In 1922, in a family of intellectuals in Anhui Province, Yang Zhenning was born. His father, Yang Wuzhi, was a mathematician who taught at Tsinghua University and other universities. Perhaps it was this family environment that planted the seeds for Yang Zhenning's future scientific path.
Mr. Yang Zhenning has shown extraordinary talent. When he was 4 years old, under the careful teaching of his mother, it only took a little more than a year to master 3,000 Chinese characters. When he was 7 years old, he entered Tsinghua University with his father, where he studied and grew up, absorbing the nutrients of knowledge.
At the age of 16, he was admitted to the Department of Physics of Southwest Associated University with excellent results, and began his physics journey.
At the age of 20, Yang Zhenning was admitted to the Institute of Physics of Tsinghua University for further study. Two years later, he began working as a high school teacher, accumulating valuable experience for his future research career. At the age of 23, Yang Zhenning went to study in United States with a fiery dream, thus starting his academic journey to change the world.
At the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, Yang Zhenning was 27 years old when he encountered a life-changing opportunity. He collaborated with the famous physicist Enrique · Fermi to propose the first composite model of elementary particles.
This work laid a solid foundation for his future scientific achievements.
In 1957, at the pinnacle of his academic career, Yang was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. This award is not only an affirmation of his personal achievements, but also a demonstration of the wisdom and strength of Chinese scientists to the world.
With the easing of Sino-US relations, Yang Zhenning began to play the role of an envoy of scientific and technological exchanges. On July 28, 1971, Premier Zhou Enlai met with Yang Zhenning at the Great Hall of the People, and they had a three-hour in-depth discussion on China's education and scientific research.
On July 17, 1973, Yang Zhenning was personally received by Chairman Mao in Zhongnanhai, and the conversation lasted for more than an hour, which fully reflected Yang Zhenning's status in the international scientific and technological circles, and also demonstrated his important contributions to the development of China's science and technology.
Standing at the top of his 100-year-old life, looking back on the past, Yang Zhenning's eyes flashed with pride and emotion. His life happens to be intertwined with the development trajectory of modern physics in China, which can be called a spectacular and wonderful picture.
In 1942, when 20-year-old Yang Zhenning was working as a high school teacher, he met Du Zhili, a student who was five years younger than him. At that time, Yang Zhenning may not have expected that this smart and lively girl would become one of the most important partners in his life.
The gears of fate turned again in 1949. 27-year-old Yang Zhenning was in a Chinese restaurant in Princeton, United States, when he met Du Zhili, who was studying abroad. Yang Zhenning learned that Du Zhili was admitted to the university in Peking after graduation, and came to United States because he followed his father.
However, as fate would have it, her father, General Du Yuming, was urgently transferred to the Northeast Battlefield by Chiang Kai-shek before his departure, resulting in Du Zhili having to come to United States alone to study.
Du Zhili's life experience did not hinder the relationship between the two, on the contrary, Yang Zhenning was attracted by Du Zhili's strong and independent personality. When Du Zhili wanted to give up this relationship because of his father's political identity, Yang Zhenning said firmly: "The love between us is not because of any identity, I am determined to marry you."
This incomparable courage and determination touched Du Zhili.
In 1950, Yang Zhenning and Du Zhili got married in United States and began a 53-year relationship. In the first year of marriage, their eldest son, Yang Guangnuo, came. Du Zhili became a good wife and mother and fully supported Yang Zhenning's career.
Yang Zhenning was deeply moved, especially when his son was injured and hospitalized when his research entered a crucial stage, but Du Zhili did not disturb him, allowing him to concentrate on his work.
Yang Zhenning said affectionately: "Without the support of my wife, I would not be able to devote myself to research. It is precisely because of Du Zhili's silent dedication that I have been able to achieve such remarkable achievements on the road of scientific research, become a professor in many universities, and cultivate a large number of outstanding talents.
