Chapter 51

  The textbook is a very important thing, Chen Ke Xiong's ambitious plan is to rewrite the textbooks from primary school to high school. The junior and senior high school textbooks are still good, with a deeper impression. The primary school textbooks are not good enough. This time, he and Chen Tian Hua planned to write a primary school mathematics textbook on their way. The outline has been basically discussed, and they will meet He Guan Jia again the next day. Everyone doesn't want to make anything complicated, so they simply continue to improve the outline.

  The weather in October has become quite cool, and after the sky is completely dark, the temperature drops very quickly. The cool wind blows into the room through the open window for ventilation, and after finishing a paragraph, Chen Ke gets up to close the window, but hears a familiar sound of musical instruments. Someone is playing the piano.

  The sound seemed to be coming from the house diagonally opposite, and although Mr. He said it was a piano being smashed, if the piano had been smashed to the ground and couldn't be used, Chen Ke thought he wouldn't just be frustrated. After listening for a moment, Chen Ke couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. The quality of the piano was okay, and the player seemed familiar with the notes on the keyboard, but Chen Ke could tell that they were all single key presses, completely without any finger technique, and he had no idea how the teacher was instructing them.

  Chen Tianhua saw Chen Ke leaning over and listening, also listened for a moment, then smiled and said: "Not as good as Wen Qing's playing."

  "The instrument is played poorly, it's simply a punishment. Chen Ke sighed and closed the window. "In the past, there was once a homeowner who caught a thief stealing things. The thief asked if he should be beaten or punished. The homeowner said that beating would mean thirty lashes, while punishment meant listening to him play ten tunes on his instrument. The thief naturally chose punishment. By the time he heard the third tune, the thief was already crying and begging for mercy, saying it's better to just receive the thirty lashes."

  Chen Ke said it simply, Chen Tianhua didn't think much of it at first, but after savoring the words, he burst out laughing. "The literary youth is indeed sharp-tongued."

  "Thin as what, but don't know how teacher taught piano."

  After asking clearly about Chen Ke's sighs, Chen Tianhua said: "Wen Qing, there is one thing I think you have been abroad for too long and are not clear about."

  "What's wrong?"

  "You know that in a big family, girls are strictly bound by rules and conventions. It's said that they don't go out the main gate, nor do they step over the threshold of the second gate. This is no joke. In those days, music teachers were all from within the household, it was impossible to invite an outside teacher to instruct a young lady in music. The family across the way still plays the piano, which is considered quite enlightened. I know that overseas, noblewomen often learn music, but domestically, playing musical instruments is considered a lowly occupation."

  "Lowly position? In ancient times, gentlemen valued zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. It seems that even a gentleman can be of the lowest kind."

  "The harm caused by the Manchu culture is indeed very deep." Chen Tianhua sighed after saying this.

  Two men mentioned this and became very depressed. "After the revolution succeeds, we will teach music from primary school. No, no need to wait for the revolution to succeed, as soon as the base area is established, we will start music classes."

  "But don't build a base in Fengyang." Chen Tianhua suddenly added. This remark was quite "venomous", and Chen Ke couldn't help but burst out laughing. As the conversation reached this point, his interest in writing also faded. Chen Ke suddenly asked, "Xing Tai, I'll teach you to sing a song, it's called 'The Internationale'."

  Chen Tianhua knew some things about Germany and he also hoped that China could rise rapidly like Germany and become a world power. As for the defeated country France, because France had invaded China many times, Chen Tianhua didn't have a good impression of it. When Chen Ke mentioned the origin of "The Internationale", he only then knew that the French people had once established a self-elected government. Speaking of which, the Chinese people's spirit of rebellion has always been sufficient, "Emperors take turns sitting on the throne, next year it will be my family's turn." If it were just a peasant uprising, there would have been hundreds of them in Chinese history. Chen Tianhua had read many historical books and seen many records. But since Chen Ke valued this song so much, it must have something special about it. When Chen Ke taught him the melody, Chen Tianhua was immediately moved by the lyrics and music.

  "Arise, slaves of hunger and cold! Arise, wretched of the earth!"

  My heart is filled with boiling blood, I must fight for the truth!

  Let the old world perish in a flood of flowers, slaves arise, arise!

  Don't say we have nothing, we must be the masters of the world!

