"My name is Qi Huishen. Ow!" the young man grimaced under the glow of the oil lamp. Chen Ke observed him; he appeared to be about twenty-two or twenty-three, with unremarkable features and a center-parted hairstyle typical of a student. As Qi Huishen unbuttoned his jacket to reveal a slender frame, his fair, smooth skin suggested he was the child of a wealthy family.

Hua Xiongmao, having trained in martial arts, knew some basic treatments for bruises and strains. He was currently probing Qi Huishen’s torso. Earlier, You Gou had struck the man under the ribs with a staff. Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao had carried the incapacitated Qi Huishen back to the workshop. Seeing him in too much pain to speak, Hua Xiongmao had volunteered to check for fatal injuries.

You Gou suddenly clicked on a flashlight, its beam hitting Qi Huishen directly in the face. He instinctively raised an arm to shield his eyes, which tugged at his injury, causing another cry of pain. You Gou showed no signs of pity. "Then why were you running?" she asked crossly. "We shouted for you to stop even before we reached the courtyard. You kept running—if we didn't take you for a criminal, who would we?"

"Ow!" Qi Huishen cried again. Hua Xiongmao finally let go of him. "Lucky for you, no broken ribs. You’ll be fine after some rest." Having finished his examination, Hua Xiongmao picked up a leaflet from the table. After reading just a few lines, he chuckled. "Wenqing, this fellow is like you. He’s a revolutionary too."

"Eh? Brother Chen is a revolutionary?" You Gou asked in surprise.

"In this day and age, those claiming to be revolutionaries are as numerous as ox hairs. I'm just one of many," Chen Ke replied. He looked at Qi Huishen curiously. "But Mr. Qi, do you really expect anyone to read these leaflets in a place like this?"

Qi Huishen sullenly buttoned his jacket. "Of course people read them. Not only do they read them, they beat people over them."

At these resentful words, Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao shared a grin, while a look of slight embarrassment crossed You Gou's face. Zhou Yuanxiao, however, remained expressionless.

After carrying Qi Huishen back, Chen Ke had made a point of going back to retrieve all the fallen leaflets. He picked one up now to examine it. It was handwritten, its content attacking the imperialist powers and the Manchu Qing government. Chen Ke brushed the dirt off the paper and looked at several others. Though handwritten, the content and the calligraphy were identical across all of them, almost as if they had been printed. It was clear the owner had invested a great deal of thought and effort.

Chen Ke tidied the leaflets, doing his best to clean the soiled ones. He stacked them neatly on the table. "Mr. Qi, this was a misunderstanding. I offer you my apologies." He then added intentionally, "Mr. Qi, you truly put a great deal of heart into writing these. Admirable, truly."

From the moment he was knocked down, Qi Huishen had feared the worst. This area was inhabited by ordinary local Shanghai residents; he had never posted revolutionary leaflets here before. He hadn't expected several figures with flashlights to suddenly jump out as soon as he entered the alley. It had terrified him. Anyone who could afford such convenient lighting tools had to be someone of significant background. Qi Huishen had been caught by the police several times before while posting posters or gathering comrades, but being caught in a place where the police never ventured felt like a dead end.

He hadn't expected to be carried into a courtyard that turned out to be a dye workshop. The four people inside wore strange, dark blue, button-front cotton robes. Upon closer inspection, these oversized robes were worn directly over their outer clothes. The girl who had struck him down clearly had mistaken him for a thug.

Then, the others had done their best to treat him. Furthermore, he learned from their conversation that the tall Northern youth was also a revolutionary. This sudden turn of events left Qi Huishen at a loss. However, seeing that these people, though physically imposing, harbored no ill will, he began to relax.

When the Northern youth carefully organized the leaflets he had spent so much effort writing and offered an apology, Qi Huishen’s resentment halved. But the youth’s final strange remark piqued his curiosity.

"I heard the other gentleman call you Mr. Wenqing. May I ask, Mr. Wenqing, what did you mean by those last few words?"

