Chapter 216 Zheng Shuhua and Zhao Yingjie

She told Pan Changqing, "You asked me to come, so I came. But I haven't done research for a long time. I don't know if I can still catch up."

"What's there to be afraid of? Your brain is there. Just continue what you were doing before. Look at me. I wasted so many years, but I also caught up. Let's just start from the beginning."

Zheng Shuhua smiled and nodded, "Let's give it a try."

After she was released from prison, the school didn't assign her any specific job, essentially giving up on her completely. However, they did provide her with a retirement paycheck, and she now has no worries about food and clothing.

"How are the others?"

Zheng Shuhua sighed, "Old He is still in jail, and Old Zhao broke his leg and hasn't recovered yet, so he's limping a little bit."

Pan Changqing sighed. The man in jail was a colleague who had been labeled a reactionary academic authority at the same time as him. He was a brilliant researcher, incredibly brilliant. It was such a shame that he had to spend the best years of his life in prison, while others of his stature had already achieved success and become pillars of the country. All because he said the wrong thing.

He knows this.

"What happened to your broken leg?"

He remembered that although Lao Zhao was criticized like him, he had his label removed in 1962. It was reported in the newspapers at the time.

"In 1966, he was imprisoned and tried to escape. He tore his clothes into strips and tied them into a rope, hoping to escape from the building. However, the strips broke and he fell."

Pan Changqing: "...What about now?"

“I was ordered to retire.”

After saying that, the two of them fell into silence.

After a long while, Pan Changqing said, "A broken leg doesn't prevent us from using our brains. Bring him over as well."

Zheng Shuhua: “…”

I don’t know whether to say that Lao Pan is affectionate or heartless.

But, “You’re right, let him come and work.”

It's been twenty years since I returned to China, but I've only been working for a few years. I've spent most of that time playing sports. While I'm still alive, I should seize the opportunity to work. I'll also let Lao Zhao leave Beijing and come here to relax. Maybe once he's in a good mood, some research inspiration will come!

At the suggestion of Pan Changqing and Zheng Shuhua, Xie Yun invited the man they called Lao Zhao over.

Lao Zhao is a retired person who is engaged in applied physics research. Like Zheng Shuhua, he has relatively free movement. If Xie Yun wants someone, he only needs to get his consent, then contact his retirement unit and ask him to contribute his remaining energy to helping the poor and lower-middle peasants.

Zheng Shuhua was responsible for persuading Lao Zhao, while Xie Yun only did the latter part.

In early May 1974, Zhao Yingjie arrived at Taoyuan Commune. He, Zheng Shuhua, and Pan Changqing could be considered the three giants of physics.

Xie Yun felt very relieved.

In the world of her previous life, many experts and scholars, after all these years of struggle, even if they were later rehabilitated, were unable to continue to make achievements in the field of scientific research. Many of them retired directly, and some returned to school to teach, but few continued to engage in cutting-edge scientific research. This is a very regrettable thing.

Many of this group of scientific researchers learned the most advanced knowledge in the world when they were young, and they themselves are all very outstanding. Some of them have already achieved very impressive academic results while studying abroad, and even decades later they are still widely cited by the academic community. They should have become world-renowned scientists, but most of them have not achieved the scientific research achievements they deserve. It is heartbreaking to think about it.

In this world, Pan Changqing, Zheng Shuhua, and Zhao Yingjie all have experience studying abroad and have worked in the best research institutions abroad. Their research abilities have been recognized by the world's top scientists, and they have all published world-renowned research papers. Everyone who mentions them always praises them for their extraordinary talent. However, the highlights of their lives almost all occurred before and during the first two or three years after returning to China.

They returned with great enthusiasm to build the motherland, but were ultimately utterly defeated.

Xie Yun wanted to cry for them.

In her previous life, when she went to college, that group of people were no longer there.

In this life, she still has the opportunity to help them, the opportunity to learn from them, and the opportunity to work with them for the country's scientific and technological progress. What a wonderful thing this is.

Pan Changqing and the other two were very happy to have three disciples, Xie Yun, Xie Shen and Li Zhixin.

However, while Pan Changqing was keen on civilian technology research, Zheng Shuhua and Zhao Yingjie were still engaged in their own areas of expertise: radar and anti-missiles. Xie Shen and Li Zhixin were completely attracted to them and abandoned Pan Changqing.

Pan Changqing was practically beating his chest and stamping his feet. He said to Xie Yun, "They both took my good apprentice away. Binbin, you can't abandon me again. Humph! If it weren't for practical needs, I would have gone into the military industry too! How could they have gotten their turn?"

What he is really good at is aerospace engineering research!

Xie Yun looked at his antics, smiled, and nodded. "Don't worry, I'm committed to improving the comfort of our lives. I hope we can build more comfortable cars, trains, and planes, and more advanced household appliances, such as televisions, radios, refrigerators, fans, air conditioners, and water heaters... I want to use technology to change our lives."

Pan Changqing praised him, "You have ideals! We have the same aspirations."

☆

In July, Xie Shen graduated from high school.

Xie Yun had a chat with him about his life plan.

"You're still young, so there's no need to rush into work. First, learn from Professor Zheng and Professor Zhao and absorb all their knowledge. It's not just about learning knowledge, but also about learning research methods and thinking habits.

Many people can acquire knowledge but cannot become excellent scientists, not only because they lack talent, but also because they do not master the methods and approaches of research and lack the ability to think innovatively.

Our Professor Zheng and Professor Zhao are both outstanding in this field. It is the chaotic situation at this time that gives us the opportunity to learn from them. Under normal circumstances, we would not be able to come into contact with experts at their level.

By the time you have learned enough, the situation may have changed and the real college entrance examination may have been resumed.

Even if nothing changes, with the knowledge and abilities you possess, you'll be able to quickly achieve something in your career or at school. You have to understand that even if you attend Workers', Peasants', and Soldiers' University now, while the title of "college student" sounds better, you won't actually learn as much as you would from Professors Zheng and Zhao, nor will you learn as deeply as they do.

As for work, there's no need for it for now. My mom and I both have jobs, and you can earn plenty by just growing some crops and raising livestock at home. There's no need to worry about money. What you need to focus on most right now is how to improve your personal abilities and become a capable person.

During this time, you can also think carefully about what you want to do in the future. Do you want to engage in scientific research? Or become a government official? Or do something else? Think clearly, determine the direction of your efforts, and then move towards your goal.