  In revolutionary propaganda, it has always been believed that the Manchu Qing dynasty regards the Han people as slaves. Overthrowing the Qing and restoring China would allow the Han people to once again become the "masters of the world". In Chen Tianhua's view, this world was not just limited to China, but was the world at large.

  The Internationale originally didn't have many variations, and Chen Tianhua was also proficient in playing the pipa. After a few rounds, he could sing along with Chen Ke. This passionate and stirring melody was not only a song but also a battle cry and a revolutionary manifesto. Even humming softly had already made the two young men's blood boil, and almost simultaneously, Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua burst into loud singing: "There has never been any savior, nor do we rely on gods or emperors!"

  To create human happiness, we rely on ourselves!

  We must reclaim the fruits of our labor and let ideas burst out of their cages!

  Get that fire burning bright red and strike while the iron is hot for success!

  This is the final struggle, unite until tomorrow, Internationale will surely be realized!

  "This is the final struggle, unite till tomorrow, Internationale will surely be realized!"

  In the darkness, a few dogs in some households barked softly for a while before falling silent. Chen Ke felt a surge of heroic spirit rising up in his chest. Since the revolutionary work had gotten on the right track, Chen Ke somehow felt that he was being held back by his own hands and feet. The feeling of difficulty in taking steps came more from his thoughts than from external obstacles. As a science student and as a young man who knew a bit about history, Chen Ke hoped to make the best preparations possible. He knew what he was doing was right, but also knew that it wasn't entirely correct. Revolution is a passion, and as a leader, one must be like a fire that can inspire and burn everything around them. However, Chen Ke himself was more like a calm and collected machine rather than a passionate revolutionary.

  It was just dyeing cloth and making medicine, even writing books and giving lectures, Chen Ke thought he could do it too, and felt that he could do it well. But after all, he had never been involved in a revolution, so even if Chen Ke had passion, hoping to achieve the revolutionary cause on one hand, and hoping to be absolutely safe on the other, what was expressed more was a timid atmosphere. Chen Ke knew he wasn't a qualified revolutionary. Today, when he started singing this "Internationale", Chen Ke suddenly felt the kind of righteous spirit that filled the song, that kind of fearless courage. The emotions of young people resonated strongly with him. He flung open the door and didn't care what his neighbors would think after hearing it, he shouted loudly towards the dark night sky, "Who created the human world? We, the laboring masses!"

  Everything belongs to the laborers, how can parasites be allowed?!

  Most hateful are those poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts, devouring all our flesh and blood!

  Once they are eliminated, the bright red sun will shine all over the world!

  This is the final struggle, unite until tomorrow, Internationale will surely be realized!

  "This is the final struggle; let us group together and tomorrow the International will be."

  From the moment Chen Ke yelled two sentences, the dog that had calmed down immediately started barking loudly again, regardless of any changes around it. Chen sang this song twice in one breath. He only felt that the depressed air in his chest was suddenly cleared. He simply sat down on the steps at the door with a thud. The barking sound disappeared quickly, and after a while, the piano sound from across the street started again. At first, it was quite chaotic, but the player tried several times and gradually played out a small section of "The Internationale". Then, the music stopped abruptly. Just as Chen Ke was quietly waiting for the player to continue, he heard Chen Tianhua shouting from inside the house: "Wen Qing, you haven't taught me this part of the lyrics, come in quickly and write it down."

  He responded with a grunt and walked back into the house, but couldn't help turning his head for another glance.

  Until he fell asleep, the piano on that side never sounded again. Who was playing the piano after all? Was it the older one or the younger one? Please don't let it be the master of that house! Thinking that a middle-aged man with a queue was playing the piano and responding to himself, Chen Ke felt his hair stand on end. "Can I also get infatuated?" Chen Ke thought he was really unreasonable. Wrapped in the quilt made yesterday, Chen Ke fell asleep quickly.

  At 9 o'clock in the morning, Mr. He arrived on time. As soon as he entered the door, he looked around Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua's residence. The courtyard was clean and tidy, with water sprinkled on the ground, not a speck of dust. Apart from this impression, the whole courtyard felt cold and deserted, lacking in human warmth.

  The three of them sat down in the living room. The housekeeper looked around the hall and said, "Gentlemen, the house is really clean."

  "It's better for just the two of us to live here, it's easier to clean." Chen Ke replied.

  "What brings the two gentlemen to Beijing?"