"Mr. Qi, the people living in this area are ordinary folk. Who exactly are you intending to reach by posting these leaflets here?"

"The people, naturally."

"How many of the people in this neighborhood are literate? I’m not saying there's anything wrong with your leaflets, but would those who can actually read them go around spreading the word? The people here are just commoners. Does spreading your message help them earn an extra copper or put another mouthful of food on the table?"

To Chen Ke’s surprise, Qi Huishen did not fly into a rage. Instead, he lowered his head and sighed after a moment. "Mr. Wenqing speaks the truth."

While they spoke, Zhou Yuanxiao, You Gou, and Hua Xiongmao had already stood up to resume their work. None of them called for Chen Ke to join. Chen Ke knew this was his colleagues' way of being considerate; they didn't want to interrupt his talk of revolution. What excellent colleagues, he thought. He calculated that if he tried to recruit Qi Huishen now, having met under such awkward circumstances, they wouldn't be able to discuss anything of substance. It might even annoy his current partners. Weighing this, Chen Ke said, "Mr. Qi, rest here for a while. Once your body feels better, you should head home. Posting leaflets here yields half the result for twice the effort; it would be better to put them where people are used to seeing posters."

With that, Chen Ke stood up and went into the courtyard to work. Qi Huishen, seeing the four of them working so late, felt quite curious. He wondered if they were printing something as well, but the scent permeating the courtyard was clearly not printing ink. Standing at the doorway, he watched the four of them busy around several cauldrons under the light of lanterns and flashlights. It truly looked like a dye works. Qi Huishen found it strange; even with modern lighting, there was no need for such waste. Why not work during the day?

He watched the two tall, strong youths pull various ropes to lower bolts of cloth into vats. The girl who had hit him hurried between the steamers and large vats with a flashlight, frequently dipping a thermometer into them to check the temperature. The one who remained silent performed tasks Qi Huishen didn't understand between the vats and troughs. There was little talk among the four, yet their coordination was incredibly skilled. This was indeed a dye workshop, yet it seemed fundamentally different from other factories.

The pain in Qi Huishen’s side gradually faded. Watching the busy quartet, he intended to say his goodbyes but found himself unwilling to leave. This scene of hard labor possessed an inexplicable attraction, and he desperately wanted to understand what it was. As a major metropolis, Shanghai was full of workers. Qi Huishen had seen many scenes of labor, but compared to what he saw now, there was a subtle, marvelous difference.

After watching a while longer, he finally realized what set them apart. Compared to those who labored out of necessity, these four shared the same exhaustion but lacked any trace of indolence. The laborers Qi Huishen usually saw left an impression of mere endurance; they used their strength simply to last until the end of the shift, their heavy toil grinding them into numbness. In a way, that numbness protected them, preventing them from even feeling the hardship. Laborers broken by life appeared lifeless, lending a sense of gloom and oppression to the scene.

Though Qi Huishen was watching from the sidelines, the four of them acted as if he didn't exist. Their eyes were only on the work at hand; everything they did was for the sole purpose of completing their tasks with precision. Their focus was absolute, their movements full of vitality. They exerted themselves to finish the job and to do it to the highest standard. This initiative made them fundamentally different from any workers Qi Huishen had ever seen. Realizing this, a sudden sense of solemn respect for their attitude rose within him. He hadn't realized that labor could be so admirable. He found himself staring in a daze.

While Qi Huishen observed Chen Ke and the others, Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin were discussing Chen Ke. These two revolutionary seniors could not see how hard Chen Ke was working. Aside from Qiu Jin’s single visit to the workshop, neither knew much about his current situation.

"Xuanqing, do you think we should take Wenqing to see Mr. Cai tomorrow?" Xu Xilin asked Qiu Jin, who sat across from him. He had mentioned it to Chen Ke during the day, but since Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao had not yet returned to their lodgings, Xu Xilin felt Chen Ke had little interest in meeting Cai Yuanpei.

