Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 790 Establishment of Scholarship

Liu Jianjun was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Brother Minghua, do you still remember the first time we met?"

"How can you not remember? It happened eighteen years ago." Fang Minghua also laughed.

At that time, Fang Minghua had just traveled to this era and was still guarding the gate of Yanhe magazine. Liu Jianjun, who was a student at Northwestern Polytechnical University at the time, broke into the magazine with a poem he had written and wanted to meet the editor-in-chief, but was stopped by Fang Minghua, who used another poem of her own to make him turn back.

"At that time, all of us college students, whether we were studying arts or science, had the same belief: study hard and revitalize China! Because we had wasted a full ten years and were lagging far behind developed countries in Europe and America, we urgently needed to catch up. Even the poems we wrote were full of a sense of crisis, such as Bei Dao's "Answer" and Shu Ting's "My Motherland", which inspired everyone to work hard."

"More than a decade has passed, and our country has gradually become stronger, but European and American countries have also developed rapidly. In May this year, the United States bombed our embassy in Yugoslavia. We international students were all angry when we heard the news. In a word, it is still not strong enough."

"So you have to go back." Fang Minghua picked up the beer glass and clinked it with his, saying.

Liu Jianjun nodded.

"Of course, it's not popular to say these things now, but I haven't forgotten them. Besides, I was sent here on a government mission. It would be unreasonable if I didn't go back after spending the country's money. My father is a farmer and hasn't seen much of the world, but he always told me that people should be grateful and repay kindness. That's the same principle."

"Your father is very capable, and he raised a good son like you. Let's toast to your father!" Fang Minghua picked up the beer glass again, and the two of them clinked their glasses and drank it all.

"There is another good news." Liu Jianjun said in a low voice with an excited look on his face:

"Not long ago, Director Zhang of our institute called me and said that the country is preparing to start the research and development of early warning aircraft, which will be undertaken by AVIC I and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, including Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group, Qinfei Aircraft Industry Group, Xidian University, Nanjing China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 14 institutes, including our 618th institute. Director Zhang said that after I return, as a backbone of our institute, I will immediately participate in the research and development of this scientific research project!"

"That's good. Congratulations. I wish you early research and development success!" Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Hehe. Everything I've learned over the past few years is immediately put to good use." Liu Jianjun was also very happy.

"Hey, Jianjun, why did your friend, Wu Haitao, speak so radically just now?" Fang Minghua asked, thinking of the boy just now.

"He just talks like that, but he's a nice guy." Liu Jianjun defended his friend: "He was also a little traumatized when he was studying in China."

"What excitement?"

"He studied at Tsinghua University, where he studied for both his undergraduate and master's degrees. His academic performance was excellent. He said that the school originally recommended him to study for a doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley at public expense, but the spot was taken by someone else. A professor's child with lower academic performance than him was studying for a doctorate at public expense. In anger, he applied to study abroad at Stanford University. With his grades at Tsinghua University, the school would of course accept him, but he had to pay for it himself."

"His hometown is in Sichuan Province. His family conditions are very ordinary. I heard that his family almost did everything they could to support his schooling, and even borrowed money from relatives and friends. He relied on scholarships and work-study programs to barely finish his doctorate. Don't mention it, I also sponsored him."

"So, he wants to stay in the United States wholeheartedly?" Fang Minghua asked. "Yes, he said that if he returns to China, what can he do with the money he earns? He will be sorry for the efforts of his family over the years - the family owes a lot of debts waiting for him to pay back, and he has a younger brother who is also at the age of marriage. What will he do if he doesn't make money?"

"Yeah, I understand." Fang Minghua nodded.

"So I am quite lucky. I come here to study for a doctorate at public expense, and Mingli is also very supportive. And you, my brother-in-law, have given me so much financial support that I can live a life here without worries about food and clothing. I just study and do experiments all day, and my classmates are so envious of me, haha." Liu Jianjun said with a smile.

"It's my duty. When you go back, work hard and you and Mingli will still have a comfortable life!" Fang Minghua said, and suddenly changed the subject: "Jianjun, are there many students like you who come to Stanford to study in mainland China?"

"Not much." Liu Jianjun shook his head.
"Our school has an international student hometown association with about 80 or 90 students. Stanford is considered one of the top universities in the United States, and it is not easy to get in. It is about half public and half private. In addition, the country has tightened the number of public funding for overseas students in recent years, so there will be more and more private funding. Anyway, it is not easy to study abroad."

"I have an idea. I want to set up a foundation in your school to specifically fund master's and doctoral students from China to study abroad. Of course, if their families are poor, each person will receive funding ranging from 4000 to 6000 US dollars per year. This is my initial idea. What do you think?" Fang Minghua said.

"Okay, to be honest, Stanford graduate students have several scholarships and grants, such as Fellowship/Scholarship and Assistantship, but not everyone can get them, and some are only for American students, which we can't enjoy. If you set up grants, international students will definitely welcome it! Especially those self-funded students, this can solve a big problem for them!" said Liu Jianjun.

"Okay, I'll talk to the relevant personnel from your school about this matter." Fang Minghua replied, and then asked:
“I wonder if there is any financial aid for you returning overseas students in China? Many of you gave up high salaries to return to China, so you should be supported and encouraged!”

Liu Jianjun thought for a moment and replied, "I heard that the Ministry of Education implemented a project called the 'Chunhui Plan' last year, which mainly allocated special funds from the Ministry of Education to support overseas students to return to China for short-term work."

"For those of us who return directly to China, we still have some benefits in terms of salary, professional title evaluation, and housing allocation. For example, when I return, I will be a senior engineer, and my salary will be two levels higher than others. Of course, the treatment varies from unit to unit."

"Two levels higher, you also said it's less than 4000 yuan, what is it enough for?" Fang Minghua waved his hand and said, "I plan to set up a fund in China to give 20 to 50 yuan to each of the international students who return to China to work or start a business. You can spend it on your own, whether you want to start a business or settle down!"

"Specifically for our school?"

"No, no, foreign universities, such as MIT, Cambridge, Oxford, etc., are of course world-class universities. Fake universities or even ordinary universities are not good enough. As for the specific list, I will study it slowly."

Oh my God
Liu Jianjun was stunned.

Even if they are world-class universities, there must be dozens of them, right? There are at least a hundred or so international students returning to China from these schools every year!
How much does this cost in a year?!
Seeing Liu Jianjun's astonished look, Fang Minghua smiled mysteriously: "Jianjun, I'm very rich, why do I need so much money? I can't bring it with me when I'm born, and I can't take it with me when I die. I'm leaving it to Lele and Ruirui to squander? It's better to spend it on something useful! I think it's worth it!"

"Brother, I really admire you! I'll toast you a glass!" Liu Jianjun raised the glass.

“Haha, fuck!”

(End of this chapter)