  "Entrusted by others to visit friends in Beijing, nothing big happened."

  The housekeeper could only nod his head at Chen Ke's words. "My master learned that Mr. Chen is a neighbor and wants to ask when it would be convenient for him to visit. My master would like to invite Mr. Chen to our home for a chat."

  "I am available at any time, as long as Old He's master is free, I can go visit him right now." Chen Ke replied very readily.

  "My family's old master said that Mr. Chen is now waiting at the government office."

  The butler replied so readily that it surprised Chen Ke. However, since he had already spoken, he couldn't take back his words. "Then please trouble Butler He to show the way."

  He got up and went out of the courtyard with the butler, but didn't go directly to the opposite mansion. On this street, there was a pastry shop that sold delicious things. Having learned from his previous experience with Pang Zi, Chen Ke bought eight kinds of pastries according to etiquette and had them wrapped up. Only then did he arrive at the front of the neighboring mansion. The butler standing at the door wasn't surprised by Chen Ke's actions at all, and ordered a servant to take the gift while leading the two men towards the main hall.

  Although they were neighbors, the two rows of houses were quite different. Chen Ke's residence was a traditional courtyard house, although it had brick floors, it was still an ordinary courtyard house. The opposite row was very different, with a front yard and a backyard. The area was three to four times larger than Chen Ke's residence. The butler led the two into the side hall, where a man in his 40s was waiting for them.

  This master, even if placed in the present, is still a handsome old man. He looks quite like Chen Da, who has transcended the boundaries of playfulness. His long hair is tied back into a ponytail and hangs down his back. The old man doesn't look at all like he's from the early 20th century. He isn't wearing a long gown or a horse-riding coat; instead, he has on a slightly worn-out brocade robe that fits closely to his body. A wide brocade belt is tied around his waist. He wears glasses and has two neat whiskers. Chen Ke actually doesn't dislike long hair at all; in the 21st century, it represents freedom and unconventionality. He just dislikes the Qing dynasty, so he dislikes queues.

  Chen Ke asked He Guan's family on the road and got the news that the neighbor opposite was surnamed He. The other housekeepers did not reveal anything else.

  Seeing the old man stand up, Chen Ke spoke first: "Hello, Mr. He. I am Chen Ke, and this is Chen Xingtai, my elder cousin."

  He Guan had also sized up Chen Ke and saw that Chen Ke first asked about himself, his tone was very respectful, which made He Guan feel somewhat unexpected.

  After the host and guest were seated, they introduced themselves to each other. The official's name was He Ruming, who used to be an official at the Tianjin Machinery Bureau. In the year of Gengzi, the Tianjin Machinery Bureau was suddenly destroyed, and He Ruming had been idle for several years without a position. Only recently was he transferred to the Beijing Ministry of Civil Affairs.

  Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua's self-introduction was much simpler, with Chen Ke claiming to have studied in the US and Europe for a few years. Chen Tianhua was a student who had returned from studying in Japan. Both of them had just returned to China and set up a medical college with British people in Shanghai.

  "Can Mr. Chen Ke write a preface for Wen Qing?" He Ruming asked.

  No matter what He Ruoming said, Chen Ke would not be more surprised than he was now. His own name was actually known by this unfamiliar official, which didn't make sense at all. Chen Tianhua also showed a look of surprise on his face. He thought that this official He was an old acquaintance of the Chen family.

  "It's right below." Chen Ke replied somewhat nervously.

  "I don't know if you're the cultural youth who wrote 'The Inheritance of Chinese Culture and the Rise of Materialism'." Looking at Chen Ke's uneasy expression, He Ruming continued to ask with great interest.

  "May I ask boldly, has Lord He received a book sent by Mr. Yan?" Chen Ke felt that this was the only possibility left.

  "That's right. I'm an old acquaintance of Mr. Yan's. Thanks to Mr. Yan's concern, he even sent over Wen Qing's book."

  This handsome guy turned out to be his own reader, which was quite unexpected for both Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua.

  "It was written together with this brother below and beside."

  He Ruoming originally had a smile on his face, after listening to Chen Ke's words, He Ruoming carefully sized up Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua, "I also saw the Wen Qing's 'Huangpu Review', but there is one thing that I don't understand."

  "Please go on."

