OBS Chapter 1274 Breaking up
Chapter 1274 Breaking up
Chapter 1274 Breaking up
Qin Hao never expected that his three introductory engineering textbooks, "Basic Mechanical Engineering," "Basic Computational Mathematics," and "Basic Chemical Engineering," which he developed behind closed doors, would not only trigger a shift in the learning trend at Guanzhong University, but also create a silent yet profound wave throughout Shaanxi and even a wider world.
The names of these three books spread like wildfire. First, students from other universities in Xi'an flocked to borrow or purchase them; then, in just three months, the spark of thirst for knowledge ignited into a prairie fire, spreading from the foot of Xi'an's city walls to the entire Shaanxi province.
This trend naturally caught the keen eye of booksellers. First, the owners of several decent-sized bookstores in Xi'an visited them, cautiously proposing cooperation.
Qin Hao would naturally not refuse such a win-win situation, which could both spread knowledge and cultivate urgently needed science and engineering talents for the country, and bring him legitimate benefits.
He even offered a surprisingly low copyright price, almost like giving it away for free.
"Books are meant to be read, not hoarded for speculation. Every extra copy printed may bring about a greater chance of change."
He said this to the grateful booksellers. The news spread like wildfire, and in no time, booksellers from both inside and outside SX province flocked to Xi'an, making the small vice-principal's office a bustling hub of activity.
Even worse, some shrewd businessmen who were good at this business sensed the huge profits involved. Before the genuine books could be distributed throughout the country, crudely made, error-ridden handwritten pirated books were already circulating in cities and towns across the country, with Qin Hao's name prominently printed on the cover.
The sheer scale of this craze exceeded everyone's expectations, including Qin Hao himself. He never imagined that in the Republic of China era, where the literacy rate was less than 10%, these three science and engineering textbooks, which had a high reading threshold, would become such bestsellers.
That afternoon, Qin Hao had just finished dealing with the complicated administrative affairs at the beginning of the school year and returned to his office, slightly tired. He was about to sit down and pour himself a cup of tea when there was a soft knock on the door. A postman in a dark green uniform respectfully handed him a letter from Beiping.
Upon opening the envelope and unfolding the letter, the signature was clearly Mr. Cai.
The letter began with Mr. Cai's usual warm and gentle greeting, followed by...
"To my dear brother Zihan: I recently received your three books, including 'Basic Mechanical Engineering,' published by Guanzhong University of Science and Technology in Xi'an. After reading them carefully, I found them to be exquisite! You have simplified the essentials of Western engineering, hitting the nail on the head. Moreover, your writing is clear and concise, addressing the needs of our country's industrial development. This is truly a great benefit to the academic community. I have always worried that young students are indulging in empty talk. Seeing this book is like receiving a refreshing rain. I am very pleased! Your foresight and insight, as well as your practical application, make me feel ashamed."
"This is indeed a small stroke of luck amidst misfortune. After difficult negotiations, the governments of Britain, France and other countries finally relented and agreed to continue paying part of the Boxer Indemnity, and specifically specified that the funds should be used to fund Chinese students to study in Europe and America on government scholarships! Although the funds still carry a humiliating connotation, if they can be used to send students to study Western practical knowledge and cultivate talents urgently needed for the country's development, it is not a bad thing."
"As for the Nationalist government... Brother Zihan, you should be aware of the deep-seated problems within it. There is a great possibility that they will misappropriate the funds for other purposes. Therefore, using the funds specifically for their intended purpose is a necessary safeguard, so that this wealth of public funds can truly be used for students' education. However, the specific selection and dispatch procedures will inevitably be fraught with difficulties, and we will continue to work hard to make it happen."
Qin Hao was filled with mixed emotions. He knew all too well that a weak nation had no diplomacy, and the difficulty and significance of being able to secure a glimmer of light for China's future in this dark quagmire were beyond words.
He immediately wrote back, first humbly responding to the senior's praise, and then emphasizing his deep admiration for Mr. Cai and others for their tireless efforts in securing this valuable opportunity for the country.
Through correspondence, winter passed and spring arrived. The spring breeze of 1929 swept across the ancient Guanzhong Plain, and new buds began to sprout. Guanzhong University also welcomed the start of a new semester. As was customary, a general meeting of all faculty members was held before the start of the semester to plan the academic affairs for the new term. At the beginning of the meeting, the atmosphere was relatively peaceful.
