In the 21st century where Xu Yun lives, even elementary school students have heard of a story like this:
Hundreds of years ago, one day Newton, on a whim, ran to sit under an apple tree and ponder life.
Then an apple fell with a smack on his head, and it seemed to have opened up all his meridians, leading him to propose the law of gravity.
For instance, at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, the dormitory where Newton once studied is still preserved, with a view of an apple tree from the window.
Cambridge claims that this tree is a descendant of the famous apple that hit Newton's head—John Bull Historical Society even declared that tree one of the hundred famous trees.
But actually, the location and process of this story are highly disputed.
The relatively mainstream view is that Newton thought of the law of gravity while avoiding the plague at his home in Woolsop, most probably under a chestnut tree…
Imagine.
If our master Newton really got hit on his luscious curls by a prickly chestnut…
Then perhaps the law of gravity would have been proposed in a hospital.
However, there are some who staunchly oppose this view.
For example, Stickle's visit to Newton, Gaul philosopher Voltaire, Newton's assistant at the Royal Mint and his niece's husband John Conduit, his niece Barton, Christopher Dawson, and others all claimed Newton personally mentioned the apple tree.
So many people corroborate this, making the truth about the apple tree even more elusive.
Therefore, a more objective judgment is that Newton saw an apple fall while avoiding the plague at his hometown, but it mostly didn't hit his head.
Regardless of the local debates, Xu Yun would like to say something in a humorous way:
On the scene, the story of Newton being hit by an apple is true, because I am that apple...
By the way, seeking help for a question:
The apple is too big, and it seems to have knocked Newton out, what to do?!
........
The young Isaac Newton felt a bit dizzy, the ground was hard, and there was a faint pain in his back.
Around a year ago, a large-scale plague suddenly broke out in London.
The plague spread from London to the outside, the John Bull Royal Family fled London, and the rich in the city also hurriedly escaped with their families.
Cambridge residents packed their luggage in carriages and moved to the countryside.
Over 10,000 houses were abandoned in the city of London, with some nailed shut with pine boards, and houses with patients marked with crosses in red chalk.
Not far from London, the University of Cambridge was forced to close, the campus shut down, and teachers and students were evacuated to the countryside.
Newton, who had just earned a bachelor's degree, was forced to take a cart of books and instruments back to his family's farm in Lincolnshire to avoid the plague.
The farm in his hometown of Woolsop was quiet as a fairyland, his mother warmly welcomed him, and his three half-siblings were more sensible than before… well, I can't make this up anymore.
In short.
Woolsop was indeed tranquil and isolated, but Newton's family dynamics were not great.
Before Newton was born, his father, Old Isaac, died of illness, leaving only his mother, Hanna.
And when Newton was just 3 years old, Hanna decided to remarry someone else, a man about 30 years older—Nabas Smith.
Interestingly, Smith's proposal method was unique:
They had never met, and he sent a servant with a proposal letter to Hanna.
After family discussions, Hanna decided to leave the 3-year-old Little Niu and move to live with Smith.
True*Mother.
Eight years later, Smith died, and the 11-year-old Newton was brought to Hanna's house, with her plan being that the best path for Newton was to become a farmer.
If not for the help of his uncle and the school principal, Newton would not have become a scholarship student.
Newton can now almost get rid of the "ton" in Newton.
Because of the epidemic, Newton, who returned home, did not have a good attitude towards his mother and siblings.
Early this morning, Newton had another argument with Hanna over farming, and in frustration, he took a book and headed to a favored spot behind a stone wall in the manor to work on some math problems.
Last year, he discovered a simple method to expand binomials into a series but was stuck on simplifying the binomial (P+PQ)^m/n.
Although he vaguely had some ideas, he couldn't break through, and young Newton was feeling a bit frustrated.
While walking, Newton suddenly noticed some noise from an apple tree not far away.
It was broad daylight, so Newton casually walked under the tree, intending to see if a small animal was up there.
Before he could look up, he felt something land on his back, and then everything went black, and he lost consciousness completely.
Hmm? Consciousness?
Realizing he could clearly perceive his body's responses and his mind was capable of normal thought and recollection, Newton instantly opened his eyes.
As soon as he lifted his eyelids, he saw a man's face.
This was a face somewhat different from European features, with black hair and black eyes, not as angular as Westerners, relatively more gentle.
Here's a little trivia.
Due to his family's peculiar situation, Newton was often ridiculed and bullied by classmates at school.
Generally speaking, people would resolve this in two ways:
Either silently endure it or find a teacher to report it.
But Newton opted for a third way—to become a campus bully himself and retaliate.
Thus, in terms of fighting, Newton was practically the champion among his peers, much like Li Jingliang.
Moreover, due to the rampant epidemic, many refugees became unstable factors.
Therefore, after coming to his senses, Newton didn't pay attention to the man's vibrant appearance nor savor the concerned gaze.
Instead, by muscle memory, he picked up a book nearby and swung it directly at the man in front of him.
This book was called the "Holy Bible," about five centimeters thick, with a gold-plated hard metal cover, weighing…
1.56 kilograms.
So it happened.
With a thud, Xu Yun fell over with a crash.
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