1977: The beginning of the blind date with the daughter of the king

Chapter 663 Multiple Joys!

January 25, 1982, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Early in the morning, Li Changhe took Zhu Lin back to the family compound, knowing that there would be many more guests at home today.

At home, Shen Yuxiu and Li Xiaojun also got up early and were busy at home.

"Mom, Changhe and I brought some peanuts to dip in. Find a plate and let's put them on the table."

Upon entering, Zhu Lin waved the small bag in her hand and addressed Shen Yuxiu.

"Oh dear, we already have so many snacks at home, why did you buy this?"

Peanut dip is also a snack, which is roasted peanuts coated with a layer of white sugar, making it both sweet and crunchy.

“Yesterday, when we went to the department store, Changhe saw it and suddenly wanted to eat it, so we bought some. Anyway, there are a lot of kids today, so we put it out for them to eat.”

Zhu Lin explained with a smile.

"He's just greedy. Here, give it to me!"

"You should go sit on the sofa. You're heavily pregnant now, so you have to be careful today and don't let those kids bother you."

"Changhe, you don't need to do any work today, just keep an eye on Linlin."

Shen Yuxiu gave Li Changhe some instructions.

Zhu Lin is now seven months pregnant, and her belly is quite big. With so many children at home today, Shen Yuxiu has to give Li Changhe some careful instructions.

"Okay, I got it, Mom. I'll go inside with her first."

Afterwards, Li Changhe took Zhu Lin back to his old house, which is now Li Xiaojun's room.

However, since it's the first day of the Lunar New Year, Li Xiaojun's room is clean, because who knows who might get drunk and sleep in there again.

"Hey, is this the school my sister is going to?"

On the small shelf in front of the desk, Zhu Lin saw a book that was entirely in a foreign language, took it down, and asked curiously.

Li Changhe glanced at it, then nodded: "That's right, Stanford University, which is located in California."

Li Xiaojun was admitted to Stanford University, which is different from the model of Haven University. This is because Beijing Institute of Technology is different from Peking University. Peking University's name is a golden brand and is recognized by many schools overseas, but Beijing Institute of Technology is different.

However, her admission to Stanford had little to do with Li Changhe. In fact, it was all thanks to the help of Old Li. Of course, the most fundamental reason is that we should thank another senior member of the Li family with the same surname, the physicist Li Zhengdao, who won the Nobel Prize with Yang Zhenning.

Tsung-Dao Lee is now a professor in the Department of Physics at Columbia University in the United States. In 79, he came to China to teach and took the initiative to connect the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Columbia University to achieve academic exchanges. He also personally recruited four graduate students from USTC, which is a directly affiliated institution of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Because these four graduate students performed exceptionally well at Columbia University, achieving top scores in their exams, this performance changed American universities' perceptions of international students from China.

Therefore, Tsung-Dao Lee continued to exert his efforts in this area. In addition to continuously expanding Columbia University's graduate student enrollment in China, he also joined forces with other universities. Finally, starting in 80, he adopted the method of having some American universities set the same questions and conduct the same entrance examinations to recruit graduate students from some universities in China, which is known as the CUSPEA program.

The CUSPEA program involves physics departments from multiple US universities, including more than 60 schools such as Stanford University, and the number of participating schools continues to expand each year.

This model differs from government-sponsored overseas students in the national sense; it is a type of government-sponsored self-funded overseas study, where the government organizes the exams, the US recruits students, and the government assists students in going abroad.

In addition, these admitted graduate students can receive a minimum of $10,000 in scholarships from the school each year, covering all aspects of their life, studies, and medical care. It is said that Professor Tsung-Dao Lee negotiated this scholarship.

Following Lao Li's advice, Li Xiaojun participated in the CUSPEA admissions program, successfully passed the exam, and obtained the qualification to study abroad.

In fact, Li Xiaojun was accepted by several of these universities, but after discussing it with Lao Li, she felt that Stanford University was in Los Angeles, and Li Changhe's company was also located in Los Angeles, so she chose Stanford University.

Of course, the main reason is that the schools Li Xiaojun applied to weren't very well-known. If it were schools like MIT, Princeton, or Columbia, she would definitely have chosen those schools first.

While Stanford University in the 1980s had a decent reputation, it was not yet considered a future global top university. After all, Stanford in the 1960s was known as a farm university, and in the 1980s, it was just beginning to emerge, and Silicon Valley was only beginning to take shape.