”。
Their families have been expanding. After Yang Guangnuo, they had a son Yang Guangyu and a daughter Yang Youli. Under the guidance of their parents, the three children have become outstanding talents, the eldest son Yang Guangyu has become a successful engineer, the second son Yang Guangyu has become an accomplished chemist, and the daughter Yang Youli is an excellent doctor.
In 1957, when Yang Zhenning won the Nobel Prize in Physics, his wife Du Zhili has always been by his side to share this important moment in his life. In 1971 and 1973, Yang Zhenning returned to China twice, and Du Zhili accompanied him to witness the important moment when her husband was received by Premier Zhou Enlai and Chairman Mao.
In any case, no matter how loving a couple is, they will face a day of separation. In 2003, Du Zhili died suddenly due to illness, ending 53 years of married life. Yang Zhenning, who lost his beloved, was heartbroken, and this life journey of staying with each other left too many indelible memories.
Looking back, the corners of Yang Zhenning's eyes couldn't help but glow with tears. The more than half century he spent with Du Zhili was the most precious time of his life. These fond memories gave him the motivation and courage to move forward on the path of science.
In the scorching summer of 1995, Shantou University held an important academic event, the First Chinese Physics Conference, which attracted wide attention from the physics community. 73-year-old Yang Zhenning attended the event with his wife Du Zhili.
During the meeting, they met a young receptionist, 19-year-old Weng Fan, who was a sophomore at Shantou University at the time.
As a daughter, Weng Fan has sweet facial features, a smile, and outstanding foreign language skills, which left a deep impression on Yang Zhenning and his wife. Mrs. Yang Du Zhili even kindly took Weng Fan's hand and encouraged her: "Study hard and go to the United States for further study in the future."
The three of them also took a group photo together, freezing this seemingly ordinary but meaningful encounter.
Unexpectedly, this chance encounter turned out to be the foreshadowing of a high-profile love in the future. In the following years, Weng Fan became a student of Yang Zhenning, and often went to his home to ask questions.
The Yang family treated her as if they were their own, and she often helped with housework and cleaning.
However, the gears of fate always turn unexpectedly. In 2002, Yang Zhenning took care of his seriously ill wife Du Zhili in Beijing, and his heart was full of sadness and loneliness. Just a year later, his beloved wife passed away, leaving him alone on the campus at Tsinghua University.
In 2004, fate once again intertwined the life trajectories of 82-year-old Yang Zhenning and Weng Fan. Yang Zhenning took the initiative to contact Weng Fan, hoping to meet him when he did an exchange at Sun Yat-sen University.
After accepting the invitation, Weng Fan was both surprised and moved in his heart, because Yang Zhenning still remembered her.
They had a lively conversation during this reunion, talking about many different topics. Yang Zhenning told Weng Fan about his recent situation and his deep thoughts about his late wife.
Weng Fan comforted the distinguished scholar with warm words, trying to alleviate his sorrow, and as time went on, the emotion that transcended the ages began to grow between the two men, injecting new colors into their lives.
In 2004, the global media reported a shocking news: 82-year-old world-famous physicist Yang Zhenning and 28-year-old Weng Fan married each other. This "grandfather and grandson love" spanning 54 years old immediately sparked unprecedented controversy and discussion.
Although they have been questioned and criticized by the outside world, the relationship between Yang Zhenning and Weng Fan is even stronger. Weng Fan responded frankly in an interview with Yang Lan: "When the man you admire expresses your love and affection to you, it is easy for you to like him too.
This sentence clearly expresses her appreciation and love for Yang Zhenning.
Yang Zhenning's deep affection for Weng Fan is undisguised, and he once said frankly in an interview: "How long can people live, maybe 5 years, maybe I will leave tomorrow, I just hope that my wife can remarry and live a happy life again."
These affectionate and selfless words are moving.
