Go back to the past and be a schoolboy

Chapter 273 Serving as the Dean of Engineering
"Hello, Professor Cheng, I am a freshman at Peking University this year. Just now you have been talking about the inventions and creations of the School of Engineering. My classmates and I like it very much, but there is still one thing that is unclear, that is, what is an invention, especially For our society?"

On the campus of Peking University, Cheng Nuo was conducting an open class in the auditorium. The main content of the lecture was engineering courses, the purpose of which was to attract new students to the engineering college in the next semester, especially coal, steel, machinery, and radio.

Standing on the podium, looking at the performance of the students below, quite a few nodded in agreement, Cheng Nuo already had some thoughts in his mind.

"'Invent', it's actually very simple." Waving his hand, Cheng Nuo let the student sit down, and continued, "Technical inventions in industrial society have extensive chain effects, and inventions are nothing more than answers to certain needs. At the same time every important new invention creates new social needs..."

After a series of explanations, the freshmen's understanding of the College of Engineering was deepened. There was an endless stream of applicants for courses, and the registration form was completely insufficient. In the end, it was Cai Yuanpei who came forward to control this crazy scene.

"Zhiyuan, you didn't expect the School of Engineering to be so popular, did you? Fortunately, the quality of the robe I'm wearing is good, otherwise I'm afraid I'd be squeezed and torn." Cai Yuanpei walked behind, jokingly said: "If the students take courses They are all so eager to learn, our Peking University is no worse than England, Cambridge, Oxford and the like.”

Cheng Nuo tidied up his crumpled clothes and said with a smile, "Actually, our Peking University is short of some historical background. If we follow Cai Gong's way for several years, I believe that day will not be too late."

Unexpectedly, Cai Yuanpei was not only not happy, but rather melancholy: "Forget it, in order to develop education, in addition to manpower, material resources are also inseparable. Right now, the public is almost unable to open the pot, and we don't know where the funding for Peking University next year will be."

Cheng Nuo frowned and said, "Is the situation so bad? Didn't the College of Engineering allocate a large amount of special funds for education? If the school is really difficult, you can embezzle some first."

Cai Yuanpei shook his head: "It hasn't reached that level yet. The situation of the Engineering College is so good at the beginning. If funds are transferred at this time, it may have a negative impact on the teaching effect, and the gains outweigh the losses."

Cheng Nuo came up with another idea: "Maybe we can..."

Before Cheng Nuo could finish speaking, Cai Yuanpei interrupted him and said, "Forget it, I'm not looking for you this time for teaching funding. You just need to teach the students well. This time I'm here for something else. I need to inform you."

While talking, he took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Cheng Nuo.

After receiving the paper, Cheng Nuo didn't open it in a hurry, and asked with doubts on his face, "Mr. Cai, what is this?"

At this time, Cai Yuanpei smiled, and said kindly: "Professor Cheng Nuo Cheng, this is a new contract for you. Please open it quickly and have a look. If there is no problem, let's go to the office and sign it as soon as possible."

Cheng Nuo suddenly realized, and then remembered that the signing time of the contract was limited at the beginning, and now the new year is coming soon, it is completely reasonable to renew the contract, but he did not expect Cai Yuanpei to be so eager.

"It's okay, I believe Mr. Cai is not cheating me, I just sign the contract." Cheng Nuo smiled.

Cai Yuanpei waved his hand, jokingly said: "Hey, it's better to take a look. Don't worry if what I draw up is a contract of prostitution, then your famous Professor Cheng will give me a free job. Let's take a look first."

After thinking about it, Cheng Nuo stopped being polite and read the contract while walking.

At first glance, many things in it are the same as the original ones. The biggest difference is the monthly salary, which has been directly increased to 310 yuan, which is 10 yuan more than the original one.

"Mr. Cai, this salary...why did it increase?" Cheng Nuo wondered.

"Of course it's because you have done a lot of work. It turns out that you are only a professor in the School of Mathematics, and now you also serve as a senior in the School of Engineering. Naturally, the salary will be based on that of the seniors. It's just that you originally paid 300 yuan, so you will give it symbolically. You add 10 yuan, I wonder if you will be satisfied?" Cai Yuanpei explained.

