There is such a couple, the husband is a famous scientist in the mainland, the wife is a vocal educator, one is quiet, one is generous and cheerful, they rarely say love, but they have been in love for 62 years, they are Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying.
Today is the 520 Confession Day, and their confession is hidden in the ups and downs of a multi-armored hand in hand.
Jiang Ying introduced me to the art of music, and it was the poetry and profound understanding of life contained in these musical arts that enriched my understanding of the world and learned the broad way of thinking about art. In other words, it is precisely because I am influenced by these artistic aspects that I can avoid dead eyes, avoid mechanical materialism, and think that the problem can be broader and live a little.
——Qian Xuesen evaluates his wife Jiang Ying
Young Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying
If Qian Xuesen has established an immortal monument to China's scientific undertakings and the development of national defense science and technology, then Jiang Ying is the flower of art that blooms next to the monument. They used music and science to form a beautiful and melodious duet...
Boston's "Honeymoon Period"
Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying wedding photos
In 1947, the newly married Qian Xuesen came to Boston, USA, and became a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Not long after, Jiang Ying came to reunite with him. Years later, Jiang Ying recalls his past in Boston and still has endless memories.
It was the first day that Jiang Ying came to the United States, the newlyweds had breakfast together, Qian Xuesen made a cup of tea and drank it, then stood up and said: "Then I will go, come back in the evening, you are slowly familiar with it alone." Jiang Ying looked at her husband in surprise and thought: This is called marriage? I'm only here on my first day! Jiang Ying, who had no relatives, knew neither anyone nor any place, and could only wait helplessly for Qian Xuesen to return home.
When night came, Qian Xuesen returned. After dinner, Qian Xuesen's move surprised Jiang Ying again. He made a cup of tea, picked up the teacup and said to Jiang Ying: "See you back, see you back." Before Jiang Ying could react, Qian Xuesen brought tea into the small study, and as soon as the door was closed, no one was seen, and he didn't come out until midnight.
In 1949, Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying were on their way to the California Institute of Technology
Jiang Ying recounted: "After we got married, we only had half a day off on Sunday, and I was accompanied for a walk in the first half of the day, and he said that he would read books in the second half of the day. He was very hardworking, and I was watching from the sidelines, so I respected him, I admired him. His knowledge and learning are not entirely based on talent, he has worked very hard and sweated a lot, and there are not many people like him who work hard. ”
The arrival of Jiang Ying made Qian Xuesen feel happy and warm, and she used her piano voice and singing voice to bring inspiration to Qian Xuesen's creative scientific thinking. In addition to being busy with work, Qian Xuesen will still take time to accompany his wife, teach her to learn English, and occasionally speak some witty words to make Jiang Ying happy. Every time Qian Xuesen goes to a foreign country to give a speech or participate in an academic activity, she always buys Jiang Ying some souvenirs that she likes, especially piano music and new records.
The couple's happy marriage has also become a good story for friends. Qian Xuesen's mentor, the world-famous mechanics master von Carmen, said: "Qian is like a changed person, Ying zhen is a very cute girl, Qian is completely fascinated by her." ”
When Qian Xuesen's family was in the United States
The American agent sent a secret letter
In 1949, when the news of the founding of New China reached the other side of the ocean, Qian Xuesen and his wife were so excited that they immediately began to discuss the matter of returning to China. However, when the U.S. military discovered that Qian Xuesen showed signs of wanting to leave the United States, it immediately took steps to restrict his freedom of movement. The FBI monitors them around the clock and keeps a tight rein on everything that can be used to keep in touch with the outside world, including letters and phone calls.
In 1955, the year after the Geneva Conference, Jiang Ying obtained a photograph of Chairman Mao on the upper floor of Tiananmen Square when the People's Republic of China was founded through the overseas Chinese who delivered food, and she found that behind Chairman Mao was Chen Shutong, a friend of Qian Xuesen's father, Qian Junfu.
However, how is Qian Xuesen, who is under house arrest, send this letter of help?
After careful consideration, Mr. and Mrs. Qian Xuesen wrote a letter to Mr. Chen Shutong at home on June 15, 1955.
