On October 31, 2009, the famous scientist Qian Xuesen died of illness at the age of 98. On November 6, a farewell ceremony for Mr. Qian's body was held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing. In front of his body, a wreath presented by his wife Jiang Ying was placed. The elegiac couplet read "Xuesen, go well in peace."
These short 6 words condensed Jiang Ying’s 62 years of feelings for her husband. If Qian Xuesen is a high mountain, then Jiang Ying is the gurgling water on the high mountain. Their love story is touching and legendary enough.
To talk about the love story of Qian Xuesen and Jiang Yinghe, we have to start with their parents.
The Jiang family is a prominent family in Haining, Zhejiang. Jiang Ying’s father, Jiang Baili, is a famous military strategist and military educator in modern my country. He and Qian Xuesen’s father, Qian Junfu, both studied at Qiushi Academy in Hangzhou, Zhejiang in their early years. , the two became friends because of their similar interests, and later both settled in Beijing. The relationship between the Qian and Jiang families was very close.
Jiang Baili and his wife Zuo Mei have five daughters. Jiang Ying ranks third and is the smartest and most beautiful of the daughters. Qian Junfu and his wife Zhang Lanjuan only have one son, Qian Xuesen. When Jiang Ying was 4 years old, Zhang Lanjuan said to Zuo Mei: "You have five daughters, which is too many. Can you give me one?"
Zuo Mei readily agreed: "Okay, you pick one. ."
Zhang Lanjuan chose Jiang Ying. Soon after, Jiang Ying was adopted into the Qian family and changed her name to "Qian Xueying".
After Jiang Ying arrived at Qian's house, she called Qian Xuesen "godbrother". Qian Xuesen was 8 years older than him and was already 12 years old at the time. He never played with this 4-year-old "godsister". Jiang Ying After staying at Qian's house for a few months, I felt that Qian's house was not as lively as my own, so I made a fuss about going home.
At this time, Jiang Baili and his wife also regretted it, so they approached the Qian family and asked for Jiang Ying to come back. Zhang Lanjuan agreed to send Jiang Ying back, but put a condition, that is, when Jiang Ying grows up, she must return The Qian family is the daughter-in-law.
This is of course a joke, and Jiang Baili and his wife agreed wholeheartedly: "Okay, they are a good match, we agree!"
Jiang Baili is very open-minded about the education of his children, and Jiang Ying has liked it since she was a child. Jiang Baili focused on cultivating her in music, and she quickly learned to sing and play the piano.
The next time the brothers and sisters met was 12 years later. In 1935, 24-year-old Qian Xuesen was admitted to the public scholarship program to study in the United States. Before leaving, he came to Jiang's house and said goodbye to Jiang Baili. Jiang Baili and his wife quickly called Jiang Ying downstairs to play the piano for her godbrother.
At this time, Jiang Ying was already 16 years old. She was tall and graceful, and her laughter and music were very moving, which left a deep impression on Qian Xuesen. After Jiang Ying finished playing the piano, Qian Xuesen said to her: "Your laughter is very beautiful. Can you keep it up?"
Jiang Ying asked playfully: "Why?"
Qian Xuesen replied: "Because there is nothing more valuable than happiness and purity."
Before leaving, Jiang Ying gave Qian Xuesen a collection of Tang poems, and Qian Xuesen placed it on the vine as a precious gift. In a suitcase, brought to the United States.
At the end of 1936, Jiang Baili was ordered to visit European and American countries to inspect military affairs. He brought Jiang Ying to Europe with him. Jiang Ying stayed in Germany and studied at the famous von Stonefeld School for Nobility. In 1937, Jiang Ying was admitted to the Vocal Music Department of the Berlin University of Music and won an award in an international singing competition held in Hungary.
Her several years in Europe laid a solid musical foundation for Jiang Ying. In 1944, she was invited to attend the International Music Festival in Switzerland and won the soprano competition in one fell swoop. She was called the best singer in China by public opinion. One of the finest soprano singers. After Jiang Ying returned to China in 1946, she became a sensation in the Shanghai music industry.
In 1947, Qian Junfu in Shanghai wrote to Qian Xuesen in the United States, asking him to come back for a visit. So Qian Xuesen returned to China. At the time, at the age of 36, he was already the most famous professor at the famous MIT in the United States. young professor.