Qiu Jin smiled. "Bosun, it’s not a bad thing for Wenqing to be busy making money. It’s better than those who do nothing but borrow. I suspect Wenqing comes from a wealthy family. According to Miss You Gou, the watch he pawned to me is worth thousands of taels of silver. If he still had money on him, why would he work so hard?"

At the mention of You Gou, Xu Xilin merely snorted. He did not have a good impression of her. Most female students returning from abroad these days tried to start some kind of career. But You Gou was a woman, and in this era, women rarely showed their faces in public. As a female returnee, she neither started a career nor married, instead spending her days drinking away her sorrows—she was truly an outlier. According to Qiu Jin, Chen Ke and You Gou had felt like old friends from their first meeting. Xu Xilin had already been somewhat dissatisfied with both of them; the thought of them forming their own little clique only fueled his irritation.

"I don't know what grand business they’re up to, staying out all night. Even Xiongmao is running wild with them. What kind of decorum is this?"

As a man from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Xu Xilin was not particularly adept at making money. He felt an unspeakable distaste for commerce. As a revolutionary, he craved the feeling of being entirely consumed by a cause. To destroy this hopeless old world, Xu Xilin firmly believed that a beautiful new world would rise the moment the Manchu Qing collapsed.

Perhaps because Xu Xilin was that kind of man, he felt Chen Ke had not chosen the same path. Upon their first meeting, Xu Xilin had been impressed by Chen Ke’s insights. He had wanted to help Chen Ke, and more importantly, Cai Yuanpei had invited Xu Xilin to Shanghai for a meeting. Thus, he had brought Chen Ke along. Yet Chen Ke had not joined the revolutionary movement as Xu Xilin expected, but had instead thrown himself into business. This made Xu Xilin feel that perhaps his previous assessment of Chen Ke was wrong. This self-serving attitude—to put it bluntly, this "following whoever feeds you" style—irked him deeply.

Seeing Xu Xilin’s displeasure, Qiu Jin consoled him. "Bosun, I know you blame Wenqing and Xiongmao for acting on their own. But Wenqing managed to start a dye works using just a few contacts you provided. I think that's a good thing. From what I see, Wenqing is not an ungrateful man. If he makes money, he won't forget you. You aren't the type who can settle down to do such things anyway, so why trouble yourself?"

"Hmph, of course I blame them. I had hoped Wenqing could help me persuade Mr. Cai. I didn't expect him to be so focused on his own affairs. At first, when he said he needed my help, I thought he was just being polite. I didn't realize he was such a 'sincere' and honest man. They aren't back yet; will they even be back by morning? Who knows where they've gone to fool around." Xu Xilin became angrier as he spoke.

"Haha!" Qiu Jin couldn't help but laugh at his complaints. "Bosun, I didn't realize you held Wenqing in such high regard. Rest assured, Wenqing knows what’s important. They’re likely at the workshop. If you’re worried, I’ll go call them back."

Since Qiu Jin had said as much, Xu Xilin had to give her some face. "No need. I’m sure they’ll be back tomorrow. It’s late, Xuanqing, you should get some rest." After a few more words, Xu Xilin rose and returned to his own room.

Chen Ke knew nothing of the conversation between Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin. Even if he had, he wouldn't have changed his ways. An hour of frantic effort had completed the planned workload, and everyone took their scheduled break. Zhou Yuanxiao and Hua Xiongmao lay down on the bunks in the room and quickly fell asleep. The physical labor for the night was done. According to the plan, Zhou Yuanxiao needed to wake at two in the morning to check the dye, while Chen Ke would remain on watch until then.

Seeing that Qi Huishen had not left, Chen Ke invited him to sit at the table. He said softly, "Mr. Qi, everyone is resting. Let’s keep our voices down so as not to disturb them."

You Gou had grabbed her pillow and was resting her head on the table. Chen Ke had tried to persuade her to lie down on a bunk before, even setting up a new one specifically for her. You Gou would politely thank him but never used it. When tired, she always slept hunched over the table. Chen Ke didn't want to pry and let her be.