According to the salary system at that time, the treatment of mental workers was generally higher than that of manual workers.Taking Peking University as an example in January, the monthly salary of the dean of liberal arts is 1 yuan, the monthly salary of literature professor Hu Shi is 300 yuan, the monthly salary of the library director is 200 yuan, and the monthly salary of the assistant librarian is only 120 yuan.

As for other industries, the monthly salary of staff, teachers, editors, and doctors engaged in mental work can generally reach 100 to 200 yuan, which is significantly higher than that of workers and shop assistants with a monthly salary of 10 to 20 yuan.

Now that Cheng Nuo has multiple jobs and has suddenly become the dean of engineering, the salary will naturally be raised a little bit higher.

"Mr. Cai, did you hand over the dean of engineering to me? This is too sudden. I received your appointment suddenly without any preparation. I really didn't expect it." After carefully reading the contract twice, I was sure After the appointment of the dean of engineering, Cheng Nuo was still surprised.

Cai Yuanpei stood firm, leaned his body and said, "What preparation do you need? The class you just attended is the best preparation. In terms of strength, who in Peking University knows better than you?"

But Cheng Nuo still wanted to keep a low profile right now, and his time was very tight, and he didn't have any extra time for Peking University affairs. After thinking about it, he refused decisively:
"Cai Gong, if I'm allowed to teach and educate people by myself, it's no problem, but if I do anything else, I'll be a little short on time and energy, and it may even delay the major events of the Engineering College."

Cai Yuanpei still refused to withdraw his appointment and insisted: "You can't say that. You said in the lecture just now that social needs are the navigation lights for the advancement of human civilization. New technology inventions promote the development of industry and increase human production capacity. Great improvement... Did you say that?"

Cheng Nuo nodded: "Yes, I mentioned this just now."

Cai Yuanpei continued with a tense face, "As you said, take the steel you are good at as an example. Economic development has put forward higher requirements for steel production, and new machinery and equipment have more and more requirements for steel quality and output. High, where you need to change your efforts, you clearly understand that better than anyone.

If you are only in charge of teaching students, then the knowledge outside of these subjects is almost difficult for students to touch, and the application of knowledge is naturally much worse. I don’t want the students of Peking University to become a dead book. "

Seeing Cheng Nuo's intention to make a move, Cai Yuanpei went all out to "threat" directly: "Zhiyuan, at the beginning I wanted to directly abolish the engineering department and save the funds to be used in other places. At that time, you urged me not to abolish it." , I thought about it and agreed, now you can't let the picky go, can you?"

After a few words, Cheng Nuo directly sealed off the retreat that Cheng Nuo wanted to reject, and put on a posture of refusing to agree and not letting go.

And during the conversation between the two, a student passed by and accidentally heard a few words, and instantly understood that the principal was going to pull Professor Cheng to be the dean of engineering, and immediately trotted all the way, spreading the news to the entire campus, and the entire Peking University was in an uproar stand up.

Some excited students simply ran over and surrounded the two of them.

"Professor Cheng... no no, senior Cheng, is there going to be a big change in engineering next semester? I'm very interested in the 'wireless phone' you proposed. Will I be able to directly learn to make devices that generate electric waves by then? And the equipment that received the electric wave?"

"When you read Professor Cheng's article, you didn't read the article carefully. The 'wireless telephone' is obviously a wireless telegraph. The machine is just a transmitter and receiver. Its mechanical principle and operation method are similar to that of a wired telegraph. Follow Cheng Xuechang and study hard...Cheng Xuechang, do you think my explanation is okay?"

"Cheng Xuechang, Cheng Xuechang, last time you said that adding a certain amount of other elements to steel can improve or obtain a certain performance. I was inspired after reading the article. I added some manganese to it, and the performance is very different. It can be used As cutting steel, I want to discuss with you..."

"Professor Cheng..."

Seeing the scene getting bigger and bigger, and facing the students' enthusiasm, even though Cheng Nuo couldn't stand it, he really didn't want to extinguish the flames, so he stomped his feet, climbed directly to the rockery, and said to everyone:

"Students, thank you for your trust. I will officially take up the position of dean of engineering next semester. Welcome everyone to study in the College of Engineering. As for the questions reported by the students, I will answer them one by one later, but not here , but in our new School of Engineering.

