At the California Institute of Technology, in the office of the chairman of the executive committee, Louis Williams was gushing about Chen Qiang's speech to an old man in front of him.

Caltech is a private university, and their executive committee chairman is the president of the school. In 1932, the chairman of the executive committee of the California Institute of Technology was named Robert Andrew Milligan, a famous physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1923.

"Luis, our school would love to invite the world's top athlete like Mr. Chen to give a speech, but I am afraid I can't accept the $200 speech fee." Milligan paused, then continued:

"With all due respect, although Mr. Chen is the best presence in the field of sports and he has also won amazing honors at the Olympics, we are a polytechnic after all, not a sports college specializing in physical education. I don't think Mr. Chen's speech will appeal to our students. ”

Louis Williams had already guessed that Milligan would have this kind of reaction, and said: "Chairman Milligan, to be honest, Mr. Chen has already given three lectures at the University of California, Los Angeles, and during the first speech, the University of California, Los Angeles was only willing to pay Mr. Chen $20, but after listening to Mr. Chen's first speech, they were willing to pay him $100 and ask him to give a second speech. After the second talk, they paid Mr. Chen $200 to give a third talk. It is for this reason that I hope that Mr. Chen's lecture fee at your school will not be less than 200 US dollars. ”

After Louis-Williams finished speaking, he took out a few photos from his bosom, handed them to Milligan, and then continued: "Chairman Milligan, please look at these photos, this is what Mr. Chen was like when he was speaking at the University of California, Los Angeles. ”

Milligan took the photo and looked down, and was shocked.

"Speak outdoors and in such an audience! Could it be that the content of the Chinese's speech is really attractive? ”

At that time, there was no photoshop technology, and Milligan recognized it, and the scene in the photo was in front of the UCLA library, and in several of the photos, you can vaguely see that the president of UCLA and several professors are all sitting below listening to Chen Qiang's speech.

Milligan frowned slightly, and although there were photos to prove it, he still refused to believe that a Chinese could tell something earth-shattering, which could be worth $200.

Next to him, Louis Williams continued: "President Milligan, I know you have doubts about Mr. Chen's speech, or I propose a plan, if your school is willing to pay $100, I can have Mr. Chen give a talk, if your school thinks that Mr. Chen's speech is very meaningful, then how about we discuss the next cooperation?" ”

Milligan glanced at the photo in his hand again, thought for a moment, and then nodded: "This plan is feasible, if Mr. Chen's speech is really as good as you say, our school is willing to pay 200 US dollars for Mr. Chen to give a second speech." ”

……

Qiang Chen's first speech at the California Institute of Technology.

As Milligan sat in the first row of the stands, he finally understood why the University of California, Los Angeles was willing to pay $200 for Mr. Chen to give a speech.

"This presentation is definitely worth $200!" Milligan had a judgment in his mind.

Milligan is not an expert in kinesiology, but as president of Caltech, he has a lot to know about other fields. And this kind of well-informed scholar is naturally also a knowledgeable person who knows the value of Chen Qiang's speech.

"I really have to ask this Chinese to give another speech, and I have to pay him $200 for the next speech."

……

Louis Williams happily took the money into his arms.

He received a commission of $30 for this presentation, and $60 for the next presentation, which is enough to cover the family's food expenses for a month.

Louis Williams looked at Chen Qiang beside him, he knew that these were all brought by Chen Qiang, if it weren't for Chen Qiang, he might still be looking for a job as a painter and living a precarious life, and his four children might also go hungry.

"Chen, are there any arrangements for tomorrow night? If you have time, why not go to my house for dinner? Louis Williams extended an invitation to Chen Qiang.

Louis Williams has nothing to thank Chen Qiang, and the only thing he can do is probably invite Chen Qiang to his house for dinner.

Chen Qiang pondered for a few seconds, anyway, Song Junfu and Liu Changchun had already left, and there was nothing to do if they were alone, so it was better to accept Louis Williams' invitation and go to his house for a light meal.

