Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 907 Conversation between Father and Son

My son Fang Le has always been among the top three in his grade at the High School Affiliated to Northwestern Polytechnical University. Last year, he joined the National Olympic Mathematics Training Team and represented the country in the Mathematical Olympiad in Glasgow, England, where he won a gold medal. He has now been qualified to study at Tsinghua University.

So while other senior high school students were staying up late to study hard these days, he had nothing to do all day. He didn't expect that such a strange thing would happen!
Fang Minghua asked Song Tangtang on the phone: "Did Lele make this decision because of the influence of his uncle?"

"Guess so."

"Is Lele here? Let him answer the phone." Fang Minghua said again.

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go call him."

My son's brother-in-law is Liu Jianjun. A few years ago, after the hard work of a large number of aviation science and technology personnel, my country's early warning aircraft was successfully launched into the sky. The early warning aircraft radar communication system he was responsible for developing won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, making him a big figure in the field of electronic radar communications.

He has now been transferred from Institute 618 to become the vice president of Northwestern Polytechnical University, and it is said that he has also been included in the nomination list for academicians of the National Academy of Engineering this year.

Perhaps because they both like science and engineering, my son is usually close to his uncle.

After a few minutes, I heard my son's voice on the other end of the phone.

"Dad, are you looking for me?"

"Yes, I heard from your mother that you wanted to study abroad. Did your uncle tell you something?"

"I went to Northwestern Polytechnical University to see my uncle last week. We talked about this matter. He encouraged me to study abroad and asked me to apply to Stanford University, saying that the teaching quality there is first-class in the world and cannot be compared with Tsinghua University and Yanda University in China."

"Think carefully. The school is going to recommend you to Tsinghua University, but if you want to go to Stanford, you have to fight for it yourself. Now there are less than four months before enrollment. It is too late for you to take the SAT, ACT, or TOEFL, so you have to take the college entrance examination and apply based on your college entrance examination scores. Don't expect me to help you with this matter!"

Fang Minghua's tone was very serious.

"Dad, I never thought I would need your help with school." On the other end of the phone, the son's tone was relaxed: "Isn't it just taking the college entrance examination? I'll take it. There are still two months left, so everything is in time."

He is indeed a top student.

Even Fang Minghua, as the boss, feels inferior to him in this regard.

After a while, Fang Minghua asked again: "Le Le, what major are you going to apply for?"

"I want to study software engineering, Dad. You know, the Internet and online games are very popular now. I can work in the Internet industry in the future, build a website or start a company to develop games or something."

Fang Minghua frowned after hearing this: "Is this your uncle's suggestion?"

"No, it's my own idea. My uncle-in-law suggested that I study microelectronics or integrated circuit design and integrated systems. He said that these are the talents that the country urgently needs and that I can design chips in the future. He also said that chips are the foundation and core of the information industry and are known as the "food of modern industry." Fang Le said on the phone.

"Listen to your uncle!" Fang Minghua said firmly: "You want to study abroad, I respect your idea, but you must listen to your uncle when choosing a major!"

"Dad, but I don't like going to college to do scientific research like my uncle did. It's too boring."

"Who said you have to do scientific research?" Fang Minghua said with a smile: "After you finish your studies, you can also start a company, a company that designs and manufactures chips! As for funding? Are you worried that I, your dad, don't have money? I tell you, if you want to start a company like this, I'll give you as much as you want!"

Fang Le seemed a little puzzled: "Dad, my uncle-in-law and you both seem to attach great importance to chip research and development."

"That's not nonsense! You just said that chips are the "food of modern industry." What should we do if we have no food to eat?"

"We can buy it. Intel, AMD, Samsung Electronics, these companies are all rushing to sell it to us." Fang Le said unconvinced.

"What if they don't sell to us one day? You'll be left starving?" Fang Minghua said this with a somewhat impatient tone:

"If you want to study economics and finance, or mathematics, which you liked originally, or even literature and philosophy, I don't care, but if you want to study engineering, you must study electronic information!"

On the other end of the phone, Fang Le was silent for a while before saying, "Okay, Dad, I'll listen to you." Hearing his son's agreement, Fang Minghua also breathed a sigh of relief and his tone became gentle:

"Le Le, you are different from your sister. Your sister is a girl and can do whatever she wants with art, but you are a boy, and the most important thing for a man is to have a sense of responsibility, not only to the family, but also to the society! You are very smart, and you should use this intelligence in the areas where the country needs it most."

"My uncle-in-law said the same thing. He told me that he came back from abroad to serve his motherland, otherwise he would have stayed in the United States and never come back. But I think it's too hard for my uncle-in-law and aunt to do scientific research like this. It's better now. I heard that they were even poorer before and sometimes needed help from you, mom and dad." Fang Le said.

Fang Minghua sighed and said, "You are right. This is the fact. This is all caused by the times. But the rise of any country requires the hard work of one or even several generations, and your uncle happens to be one of them."

"But your generation is different. Your life is much better, especially yours. You have no worries about food and clothing. You even live a better life than most of your peers. This makes it even more necessary for you to study hard and return home to serve this country after graduation."

"Yeah, Dad, I understand."

"Okay, give the phone to your mother."

After a while, Song Tangtang's voice came from the microphone: "I heard your conversation with Lele, and I support your decision."

"Haha, that's good. If Lele is really successful in his studies and has a great career in the future, then his contribution to society will be much greater than you and me."

"Why do I feel that you are a little self-deprecating? You are engaged in literature, and your work provides spiritual food for people, which is also very important. Does that mean that literature will no longer be needed in the future?" Song Tangtang retorted on the phone.

"Perhaps, literature will really become dispensable in the future. Well, let's not talk about this. Since Lele is going to take the college entrance examination, let him prepare well."

"Well, you and I don't need to worry about studying. Lele is very self-conscious."

The couple chatted about something else for a while before hanging up the phone.

In the evening, when Li Li came back from school, while they were having dinner together, Fang Minghua told Li Li that Fang Le wanted to come to San Francisco to go to college.

Li Li was very happy to hear this: "Okay, Ruirui is gone, Lele is here again, don't worry, I will take good care of him."

Fang Minghua nodded.

He was reassured about this.

"Lili, I'm going to Stanford University tomorrow," Fang Minghua said again.

"About Lele's matter? Didn't you say you wouldn't help him and that it all depends on him?" Li Li asked with a smile.

"That being said, I am his father after all." Fang Minghua sighed and replied:

"Le Le has been focusing on participating in the Mathematical Olympiad in the past two years. In addition, he has been recommended to Tsinghua University, so he has not reviewed his high school courses well. Who knows how he will do in the college entrance examination? What if he fails?"

"Well, then you can go, but I think you are worrying too much. Lele's college entrance examination results will definitely not be bad!" Li Lijiao said with a smile.

The next day, Fang Minghua drove to Stanford University early in the morning and met Vice President James, who received him warmly.

After all, he is a wealthy man who donated 1000 million US dollars and set up scholarships in universities.

After a brief greeting, Fang Minghua went straight to the point and said that his son wanted to study at Stanford University, and briefly described the child's academic situation.

"Won the gold medal in the Mathematical Olympiad? And was admitted to Tsinghua University? That's a smart kid!" James said with a smile, "Mr. Fang, as long as you can provide these two pieces of information and your child's usual academic performance, he can come to study with me. He can choose any major he wants. Your college entrance examination scores are not required!"

Ah.
It turns out that top students are sought after everywhere.

Fang Minghua immediately felt relieved.

(End of this chapter)