Training the Heavens

Chapter 288 Situ Xianyi
The United States is undoubtedly one of the countries that will have the greatest impact on the world in the next century. Zhang Xingjiu has long wanted to visit the United States, so he agreed after serious consideration.

After spending a few days preparing and asking for leave for Ma Zongwen, the two of them took a train to the port together, then changed to a passenger ship across the Atlantic Ocean and arrived at the Port of New York on the east coast of the United States.

Because this journey was shorter, the transportation used was more advanced, and the route was very mature, the entire journey took a total of eight days, which was much faster than from Shanghai to Paris.

The American academic community warmly welcomed Zhang Xingjiu's arrival at the port and arranged for him to stay at the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where Li Hefei stayed when he visited the United States two years ago.

Another reporter who had met Li Hefei before commented after interviewing Zhang Xingjiu, "Although both are Chinese, you and Li give off very different vibes. He seems like an ancient person who suddenly stepped into modern society from a history book, while you seem to have arrived from the future."

You have a really good eye for people, Zhang Xingjiu mentally gave a thumbs up to the reporter named Wallace.

The current situation in the United States is a bit like that of China in later generations. Four years ago, their total domestic industrial output value surpassed that of Britain, ranking first in the world. However, traditional powers such as Britain still hold the international discourse power and still regard the United States as a poor relative in the countryside.

So they were particularly eager for recognition from international public opinion. Now that a scientist who was renowned in Europe had arrived, they were immediately warmly received. They were eager to show Zhang Xingjiu their academic level.

Zhang Xingjiu, like many foreigners who have since made fortunes on China's online platforms, was full of praise. "Mr. Morse invented the wired telegraph, bringing humanity into an unprecedented era of close connections. This is America's outstanding contribution to human civilization. What I am doing now is essentially the same as what Mr. Morse did back then."

The Americans present, like those netizens in later generations who heard foreigners praising China, felt a sense of pride and applauded with flushed faces. Zhang Xingjiu's debut was a great success.

He first gave a lecture tour at various universities in New York, then communicated with researchers at these schools, and then took a train across the North American continent to continue communicating with universities or research institutions in various places.

He stayed at the University of Chicago the longest, because the current head of the physics department at this university is Michelson, the first American Nobel Prize winner and winner of the 1907 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Ten years ago, he and Edward Morley conducted the famous Michelson-Morley experiment, which ruled out the existence of ether and cast a dark cloud over the edifice of physics. Unfortunately, he did not continue his research along this line.

Zhang Xingjiu was willing to continue along this path, because the theory of relativity was ahead of him, so he communicated with Michelson for a long time and obtained a lot of valuable data, which could help him better formulate experimental plans according to the current experimental level.

After leaving Chicago and continuing west, they finally arrived in San Francisco, one of the cities with the largest Chinese population in North America. Therefore, Zhang Xingjiu was warmly welcomed. They prepared a sumptuous banquet for Zhang Xingjiu, allowing him and Ma Zongwen to enjoy a delicious meal of authentic Chinese food.

Zhang Xingjiu also told them a piece of good news. "I have reached cooperation agreements with several American universities. They will reserve some places for Chinese students. Whether they are students coming to the United States from mainland China, Southeast Asia, or other places, or Chinese students already in the United States, they all have the opportunity to take special exams and gain the opportunity to study at American universities."

"Mr. Zhang? Is this true?" The local Chinese representatives could not sit still. No matter where or when they are, attaching importance to reading is the common wish of the Chinese. However, due to various discriminatory policies, it is often difficult for them, the Chinese in the United States, to get the opportunity to study. Now that Zhang Xingjiu has helped them open a crack in the door, how can they not pay attention to it?
"Tomorrow the San Francisco Chronicle will publish an article detailing the exam rules. Local institutions like the University of San Francisco and Stanford University will also publish public exams and announce the exam dates. If you're interested, you can register for the exam according to the information in the newspaper and announcements."

"Of course, if you want to go to universities in other cities, that's fine too. MIT, Harvard, Yale, Cornell, and other prestigious American universities also offer similar policies. If someone is academically outstanding but comes from a poor family, there are dedicated foundations to provide financial aid."

"This is really great! If they can go to university, our children and grandchildren won't have to do hard labor and shameful things to make a living like us." Everyone was excited when they heard this.

"If you can go to university and get a decent job as a doctor, lawyer, or scholar after graduation, but if you don't have a strong motherland behind you, you will still be discriminated against. Only when China's status in the international community is improved can we overseas Chinese hold our heads high and live as human beings." Zhang Xingjiu also told them a lot of information in this regard.

If someone can listen to his advice and return to serve his country after completing their studies, even if only a few out of a hundred do, his money will not be wasted.

These words resonated deeply with the Chinese people. A man in his thirties immediately stood up and said, "Sir, what you said is absolutely true! I'm selling fruit on the street with some friends from a cart. The police never do anything when they see white people doing this, but they extort us whenever they see us. Isn't it because the government is corrupt and won't support us?"

After the banquet, he even came to the hotel to meet Zhang Xingjiu. "My name is Situ Xianyi, courtesy name Jizan, and I'm from Kaiping, Guangdong. I used to live in San Francisco, but now I'm making a living in Boston. When you were giving lectures at Harvard and MIT, I was out on business and couldn't catch up. As soon as I got back, I rushed to catch the train to catch up, and finally we met today."

This name is also well-known. Most people may not know Situ Xianyi, but more people know Situ Meitang, and Meitang is the name he changed later.

The two of them drank hot tea and had a long conversation. When talking about the current situation of Chinese Americans, Situ Xianyi shook his head repeatedly. "I also want to unite the Chinese community, so I founded Anliang Hall, but many things cannot be achieved by our own efforts."

At the end of the conversation, he tentatively extended an invitation, "Now my Anliangtang has branches in many cities in the United States. Sir, you have to travel a lot. Why don't you come to our hall as a guest official? It will be more convenient for you to negotiate with local Chinese in the future."

　There will be more later
　　
　
(End of this chapter)