“..... Detained by the US government for five years now. There is no day, a moment, a moment without thinking of returning to China to participate in the great climax of construction... Now that newspapers say that China and the United States may exchange detainees, and the US side lies that Chinese students willing to return to China have been released, we cannot help but be anxious. Our government must not believe their words, except for Xuesen, how many compatriots are there, and those who want to return... However, we are waiting for liberation for a long time, impatient, lest we miss the opportunity, please forgive the old man, please forgive the government! Attached is a section of old news from the New York Times for Xuesen's five years of beauty. ”
On June 15, 1955, Qian Xuesen sent a letter to Chen Shutong
At that time, they did not know Chen Shutong's address, and could only send it to Qian's father in Shanghai, asking Qian's father to transfer it on his behalf. If it is sent directly from the United States to Shanghai, it is very risky, because the FBI will open and inspect Qian Xuesen's correspondence. After much thought, Qian Xuesen decided to put the letter in a separate envelope with the address of his home in Shanghai, and then sandwiched the letter in a letter sent by Jiang Ying to his sister who was living in Belgium at the time, and Jiang Ying asked her sister to forward it to Shanghai immediately after receiving the letter.
Letters sent from the United States to Belgium are less likely to arouse the vigilance of American agents than letters sent directly to China. Nevertheless, in order to be foolproof, the couple carefully considered every detail. To prevent the FBI from recognizing the note, the letter was written by Jiang Ying with her left hand imitating a child's handwriting.
How to avoid surveillance and put the letter into the mailbox is also an important part. Jiang Ying thought that there were post boxes in the large shopping malls in the farther neighborhoods. So, they came to the mall, Qian Xuesen waited at the door, Jiang Ying entered the mall, taking advantage of the fact that no one around was paying attention, she quickly threw the letter into the mailbox.
Jiang Ying recalled: "I told my sister in Belgium about our situation and asked her to contact the Chinese government and say that we wanted to return to China and think of a way for us. My sister is very smart, knows this, and quickly sends this letter to Qian Xuesen's father, who is in Shanghai. ”
After receiving the letter, Qian Xuesen's father quickly sent the letter to Chen Shutong, and after Chen Shutong received the letter, he immediately reported to Premier Zhou Enlai.
The Foreign Ministry immediately sent a telegram to Wang Bingnan, who was participating in sino-US ambassadorial negotiations in Geneva, asking him to ask the US side to release Qian Xuesen. At the negotiating table, when the US representative insisted that no Chinese citizens had been detained, the letter, which had been passed through thousands of mountains and rivers, became the most powerful response.
Wang Bingnan (3rd from left) meets with Johnson (2nd from right).
In September 1955, with the efforts of the Party Central Committee, the US government finally agreed to release Qian Xuesen. On September 17, Qian Xuesen's family embarked on the journey back to China aboard the "President Cleveland".
In September 1955, Qian Xuesen's family took a photo on a returning cruise ship
Ask the Ministry of Defense for a husband
In January 1956, Qian Xuesen, who had just returned to China for three months, became the director of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his work was very busy, and the couple gathered less and left more. Jiang Ying said: "Since he did this, he no longer has the hobby of playing ball, taking photos, and painting. ”
As a technical leader of China's rocket, missile and aerospace undertakings, from the mid-1950s to the 1970s, Qian Xuesen often had to work on the front line of the Great Northwest Desert, braving the violent yellow sand and the fiery sun, eating and sleeping in the rare desert, squatting at the base for ten days and a half months, or even months.
Due to confidentiality requirements, Qian Xuesen never told his family on business trips, leaving no phone calls or letters. Sometimes, he came back unconsciously, and Jiang Ying asked him where he had gone and why he had become so thin, and he just smiled lightly and said, "It's okay, don't worry."
