"Overall, there's nothing creative about this paper you're writing." Professor Rosberg set the tone when he said, "But, with concise physical language and superb mathematical skill, you have expounded the complex physical systems we know to be, with rigor, precision, and impeccable flaw." This concise essay you wrote is more like ...... I thought, yes, it's more like a handout for a graduate quantum theory course, isn't it? ”

Li Kangping nodded and said, "Professor, I think, probably, yes?" ”

"Oh, a Columbia College student has written a graduate lecture note on quantum theory! Mr. Lee, you get another A. ”

"Thank you."

Li Kangping asked: "Professor, I want to know, how many A's can be exchanged for an A' in the course of atomic theory?" ”

Professor Rothberg, holding a page of Li Kangping's paper in his left and right hands, said with a smile: "Physics is like this, and the distinction between genius and stupidity is clear in front of physics. Lee, you've got an A. ”

"Atomism?"

"That's right."

"Oh, surprise!"

"Don't be too happy." Professor Rothberg suddenly became serious, and he said: "American physics is experimental physics, and you will receive training in physics experiments and submit at least one qualified experimental report. If you do, I think I'll give you an A+. ”

"Wow, that's exciting, I can't wait to get into the lab!"

Under the arrangement of Professor Rosberg, Li Kangping soon entered the laboratory and began to receive training in physics experiments.

A grounded metal plug that fits closely with the tube forms the cathode, and the rays emitted from the cathode pass through the slit of the other grounded metal plug, then pass between two parallel aluminum plates about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide, and finally land on the inner wall of the end of the tube, creating a long, narrow spot with distinct boundaries.

"Cathode rays, I did it!"

Li Kangping recorded the experimental data, he spent some time familiar with the experimental equipment in 1920, and he found a big problem, today's physical experiments lack hardware protective devices, and the experimenters do not wear any protective equipment when doing experiments.

Everyone was dressed in casual clothes for experiments, and cathode rays, X-rays were radioactive, and the worst thing was the radium source that produced α rays and γ rays.

It's like risking your life to do an experiment!

"Alan, did you know that long-term exposure to these rays can cause permanent harm to the human body without any protection." Li Kangping said to his experimental partner.

Alan Biederman said indifferently: "Harm? Maybe a little bit. ”

Roentgenium's discovery of X-rays, Becquerel's discovery of Bekere's ear rays, and Curie's refinement of pure radium are all major scientific achievements born in the past 20 years.

Scientists focus on the academic use of these rays and radioactive elements, but they do not pay much attention to the harm they can cause to the human body.

Li Kangping noticed that Allen's signature on the experiment log paper was J. Allen Biederman.

"Jay Allen Biederman, is that your full name?" Li Kangping asked.

Alan said as he cleaned up the bench, "That's right. ”

"Mr. Jay Allen Biederman, I think we should have a cup of coffee." Li Kangping said.

"Coffee time, why not?" Alan agreed.

The two left the lab and made their way to the café.

Alan gently stirred the spoon and he said, "Lee, you are a smart person, Professor Rosberg likes smart students, he likes you." ”

Li Kangping took a sip of coffee and said, "Professor Rothberg also has a good opinion of you. ”

"After studying atomic theory, I will have a bachelor's degree, and I will probably apply for admission and scholarships to graduate school after Christmas," Allen said. ”

"I think I'll do the same, maybe next spring," Li said. ”

"In fact, many Americans can't afford to go to a good private university, and the high tuition fees have ruined our families. If I can't get a fellowship from Columbia Graduate School, I'll have to go to New Mexico State or Montana Tech, but the question is, do they have labs? Alan smiled bitterly, he was full of a sense of crisis.

Li Kangping comforted: "Allen, you are such an excellent person, you will definitely be able to stay in Columbia." ”

"Li, you Chinese students are treated much better than us, at least you don't have to worry about tuition fees."

"And I'd rather worry about tuition."

Li Kangping looked out the window with a complicated mood, Gengzi indemnity, one of the national shames, Gengzi stayed in the United States, is there really no sorrow?

"Lee, let me explain to you, my first name J, in fact it stands for Julian, and I don't usually use this J except for the written signature. Did I tell you that I was born into a Jewish family in Maine, and my father said that the first name containing J was a formal family tradition. "Alan doesn't hide his family background.

"Alan, thank you for telling me this, you are my most reliable friend. My friend, can you give me a chance to treat you to dinner? ”

"Li, are you the son of your state official, or the son of a wealthy businessman?"

"Oh, Alan, this is my privacy!"

Li Kangping, who did not want to disclose his privacy, invited Allen to a meal, and Li Kangping, who has always spent money lavishly, showed his generosity. And a generous gentleman will be welcomed by the majority.

Li Kangping quickly adapted to the campus life of Columbia, and the two different worlds on and off campus, the world on campus was relatively easy to adapt to.

In October, Lee arrives on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where African-Americans, Eastern Europeans, and Latinos live together, as well as Chinatown.

The Tang dialect of Chinatown is Cantonese, and most of the Chinese residents are Cantonese expatriates.

There is a grocery store selling salted fish, eel, snake meat, soy sauce, shark fin, bird's nest, dried abalone and other goods shipped to the United States from Guangzhou or Hong Kong.

The uncle who sold the goods asked in Tang dialect: "What to buy?" ”

Li Kangping replied in Tang dialect: "Dry abalone a dozen, give it to the nobles, and the packaging is more exquisite." ”

The uncle took the dried abalone, and there were no exquisite packaging materials in the store, so he wrapped it in oil paper and tied it up.

Li Kangping communicated with his uncle for a while, and he learned that there are no very rich or poor overseas Chinese in the United States, and that most of the overseas Chinese are honest and cautious, who swallow their anger and work hard, and that almost all overseas Chinese send money to their relatives in their hometowns in Guangdong or Fujian, and if they have any surplus money, they will donate to Mr. Zhongshan's revolutionary movement.

After shopping until the evening, Li Kangping arrived at 43rd Street, and Mr. Zhou's apartment was located on 43rd Street.

Li Kangping went up to the second floor of this apartment building and rang the doorbell of a certain room.

Mr. Zhou opened the door to greet the guests and said hello.

Li Kangping was dressed in a dress, but Mr. Zhou was wearing a Chinese-style gown.

"I brought some Cantonese specialties from Chinatown, a little heart, and thank Mr. Zhou for taking care of me." Li Kangping, who came to the Zhou Mansion for the first time, offered a small gift.

"Kangping broke the bill."

Mr. Zhou welcomed Li Kangping to the door, and Li Kangping saw a foreigner sitting in the house, this person was about 40 years old, he was thin, with sideburns and beard, a very pointed nose, and eyes as large as bull's eyes.

Li Kangping glanced at the foreigner who smoked cigars, and said secretly, why is there a foreigner at the reunion of Chinese classmates?

Mr. Zhou introduced: "This is Mr. Strauss, in the United States and China, Mr. Strauss has been running around and solving many problems for us. Mr. Strauss is a good friend of ours, and Camping is here to talk about anything. ”