The foreign language book in Zhu Lin's hand was an introductory book about Stanford University that was sent along with Li Xiaojun's admission notice.

"So, did you understand it?"

Li Changhe knew that Zhu Lin's English level had improved somewhat, after all, she watched a lot of foreign films and would learn foreign languages ​​in her spare time to enrich herself.

“I can understand some of the words, but I don’t understand others. These are probably technical terms, but I see that the lady has marked them on the paper.”

"This school looks pretty good, I've brought photos."

"Hey Changhe, how's the Stanford program?"

Zhu Lin then asked curiously.

“It’s great. It’s developing rapidly now, and I think it will become one of the world’s top universities in the future. Actually, if I were to recommend one, I would recommend my older sister to go to Stanford.”

While Li Changhe and Zhu Lin were chatting, Li Xiaojun walked in and overheard what Li Changhe was saying.

“Changhe, Dad said Stanford is just average, far inferior to Princeton and MIT. It’s not as good as you say.”

"My English wasn't good enough back then. If I had scored a few more points, I could have gotten into MIT."

As Li Xiaojun said this, a trace of regret appeared on her face again.

Her English level is actually quite good, but it's still a bit lacking for CUSPEA admissions.

The main problem was the CUSPEA exam paper, which required answers entirely in English. Li Xiaojun made some mistakes during the process, and now she regrets it.

"Stanford is just average now, but its development potential is beyond imagination, mainly because Stanford is so rich."

“Stanford has used its campus land to establish many research centers. Now, many American technology companies, including IBM, HP, and Intel, have set up research institutes there as their R&D centers.”

"This, in turn, has brought Stanford a lot of rental income and jobs, so now its research capabilities and graduates are in a positive feedback loop under this special model."

“You may not see Stanford as one of the most famous schools in the US right now, but if you look at it again in five or ten years, it will soon catch up with Princeton and MIT.”

"Sister, don't underestimate Stanford just because it hasn't risen yet. In my opinion, Stanford is on the rise right now, and it's actually the perfect time for you to go there."

At this moment, Li Changhe earnestly gave Li Xiaojun some instructions.

Li Xiaojun nodded after listening: "Yes, I understand. I was just saying. Actually, no matter what, the level of schools in the United States is definitely higher than that here. We have to face the gap squarely. That's what Dad said too."

“It was because your company is in Los Angeles that Dad suggested I choose Stanford. Now that you say so, it was the right choice.”

"Oh right, Mom asked me to tell you that if it's not possible, let Linlin go upstairs to her room first."

“My eldest and youngest uncles just called and said they’re coming right away. Once they arrive, this bunch of heavy smokers will definitely be smoking outside.”

"Why don't we let Linlin go upstairs? It'll be quiet upstairs since it's mostly women and no one will be smoking there. What do you think?"

Li Xiaojun then remembered the important matter she had come in for and hurriedly spoke to Zhu Lin.

"Okay, then I'll go up with her. You guys stay here and get busy, so you don't have to take care of us."

Li Changhe thought this idea was good. After all, there were many people coming to his house, and if he didn't let them smoke, they would definitely feel suffocated.

However, when Li Changhe and Zhu Lin went out, they happened to see their aunt and Shen Qingyu carrying things upstairs. They lived nearby and had come this way after finishing their phone call, arriving in no time.

"Oh my, Linlin's belly, how many months pregnant are you?" Auntie asked with surprise upon seeing Zhu Lin's protruding belly.

"Seven months already, Auntie, you've come quite early!"

"Good morning! I had some great news to tell you, but you gave us a surprise first."

"What great news? Are you going to be a grandmother?"

Li Changhe said with a grin.

Shen Juncheng has been married for more than half a year now. Judging by the speed, Qu Hongshao should be pregnant by now, since they don't need to use contraception.

“Hongshao’s situation is also one of them. It’s about the same as yours, about six months along. I feel that the next generation of you two brothers will probably be coming together soon.”

"But this is only one of them. There's another one. Can you guess?"

At this moment, my aunt said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Changhe was slightly surprised. Was there really something good going on?

What a good thing?
Did my uncle get promoted?
No, he's at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, so it's unlikely he'll be promoted in the short term.

Just as Li Changhe was pondering, his maternal uncle Shen Zhongyun also came up.

However, he wasn't the only one; a young man in his thirties was following behind him.

The man bore a striking resemblance to Shen Juncheng, though he was shorter and slightly older.

"Brother Junyan?"