The next night, Chen Qiang bought some bacon sausages and cheese as gifts and went to Louis Williams' house.

Originally, Chen Qiang planned to buy a bottle of red wine, but now is the time of the Great Depression, food is obviously a better gift, and for the average family, sausage and cheese have become luxury on the table, the most popular food.

Louis Williams lives southwest of Los Angeles and he has a small house. Louis Williams' wife was a psychologist. This husband and wife duo of painters and psychologists, if placed in a good economy, will definitely have no worries about food and clothing, and live a comfortable life, but in the current era of the Great Depression, even skilled workers will be unemployed, and it is even more difficult for painters and psychologists to find a job, which is why Louis Williams will go to the circus to paint advertising paintings.

Louis Williams has been waiting for Chen Qiang's arrival on the doorstep. When Chen Qiang arrived, he handed the sausages and cheese to Louis Williams.

"Chen, you're so kind to have brought a gift." Louis Williams took the paper bag with the food wrapped.

"For the children." Chen Qiang said.

"There are sausages and cheese, and the kids will definitely thank their Uncle Chen." Louis Williams spoke.

"Uncle Chen? Luis, I'm only eighteen years old, not much older than your child. Chen Qiang said with a smile.

"Looks like yes, if my eldest son were still alive, he would be eighteen years old this year!" Louis Williams let out a long sigh and continued, "Chen, come into the house and I'll introduce you to my wife and children." ”

Louis Williams invited Chen Qiang into the house and shouted inside, "Bra, Chen is here!" ”

A woman in her forties came out of it, and she was none other than Louis Williams' wife, Bra.

Chen Qiang heard Louis Williams talk about him and his wife. Louis Williams and his wife Bra originally lived in Kansas, and the two grew up together as childhood sweethearts. When Louis Williams proposed to Bula, he was opposed by Bula's parents, who did not want to marry Bula to a poor boy, so the two chose to elope.

The couple settled in California and then had five children. Their eldest son, Stanton Williams, was tapped by Hollywood as a child and became a child star, which also brought wealth to the Williams family, and they bought a plot of land and built a house on it, which is where Williams now lives. At the same time, Louis Williams also opened a painting studio.

But unfortunately, the child star died of intestinal disease in 1929. In that era of backward medical care, there was not even penicillin, and there were many simple-sounding diseases that were enough to make people fatal.

Now Louis Williams has four children, three daughters and a son.

Chen Qiang followed Louis Williams into the living room.

"Kids, here comes the Olympic champion I mentioned to you!" Louis Williams shouted, and four teenage children sprang out of the room one after another.

"That's my eldest daughter, Maurice, my second daughter, Joan and David, who are twins, and my youngest daughter, Esther, who is the little beauty of our family!" Louis Williams pointed to the four children.

Chen Qiang's eyes stayed on Louis Williams' little daughter, and the little girl also looked at Chen Qiang in surprise.

Louis Williams's youngest daughter is the little girl Esther who Chen Qiang saved from drowning in the rooftop pool of the Los Angeles Sports Center before.

……

Louis Williams was busy cutting sausages, and Esther cautiously approached Chen Qiang's side.

"You're the athlete your dad said you were! You really are an Olympic champion! Esther stared at Chen Qiang with a curious expression.

"The last time we met, I told you about it, but unfortunately you didn't believe it." Chen Qiang replied with a smile.

"Now I believe it, my dad said the other day that he was an agent for the best athletes in the world. So you're the best athlete in the world! Esther said and looked at Chen Qiang's chest, and then asked, "You didn't bring your gold medal this time!" ”

"Who usually goes out with that kind of thing." Chen Qiang patted Esther's head.

"Then the next time you come, can you bring your gold medal and let me see it?" Esther asked.

"Okay, I can lend it to you for a while, but don't break it for me." Chen Qiang opened his mouth and agreed.

Esther suddenly hugged Chen Qiang's arm excitedly: "You must count when you speak!" ”

……

A day later, Chen Qiang came to Louis Williams's house again to eat, and brought a gold medal to Esther by the way.