However, when a thin, wiry figure dressed in a plain long gown quietly entered the conference room under the guidance of his secretary and sat down next to the reserved seat, alarm bells rang in Qin Hao's mind—the visitor was none other than Yue Weishan, a member of the Provincial Party Committee!
Yue Weishan smiled, but his eyes were sharp as a hawk's as he slowly swept over each teacher present.
After exchanging pleasantries, Yue Weishan's smile slowly faded as he got down to business. His voice, though not loud, carried a chilling pressure: "...Principal Zhang, gentlemen. I'm here today not only to offer my New Year's greetings, but also to report some important matters to you. You've probably all heard about the recent situation in various places. In Xi'an, the provincial capital, and even across the country, some 'restless' students, misled by unknown forces, are organizing and spreading so-called 'progressive ideas,' even inciting demonstrations and disrupting social order! This matter has a very negative impact and has already attracted serious attention from higher authorities!"
He paused, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone as if it were a physical presence, and then emphasized, “Guanzhong University, as the highest institution of learning in our province, should place the utmost importance on education and guard against the erosion of the campus by unhealthy tendencies! The principal and all teachers bear this responsibility without hesitation! Here, on behalf of the higher authorities, I reiterate two requirements: First, during the teaching process, teachers must closely monitor students' activities, and if they discover any signs of spreading inappropriate remarks, inciting unrest, or organizing illegal activities, they must immediately take action to stop them! Second, and most importantly—if it is confirmed that there are any stubborn, unrepentant, or suspicious ‘dangerous elements’ among the students…”
Yue Weishan leaned forward slightly, his voice cold and authoritative: "Regardless of their achievements or background, they must be reported to higher authorities immediately! To be precise, to me personally! Any knowledge of such matters that is withheld, tolerated, or condoned..."
These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over someone in the dead of winter. A suffocating silence fell over the entire conference room. The teachers either stared down at the wood grain of the table or gazed out the window, their eyes vacant. No one met Yue Weishan's piercing gaze, and no one responded.
Yue Weishan's face darkened visibly. He waited a moment, but received no response, and his patience finally wore thin. "Bang!" He slammed his hand on the table, making the water in his teacup slosh around. His feigned civility vanished, and he roared:
"What? Are you all mute? Or do you think it's none of your business? Principal Zhang! Is this the Guanzhong University under your leadership? So callous and inactive? Do you even understand the responsibilities you bear? Or is it that some of you sympathize with those saboteurs and disregard national laws?!"
Seeing that Principal Zhang's face was pale and his lips were trembling, unable to speak.
Upon seeing this, Qin Hao slowly stood up.
"Committee Member Yue, all of you gentlemen here are teachers who impart knowledge, teach skills, and resolve doubts. The pointers in our hands are pointed to the knowledge in books, the principles in laboratories, and the lines on engineering drawings. As for what students think, what they say in private, or even the societies they form outside of class... forgive my frankness, but as long as they are not directly proclaimed in the classroom, it is indeed difficult for us to monitor and report in the same way you require. Students have their own thoughts and privacy. The primary responsibility of teachers is to guide students' studies, not to be secret agents who censor their thoughts."
Yue Weishan's anger, which had been fueled by the teacher's silence, was now amplified, and he stared at Qin Hao with a cold gaze.
"What a silver tongue! Always defending others and making excuses for them! With such blatant protection, does she really think she's some kind of local tyrant at Guanzhong University? That she can just ignore what the higher-ups say?!"
"Don't think I wouldn't dare touch you. Let me tell you, if I find even the slightest evidence that you're involved with those dangerous individuals, or that you're protecting or condoning them, you'll be the first one arrested!"
Since they had already broken off relations, Qin Hao decided to go all the way. His eyes suddenly became sharp as knives, and a mocking sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Evidence? When have you ever talked about evidence when you arrest people? A mere 'fabricated charge,' a baseless rumor, or a 'secret report' from who-knows-where—isn't that enough? I, Bai, am right here, waiting for you to arrest me! But if you dare to touch my student, or lay a finger on a hair on the head of any of the teachers here, I swear I will not rest until you have been stripped of your entire reputation!"
Yue Weishan's face turned from red to green, then from green to black, and the veins on his forehead and neck bulged out like earthworms.
"Fine, very well, we'll see!"
As he slammed the door and left the meeting room, the secretary asked, puzzled.
"This man is so arrogant, daring to disobey orders from above. Perhaps I should teach him a lesson..."
He was slapped as soon as he finished speaking.
