One day in 1978, an old lady dressed plainly was picking winter bamboo shoots in front of a stall, and the salesman of the vegetable stall looked at the old lady in front of her, and was displeased, and said: "Old lady, winter bamboo shoots are very expensive, don't touch them if you can't afford them!"
When the old lady heard this, she silently withdrew her hand holding the bamboo shoots, said nothing, and turned around and walked towards another stall.
Someone next to him heard the salesman's complaint, and asked in surprise: "Don't you know who she is? She is Qian Sanqiang's lover, how can she not afford to buy these winter bamboo shoots?"
Yes, Qian Sanqiang and his wife He Zehui, as well-known nuclear physicists on the mainland, could not afford to buy winter bamboo shoots to eat? She dressed plainly and low-key, just because she was strict with herself.
Tsinghua classmates
In 1913, Qian Sanqiang was born in a scholarly family. His father, Qian Xuantong, was a professor at Peking University and co-founded the magazine New Youth with Chen Duxiu and Hu Shi.
Growing up in such a scholarly family, Qian Sanqiang received the best education, and after graduating from high school, he entered the preparatory department of Peking University and audited undergraduate courses.
At that time, famous professors from Tsinghua University would also come to Peking University to teach, and in the classroom of Peking University, Professor Wu Youxun's lecture on modern physics opened Qian Sanqiang's eyes, which laid the groundwork for his choice of physics in the future.
After that, he was successfully admitted to the Department of Physics of Tsinghua University and became a student of Wu Youxun.
In the same year, He Zehui was also admitted to the Department of Physics of Tsinghua University and became Qian Sanqiang's classmate. That year, there were 28 students in the Department of Physics at Tsinghua University, with 18 more males and 10 females. By the time I graduated, there were only 3 female classmates who persevered to the end.
The older generation thought that it would be difficult for girls to choose physics, and they were afraid that they would not be able to keep up with the progress of the course, so they persuaded them to change departments.
But He Zehui has her own ideas, her idea of studying physics is very firm, and in the end she became one of the three girls who resolutely refused to change departments. During her studies, she devoted herself to her studies, and when she graduated, He Zehui got the highest score in her graduation thesis.
Qian Sanqiang also got a high score of 90 points.
Two people with such excellent grades are often called "talented and beautiful, a natural pair" by their classmates, and the two of them are also attracted to each other and have a good impression of each other, but the two have never expressed their love for each other.
In the four years of college life, Qian Sanqiang and He Zehui have no romantic stories except for their common hobbies and mutual improvement in studies and sports.
So, after graduation, the two went to their ideals with their love for each other, which they had never confessed. After graduation, Qian Sanqiang went to the Curie laboratory in France for further study, and He Zehui went to the Technical University of Berlin in Germany.
He Zehui is the first foreigner at the school to take a major in ballistics, and she is also the first female student to take a major in ballistics.
In 1939, He Zehui received his Ph.D.
In the summer of 1939, Wang Daheng and several other Tsinghua classmates who were studying in the United Kingdom passed through Paris and went to He Zehui in Germany to play. Because the war in Europe was about to break out, Qian Sanqiang could not return to France after going to Germany, so he did not go with him.
Soon after, the European war broke out, and Qian Sanqiang sent a telegram to He Zehui, telling Wang Daheng to leave quickly, and they simply caught the last train.
However, as the war spread, the contact between the two had to be interrupted again.
In 1940, after receiving her Ph.D., He Zehui joined the Siemens Weak Current Laboratory in Berlin.
In 1943, He Zehui came from Berlin to the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Royal Wilhelhelm College in Heidelberg, where he began experimental research in nuclear physics under the supervision of Professor Porter.
At the same time, the ban on correspondence between France and Germany was lifted, but the letter could not be sealed and was limited to 25 French words, and He Zehui wrote a letter to Qian Sanqiang, whom he had not seen for seven years: "Are you still in Paris, if possible, write a letter to my parents at home on my behalf to report your safety." ”
Thousands of miles of marriage are tied by a thread, and this letter has become an opportunity for the two to renew their relationship.
A text message made "China's Marie Curie"
Since then, the correspondence between the two of them has become more and more frequent.
Two years later, the 32-year-old Qian Sanqiang finally sent the first courtship letter to He Zehui.
In the letter, Qian Sanqiang said very seriously: "After a long period of correspondence, I ask you to get married. If you agree, please reply, and I will wait for you to return to your homeland together. ”
It didn't take long for him to receive a reply from He Zehui, which reassured Qian Sanqiang, He Zehui said: "Thank you for your love, I will always be loyal to you." "Two hearts with the same sincerity have become more and more determined by the baptism of time.