"Esther, don't spoil Uncle Chen's gold medal!" Louis Williams shouted at her little daughter.

Esther didn't seem to hear her father's voice, and she still loved to play with the gold medal in her hand.

"I want to be an athlete in the future, and I want to participate in the Olympics!" Esther swore an oath.

Chen Qiang touched Esther's head and said: "It is not so easy to participate in the Olympic Games, the Olympic Games bring together the world's top athletes, so if you want to stand on the Olympic stage, you must also become the best athlete in the world, which means that you have to put in more effort than normal people." ”

Esther nodded as if she didn't understand, and then sighed lightly: "It's a pity that you are not a swimming instructor, otherwise, you can teach me to swim." ”

"I can teach you how to swim now, too." Chen Qiang said.

"You're a track and field athlete, do you know how to swim?" Esther asked innocently.

"Nonsense, if I don't know how to swim, how did I get you up that day." Chen Qiang replied.

"If you don't say it, I almost forgot about it." Esther blinked her eyes wide, revealing a naturally cute expression, and then asked softly, "You didn't tell my dad about that, did you?" ”

"Don't worry, I didn't say anything." Chen Qiang replied.

"Yes, it's a secret between us, and you can't tell anyone." Esther emphasized again, then she played with the gold medal in her hand and asked, "Are you a good swimmer?" ”

Chen Qiang thought for a while and replied, "It's not amazing, but if I teach you, there will definitely be no problem." ”

"Okay, I remember, you're going to teach me how to swim in the future!" A smile suddenly appeared on Esther's face.

This little girl looks like it's easy to meet.

……

In the following days, Chen Qiang traveled almost all over California, making speeches to make money, in addition to giving speeches and preparing speeches, his main thing was to go to Louis Williams' house to eat.

Gradually, Chen Qiang and the Louis-Williams family got acquainted, and in his spare time, Chen Qiang would tell the children about his participation in the Olympics and some other stories, but except for Esther, the other three children did not seem to be interested in it.

The other three children prefer Hollywood, perhaps influenced by their older brother, who all want to enter Hollywood and become movie stars.

In Chen Qiang's view, this is also a very normal thing, except for Esther, the other three children are already in middle school, which is the rebellious adolescence and the age of chasing stars. For children of this age, celebrities are indeed more attractive than sports.

Esther is different, she is the youngest child of the Williams family, and the most spoiled child, she prefers to listen to Chen Qiang's stories than her older siblings.

Chen Qiang made a lot of money from his speeches, and Louis Williams also got a lot of money from it, which made his life much better, and there were more meat and dairy products on the table, and the children had new clothes to wear.

One evening, Louis Williams and Chen Qiang discussed the next trip.

"Chen, we've all been running around the universities in California, and I think next, we're going to leave California and give a speech in an eastern city." Louis Williams spoke.

"Okay, it's still the old rule, you pick a place, and I'll be in charge of the speech." Chen Qiang replied happily that he also wanted to visit the United States and feel the customs and customs of various parts of the United States.

Louis Williams continued: "We have two next two places, Texas, or Illinois. There are several famous universities in Texas, such as Rice University, the University of Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, etc., and Texas cowboys have always been interested in sports. ”

"If we go to Illinois, we can go to Chicago, which is a big and wealthy city, and there are many famous schools near the Great Lakes, such as the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Notre Dame, and Springfield College, which ranks first in physical education in the United States, is also there."

Chen Qiang thought for a while and said, "Let's go directly to Illinois, and then we can go directly to the northeast of the United States, Boston, New York and Washington, I know that it is the most elite area in the United States." ”

Before the rise of the American technology industry, Chicago has always been the second largest city in the United States, and the Great Lakes urban agglomeration is also the essence of the United States, in the traditional industrial era, most of the manufacturing industry in the United States is concentrated in the Great Lakes urban agglomeration, and two-thirds of the economic growth of the United States also depends on the Great Lakes urban agglomeration.