"Mr. Wenqing, you seem very dissatisfied with my leaflets. Might I ask for your guidance?" Qi Huishen asked directly and quietly, seeing that the others were settled.

"Mr. Qi, I see your leaflets call for the people to rise up. The idea is good. But why should the people rise up and follow you into revolution? Just looking at your drafts, I feel the people won't understand them." Chen Ke spoke as he poured a cup of tea for Qi Huishen.

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m not revolutionary?"

"Lower your voice. Don't shout in the middle of the night," Chen Ke said.

Qi Huishen snorted but fell silent.

"The people want revolution because they want a better life through it. Revolution means overthrowing the Qing and defeating the imperialists. That involves people dying. Why should the commoners risk their lives to follow you?"

Chen Ke’s voice was very low, almost like a sleep-talker's, which contrasted sharply with the weight of his words.

"With the country in such a state, not having a revolution is what will truly lead to death."

"Exactly. You’re right. But what use are those words? If the people believe you, will it get them an extra steamed bun? Or another piece of clothing? Revolution is about letting everyone live a good life. Establishing a new world isn't just about material comfort; it’s about ensuring no one is bullied and everyone can live with dignity. So, I think your leaflets are useless." After finishing, Chen Ke pushed the teacup toward Qi Huishen. "Drink some tea first."

To Chen Ke’s surprise, Qi Huishen did not get angry. He took a sip of tea and then asked, "What are your views on revolution, Brother Chen?"

"The principles of the world are all connected. We are cloth sellers, so we must know who will buy our cloth and why. You want revolution, so you must know if the people need it. Even if they do, everyone's needs are different. For you, why do you want revolution? According to your leaflets, it’s to overthrow the Qing and drive out the foreigners. For me, why do you want revolution? To build a powerful New China. And to build that New China, we must overthrow the Qing and drive out the foreigners. Don't ask people to do things that are all effort and no reward." Feeling this wasn't quite enough, Chen Ke suddenly quoted a famous phrase: "From the masses, to the masses."

Qi Huishen nodded repeatedly as he listened. He glanced at the sleeping figures around them and whispered, "That makes sense. But what should that China look like? Could you tell me about it, Mr. Wenqing?"

The two of them conversed in low voices. Outside, the night was clear and the stars were bright. The streets grew quieter and quieter; it was truly a fine time for a conversation.

The next morning, Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao returned to their lodgings. They opened the gate quietly and entered the courtyard. Chen Ke pulled Hua Xiongmao along to bathe first. Having worked in the workshop for days, they smelled not only of sweat but also of pungent dyes. Cai Yuanpei was no ordinary man, and Chen Ke didn't have the nerve to meet such a figure smelling like a chemical vat. For this reason, he had specifically brought out his shampoo and soap.

By the time they finished bathing, it was exactly six-thirty. Both changed into clean clothes to meet Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin. No matter how careful they were, the sound of the water was loud, and Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin were usually awake by this time anyway.

After they sat down inside, Qiu Jin smiled. "The two of you are quite fragrant, even more so than girls."

"Auntie, we can't go to see Mr. Cai smelling like old rags," Hua Xiongmao replied, quite pleased with the refreshing scent and effect of the shampoo.

Seeing that Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmao had returned early and looked refreshed after their bath, Xu Xilin was reasonably satisfied. Once everyone was ready, Xu Xilin led the group out.

They eventually stopped in front of a certain courtyard. As a modern man, one of Chen Ke’s defining traits was a poor sense of direction. After winding through Shanghai’s labyrinthine alleys for so long, he had no idea where he was. He simply couldn't remember the maze-like paths. The group stopped before a house with its gates tightly shut. Xu Xilin, who was leading the way, struck the door knocker. Soon, a small peephole opened, and someone peered out from within. Chen Ke suddenly had a thought: if this were a movie, and he fired a shot through that hole and burst in, how would the people inside react?