A figure immediately flashed into Li Changhe's mind, and he asked in surprise.

"Xiaohe, it must have been more than ten years since we last saw each other!"

At this moment, Shen Junyan smiled and said to Li Changhe.

Indeed, the young man in front of us is Shen Junyan, the eldest son of the Shen family, who went to the countryside in his early years and later joined the army.

It was precisely because he later joined the army that he never returned, even after the educated youth movement in the countryside had ended.

Aside from some impressions from his memory, this was the first time Li Changhe had met him in recent years.

"It's been more than ten years, Brother Junyan, you've come back?"

"Yes, I've reached the age where I should retire, so I'll be back this year."

Shen Junyan said with a smile.

He is several years older than Li Changhe, and is over thirty years old this year. He was transferred back to civilian work amidst the large-scale demobilization.

"This is great news, a really great thing! No wonder Auntie said there have been several good things happening in the family."

"Okay, I'll take Linlin upstairs first, and we'll have a good chat later."

"By the way, Auntie, when Hongshao arrives, tell her to go upstairs and find Linlin directly. Don't let her stay inside. My dad and the others smoke, and it'll probably be too smoky for them."

Since Qu Hongshao is also pregnant, she should go upstairs and not stay in their room.

"Okay, let's talk about it when they arrive."

Afterwards, Li Changhe escorted Zhu Lin upstairs, stayed with her for a while, and then returned to his own home.

When Li Lishan got home, he was chatting with Shen Zhongyun and the others, mostly about Shen Junyan.

After all, Shen Junyan has a lot to do since he returned from his military service.

"I was thinking of asking my second uncle when I came back this time, to see what suggestions he has, whether it should be from the government or law enforcement. I'm still a bit hesitant."

"Moreover, there is a downside to going to GA now. Juncheng is already there. If I go there too, people might gossip about me later."

When Li Changhe came in, Shen Junyan was talking to his family about his thoughts.

Generally speaking, military veterans like them are given the highest priority for placement in factory security departments and law enforcement agencies like the police, followed by government agencies and large factories, and lastly, public institutions.

However, after Shen Junyan returned, he discovered that his younger brother had been promoted rapidly within GA and was now a key candidate for being groomed as a young cadre.

He was certainly happy for his brother's success, but he also felt that he shouldn't go to the law enforcement department anymore.

The family has also considered this issue and plans to discuss it with Shen Yuchuan during the Chinese New Year.

After all, Shen Yuchuan is now a high-ranking official in the government, so he can give Shen Junyan some analysis.

Not long after, the sound of a three-wheeled motorcycle came from downstairs. Shen Juncheng arrived in his three-wheeled motorcycle, followed by Shen Yuchuan's family and Liu Mantang's family.

The two families squeezed into Liu Mantang's jeep, but this time Liu Mantang was not driving the old jeep, but a brand new Beijing jeep, which should be a newly equipped vehicle.

In addition, Liu Mantang's wife, Zhou Yujie, was holding a baby who was a few months old, Liu Mantang's son who had just been born.

“Yujie, I think you shouldn’t stay in this room. The smoke from those men is choking you. You should take the kids upstairs and teach Linlin and Hongshao some tips. In a few months, they’ll both be mothers.”

Shen Yuxiu first escorted Zhou Yujie upstairs, and then came downstairs to start cooking.

With more and more people in the family, this little house is almost overflowing.

Li Changhe offered his seat to his uncle and his other uncles, and then went to stand on the balcony. Shen Juncheng also came over at this time.

"Hey, how far have things progressed with that thing from last time?"

At this moment, Li Changhe asked Shen Juncheng curiously.

He was asking about the crackdown.

He had previously gotten himself involved and brought the matter to the attention of higher-ups, who then began an investigation.

Li Changhe didn't know how far things had progressed at the higher-ups.

However, given Shen Juncheng's current status, he should know some inside information.

Shen Juncheng naturally understood Li Changhe's intention in asking the question, and immediately said seriously, "I don't know the specifics yet, but I have a feeling that it's coming soon!"

“We compiled all the things we investigated last time into a report and submitted it, and then nothing happened. But I personally have a feeling that something is about to happen.”

"The capital has been too quiet these past few months, it's abnormally quiet."

Shen Juncheng didn't have Li Changhe's predictive ability, but having grown up in the underworld, he naturally had his own understanding of society.

But now, the feeling he gets from Beijing is quite different.

(End of this chapter)