  "Mr. Chen, with such talent, why don't you serve the imperial court?" He Ruoming's expression was already somewhat dissatisfied. "And that special medicine, Wen Qing can create such a good thing, but it was made public. Foreigners saw the prescription, wouldn't they imitate it? Wen Qing's move only benefited foreigners. I don't know why." Apart from tea leaves, silk, porcelain, and minerals, the Qing dynasty didn't have any modern inventions that could surpass those of foreigners. Chen Ke had such a good medicine, but directly cooperated with the British, which made He Ruoming very dissatisfied.

  Chen Keshou said, "If the imperial court had this medicine, it would only present the prescription to the British. He Da-ren, now the imperial court has no confidence in front of foreigners, and in their eyes, face is the most important thing. It's more important to curry favor with foreign countries. As for how to develop domestic industries, I don't think the imperial court will do well."

  What Chen Ke said was extremely unpleasant to He Ruming's ears, but he also had to admit that Chen Ke wasn't wrong. Although he wanted to scold Chen Ke, He Ruming endured the discomfort and only slightly shook his head.

  Seeing the changes in He Ruming's face, Chen Keshen had an idea and said: "If Mr. He wants to do something beneficial to the country and the people, I happen to have a project. Originally, I wanted to contact foreigners to work together, but what Mr. He said is right, why should we let foreigners benefit?"

  After hearing this, He Ruoming didn't show much interest, on the contrary, his eyes became vigilant. As the saying goes, no one offers kindness without a reason, it's either deceit or theft. Chen Keyou had a history of collaborating with foreigners, but this time he didn't look for foreign cooperation, instead, he talked to this person he met by chance, He Ruoming thought that Chen Keyou might have an ulterior motive.

  "Mr. He, this project, if not done with the predecessors of the Yangwu faction, it will absolutely not work with others. I originally wanted to contact the predecessors of the Yangwu faction, but unfortunately, there was no way. Today, meeting Mr. He is also a coincidence. May I ask if Mr. He can allow me to speak?" Chen Ke said straightforwardly.

  He Ruoming nodded after a moment of contemplation.

  "As the saying goes, firewood, rice, oil and salt are the four necessities of life, with firewood being the most important. Now in Beijing, people mainly burn coal, and ordinary folks use coal balls. I have a design that uses honeycomb coal, which is twice as good as using coal balls. If foreigners were to do this project, they would make money off the people for nothing, which I think is unnecessary." Chen Ke said.

  He Ruoming seemed to understand, Chen Ke explained the principle of beehive coal to He Ruoming again. He Ruoming appeared to understand but not really. Chen Ke then explained the principle of coal, although He Ruoming was an official of the洋务派 (Yangwu faction), he came from a mechanical background at the Tianjin Mechanical Bureau and had never studied chemistry. Chen Ke could only briefly explain the concept of elements and then describe the principle of combustion. Since He Ruoming's family had glass cups, Chen Ke asked for a basin of water, lit a candle in it, and placed the glass cup upside down over the candle. As the candle burned out, the water inside the glass cup was sucked up.

  Through this experiment, He Ruming finally understood the existence of oxygen in the air. Chen Ke explained the principle of combustion and then talked about how fanning the fire could make coal burn more fiercely.

  These everyday things that He Ruoming was naturally very familiar with. However, after listening to Chen Ke's explanation of chemical principles, many things that He Ruoming had previously only known but not understood suddenly became clear.

  He Ruoming asked Chen Ke to explain the principle of beehive coal again. This time, he finally basically understood all the principles.

  "Good stuff!" He Ruoming lightly patted the table. This old general was somewhat excited, although he was also a pro-Westernization faction, but after all these years, he really understood for the first time what combustion was all about. "The literary youth is right, such good things cannot be let foreigners do."

  Chen Ke smiled and nodded, but his throat moved slightly as he swallowed. He only then remembered that Chen Ke had just drunk the tea in the cup without even letting him offer a refill. The old man hastily shouted: "Bring more tea!" And then apologized.

  Chen Ke drained his tea in one gulp and had been talking for half a day, he was really getting a bit parched.

  "After the others left, Chen Ke said: 'Lord He, this matter is precisely something that cannot be done by the imperial court. It can only be done by the predecessors of the Western Affairs Party. I know Lord He does not want to discuss the pros and cons of the imperial court, but if Lord He really wants the people to benefit, then it should be led by Lord He, and let the predecessors of the Western Affairs Party handle this matter.'"

  The 51st