As for why I choose engineering, the reason is actually very simple. It is because a handful of the richest and most powerful countries exploit more and more small countries. In order to get rid of their marginalized status, they choose certain industries as a breakthrough, so as to drive the improvement of the entire economy. It is our best choice for climbing upwards.

And engineering can greatly protect our survival and independence, and even focus on cultivating industries that are directly related to national defense and have technology-leading industries in the process of industrialization. Therefore, for the sake of national independence and national prosperity, more and more students are welcome to join our engineering department Big family come..."

This impromptu speech completely ignited the atmosphere of the audience. It was three points hotter than in the classroom just now. When the students were excited, they even stopped Cheng Nuo from coming down from the rockery and threw them into the sky. , Falling down and then throwing up again, what a word of excitement.

There is a reason why the students are so excited, because they have already experienced the pain of being restricted everywhere in the industry. Not only do they hope for the revitalization of national industries on campus, but they are also affected by the "self-improvement of domestic products" outside the campus.

In particular, import substitution itself is not a purely economic consideration, but often contains nationalist elements for the development of domestic industries. The previous Qiuxin Machine Factory is the best example. Nationalist ideas are often embedded in entrepreneurial spirit.

This kind of nationalist ambition beyond the level of "talking about business in business" may not be the primary motivation for modern passionate youths to develop national industries, but it is at least an important driving force.

In the early years, Yang Junsheng, the founder of Zhonghua Shipyard, was complained about our vast waters, but it was a pity that the warships and ships sailing on the rivers and seas were all built by foreigners. This ignited his enthusiasm for developing national industries.

During the period when Cheng Nuo was developing the national industry, the students of Peking University saw it in their eyes and kept it in their hearts through books and periodicals. They all wanted to do something for the national industry through industry so as to change the current situation.

But because Peking University's strength in this area is very weak, and although the engineering department has not been banned, it is basically in a state of half-dead, even if you want to apply for the engineering department, you still have no choice.

Now that Cheng Nuo is officially announced as the dean of engineering, he can pick up the industrial dream that he gave up in the early years, not to mention how happy he is.

"Okay, okay, let me get up first, I'm afraid of heights, if I get up again, I'll pass out." Cheng Nuo, who was thrown into the air, tried his best to stabilize his body, trying to persuade the students under him to give up.

"What? Professor Cheng thinks that our throwing is not high enough? Students, we can't let our engineering dean look down on us before the formal class, so hurry up and give me the energy of feeding... Listen to my password , one, two, throw!" In the thick atmosphere, there were still students booing below.

"Hey, slow down, someone's head is sticking to my waist, is that head okay..."

……

Although Cheng Nuo wanted to keep a low profile and downplay his role as the dean of engineering at Peking University, there were some things that were difficult to hide from those who cared.

Especially the two die-hard fans above, after hearing the news, they wished to fly to Beijing immediately and become a member of Peking University.

"Ah Fu, why don't you say that Professor Cheng didn't come to our Nanyang University as a senior, so that we can ask questions at any time, why do we bump into obstacles everywhere like now, and we don't even know where we are." Zhang Yulin While winding the antenna, he said enviously.

"Is there any other reason? It must be that the temple of your Nanyang University is too small to accommodate Professor Cheng's big Buddha. If you ask me, you might as well drop out of school and apply for Peking University with me." Xi Kangfu rubbed Ore, jokingly said: "Let's quit school now, and I still have time to review my homework."

"Fuck you, Peking University is the one I can take if I want? What's more, now that Peking University has officially recruited female students, the pressure of competition is even greater. I'd better try to write to Professor Cheng. Although the chance of this is slim , but there is still some hope." Zhang Yulin said weakly.

While the two were still chatting, there was a sudden commotion in the attic, followed by the sound of intensive footsteps from the stairs, and not long after, the door of the room was slammed open.

A row of soldiers in military uniforms broke in and took the two of them together without any explanation.

Then a man in a windbreaker came out, squatted in front of the two of them, looked left and right, and finally hooked Xi Kangfu's chin: "You didn't learn well at a young age, and you actually became a spy for the north. What did you do?"

Xi Kangfu didn't know why, so he said in a daze: "Master Jun, how could we be spies?"

The man snorted coldly and threw the antenna on the ground: "Are you still arguing? What is this?"

(End of this chapter)