1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 106 Huaxia International Student Aid Fund

On January 1902, 1, the first day of school at Cambridge University, all teachers and students heard a bombshell news.

Bruce Lee, the first Nobel Prize winner in Physics, is going to make a personal donation to the school!

And it turned out to be two direct donations.

The first donation was made to Cambridge University, in an amount equal to the prize money of the Nobel Prize, which was 3300 pounds.

It means that the honor of the Nobel Prize in Physics will always belong to Cambridge University.

The second donation was to Trinity College to improve the college's teaching hardware, and the amount reached 5000 pounds.

As soon as the news came out, everyone was shocked by Li Qiwei's arrogance.

Although Cambridge University is full of hidden talents, including many sons of aristocrats and wealthy people, a mere less than 10,000 pounds is not considered a huge sum of money.

But that was all their family's wealth. If we only considered what they could freely dispose of, 1000 pounds would probably be a luxury.

But Bruce Lee is different.

Among them, 3300 is bonus and 5000 is patent fee. All of them are money earned by people with their own abilities.

Therefore, these donations are extremely valuable and have great publicity and commemorative significance.

"Bruce Lee, an outstanding student of our school: won the Nobel Prize, thanked his alma mater; put his knowledge into practice, benefit mankind."

"In my personal name, the total amount donated to Cambridge University is 8300 pounds."

This is the promotional leaflet that Cambridge University produced for Ridgway and posted it everywhere on campus to commend his deeds.

In the vice-principal's office.

Cardwell and Li Qiwei sat opposite each other. The former was smiling and was very polite to Li Qiwei.

"Bruce, try my hand-brewed coffee. It's definitely different from what you drink outside."

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Vice-Principal."

Cardwell took a sip of coffee and said with a smile: "Bruce, you can call me Cardwell. We are old acquaintances."

Li Qiwei said: "Okay, Mr. Cardwell."

Cardwell thought back to what Li Qiwei had just said and still found it very novel. "So, Bruce, you want to continue donating to Cambridge in the future."

"But it's in the name of the student aid fund, right?"

To be honest, when Cardwell heard it for the first time, he was still surprised.

Although various funds are not uncommon these days, it is rare to find people willing to donate to schools on a continuous basis.

Cambridge had received many donations before, but none like Ridgway's.

Li Qiwei said: "That's right. Starting from January 1903, I plan to cooperate with Cambridge University in my personal name to establish the Cambridge University Chinese Students' Aid Fund."

“The right to use the fund is entirely given to the school.”

"It is specifically used to help Chinese students studying in Cambridge, and to cover their daily life, tuition fees, etc."

"Of course, Cambridge University needs to ensure that at least 50% of the fund is used for the above agreed purposes."

"The school can freely dispose of the remaining money. I will not interfere, but there must be corresponding detailed records."

"I pledge to donate no less than £1 a year."

After listening to this, Cardwell was deeply moved. He probably understood Li Qiwei's thoughts.

This fund is somewhat similar to the Nobel Foundation, but its purpose is different.

The school can use the fund to invest in building campus facilities or even as scholarships.

However, it is necessary to ensure that a fixed amount of money is allocated every year to students from China or Chinese studying in the UK.

This is reasonable. Whoever pays the money must benefit the party that pays the money.

Besides, £1 is not a small sum of money anyway.

Maybe it's 1 this year, and if Li Qiwei makes a lot of money next year, it may be changed to 10.

Anyway, for Cambridge, as long as they take care of some Chinese students, it will be beneficial with no harm.

As the vice-president, Cardwell is no stranger to the concept of student aid funds.

He also knew that the Qing Dynasty had already introduced policies such as studying in the United States and the United Kingdom at public expense decades ago.

But I have never encountered someone like Li Qiwei who sponsors in a private capacity.

What good could this do for him?
Is it just for a reputation?
Cardwell didn't care. As long as he could benefit and Cambridge University could benefit, that was enough. There was no need to think too much.