Shortly after Qian Xuesen returned to China, Jiang Ying held a solo concert at the Lyceum Grand Theater in Shanghai. The performance caused a sensation throughout Shanghai. The press commented: "China also has superior artistic talents and good qualifications. And bright minds..." Qian Xuesen sat quietly in the audience and listened to the performance, and he also felt mesmerized.
Considering that their son was getting older, Qian Junfu and his wife asked Jiang Ying to help find a suitable partner for Qian Xuesen. Jiang Ying brought two beautiful rich girls, one of whom turned out to be Express his love to Qian Xuesen in person. But Qian Xuesen refused. He had secretly decided that he would not marry anyone other than Jiang Ying.
A few days later, after attending a lecture, Qian Xuesen offered to send Jiang Ying home.
After arriving home, Jiang Ying said to him: "I have very good records here. Can I choose a best record that I like and play it for you?"
Qian Xuesen said: "No. Okay, not good!" Both of them were silent for a moment.
After a while, Qian Xuesen said: "Will you come to the United States with me?"
Of course the delicate Jiang Ying understood the meaning of this sentence, which was equivalent to Qian Xuesen asking her She confessed, but the inherent reserve of a girl still made her reply: "No, I have a boyfriend!"
Qian Xuesen said: "I also have a girlfriend, but from here on, yours My boyfriend doesn’t count, and my girlfriend doesn’t count. We started making friends.”
Jiang Ying had already had a crush on Qian Xuesen, so she quickly accepted his confession. But her sister disagreed, and she told Jiang Ying a story: When Qian Xuesen was in the United States, Zhao Yuanren introduced a girlfriend to him and asked him to take the girl to the Zhao family, but he lost her. . But Jiang Ying was still determined to be with him.
In September 1947, Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying held a grand wedding at the Peace Hotel on the bank of the Huangpu River in Shanghai. Soon after, Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying returned to Boston, USA. Qian Xuesen gave his newlywed wife a piano.
After Jiang Ying came to the United States, she could not pass the English test for a while, so Qian Xuesen took the time to teach her English. He also said some witticisms in English from time to time, making Jiang Ying giggle. Moreover, Qian Xuesen is also good at cooking. Jiang Ying once said to her friends: "Our family Xuesen is the master chef, and I can only help him."
But most of the time, Qian Xuesen is very busy at work. , he was rarely at home. When he was at home, he would hide in the study room to work and study after dinner, and did not come out until 12 o'clock in the middle of the night.
In 1948, Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying had their first child, Qian Yonggang. However, all the affairs of the family relied on Jiang Ying, and Qian Xuesen almost ignored him. Later, when I had a daughter, Qian Yongzhen, the husband and father still didn't care.
At that time, Qian Xuesen had many opportunities to give lectures in various parts of the United States. Every time he went out, he never forgot to buy some new records for Jiang Ying, including many classic piano solos and concertos. This also made Jiang Ying Very touched.
After the founding of New China, Qian Xuesen decided to return to China in the spring of 1950. On August 21, Qian Xuesen flew to Washington and went to the Pentagon to meet with Kimbell, the U.S. Navy Undersecretary in charge of the jet engineering project, and reported to him News that he will return to his country.
But Jin Bell firmly disagreed with Qian Xuesen's return to China. He said: "Qian Xuesen is worth the strength of five divisions. He holds major secrets of rocket weapons."
After returning home , Qian Xuesen said to Jiang Ying in disappointment: "We can't leave, they won't let me go, you can take the two children back!"
Jiang Ying said: "No, I can't leave you, I You have to stay here too!”
Soon after, Qian Xuesen was placed under house arrest by the US authorities. He could only do some insignificant work at school, while Jiang Ying took care of her two young children at home. It was a humiliating and difficult day.
But for Jiang Ying, this is the longest period during which her husband has stayed at home, and she has been trying her best to accompany him. The harmonious family atmosphere also gave Qian Xuesen great comfort.
Finally, under the personal intervention of Premier Zhou Enlai, on October 8, 1955, Qian Xuesen and Jiang Ying returned to the motherland they missed day and night with their two children.