Qian Xuesen (4th from the left) inspects the missile's liquid oxygen refueling device at the launch site
Jiang Ying recalled Qian Xuesen's "disappearance" with some resentment: "At that time, he didn't tell me anything. I asked him what he was doing and didn't say anything. Sometimes when I suddenly travel on business, I ask him where he is going, without saying anything. How long to go, do not say. His work and actions are highly confidential, and his whereabouts must be kept absolutely confidential not only to the press, to friends, but also to his family, and I have no idea what he is doing. ”
On November 5, 1960, Xinhua News Agency issued a telegram press release: The first "Dongfeng-1" short-range missile on the mainland was successfully launched in the northwest region of the mainland, accurately hitting the target... When Jiang Ying saw the news, a smile appeared on her face — she thought that this must be qian Xuesen's work.
Since then, Qian Xuesen has "disappeared" many times, and each "disappearance" has always brought good news to the people of the motherland.
Qian Xuesen (1st from right) and Nie Rongzhen (2nd from right) at the scene of the combined firing of the two bombs on October 27, 1966
Slowly, Jiang Ying also gradually got used to Qian Xuesen's "disappearance", she understood Qian Xuesen's work more and more, felt that she could not interfere with him, so she took on all the big things and small feelings in the family, and tried not to let Qian Xuesen bother with these things. It is precisely because of Jiang Ying's silent support and dedication behind him that Qian Xuesen can devote himself to the cause of national defense scientific research in the motherland without distraction.
In 1991, Qian Xuesen was awarded the title of "National Outstanding Contribution Scientist". At the award ceremony, he said: "I would also like to thank my lover Jiang Ying, who made great sacrifices in the most difficult time in the United States, and I cannot forget this." ”
Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying at the award ceremony
Warm old age
In 1987, Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying visited Europe
Qian Xuesen said to Jiang Ying more than once: "You people who are engaged in art need inspiration, but do those who are engaged in science only need data and formulas?" People who are engaged in science also need inspiration, and many of my inspirations are realized from art. ”
Therefore, although Qian Xuesen was so busy, he also took time from time to time to attend some meetings in the literary and art circles, talk about his own views, and often wrote for literary and art journals. Qian Xuesen's article "Inspiration is Latent Thinking" published in "Literary and Art Studies" in his later years is quite novel, and it is very enlightening for scholars in the field of literature and art or science.
Qian Xuesen also loves Beethoven's third symphony "Hero", in Qian Xuesen's view, Beethoven is not only a composer, but also a music poet and music philosopher. The common music hobby makes the love life of Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying more warm, harmonious and colorful, and also makes their respective careers complementary and complementary, and the couple also cooperates to publish articles on the development of music careers.
Under the influence of Jiang Ying, Qian Xuesen's thinking on science and art was more tightly integrated, and he wrote many articles on aesthetics, literature and art, socialist culture, and technical aesthetics, and published many unique insights. These achievements were all inspired by Jiang Ying.
In his later years, Qian Xuesen was bedridden for a long time. Every day, when the staff read the newspaper to Qian Xuesen, Jiang Ying always silently accompanied him.
Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying in their later years
In October 2001, the Hong Kong Fok Ying Tung Awards Committee awarded Qian Xuesen the "Fok Ying Tung Outstanding Award" with a prize of HK$1 million. Because of his inability to move, Qian Xuesen entrusted Jiang Ying and his son Qian Yonggang to receive the award. Before leaving, Qian Xuesen looked at his well-dressed wife, smiled and said, "You go to collect the money?" ”
Jiang Ying said, "Yes, I'll bring the check back." ”
Qian Xuesen said humorously: "Well, you want money, I want Jiang (the harmonic sound of the award)." ”
The family had not yet reacted, and Qian Xuesen himself smiled.
Not long after, Jiang Ying returned a million Hong Kong dollars that he donated. Jiang Ying once said: "If a scientific researcher is full of money, honor, status and other things, even if he is very smart, he will not become a great instrument." ”
This legendary couple has spent 62 years hand in hand, they have supported each other, they have made each other successful, they rarely talk about love, but everywhere reveals that they know and love each other. As Qian Yonggang said: "The love of parents is a kind of wordless companionship." ”
Text: Wang Wenhua, Qian Xuesen researcher, popular science writer