Surprisingly, Yang Zhenning's family members have supported this marriage, especially his eldest son Yang Guangnuo, whose evaluation of Weng Fan is particularly touching. Yang Guangnuo said: "Weng Fan is the kindest girl! We take good care of our fathers, and we as children have not done it.
This sincere sentence is not only an affirmation of Weng Fan, but also reflects the Yang family's acceptance of this marriage.
At first, Weng Fan's parents had reservations about this marriage, but after seeing their daughter's firmness and feeling Weng Fan's sincere feelings for Yang Zhenning, they finally gave their blessings.
Weng Fan's father once said: "Xiao Fan's willingness to make sacrifices to take care of Professor Yang in his later years is a virtue and an honor."
Although there are still different voices from the outside world, the relationship between Yang Zhenning and Weng Fan is getting deeper and deeper, every time they travel, they always clasp their fingers tightly, their eyes gaze, and their affection is enviable. Weng Fan once said affectionately: "In the past 17 years, Mr. Yang has never let go of my hand.
"。
This love, which spanned more than half a century, was controversial at first, but as time went by, more and more people were moved by their sincere feelings. Yang Zhenning and Weng Fan proved with practical actions that true love, regardless of age, only cares about two warm and closely connected hearts.
Their story has become a moving story.
In the 17 years after their marriage, Yang Zhenning and Weng Fan lived a peaceful and happy life, full of desirable happy moments. Weng Fan's delicate care and thoughtfulness made Yang Zhenning's later life full of warmth.
Although their daily life may seem ordinary, it is full of sweetness. They can often be seen sitting on the couch, watching TV together, or listening to the same song with the same pair of headphones.
Yang Zhenning sometimes asks questions with great interest to share his own life experience and scientific research stories, and when Yang Zhenning needs to read quietly, Weng Fan will thoughtfully play the piano and create a quiet reading environment for her husband with beautiful melodies.
For the sake of her husband's health, Weng Fan changed her living habits. She no longer stays up late, but works with Yang Zhenning to establish a regular routine of going to bed early and getting up early, so that she can have more time to spend the rest of her life with her husband.
This meticulous care is fully demonstrated in the details of her life.
Yang Zhenning's gratitude and love for Weng Fan are also deeply expressed in his new book "Dawn Collection". Yang Zhenning wrote affectionately: "Fortunately, the Chinese nation has finally walked through this long night and seen the dawn.
I can't see the dawn, Weng Fan promised to help me see it" This sentence not only reveals his confidence in the future of the motherland, but also expresses his deep attachment and trust to his wife.
From an outsider's point of view, Yang Zhenning and Weng Fan's lives are nothing special, but this kind of ordinary and true love makes their love even better. They show with their actions that true love has no age, as long as the heart understands and supports it.
September 22, 2021 is an extremely special day in Yang Zhenning's life - he ushered in his 100th birthday. Tsinghua University and other units jointly organized a grand celebration to celebrate the centenary of this giant physicist.
Many elites from the scientific community came together to witness this extraordinary moment.
Standing on the podium, the hundred-year-old Yang Zhenning, although he is as old as 100 years old, his spirit is strong, and his eyes are like torches, which surprised the audience. He delivered a touching speech on the topic of "May people live a long time, a thousand miles together".
The voice of the old man of the century was loud and powerful, showing an extraordinary mental state, which moved everyone present.
Weng Fan, who was beside Yang Zhenning, looked at her husband with a smile, her eyes full of reverence and love. This scene is not only another highlight moment of Yang Zhenning's legendary life, but also an important milestone on the road between him and Weng Fan.
Looking back on the past 100 years, Yang Zhenning's life has witnessed the great journey of China from poverty and backwardness to prosperity and strength. He not only witnessed the vicissitudes of the motherland, but also won supreme glory for the motherland with his scientific achievements.
On this special day, Yang Zhenning's 100th birthday is not only a congratulation of his personal achievements, but also the best testimony to the development of China's scientific cause.