In 1964, China's first nuclear test succeeded. This national pride traces back to Xu Wanzhen, whose unyielding spirit nurtured son Qian Sanqiang, the core contributor to the program.
In 1964, a mushroom cloud rose over the Gobi Desert. When news of the successful nuclear test spread, the entire nation celebrated, with everyone wearing smiles they couldn’t hide.
That thunderous roar sent the entire nation into a frenzy of celebration, yet few people know that the source of this strength—which sustains the nation’s confidence—lies with a septuagenarian living in a Beijing hutong.
This elderly woman’s name was Xu Luozhen. In her early years, people felt sorry for her; born into a traditional family, she was arranged by her elders to marry Qian Xuantong, a leading figure in the New Culture Movement at the time.On their wedding night, Qian Xuantong bluntly told her that he had no desire to be part of this arranged marriage. Xu Luanzhen, who had just completed the wedding ceremony, hadn’t even had time to recover from the excitement of her new marriage before this news came as a cold shower.
Qian Xuantong was notorious in academic circles for his strong-willed temperament. He advocated for radical cultural reform throughout his life and once put forward the extreme view that people should take their own lives after turning forty. He devoted his entire life to promoting simplified Chinese characters and developing the Zhuyin phonetic system. He deeply disapproved of this arranged marriage,At first, he remained cold toward Xu Luozhen, rarely even giving her a proper glance. Most women in such circumstances at the time would likely have resigned themselves to their fate, but Xu Luozhen did not let this get her down.
During his lifetime, Qian Xuantong had established a rule against taking concubines, so Xu Luozhen used this to her advantage and obtained a literacy textbook.and would read articles on new ideas while cooking by the stove or under the dim light of an oil lamp at night. At first, she could not even write her own name smoothly, but gradually she was able to sit down with Qian Xuantong and discuss the principles behind the vernacular reform. Her once-desolate days were gradually infused with warmth through her perseverance.
Qian Xuantong adhered to his academic principles throughout his life and worked tirelessly on the reform of Chinese characters until his hair turned white; his unwavering dedication to putting the nation’s needs first served as the most direct example for his family.Xu Luozhen’s tenacious spirit—her refusal to accept defeat—was also subtly instilled in the upbringing of her son, Qian Sanqiang.Having witnessed his mother’s tenacity and his father’s integrity from a young age, Qian Sanqiang went on to earn a top-tier degree in nuclear physics in France. Without a moment’s hesitation, he booked a ticket back to China, determined to apply the skills he had acquired to the nation’s development.
On the day news of the successful nuclear test in the Gobi Desert spread, Xu Luozhen was standing under the old locust tree at the mouth of the alley. The wind billowed her faded cotton blouse; her neighbors were still unaware of the connection between this momentous event and her family, so no one came over specifically to offer congratulations.but she stood there beneath the tree, smiling so broadly that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.
No one could have foreseen that the arranged marriage—which everyone at the time believed would end in tragedy—would ultimately give rise to a force that would be passed down through the generations, eventually becoming inextricably linked to the thunderous event that changed the fate of an entire nation.
The three members of Qian Xuantong’s family never simply went with the flow or accepted their predetermined fate; instead, each of them gritted their teeth and forged ahead, tightly intertwining their personal life choices with the path of development for their country and nation.The family traditions passed down through generations in ordinary households often harbor immeasurable strength. Sharing with future generations the indomitable spirit and broad-minded vision of their ancestors is the most tangible source of confidence one can build for one’s own family and future generations.
