Material Empire

The Dr. Liu mentioned by Zhao Feiran, named Liu Hansong, is a Chinese student studying for a Ph.D. at the University of Virginia. When he went abroad, he was already 32 years old. He was an associate professor in his unit, and his wife Tian Ruzhi was the deputy secretary of the school's Youth League Committee. Because he could not see the future of development and envied the living conditions abroad, Liu Hansong resolutely resigned from his work unit, applied for a scholarship from the University of Virginia, and came to the United States.

In the first year in the United States, Liu Hansong's living conditions were very good because of the scholarship. After staying for a year, he took his wife and 3-year-old child to the United States to enjoy the treatment of developed countries. Unexpectedly, just as the family was reunited, an unfortunate thing happened. The scholarship he applied for for the second year was not approved, and the family's source of income was threatened with being cut off.

Back then, overseas students could be roughly divided into three categories.

The first category is the public school. With the state allowance, they will not starve to death if they don’t eat well. They don’t even think about returning home after studying. Of course, there are not a few people who refuse to return to China after studying abroad. The price is of course losing their public positions in China and facing a series of penalties such as fines.

The second category is self-financed overseas students who have received foreign scholarships. According to the number of scholarships, they are in various levels such as rich, middle, and poor. People at any level will use their spare time to work a job, even if it is to save a little money. Back then, the average income level of international students working part-time was US$4 to US$5 per hour, equivalent to RMB 25. If they worked 20 hours a week, they could earn RMB 500, which was equivalent to half a year’s income in China. I have never seen money Few Chinese can resist this temptation.

The third category is those like Liu Hansong, who did not get the scholarship, or who had the scholarship but then stopped it. Such international students have to rely on their own work to earn money to make ends meet, and the situation can be described as miserable.

As for the most common type in later generations who took their parents’ money to study abroad, there were fewer pandas than in the United States. In the United States, the monthly living expenses are at least four to five hundred U.S. dollars, which is equivalent to more than 2,000 RMB. How many people in China can have such a high income?

Knowing that the scholarship could not be applied for, Liu Hansong and Tian Ruzhi began to discuss how to maintain a family life. One solution is of course that the couple both go to work, but in this way, Liu Hansong's studies will be affected, and the time for obtaining a doctorate will be postponed, which means that they will have to live a longer period of hard life. The second plan is that Liu Hansong will go all out to study, and Tian Ruzhi will work two jobs at the same time, working 12 hours a day, so as to ensure enough income for living.

After a painful struggle, the couple finally chose the second option. Tian Ruzhi said that she worked hard for two to three years, and when Liu Hansong got her doctorate and found a job, her family could live a middle-class life, and her hard work would be rewarded.

It's easy to say it's hard work, but when it's actually done, the couple realize how difficult it is. The restaurant where Tian Ruzhi works is a Chinese restaurant run by a native of Taiwan. The owner discriminates against mainlanders very much and often insults her with dirty words. Other employees in the restaurant are also worried that she will threaten their position and make things difficult for her. Another job she took was cleaning in the office building, and one person was responsible for cleaning all the corridors and toilets on the four floors.

When she was too tired to sit in the corner and couldn't move, Tian Ruzhi would always think of the office she had in the Youth League Committee of Beijing University of Technology before the United States. Although the desk was so rough and simple, the sunlight coming in from the window was always the same the warmth. Every time she thinks of this, she can't help but burst into tears.

Liu Hansong knew his wife's hard work, but all he could do was squeeze her back and beat her waist after she came back from part-time job late at night, and find a hot towel to cover her stiff cheeks. He can't help his wife with these things, and the hope of the whole family to live a happy life rests on his Ph.D.

When Xu Xiaoqi first came to the University of Virginia to study, she heard from Chinese students at the University that there was such a poor Dr. Liu and his poor wife. International students have also launched an action to donate to Dr. Liu, but everyone is poor, and the amount that can be donated is very limited, and it is impossible to do this over and over again.

Zhang Weilin and Zhao Feiran heard about Dr. Liu from Xu Xiaoqi, and knew that Liu Hansong also graduated from Capital University earlier, so he was their senior. The three of them once visited Liu Hansong's residence together and brought a lot of snacks for the child. However, when they wanted to give Liu Hansong the 50 dollars they had scraped together, Liu Hansong flatly refused. Anyway, he had to maintain his last bit of self-esteem.

After listening to the narration of the three girls, Ning Mo was a little embarrassed. Liu Hansong's experience, of course, he is very sympathetic. But if he said that he would help the poor people when he saw them, would he be able to help them? Besides, if an associate professor in China is improper, he must go to the United States to suffer and suffer. Is such a person worthy of sympathy?