However, after the rise of the U.S. technology industry in the future, the Great Lakes will decline, the service industry will become the dominant part of the U.S. economy, and a large number of factories will move to countries with lower labor costs, and the United States will gradually abandon traditional manufacturing. New York, with its predominantly financial industry, has not been affected, and California, with its Silicon Valley, has become one of the richest states in the United States, while traditional industrial areas have gradually turned into abandoned and dilapidated slums.

For example, the automobile city of Detroit, in the thirties to the sixties, was its most glorious era, the oil crisis in the seventies hit the American auto industry hard, and since then Detroit has gone downhill, and then the Japanese car entered the American market, and gained a foothold, Detroit declined even more, and eventually became a bankrupt city.

Chen Qiang took a train to Chicago, a railroad that crossed the entire North American continent and truly turned the United States into a whole, and at the same time, the railway also flowed with the endless blood and tears of Chinese workers.

In this era, American trains are much better than Chinese trains, more spacious and brighter, and you can also enjoy the scenery along the way, which is definitely the first choice for home travel.

When Chen arrived in the Great Lakes region, it was the most prosperous era of traditional industries in the United States, but because of the Great Depression, it was also the most unemployed area in the United States.

The second half of 1932 and the first half of 1933 were at the height of the Great Depression, and the streets of Chicago were filled with unemployed workers, some of whom had become homeless, begging on the streets, and there were long queues at every food distribution point. The streets of Chicago were in a depression. In comparison, the situation in Los Angeles is much better.

Chen Qiang first stayed in a hotel, and then Louis Williams began to visit various universities.

The first to send goodwill to Chen Qiang was Springfield College, a famous American sports school.

In the United States, almost all comprehensive universities have sports-related disciplines or departments, but there are very few professional sports schools. Springfield College is a sports college.

Springfield College also has a lot of roots with China, when the Qing Dynasty children in the United States, some people went to Springfield College to study, these people returned to China, brought modern sports into China, they are also the first generation of Chinese sports people. In the following decades, many Chinese students went to Springfield College to study or study, such as Professor John Ma of Tsinghua University, and Coach Song Junfu, who came to Los Angeles with Chen Qiang this time, all studied at Springfield College.

After all, Springfield College is a sports college, in addition to speeches, Chen Qiang also had sports exchanges with teachers and students in the school, and when visiting Springfield College, Chen Qiang also saw a lot of Chinese students studying at Springfield College.

After finishing his visit at Springfield College, Chen Qiang went to another small university.

This is also the strategy that Chen Qiang and Louis Williams specified, starting with some smaller schools, working from easy to difficult, making a name for themselves in smaller schools, then going to larger universities, and finally top universities.

There are many more universities in the Mideast of the United States than in the West, and they are more famous than those in the West. The further you go to the Northeast, the more top universities in the world there are, Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all in the northeast of the United States.

As for the speech fee, Chen Qiang didn't charge too much, he just came to Chicago, and it is still in its infancy, so let's open up the situation first. The previous successful speeches in Los Angeles could only prevent Chen Qiang from being rejected by various universities, and if he wanted to make money with his speeches, Chen Qiang had to come up with some "dry goods".

To give a speech at a top university, it is not enough to be famous, you must also have real talent and learning, otherwise any singer or movie star can go to Harvard or Yale to give a speech and make money.

This kind of world's top university is not interested in celebrity speeches, in the eyes of top universities, celebrities are a yarn! There are two kinds of speakers that top universities need, one is a political dignitary from a big country, and the other is a top academic.

It is a political consideration to invite a major political dignitary to speak, and it is impossible for any top university to escape political factors, or a university has reached a certain height, and it must participate in politics to a certain extent in order to be able to do academic research with peace of mind.

If you are a Nobel Prize winner, let alone go to Harvard or Yale to give a speech, you will have no problem living in it for a few years.

Therefore, Chen Qiang wants to give a speech at a prestigious school, but the identity of a "world's No. 1 athlete" is not enough to be taken seriously, he must add a layer of "academic" to himself, and he wants to package himself as a "scholar".

