It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Inman reached out and tried to grab Li Cheng's clothes, intending to settle the score with him.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Li Cheng easily dodged the attack and then sped away into the distance. Only Inman remained, staring blankly at her empty hand.

Damn it, I've been tricked again...

Inman turned his head angrily and saw his friend Bunitz standing there blankly, motionless, as if watching a play.

"What are you doing? Why didn't you help me catch him?!"

Seeing this, Inman took her anger out on her friend.

The shout snapped Bunitz out of his daze.

"You..." He thought for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Do you know him?"

Inman looked at his friend with a puzzled expression, wondering what was wrong with him: "We know each other, so what? Did he trick you too?"

"I don't know him."

Bünitz paused, then said in a strange tone, "But last time, I overheard my mentor call him... Principal."

???

headmaster?

Inman's face showed a black man with a question mark.

Answer to Chapter Forty-Eight

The classroom at the far end of the second floor of the laboratory building.

Miller, a secretary with excellent professional skills, stood straight in the doorway, holding a notebook in her hand. The open page clearly recorded all the people who had come that day.

Upon arriving in a hurry, Li Cheng immediately asked him, "Have all the people I invited arrived?"

Secretary Miller replied, "I have a record of those who have arrived in my notes, and I will give you a list of those who are absent later."

"Then what do I need you to prepare?"

"They're all placed next door; you can use them anytime you need them."

"very good"

Li Cheng nodded, then pushed open the door and walked straight into the classroom.

Inside was an ordinary classroom. The wooden desks, chairs, and benches, as well as the stone walls, were not much different from other classrooms. It was a classroom that could be found anywhere else.

However, the people sitting in the seats were not students, but a group of professors.

Some of them are young professors who have just been hired because of their unique insights in a certain field, while others are old professors who have been famous for a long time and whose hair is already gray. The only thing they have in common is that they all come from colleges related to natural sciences, and none of them come from literature, art or theology.

At this time.

The professors below the stage also noticed Li Cheng's arrival. Their reactions to this unfamiliar young man varied: some were curious, some were disdainful, some were indifferent, some were very serious, some looked confused, and some were uneasy.

They initially only had a slight understanding of Li Cheng.

The main issue occurred about two weeks ago, involving Hope's case and the now-sensory paper on universal gravitation that has shaken the Royal Society. Reportedly, they are preparing to nominate the paper's author—Isaac Newton—for a Fellowship.

They had all read the paper. The professors who accepted it thought it was a groundbreaking and innovative discovery, while the professors who didn't think it was just the wild imagination of two kids, not worth mentioning at all, and just a coincidence.

However, that's about all they know; they don't need to, and don't care about, anything deeper.

But just a few days ago, this young man named 'Aber Lee' supposedly gained the favor of Princess Veronica and suddenly became the Principal of their Cambridge.

This cannot be ignored.

Although in Cambridge, professors form 'faculty groups' according to their respective subjects, similar to modern 'departments,' and the elected chairpersons hold a pivotal position in university administration, the university's structure is somewhat similar to a loose federal system. While meetings are organized by the Vice-Chancellor, each department retains independent autonomy, and the Vice-Chancellor cannot arbitrarily control the departments.

However, the principal's power remains significant, and they cannot allow a mere young boy to ride on their heels and give orders at will, infringing upon their interests.

however.

Just as the professors were preparing to meet privately.

Some professors received both a conference invitation and two blue books from Li Cheng.

One book is "An Introduction to Fundamentals of Chemistry," and the other is "The Three Laws of Mechanics."

......

After scanning the room, Li Cheng spotted a silver-haired female professor in a corner of the classroom who was completely ignored by everyone.

Yes, Lavoisier was also a professor.

However, Cambridge neither allocated funds to her nor paid her a salary, and did not even require her to teach students... In short, they gave Lavoisier an empty title and an empty classroom as a venue, just to give it a try.

It would be best if we made a name for ourselves, but if we didn't... there's no real loss.

Lavoisier clearly noticed that Li Cheng was looking at her, and her feelings were a mixture of happiness and complicated emotions.

She was happy because Li Cheng hadn't lied to her. He not only delivered the complete "Introduction to Basic Chemistry" to her, but he was also the principal. In addition to promising her the right to allocate research resources, he even opened a required course called "Atomic Mechanics".

The complexity lies in... she doesn't understand why Li Cheng is so fixated on her. Given his conditions, wouldn't it be better for him to find a noble lady?

Their gazes met briefly in the air before parting.

I said we'd meet again soon... Li Cheng smiled slightly and walked onto the central stage.

"Hello everyone, nice to meet you."

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, he went straight to the point and began to introduce himself: "My name is Albert Lee, and thanks to His Highness Veronique, I will be serving as the Principal of Cambridge for some time to come."

