some bean sprouts every day."

Li Yu laughed and said: "Using soybeans to grow bean sprouts really feels like sailing across the oceans in the sailing era a hundred years ago."

In fact, even if they sail across the ocean, only the Chinese can use soybeans to grow bean sprouts.

This may be why there are so few cases of septicemia in the European Age of Discovery during ancient Chinese ocean voyages.

After eating for a few days, Lu Bicheng couldn't sit still because Yanjing University and Union Medical College were holding opening ceremonies. According to the requirements, both men and women were recruited. This is still a relatively rare situation in China. Lu Bicheng had to be there to cheer.

The first school to start school was Yannan University. Yanyuan Garden, which it invested a huge amount of money to buy, is quite beautiful and is as good as Tsinghua University next door.

Li Yu had said hello to Leighton Stuart earlier and wanted to come to cheer him up when school starts.

Leighton Stuart greeted them at the school gate, "Welcome Mr. Li Yu and his wife."

"Principal Situ, congratulations!" Li Yu said with cupped hands.

Lu Bicheng looked in curiously: "There are more female students than I thought."

Leighton Stuart said: "Many of them were directly merged from Beiman Girls' High School and Concordia Women's University, so they are much better than Tsinghua Academy and Peking University, which are almost Monk University."

Li Yu smiled and said: "Monk University? Mr. Situ's terminology is really interesting. I'm afraid President Cai Yuanpei will be very unhappy when he hears it."

"He doesn't have to be unhappy. Principal Cai is here today."

Leighton Stuart waved, and Cai Yuanpei, who was relatively short, came over and said, "It's great that you two can come. I don't need to speak. It's just a group of men talking, which is too boring."

Lu Bicheng waved her hand and said, "I'm not suitable."

Cai Yuanpei said: "Madam, you are the perfect person. Today, there are only a pitiful few hundred women studying in Europe and the United States. They are scattered among the 40 million Chinese, and not even a few can be found."

Leighton Stuart said: "Moreover, my wife has been the principal of Beiyang Women's School, and everyone recognizes her status."

Lu Bicheng couldn't refuse.

It was a speech, which was not long. Li Yu was invited over and also said a few words casually. But it was just the opening ceremony, nothing more than some blessings.

Lu Bicheng not only spoke, but also set off after the ceremony to help the Beijing Women's Federation at Yenching University, an organization established during the May Fourth Movement. However, because there were really few female students, her voice was not so loud.

"Mr. Academician, Ms. Bicheng, I am Xie Wanying, the director of the Women's Federation of Yenching University." said a thin and delicate girl.

Lu Bicheng said: "Hello, you are a brave girl." Xie Wanying, better known as Bing Xin.

She is only twenty years old this year and has just begun to make a name for herself in the literary world.

She wrote two novels in "Morning News", both signed "Bing Xin", one was called "Two Families" and the other was called "The Man Is Alone and Haggard". "Two Families" writes about two different lifestyles of two young couples. Two different housewives have completely different impacts on their husbands and children. "The Man Is Alone and Haggard" tells the story of the conflict between the two brothers and their traitorous father, and the story of the two brothers who retreated from the hot-blooded youth to the feudal warlord and the people.

Anyway, they are all "problem novels" that reflect social problems and the bad current situation of old families in today's society.

Lu Bicheng said she was "brave" because she dared to expose problems as a weak female student.

Lu Bicheng said: "As long as you continue to write, even if other newspapers do not publish it, Ta Kung Pao will definitely publish it for you."

"Thank you, madam," Bing Xin said gratefully, "Also, I have something else I would like to ask you to help me with."

Lu Bicheng: "Just say it."

Bing Xin said: "Not long ago, the Beiyang government bribed several students by unknown means and asked them to suddenly act as judges at a banquet to judge us female students who participated in the May Fourth Movement. You know, women Children are not as thick-skinned as boys, and many of them cried. We hope to get a public apology.”

Lu Bicheng said angrily: "The method is quite insidious! Don't worry, this matter will be taken care of by me."

"Great!" Bing Xin knew that her agreement meant that Li Yu had agreed. There was no need to doubt the energy. Then she asked, "Madam, can you please write a few more articles for our "Yanda Quarterly"? "

Lu Bicheng smiled slightly: "This is a trivial matter."

Bing Xin happily walked to the door and shouted to another room: "Teacher Xu, Mrs. Bicheng agreed!"

Xu Dishan, editor of "Yanda Quarterly", immediately opened the door and trotted over: "Wanying, you still have more face!"

Bing Xin chuckled: "It's Madam who is easy to talk to."

Xu Dishan said to Lu Bicheng: "I know that my wife is also keen on Buddhism and likes peace and quiet. I am afraid of disturbing her, so I have never dared to disturb her."