After Jiang Ying returned to China, she served as artistic director at the Central Experimental Opera House. In order to meet the requirements of the workers, peasants and soldiers, she often toured the country with actors and was deeply welcomed by the masses.
But just as Jiang Ying was enjoying her second career, Zhou Enlai, out of consideration for Qian Xuesen’s life, suggested that Jiang Ying retire from the stage. Jiang Ying agreed and became an opera singer at the Central Conservatory of Music. Department chair and professor, she has been working for 40 years and has cultivated a large number of musical talents for our country.
At that time, New China's "two bombs and one satellite" project had a difficult start. Qian Xuesen, as the chief technical person in charge, often visited the front line in person. Since his work was highly confidential, he rarely spoke at home, and People also often disappear. Once, after Qian Xuesen returned home, he said to Jiang Ying: "Jiang Ying, I have to go on a business trip."
Jiang Ying asked him: "Going on a business trip again? Where to go?"
Qian Xuesen replied: "A very far away place."
Jiang Ying was a little unhappy: "A very far away place. There must be a place!"
Qian Xuesen also said seriously Said: "Jiang Ying, you know the nature of my work. You can't tell anyone about this place."
But Jiang Ying still insisted: "Do you want to keep it a secret from your wife?"
p>
Qian Xuesen replied: "Yes, this matter is related to our country's major military secrets. Premier Zhou said that he did not even tell Comrade Deng Yingchao.
"
Jiang Ying stopped asking, but Qian Xuesen had been away for three months without any news at all. Jiang Ying finally couldn't stand it anymore, so she found a leader of the defense industry and questioned him. He: “Chief, it’s been three months, where has Qian Xuesen been? " After saying that, she actually started crying.
The leader comforted Jiang Ying and said: "Comrade Jiang Ying, I understand your mood, your Comrade Xuesen, we will borrow it for another two months, two In a few months, we will definitely send him back to you! "
Jiang Ying finally burst into tears and smiled: "Alas! There's really nothing I can do against you! However, if I don’t see Xuesen again in two months, I’m going to question the chief! "
Two months later, Qian Xuesen finally came back. He had lost a lot of weight and looked more haggard. Only then did Jiang Ying know her husband's hard work...
From now on, every time Jiang Ying performs on stage or conducts a student graduation performance, she will invite Qian Xuesen to listen. Sometimes Qian Xuesen is busy with work, so she will record it and play it to him. This greatly relieves Qian Xuesen's work pressure. , the nourishment of art also provided inspiration for his scientific research.
In the mid-1980s, Qian Xuesen talked about his wife Jiang Ying’s artistic achievements during a discussion with comrades from the editorial board of "Literary Research". Inspiration for him:
Jiang Ying did not give up her music teaching career. She personally trained students such as Fu Haijing, Zhu Ailan, Jiang Yong, Wu Xiaolu, Sun Xiuwei, Zhao Dengfeng, Dorje Tsering, Zhao Dengying, etc. Everyone has become a famous singer in the international music scene.
A teacher from the Conservatory of Music has been studying vocal music with Jiang Ying. Jiang Ying gives her two hours of lessons every week, but never charges her tuition. Qian Xuesen praised her and said: "You are right, students don't have much money during their studies! "
Jiang Ying's students once described her like this:
On October 16, 1991, the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission awarded Qian Xuesen the honorary title of "National Outstanding Contribution Scientist." He expressed his deep gratitude to Jiang Ying at the award ceremony: "I won the award today, and I must not forget the understanding and support my wife has given me for decades. "
In 1999, the Central Conservatory of Music held a grand concert to commemorate Jiang Ying's 40th anniversary. Qian Xuesen, 88, wrote a written speech in which he said: "I have been married to Jiang Ying for 52 years. Well, this has been an unquiet 52 years! I especially want to explain to my comrades here: Jiang Ying has greatly helped and inspired me in my work. This is actually the inspiration and development of scientific thinking by literature and art! "
On February 5, 2012, Jiang Ying died of illness in Beijing at the age of 93. Her death was only one and a half months after the 100th anniversary of Qian Xuesen's birth.
Mountains and rivers, knowing each other, Jiang Ying will continue to perform a harmonious duet of science and art with her lover Qian Xuesen in heaven!