In 1946, in the first spring after the end of World War II, He Zehui left the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Royal Wilhelhelm Institute in Heidelberg, Germany, and came to Paris, France, where he entered the Curie Laboratory of the University of Paris, where he became a colleague with Qian Sanqiang.
The two registered their marriage at the Chinese Consulate in France and received a marriage certificate, and they finally came together across time and across mountains and rivers.
At an international academic conference, Qian Sanqiang found in a photograph of the fission of the atomic nucleus divided into two projected by a British scholar that there may be other fission methods in addition to the fission of the atomic nucleus.
After that, he and He Zehui began to do in-depth research on nuclear fission in the Curie laboratory. After tens of thousands of observations, the two discovered the phenomenon of triple and quadruple fission, which the Curies called the first and most important achievement of the laboratory after World War II.
In that year, the French Academy of Sciences awarded the Henri de Barvey Prize to the two.
For a time, many media called Qian Sanqiang and He Zehui "China's Curie couple".
In the summer of 1948, Qian Sanqiang fulfilled his promise, he took the gift of the Curie couple "to serve science, science to serve the people", and returned to the motherland after a long absence with his wife He Zehui, accompanied by their half-year-old daughter.
Indifferent and simple life
In 1950, after the establishment of the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the first nuclear science research institution in New China, He Zehui presided over the research project of preparing nuclear latex.
At that time, the conditions were very difficult, but everyone had great enthusiasm, they searched for information, repeatedly demonstrated, summarized the law, and finally successfully mastered the preparation method of nuclear latex in 1956, won the first State Natural Science Award, and made indelible contributions to the development of the atomic nucleus and other scientific and technological undertakings in the mainland.
Not only that, but she also actively cultivates and supports future generations, and her name has never been signed on the paper that has been carefully scrutinized.
She pays close attention to the development and growth of the juniors, encourages them to enhance their confidence from the little progress, and patiently inspires them to learn and improve from their own lessons.
Under her leadership and influence, generations of young people have embarked on the path of nuclear careers, and they have made contributions to the country and society in their respective fields.
Qian Sanqiang and He Zehui are the leaders of the physics field, and many reporters have visited their homes. It stands to reason that scientists like them who have made great contributions will not be in too bad condition, but Mr. He Zehui is simple and shocking in life.
For half a century, she has lived in a dilapidated small building, and most of the furniture is old from the fifties of the last century.
On June 28, 1992, Qian Sanqiang passed away. After his death, He Zehui still lived in the old house in Zhongguancun. The organization was worried that her life would be inconvenient and wanted to change her house, but she politely declined, saying that she was used to living in an old house.
The layout of the old house has not changed since Qian Sanqiang's death, and she is using her own way to remember her deceased lover.
Many friends, colleagues and subordinates commented on Mr. He Zehui as "indifferent to fame and fortune, no shelves, no enjoyment, and strictly forbidden to do things". She lived a frugal life, with patches on her clothes, old-fashioned liberation shoes on her feet, and if she was hungry, she bought a few steamed buns and steamed buns from the cafeteria, and drank plain water when she was thirsty.
She didn't let up on herself just because she was getting older.
In 2000, she insisted on going to work at the high-energy institute several times a week, and the institute wanted to drive to pick her up, but she refused to let it, preferring to squeeze the bus. She is such a person, she would rather work hard herself than trouble others.
In the eyes of others, He Zehui is a master in the field of physics, but in the eyes of her daughter, she is just an "ordinary old lady", she will knit sweaters for her family in her spare time, go to the vegetable market to buy vegetables, she maintains optimism and confidence in life.
Qian Minxie said: "My mother didn't pay attention to food, clothing, or housing in her life, and never cared about any conditions. ”
She silently dedicated, never publicity, until the twilight of life still insisted on working, academician Wang Daheng said that she is: "Spring is bright and sunny at the beginning of the day, carrying a schoolbag to work, respecting the aunt how old she is, ninety years old and childlike." ”
In 2003, with the approval of the Small Object Nominating Committee of the International Astronomical Union, the asteroid No. 25240 discovered by the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was named "Qian Sanqiang Star".
On June 20, 2011, Mr. Ho Chak Hui passed away at the age of 97.
In 2017, in honor of He Zehui, China's first X-ray astronomy satellite was named "Huiyan".
Si people have passed away, Mr. eternal, the scientific research results they left behind are still benefiting hundreds of millions of Chinese children, and the bright husband and wife "Gemini" have experienced the baptism of time, and are still shining and shining!
"The Ordinary Things of Qian Sanqiang"
file:///D:/2023/2023.12u%E4%B8%8B%E6%97%AC/%E9%92%B1%E4%B8%89%E5%BC%BA%E7%9A%84%E5%B9%B3%E5%87%A1%E4%BA%8B_%E6%9D%8E%E7%99%BD%E8%96%87.pdf
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