Bing Xin introduced: "Madam, he is Teacher Xu Dishan, a teacher at Yanda School of Religion."

Lu Bicheng said: "Hello, Teacher Xu."

"Don't dare, don't dare!" Xu Dishan said, and then asked, "Madam, when can you submit the manuscript?"

Bing Xin chuckled: "Teacher Xu! How can I ask for a manuscript like this?"

"Yes, yes, Wanying is right," Xu Dishan said, and then asked Lu Bicheng, "How much does it cost to polish your pen, madam?"

Lu Bicheng was confused by his question, but Bing Xin still came to the rescue: "Teacher Xu, do you think Madam is short of money?"

"Ah! That's right!" Xu Dishan said, "How about I give you a copy of the Buddhist scriptures in return?"

Li Yu was amused. No wonder everyone said that Xu Dishan was a bit weird.

Lu Bicheng said: "The Buddhist scriptures are indeed good."

Fortunately, she was also smarter and got off the steps.

Xu Dishan said: "The Buddhist scriptures I wrote are all authentic Sanskrit. If Bicheng lay people can't understand them, please feel free to ask me for advice."

Bing Xin patted him: "Can I call you Master Xu? How can I call my wife a lay scholar?"

Xu Dishan scratched his head: "This is an honorific title."

Bing Xin sighed awkwardly and said to Lu Bicheng, "Madam, don't blame me."

Lu Bicheng smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter."

Xu Dishan glanced at Bing Xin: "You are right, Master Bicheng... madam, you are easy to talk to."

Li Yu could observe that Xu Dishan looked at Bing Xin in an unusual way.

When he was in elementary school, Li Yu remembered that there were two texts in the Chinese textbook, one was called "Luo Peanut", the author was Xu Dishan; the other was called "Little Orange Lantern", the author was Bing Xin.

The two had a small and difficult relationship as early as when they were at Yenching University.

Bing Xin is also quite beautiful, and she is of a standard white and rich appearance. Her family is well off. Her father is an official of the Navy. She lives in Tieshizi Hutong, which is the road where Duan Qirui's government is located. Anyway, Bing Xin's suitors are definitely not in the minority.

However, Bing Xin was very restrained and there were no real scandals.

After working together in the editorial department of "Yanda Quarterly", Xu Dishan was attracted to this smart girl and expressed his love for her. On the back of a photo given to Bing Xin, he wrote: "There are trees in the mountains, but the trees have branches, and my heart is full of joy, but you don't know it."

Of course Bing Xin could understand the meaning of this sentence, but she had declared long ago: firstly, she would not marry a soldier, secondly, she would not marry a fellow artist, and thirdly, she would not marry a widowed or divorced man.

Xu Dishan happens to be the third one. His married couple had passed away. The two had a deep relationship before, and they even wrote vernacular poems in memory of his deceased wife.

Xu Dishan could only bury his feelings for him deep in his heart, seemingly for many years.

Three years later, more than two hundred international students from Yan'an University and Tsinghua University went to the United States to study together. On board were Xu Dishan, Bing Xin, Liang Shiqiu and others.

During the long journey, Xu Dishan wrote a little poem: "Woman, I love you very much. But I haven't knelt on the ground yet. I beg you to say: I'm sorry, please forgive me. You already look down on me! This means that you will die young." I have to bury my emotions in a remote place in my heart, and I never dare to take the liberty of proposing to you."

Typical lingering feelings.

But unfortunately, on this boat, there was also a Tsinghua student named Wu Wenzao, who eventually succeeded in getting married to Bing Xin.

Lu Bicheng could see the story in Xu Dishan's eyes, but of course she couldn't interfere, so she ignored it. She just said: "The literary style I am good at is ancient poetry, but I am afraid that I will become a remnant of the 'old culture' and be incompatible with you."

Xu Dishan said: "What are you talking about, madam! Didn't Mr. Li Yu, President Cai, President Situ, and Professor Dewey in China all say that we cannot give up our traditional culture, and only inclusiveness is the right way."

"Okay," Lu Bicheng said, "If it doesn't meet your publication's requirements, there's no need to force it to be published just because of my name."

Bing Xin said: "Madam, I heard that you have many translations, such as fairy tales and so on. You can also publish your translations."

Xu Dishan slapped his forehead: "Thanks to Wanying for your brain, how could I have forgotten this!"

Lu Bicheng was equally relieved: "In this way, I can submit my manuscript and don't have to worry about ancient poetry becoming a target."

Over the years, her translation skills have become quite good, and she has accumulated a lot of translation manuscripts, so she can't produce too many.