When Veronica was mentioned, some of the professors' expressions shifted slightly, clearly indicating that the name was quite intimidating.

With Charles II absent and Veronica having gained the approval of the entire city of London for her fight against the plague and her iron-fisted methods, her name could temporarily overshadow the entire city.

'It seems to be working quite well.'

After pausing and taking in the expressions of all the professors in the audience, Li Cheng continued, "Since everyone has come here voluntarily, you must have read the two books I have given you. So I won't waste any more words."

“I plan to make these two books compulsory for all Cambridge students.”

Li Cheng asked, "Does anyone have any objections?"

Silence, utter silence.

No one had a chance to react yet, mainly because things were moving too fast. They had just entered and said their names when they got in, and then immediately asked who had any objections.

It's too rough and direct, lacking any pre-production elements, so I'm not quite used to it.

However, this is only temporary.

The professors below realized what was happening and began to whisper among themselves.

Li Cheng didn't stop them, but just waited quietly, like a teacher waiting for students to discuss.

Soon, someone stepped forward.

"I object!"

A male professor who looked to be only in his early thirties, very young, seemed to have been chosen as a scapegoat.

He first straightened his disheveled clothes, then said righteously, "The academy's required courses are all rigorously selected, discussed by countless people, and verified by numerous experiments. They are courses that the vast majority of professors approve of. How can we just add courses with no provenance like this?"

"This is irresponsible towards the students! This is a disgrace to Cambridge's reputation!"

As the young professor spoke, some of the other professors nodded in agreement, seemingly showing their agreement with his point of view.

Li Cheng couldn't help but smile as he listened.

After countless discussions and experimental verifications...?

At this moment, the young professor in his early thirties also saw Li Cheng's smile. He took it as sarcasm, and his tone became slightly angry: "Is there something wrong with what I said?"

"No, you're right. It needs to be discussed and tested experimentally."

Li Cheng first affirmed the other party, then gently patted the table in front of him: "That's why I've gathered you all here today for this meeting, to resolve your doubts."

"I think you should have enough time in the next few days to read through these two books, and quite a few of you should have done some experiments on your own."

Hearing this, many professors nodded secretly.

It is precisely because the theory is indeed novel and the experiment is very successful that some of the professors, including the department heads, are sitting patiently in this classroom... You know, some colleges have so many students and professors that they can be self-sufficient without school funding, and they can completely do without this so-called parachuted president.

While the professors below the stage were still pondering, Li Cheng continued to speak.

He addressed the Cambridge professors, a group considered among the most learned people of their time, his voice calm yet firm:

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask it now, and I'll answer it all for you today."

Chapter 49 The Murderer is Among Us

He boasted that he would teach this group of people who were considered the most knowledgeable in this era.

Is it confidence? Or arrogance?

After Li Cheng finished speaking, some of the older professors in the audience visibly frowned; it had been a long time since they had been treated with such an educator's attitude.

Who does this brat think he is?

Don't you know how to show basic respect to the elderly?

However, not everyone is like this; the vast majority of young professors still hold knowledge in awe. Having only recently shed their student status, they not only consider Li Cheng's remarks normal, but are even somewhat impatient to hear them.

In any era, young people are always the most receptive to new things.

However, Li Cheng, as a person of that time, did not have so many tricks up his sleeve.

He simply wanted to complete this Cambridge dungeon as quickly as possible, and that was the fastest way to subdue these unruly professors.

Abbreviated as SpeedPass.

He persuaded professors in the majority of the natural sciences to solidify Cambridge's voice and support Veronica; he further promoted the mysteries of natural sciences, instilling them into all Cambridge students as compulsory courses, thereby indirectly, slowly but profoundly attacking the church.

With these two tasks completed, the tasks assigned by Veronica were mostly finished, and his 996 work schedule over the past few days was not in vain.

After all... who would really want to be a dedicated Cambridge principal?

Get the important tasks Veronica assigned done quickly, leave all the daily affairs to that secretary Miller, and be a hands-off principal – that's the right way to go.

Then he could leisurely stay at home, pondering how to use online literature to promote intellectual enlightenment, hiring a few private blacksmiths and carpenters to tinker with inventions, directing Lavoisier to tinker with chemical products, and striving to unlock a series of technological advancements as soon as possible.

The profits from just one thriving soap factory were enough to cover his expenses, not to mention the many more ways he would make money in the future.

When he has free time, he'll accompany Newton to do experiments, tease that little kid, and continue sending Veronique the sequel to "Domineering Love"... Hmm, this time it absolutely can't go through Freya's hands again.

Oh, I almost forgot Anne. Playing tennis with her occasionally would probably be nice. By the way, does Mr. Stoller play golf?