Yuan Longping (1930—2021) is known as a great scientist who was the first person to develop hybrid rice (杂交水稻). His research greatly solved the problem of the food shortage in the world.
Yuan Longping started the research in 1964. He put forward the idea of hybrid rice, did experiments (实验) on the farm, and succeeded in 1973. The new technology was tested in many areas of South China in 1974, and then he continued to test it in other areas. China has become the first country that can produce hybrid rice and Yuan is called "Father of Hybrid Rice".
Besides being a respected scientist, he was also a romantic husband and a caring grandfather.
Yuan's granddaughters remembered that when he traveled to Hong Kong, he wanted to buy his wife a new watch, but it was too expensive, so he bought a candy instead. When he was 90 years old, his family held a birthday party. Hundreds of people came to the party. There was a moving moment: Yuan cut the first piece of cake and immediately gave it to his wife. They also said that their grandfather paid much attention to their English and math studies. No matter how tired he was after work, he would still ask about their studies.
Yuan Longping loved playing the violin, swimming and driving. What's more, he had a special habit—playing mahjong (麻将) with friends for an hour every evening to train his brain. Just like common people, the scientist laughed when he won and didn't hide his disappointment when he lost. He is just like any of us in his daily life.
This is Yuan Longping: an ordinary person who made great achievements.
