Press "PandaGuides" above to follow us!
A heartfelt post on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu recently touched the hearts of tens of thousands, as Professor Li Xiangcan reflected on her journey through life, science, and her encounters with the United States. Her diary entry, shared by her children, offers a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of an extraordinary generation of Chinese researchers who dedicated their lives to advancing their nation’s capabilities.
First Encounter with America: A Broken Glass of Milk
Li first heard about the United States in 1947, shortly after the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. She recalled how Americans distributed milk to children in her village. “I grabbed a small glass from the classroom,” she wrote. “But in my rush, I tripped over a rock, and the glass shattered. I never got to taste the American milk.”
Her formal exposure to English came in high school, where her first word was “good.” However, mastering the language proved to be a lifelong struggle. “We learned American phonetics, but even after all these years, my generation’s English was mocked as ‘mute English,’” she said, referring to their limited conversational ability.
Despite her strong academic performance, Li confessed that English became her greatest challenge. She painstakingly memorized words by rote and used dictionaries to decipher academic papers word by word. The same dictionaries, worn from decades of use, were later passed on to her grandson, who took them to Australia when he studied abroad.
Collaborating with American Researchers
In 1986, Li had her first face-to-face interaction with an American. She had translated a book titled Blast Vibration Monitoring and Control by U.S. researcher Dowding, who later visited her institute in China. Li prepared extensively, practicing the phrase “How are you?” countless times. Yet, when she shook his hand, she found herself speechless.
“I was struck by his height, broad build, and blue eyes,” she recalled. During a lunch meeting, Dowding invited her to an academic exchange in Germany, but Li declined due to her lack of spoken English proficiency.
The two exchanged ideas with the help of a translator, focusing on ways to accelerate China’s progress in explosives technology. At the time, her institute’s research largely involved translating Soviet and American texts into Chinese. However, this dynamic began to shift as China’s innovations gained recognition abroad, with Chinese patents and techniques being translated into English and Russian for global dissemination.
Nobel Connection: A Chinese Patent Goes Global
One of the institute’s proudest achievements was a patent for a non-detonating detonator, which drew the attention of a company founded by Alfred Nobel, the creator of the Nobel Prize. At the time, China lacked a patent office, so the Nobel company financed the international registration of the patent. They later purchased the rights for $100,000 - a significant sum in the 1980s.
Li described this milestone with pride, emphasizing how it marked the beginning of Chinese innovations making their mark on the global stage.
Reflecting on America and the Future
Toward the end of her post, Li shared an exchange with her grandson during a recent interview. When asked if she ever aspired to live or work in the United States, she answered without hesitation:
“I have never envied America. I know their technology is advanced and their lifestyle is good. They have great things, but if we work hard, we can have great things too.”
This unwavering belief in China’s potential resonated deeply with readers, many of whom commented on the sacrifices made by Li’s generation to pave the way for the country’s progress.
Netizens React: A Tapestry of Gratitude and Emotion
The post garnered over 59,000 likes and 8,000 comments, with readers expressing admiration for Li’s dedication and patriotism.
“I’m deeply moved by her words: ‘If we work hard, we can have great things too.’ It’s a testament to the resilience of her generation,” commented a user from Shaanxi.
Another user from Beijing remarked, “Her generation knew they were destined to endure hardship so that future generations could enjoy a better life.”
A Jiangsu resident wrote, “Words can’t express my respect. Wishing this amazing professor good health.”
“She’s a living reminder of how history is made by ordinary yet extraordinary people,” added a Shanghai netizen.
● Man spends ¥13 million on girlfriend, gets dumped for foreigner
● 38-year-old woman’s marriage requirements stir debate online
● Chinese woman chooses African partner, left broke after cancer
● Chinese man shares photos with German girlfriend, gets bullied
● Foreign woman fined for dating on tourist visa in China
● Chinese man marries African girl 12 years his junior for ¥9,000
● My friend chose to end her life in Zurich on October 24, 2024
Long press or scan the QR CODE below to follow us!