Yue Weishan grabbed his collar and said fiercely, "Idiot, if he were that restless, would you have the right to say that? I would have locked him up just now."
"Do you know who he is? He is the author of the simplified Chinese characters, pinyin, and dictionaries in primary and secondary school textbooks across the country! When students march, they start by saying, 'I have a dream,' which is the content of his speech at Peking University. This speech has even spread to the United States, and many Americans know that there is such a person in China. He is a person who is even on Chiang Kai-shek's radar!"
"If I arrest him, students all over the country might hold demonstrations. When the higher-ups blame us, who will take the blame?"
The secretary was trembling with fear, never expecting that a "pretty boy" and "schoolteacher" could have such a great influence.
Meanwhile, after Yue Weishan left, the oppressive atmosphere in the conference room slowly dissipated like a receding tide. Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.
Principal Zhang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, walked to Qin Hao's side, his lips trembling, wanting to say something to express his gratitude, but filled with lingering fear and worry. Qin Hao waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.
"Gentlemen," Qin Hao addressed the still-shaken teachers, his tone grave and sincere, "Yue Weishan is a narrow-minded and vindictive man. Please be careful in the future. It's not that I'm cowardly, but to avoid giving others a handle against me, and for the safety of the students, I hope you will focus your energy on teaching your own subjects in your daily classes. Regarding current political turmoil and sensitive ideologies, regardless of your stance, try not to comment, elaborate on, or discuss anything unrelated to teaching!"
"At the same time, please remind the students privately—the storms outside cannot be calmed overnight. Cherish the hard-won time for learning! Devote yourself to studying the knowledge in books and truly master those practical skills that can change lives and drive progress! This is the true ability to save the country in the future! When we shut ourselves in to do our studies, we are also preserving a seed of hope for the nation. I hope you all... will strive together!"
The teachers present understood immediately and nodded solemnly. The meeting then ended hastily in a somber and heavy atmosphere.
The teachers left one by one, their minds heavy with worry, and Qin Hao returned to his office.
However, just as he approached the desk, preparing to sit down and organize his thoughts, his gaze inadvertently swept across the tabletop—a thick textbook, "Basic Mechanical Engineering," had been moved slightly, revealing an ordinary yellow kraft paper envelope underneath, without any writing or signature.
The envelope wasn't sealed and opened easily. Inside was only a folded, plain sheet of rough-edged paper. Qin Hao pulled out the paper, unfolded it, and immediately recognized Lu Zhaopeng's handwriting.
……
An hour later, in the chilly winds of late winter and early spring on the streets of Xi'an, Qin Hao wrapped his gray long coat tighter around himself and hurriedly turned into a bookstore called "Moxiangzhai" on South Street.
The store is simply furnished, with bookshelves densely packed with various books. Among them, three best-selling "Basic Series" books are prominently displayed: "Basic Mechanical Engineering", "Basic Computational Mathematics" and "Basic Chemical Engineering". The covers bear Qin Hao's name, and the edges of the covers are worn, indicating that they are sample books that have been frequently read.
There weren't many people in the shop. The shopkeeper was an elderly man with graying temples, who was wiping the counter with his head down.
"Shopkeeper, I'm looking for the third edition of 'Basic Mechanical Engineering,' which supposedly contains newly added diagrams of gear dynamics."
The shopkeeper looked up, a barely perceptible glint of sharpness flashing in his cloudy eyes. He sized Qin Hao up and down, then nodded after a moment: “Sir, you have a good eye. A sample of the third edition is prepared in the private room upstairs. Please come with me to take a closer look.”
The two of them went up to the second floor one after the other. The private room was simply furnished with a table and two chairs, and the window was half-closed, isolating them from the hustle and bustle of the street.
Just as Qin Hao sat down, the wooden door creaked open, and a figure flashed in: the newcomer was tall and thin, dressed in a simple dark blue long gown, with a gaunt face and graying temples; it was none other than the long-absent Lu Zhaopeng.
"Zihan..."
Qin Hao interrupted the other party's excitement directly. To be honest, he really didn't want to deal with Lu Zhaopeng. There weren't many good people associated with him.
"Alright, I knew it wouldn't be good news as soon as I saw your letter. Speak your mind or get to the point."
Lu Zhaopeng smiled wryly. If you said the other party disliked him, they would always lend a helping hand in crucial moments. If you said they were good to him, they would always show their disdain.
"To be honest, there are some things I'd like to ask for your help with. Could you help us get a batch of weapons and ammunition..."