Training the Heavens

Chapter 284 Wu Lien-teh

Zhang Xingjiu and Lang Zhiwan were both a little surprised. Thomson had just said at the dinner that the lecture would start tomorrow and asked the teachers and students of Cambridge not to disturb Zhang Xingjiu's rest tonight. Why did someone come?
"Who is it?" Zhang Xingjiu asked curiously.

"He's also a Chinese. He said his name is Wulian." The waiter awkwardly announced the visitor's name.

Zhang Xingjiu immediately remembered that this must be Dr. Wu Lien-teh, who had cured the plague in Northeast China and was also the first Chinese to be nominated for a Nobel Prize. He quickly said, "Please come in."

After a while, a young man of similar age to Zhang Xingjiu, wearing glasses and with a side-parted hairstyle, walked in. Seeing Zhang Xingjiu from a distance, he saluted with his fists clasped together, "My humble disciple Wu Lien-teh greets Mr. Zhang!"

Zhang Xingjiu returned the greeting with a look of surprise, then quickly stepped forward and took Wu Lien-teh's hand. "I didn't expect to meet a Chinese person in Cambridge. This is so exciting. Please come in!"

After entering, Zhang Xingjiu quickly asked Ma Zongwen to pour tea. "That's the West Lake Longjing tea Mr. Qian gave me. Foreigners can't drink such fine tea. It's perfect for Mr. Wu to taste it."

Wu Lien-teh hurriedly thanked him, then sat down on the sofa and began to introduce himself. He said that he was originally from Taishan, Guangdong. His ancestors went to Southeast Asia to make a living very early, and accumulated some family property by doing business there. They settled down in Penang, Malaya, and gave birth to him.

When he was 17 years old, the same year that Zhang Xingjiu came to France, Wu Lien-teh also won the Queen's Scholarship that year with the outstanding result of ranking first in the Malaya region. He came to Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, England to study medicine. He was also the first Chinese to study here.

On the other side, Lang Zhiwan saw that Zhang Xingjiu had a friend come, so he briefly introduced himself and told Wu Lien-teh that he could visit him when he was free in the future. Then he said goodbye and left, leaving only three Chinese people in the room.

"It's really amazing that my dear brother Xinglian can get the first place in Malaya. Come, I will offer a cup of tea to Xinglian instead of wine. You have to give a speech tomorrow, so it's really not convenient to drink. I will treat Xinglian to the Shaoxing rice wine I brought from my hometown tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." Zhang Xingjiu raised the teacup.

When they introduced themselves to each other just now, they also reported their birthdays. They were born in the same year, Zhang Xingjiu was born in February, and Wu Lien-teh was born a month later in March. He simply called him Brother Zhouping, so Zhang Xingjiu naturally called him Brother Xinglian.

Wu Lien-teh waved his hands repeatedly. "I really can't compare to Brother Zhou Ping. I'm still studying hard day and night, afraid of falling behind my English classmates and bringing shame to us Chinese. But Brother Zhou Ping has already given lectures that have attracted the serious attention of senior scientists like Professor Thomson. I even heard that the former President of the Royal Society of London, the Reverend William Thomson, Baron Kelvin, will attend your lecture."

"I am also a fool. Brother Xinglian is talented and hardworking. He will definitely achieve results that will shock foreigners in the future." Zhang Xingjiu said firmly.

"Haha, Brother Xie Zhouping, that's a good omen. If that day really comes, I will have no regrets in my life."

The two sides chatted animatedly over tea. Zhang Xingjiu asked about the living conditions of the Chinese in Southeast Asia, and Wu Lien-teh shook his head repeatedly. "To be honest, Brother Zhouping, we Chinese in Southeast Asia have indeed made some money over the years, but with money but no status, we are often bullied and exploited by foreigners and natives. Life is actually difficult!"

"They refused to return to the Qing Dynasty despite such hardships, which shows how corrupt the Qing Dynasty was! I have also heard some of the experiences of the elders in Southeast Asia, especially those massacres, which made people cry. It was so difficult and tragic! Today's international community is like a jungle society, where wolves eat sheep and sheep eat grass. Without a strong motherland behind us, we Chinese who are stranded abroad can only be bullied!"

"Who says it isn't?" Wu Lien-teh's eyes suddenly turned red. He took Zhang Xingjiu's hand and recounted the various hardships faced by the Chinese in Southeast Asia. His heartbreaking moments moved even Zhang Xingjiu, someone who had experienced several different worlds. "We Chinese are no less intelligent and brilliant than Westerners. One day, we will stand tall among the nations of the world. Just rest assured, my dear Xinglian. You will definitely see that day," Zhang Xingjiu said, patting her hand in comfort.

Wu Lien-teh died in 1960. By then, he must have known that New China had defeated the allied forces on the Korean Peninsula. I'm sure he must have been thrilled. It's a pity he didn't live to see the atomic bomb explode; otherwise, he would have been even happier.

"I will not just sit there and watch. I also want to contribute to the rise of China. I can't do anything else, but I just want to learn advanced Western medicine and give back to the Chinese people in the future." Wu Lien-teh was quite ambitious, and he really fulfilled his words in the future.

But Zhang Xingjiu's expectations of him are more than that. "Xinglian should not only study medicine himself, but also spread this knowledge to more Chinese students!"

Wu Lien-teh later served as vice president and president of a medical school in mainland China for a period of time, but it was not for long. In the end, he was arranged by the Republic of China to serve as the director of the Port Quarantine Administration, which was really a waste of talent.

If there is an opportunity in the future, it would be best to set up a medical school specifically for him so that he can display his strengths.

The two of them got along better and better as they talked, and for a moment they forgot about time. It was not until they saw Ma Zongwen's head drooping that Wu Lien-teh came to his senses and quickly stood up to say goodbye. "I was so happy that I didn't even notice we've been chatting for so long. Brother Zhouping and sister-in-law, please get some rest. I'll come back to listen to Brother Zhouping's speech tomorrow."

"I do have something to do tomorrow, so I won't keep you here, Brother Xinglian. Come over tomorrow, and we can have a drink together."

Zhang Xingjiu stood up and walked him out of the hotel. While watching his back gradually disappear into the distance, he muttered to himself that in the original history, Wu Lien-teh only received a nomination but did not win the award in the end. This was a pity. Now that the two knew each other, he had to get him an award.

After returning to the room and washing up, the couple soon fell asleep.

When he woke up in the morning, Lang Zhiwan was already waiting downstairs. After having breakfast with him, he took him to the auditorium and introduced the guests to him. Baron Kelvin was indeed there.

He had to come. He had been announcing that the physics building had been completed a long time ago. He didn't expect that Zhang Xingjiu would poke such a big hole in him. Now that Zhang Xingjiu was coming to give a speech, he had to be there in person. After the speech, he might even stand up and ask questions.

As soon as the time came, Zhang Xingjiu walked onto the stage and began his speech.

　The next chapter may be late, it's almost the New Year and there are so many things to do

　　
　
(End of this chapter)