"Bruce, your idea is great."

"Since you are so sincere, I suggest using the fund to establish a special scholarship to express Cambridge's gratitude to you."

"The scope of the bonus is those Chinese international students with excellent academic performance. What do you think?" Li Qiwei said, "It suits my taste, but I have a few changes."

"Since it is a scholarship, it should be compared together. I suggest that all Cambridge students who are eligible should strive for it."

"I believe that our Chinese students can get it without this kind of special care."

Li Qiwei's heroism made Cardwell look at him with admiration. This kind of courage is indeed not something that ordinary people can have.

"Bruce, you are really admirable."

"Then let's do as you wish and set the scholarship to be school-wide."

Then he added: "I will convene a board meeting to discuss this matter, but as long as you can donate as promised, I think no one will object."

"After all, no one can resist money, right?"

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "Don't worry, I always keep my word."

"I will raise the first installment as soon as possible. I think this will help strengthen your persuasiveness."

Cardwell joked: "Bruce, then the 3300 pounds this time should not be counted in the fund, right?"

Li Qiwei shook his head and smiled, "Sir, you are joking. That was originally my sincere gift."

"Without Cambridge University, I would not have won the Nobel Prize, nor would I have received the money."

"At the end of the day, the money should have belonged to Cambridge University."

After hearing this, Cardwell burst into laughter.

He really enjoyed dealing with people like Li Qiwei, who were capable but never arrogant and always talked about things in a cooperative and equal tone.

And they never worry about petty gains, but only care about the most core interests.

This gave him the illusion that he was handling state affairs while chatting and laughing.

This is the style and daily routine of the vice-principal.

After coming out of the office, Li Qiwei sighed and decided to make good money in the future.

He had already thought of the study abroad fund plan.

Next year, the second batch of Spark Program members will be screened out and sent to the UK.

In fact, he would like to place some personnel in Germany, France and the United States.

But I don’t have that ability now, so I can only start with a pilot project in Cambridge and accumulate some experience at the same time.

As for giving up 50% of the amount, it was also a helpless move.

If you don't give these universities some benefits, why would they be willing to help you and accept Chinese students?

The next day, the school organized a simple donation ceremony for Li Qiwei.

Dean Sanders' old face was full of smiles. He shook Li Qiwei's hand tightly and said, "Bruce, I really hope that Cambridge can have more outstanding Chinese students like you."

“I think they can all achieve the same results as you.”

"Like He and the others, all of them graduated early! It's a great honor for Trinity College to generate income."

Li Qiwei was speechless for a moment. He suddenly felt something was wrong. It seemed like He Yujie and the others were being sold off like piglets.

Moreover, he did not believe Sanders had that ability.

It is understandable that three or five people are given special treatment, but if a large number of people are treated in this way, the school and college committees will not tolerate it.

Unless he makes a one-time donation of more than one million pounds, the committee should be willing to choose to switch to a vegetarian diet.

The highlight of the meeting was not the huge sum of several thousand pounds, but the certificate symbolizing the winner of the first Nobel Prize in Physics.

Li Qiwei was also very generous and took out his award certificate to show it off.

He will not donate this thing to the school, but keep it for himself forever.

From then on, Cambridge University became the first university in the world to win the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Decades later, Cambridge University even regarded this honor as the highest honor since its founding.

Because it belongs to the most legendary and outstanding graduate in Cambridge's history.

It was he who brought Cambridge to a height to which it did not belong.

I heard an unfortunate news that a book I read at the same time about Chinese people becoming tycoons in the United States was banned. Alas, the main reason seems to be the establishment of a country overseas, and it involves some political issues.

So I was also very panicked. If you later think that the author is stupid and why he didn’t know this or didn’t write about it, please be more understanding.

Some things are really fun to write, but the key is not to write them.
The perspectives of readers and authors are slightly different.

Don’t be complacent, I can’t fool the auditor.

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(End of this chapter)