Brother Ning, it's okay if you're in trouble. After the three of us earn money, we can find a way to help him. I heard that Dr. Liu's thesis is about to be completed. If everything goes well, we may persist for another year. He You will be able to graduate. Xu Xiaoqi looked at Ning Mo's silence, and quickly explained for him. At some point, she has changed her address to Ning Mo to Brother Ning.

I'm not embarrassed. Ning Mo explained, I think there may be more than one foreign student like him? We helped him, what should others do?

At our University of Florida, he is the one who suffers the most. If we have a scholarship and live here alone, the pressure is much less. Xu Xiaoqi explained.

There are a few such Chinese students here in Washington, but we haven't contacted them. We just heard from other students. Zhao Feiran added.

Ning Mo said: I know about this matter, but I'd better go back and ask Qin Hai about how to help him. He's smart enough to come up with a good idea. Don't worry, Qin Hai is a soft-hearted person. , I heard that other people have difficulties, he is always eager to help, he will definitely be able to come up with a good way to help Dr. Liu.

Brother Ning, I see you've been talking about Brother Qin, why do you worship him so much? Xu Xiaoqi covered her mouth and snickered.

Ning Mo said seriously: Of course, Qin Hai is very capable. Do you know that the diaphragm we sold to Downer Company was developed by Qin Hai's guidance from those researchers in our company. I heard from those researchers that , the core research idea was proposed by Qin Hai, otherwise they would not have achieved the results so quickly. By the way, take a look at the few papers I brought over. These are all written by Qin Hai. They are very knowledgeable. It's on.

Really? The three girls were so surprised, they put their heads together and re-read the dozen or so research directions Qin Hai had listed, and found that the terminology, logic, ideas, etc. Called professional, with their level of knowledge, it is impossible to write to this level.

Brother Ning, you said that Qin Hai, which university did he graduate from, a master's degree or a doctor's degree? Zhang Weilin asked curiously.

He, haha, graduated from our Anhe Agricultural Machinery Technical School, not even a college student, but a technical school student. He is one year younger than me. Ning Mo said with a smile.

So powerful? Xu Xiaoqi exclaimed, she turned her head to look at the two female companions with shining eyes, pursed her lips and said with a smile: Brother Ning, does Brother Qin have a girlfriend? If not, introduce him to Wei Are Lin and Feiran okay?

Xiaoqi, you betrayed your friend! Hearing this, Zhang Weilin and Zhao Feiran both blushed, and punched Xu Xiaoqi's shoulder fiercely with their pink fists. What's interesting is that when they beat people, they didn't feel any pain at all. Not mentioning the refusal, I think it's a little bit springy.

Ning Mo took it seriously, he shook his head desperately, and said: No, no, if Wei Lin and Fei Ran are interested, I can introduce Hai Tao to you. I want to keep Qin Hai as my brother-in-law, so it can't be cheap other people.

Brother-in-law! Wow, what a big gossip! Zhang Weilin screamed, Xiaoqi said your sister is our 87-level Tranquility? I don’t know how much trouble will be caused by the technical school graduates!”

By the way, Brother Ning, don't you say there is another Yu Haitao? What's his situation? Let us introduce him quickly. By the way, Wei Lin, you can remember that I asked first. If the conditions are right, You can't compete with me. Zhao Feiran quickly grasped the crux of the problem, half joking and half seriously asking, tugging at the corner of Ning Mo's clothes.

She saw that Ning Mo was able to introduce Xu Xiaoqi a large project worth several thousand dollars with just a shot, and also heard that Ning Mo's company had just signed a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars with Downer Company, so she decided that Ning Mo, Qin Hai, and Yu Haitao They are all young and wealthy sons-in-law. As for education and so on, it is really not within the scope of her concern.

Haitao...let me think about how to introduce him. Ning Mo scratched his scalp thinking.

Zhang Weilin giggled and stood up with a smile, and shouted: Okay, let's eat first. Zhao Feiran, you nympho, if you are really tempted, let Brother Ning bring that Haitao here tomorrow. Let me see it, okay?

Okay, that's it. Xu Xiaoqi teased Zhao Feiran with a smile.

It's decided, who is afraid of whom! Zhao Feiran replied firmly.

During the whole process of matching a man, everyone naturally excluded Ning Mo and Xu Xiaoqi from the selection of partners. It seemed that they had really become a pair. Even Xu Xiaoqi herself didn't realize that there was anything wrong with it.