Raising Doubts

On July 5, 1900, Li Qiwei set foot in Berlin University for the first time.

In later generations, it would also be known as a world-class university, with famous alumni including Karl Marx, Hertz, and Schrödinger.

Hertz was the great man who discovered the Photoelectric Effect.

Like Cambridge University, Berlin University did not admit female students.

At the time, universities throughout Europe and America generally did not admit women, and there were not even any female professors.

As a result, the campus was missing a beautiful sight.

When Li Qiwei arrived at the physics department, Planck had already been waiting there for quite some time with a large group of people.

Everyone turned curious gazes on the genius Cambridge student, sizing him up.

Li Qiwei was nothing like the Qing Dynasty people they had imagined. The two were practically incomparable.

He was tall and handsome, with the air of a scholar. Neither obsequious nor arrogant. Most remarkable of all were his eyes.

Those whose faces he swept with his gaze all looked uncomfortable, lowering their heads slightly and daring not to meet his eyes.

It was as though he could see right through them at a glance.

Li Qiwei wore a practiced smile, while inwardly grumbling, I don't have any information about you in my head, so you're all small fry. What's there to be afraid of?

Amid everyone's cheers, he followed Planck into the physics department's auditorium.

The place was already filled with distinctive flowers, their fragrance perfuming the air.

It was clear how much Planck and the physics students valued him.

Of course, that had absolutely nothing to do with Planck being the head of the physics department.

Once Li Qiwei and Planck had taken their seats, everyone eagerly asked him to talk about the paper.

For instance, how had he come up with the concept of the quantum? And how had he ended up working with Professor Planck?

Others asked how Quantum Mechanics would develop from there, among other things.

Most of those present were physics professors and students, so naturally they were full of curiosity about Li Qiwei's theory.

If Lord Kelvin was right, then what was the point of studying physics?

They might as well study the humanities and become great writers.

Once everyone had gradually quieted down, Li Qiwei began to speak.

He started with the meeting at the Royal Society in London, describing why he had wagered with Lord Kelvin.

As Li Qiwei recounted it, his voice tinged with emotion, everyone present felt as though they had experienced it themselves.

After all, Germany had also been unified through countless rivers of blood and fire.

They could sense the sincerity of Li Qiwei's love for his nation, and applauded him one after another.

He then went on to tell them amusing stories from Cambridge University and how he had met Professor Planck.

Everyone marveled at fate's strange workings: two people with nothing in common had met, and a dazzling spark had flared between them.

Finally, Li Qiwei focused on how he had thought up the concept of the quantum, as well as the mathematical support Professor Planck had provided.

The students present listened with envy.

They were still racking their brains over graduation and getting papers published, while the man across from them was already on the verge of becoming a physicist.

Still, some people raised doubts.

A professor asked, "Hello, Bruce. Your quantum concept is still only a hypothesis for now. Have you thought about what experiments could prove it?"

Li Qiwei replied, "I work at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, and I'm designing an experimental plan with my supervisor, Professor Thomson."

"As for the specific details, I'm afraid I can't reveal them yet."

Someone else asked, "Bruce, since Professor Planck is your honorary supervisor and the corresponding author of the paper, why are you still staying in Cambridge?"

Everyone laughed at the question, including Planck, who looked at Li Qiwei expectantly.

Li Qiwei rubbed his chin and said awkwardly, "Well, Professor Planck and Professor Thomson are both people I respect."

"As for why I chose to stay in Cambridge, perhaps I've simply grown used to it. But who can say what the future will bring?"

Everyone was impressed by his quick wit and stopped deliberately giving him a hard time.

Just as host and guests were enjoying themselves and the atmosphere was lively, a jarring voice suddenly rang out. "Bruce Li, I think the mathematical proofs are what matter, not the concept of the quantum."

The room fell silent. Everyone turned toward the speaker and saw that it was Schlick, Professor Planck's favorite graduate student.

Sure enough, Planck said apologetically and helplessly, "I'm sorry, Bruce. Schlick is my graduate student."

Then he scolded Schlick. "Don't say things like that, Schlick. Please show some respect for others."

Schlick paid no attention to the others' gazes or Professor Planck's expression. He stared straight at Li Qiwei and continued:

"I've read your paper five times. The most important part is the radiation formula, E=hv, and deriving it requires exceptional mathematical skill."

"As for the concept of the quantum, a few months ago, Professor Planck happened to mention the word 'discontinuity' to me."

"I think you should understand what that means."

"So, Bruce, I don't think your contribution to the paper was all that significant!"

When Schlick finished speaking, everyone was stunned into silence. The atmosphere became terribly awkward.

Li Qiwei took in everyone's expressions, then turned to Schlick and smiled. "Schlick, I understand how you see it."

"You think I'm just an undergraduate who happened to come up with a good idea, and Professor Planck happened to notice it."

"Then the professor used his profound mathematical knowledge to refine that idea and create an entirely new physical theory."

"You even think Professor Planck had already thought of that good idea before."

Schlick's expression shifted as he listened. That was indeed what he had been thinking. He was also a little jealous of Li Qiwei, wondering why the man had been so lucky.

Li Qiwei continued, "More than two hundred years ago, Newton and Leibniz argued over who deserved credit for inventing calculus."

"No one thinks one of them copied the other, because the laws of the universe are right there. We are discoverers of those laws, not their creators."

"I've never been so arrogant as to think I'm the only person who could come up with the concept of the quantum."

"It's just that Professor Planck and I hit it off so well, as if we'd known each other forever, that I asked him to help me refine the mathematics."

"But I could just as easily have asked Professor Thomson for help. I'm sure he would have been glad to assist."

"So your doubts don't hold up. The laws of physics have never belonged to any one person alone."

"I was simply lucky enough to discover Quantum Mechanics together with Professor Planck."

When Li Qiwei finished speaking, everyone regarded him with respect, and the room erupted in thunderous applause.

Everyone was moved by his sincerity, and even Planck was deeply pleased.

He knew he hadn't misjudged Li Qiwei. The young man's heart was as pure as the open sky.

Schlick, meanwhile, was filled with shame. His impulsive outburst had been most ungentlemanly.

But Li Qiwei soon helped him out of his predicament.

"Schlick, don't dwell on this. Quantum Mechanics is only a sapling right now; it still has a vast space in which to grow."

"The future belongs to our generation of young people. Come join us in studying the new physics!"

"You're Professor Planck's star student. I'm sure he'd be glad to see you step into this new era."

"Let's all laugh at Lord Kelvin together."

Li Qiwei's words successfully made everyone laugh, and Schlick looked at him with gratitude.

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