The concept of "sub-health" is Chen Qiang's best weapon, he wants to spread this concept, let as many people as possible know the concept of "sub-health", and then turn "sub-health" into an academic topic, so that Chen Qiang, as the proposer of the concept of "sub-health", naturally has an aura of "scholar". Going to a top university to give a lecture will also become a matter of course.

……

Louis Williams was busy, not only did he visit universities in the Great Lakes region, but he also contacted some news outlets to pitch Chen's article.

What Chen Qiang wrote was naturally an article about "sub-health". Chen Qiang can no longer satisfy Chen Qiang by giving a speech in college, and he plans to build momentum in the media to promote his concept of "sub-health".

At the same time, Chen Qiang is still writing a paper on "sub-health", planning to send it to the journal for publication, once successful, then he can be regarded as a real "scholar" garment.

……

Eureka Academy is where Chen Qiang's next speech will be.

Eureka Academy is not large, it is an elite small class school. The reputation is far less than that of the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.

After a speech, the concept of "sub-health" instantly attracted all the audience.

After the speech, the students gathered around and asked Chen Qiang questions.

After Chen Qiang answered a few questions briefly, he was ready to say goodbye and leave.

At this time, a handsome young man came out of the crowd: "Mr. Chen, can you answer me a question?" ”

Chen Qiang originally planned to refuse, but after taking a look, he found that this young man was really a little handsome, and the smile on this young man's face was very sunny, even if Chen Qiang was a straight man of steel, he still couldn't help but have a good impression of the handsome young man.

"Well, that's the last question." Chen Qiang said.

"Thank you." The handsome guy continued: "My name is Ronald Wilson Reagan, and I want to ask ......"

At this second, Chen Qiang's eyes were full of surprise.

At this time, Chen Qiang didn't care about the handsome guy at all, he only had the name of the handsome guy when he introduced himself.

"Ronald Wilson Reagan, he's the future President of the United States, Ronald Reagan!"

Chen Qiang looked at Reagan, and said secretly in his heart: No wonder Reagan can be an actor, this appearance is really handsome.

Seeing the big celebrity, Chen Qiang felt a little excited in his heart, he coughed dryly, and said: "Mr. Reagan, your question is very constructive, come, let's take a photo together!" ”

Young Reagan was confused.

"What's the situation? I'm just for an ordinary question, where does it come from to be constructive! How to ask a question and take a group photo! Question: Is there anything to do with constructive and group photos? ”

……

Shanghai Beach.

There were a lot of people gathered on the pier, and you could see from afar, and there were many banners erected.

Those who don't know may think that the students are engaged in anti-Japanese demonstrations again, and when they walk in, they find that there are some welcome slogans written on this banner.

For example, slogans such as "Welcome Chen Qiang's triumphant return", "Warmly welcome the return of the world's No. 1 athletes", "Athletes, compete in the Olympics, promote the prestige of our country", "National hero, Chinese model" and other slogans.

These people are all here to greet Chen Qiang. People from all walks of life in Shanghai, people from the Ministry of Education, reporters from major newspapers, and even British and French reporters stationed in Shanghai were all present at the scene.

The steamer gradually approached the dock, Song Junfu and Liu Changchun, who couldn't wait to appear on the deck, after more than 20 days of sailing, they had long been impatient to return to their motherland.

"There are a lot of people on the shore, they should all come to greet Chen Qiang. But they're going to be disappointed. Liu Changchun sighed lightly.

Song Junfu also smiled bitterly: "If they knew that Chen Qiang was still in the United States, it would be a mess." ”

"Coach, do we really want to say, is Chen Qiang brushing dishes in the United States?" Liu Changchun asked subconsciously.

"At this scene, so many people came to greet us, of course we can't say that Chen Qiang is brushing the plates. However, if a reporter asks about it in private, it doesn't hurt for us to talk about it. Song Junfu paused, and then said: "Forget it, don't open your mouth for a while, I'll say it!" ”

——————

Finally finished writing, this chapter is more than 7,000 words, ask for a monthly ticket, ask for a recommendation ticket!