The gate opened, and the person at the door was none other than Tao Chengzhang, which surprised Chen Ke considerably. Without wasting time on pleasantries, the group entered the courtyard. Tao Chengzhang closed the gate and led the four of them into the parlor.

Facing these famous historical figures, Chen Ke didn't feel particularly excited, not even upon seeing Cai Yuanpei. Since Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin had met Cai before, Cai’s gaze quickly fell upon Chen Ke. Chen Ke, who was considered tall in Shaoxing, was tall in Shanghai as well. With his square Northern face, he was easily picked out among a group of Southerners. Cai Yuanpei asked Xu Xilin, "This must be Mr. Chen Ke?"

Xu Xilin quickly replied, "This is indeed Chen Ke." He then glanced at Chen Ke. Chen Ke stepped forward and instinctively extended his right hand. Everyone else froze for a moment. Cai Yuanpei quickly caught on and reached out to shake Chen Ke’s hand. "I hear Mr. Chen Ke has returned from abroad?" Cai Yuanpei asked.

"Yes, I returned just this year, not long ago."

"You certainly have a dignified bearing," Cai praised.

"Mr. Cai, there's no need for 'Mr. Chen Ke' this and that. Chen Ke’s courtesy name is Wenqing; I helped him choose it. You should just call him by his courtesy name," Qiu Jin laughed.

"Wenqing?" Cai Yuanpei repeated. The name contained the character 'Qing' (the same as the dynasty), and Cai Yuanpei seemed not to care for it.

Xu Xilin then introduced Hua Xiongmao to Cai Yuanpei, and Hua Xiongmao quickly paid his respects as a student. This was the first time Chen Ke had seen the formal etiquette of the Qing era in a formal setting. He suddenly recalled his own manners when meeting people. With Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin, he had used a simple cupped-hand salute; with Hua Xiongmao, there were no manners at all—they had fought first. When meeting You Gou and the others, there hadn't been much etiquette either. Thinking of this, Chen Ke decided he needed to ask Qiu Jin for a lesson in social graces.

After everyone was seated, Xu Xilin said, "Mr. Cai, Wenqing heard of your great name while abroad and admires you greatly. I believe Wenqing is a man of talent, which is why I dared to recommend him."

Chen Ke stared intently at Cai Yuanpei. This future president of Peking University, this man of peerless reputation, looked much like his photographs in history books. Chen Ke had always wondered why the famous figures in Republic-era photos had such an indescribable air of authority. Observing someone like Cai Yuanpei at such close range was a rare opportunity for study.

Cai Yuanpei was thirty-eight this year, but he looked much older than a thirty-eight-year-old in the twenty-first century. This was normal; almost everyone Chen Ke met in this era looked "younger" than their actual age suggested. In the twenty-first century, due to better nutrition and easier lives, everyone looked more youthful.

While Xu Xilin spoke, Cai Yuanpei’s face remained calm. From a biological perspective, his facial muscles were extremely relaxed—a sign of deep concentration. After observing Cai, Chen Ke couldn't help but look at Qiu Jin. She also sat composed in her chair, looking around at everyone with an expression identical to Cai’s. Chen Ke tried to mimic them, relaxing his facial muscles as much as possible and focusing his full attention on Cai Yuanpei.

Cai Yuanpei looked at Chen Ke kindly. "I hear from Bosun that you are a man of overflowing talent, a true statesman. He also said you come from a prominent family but left for the sake of the revolution. I admire that. I wonder what insights you might have to share with me?"

Someone as renowned among literati as Cai Yuanpei certainly possessed genuine substance. Chen Ke didn't dare talk nonsense before such a giant. He quickly replied, "Mr. Cai is too kind. I merely have some humble thoughts on how to serve the country."

"No need for excessive modesty, Wenqing. I’ve read your drafts. They truly show the style of a master. I only have one thing to ask: you say that the Manchu Qing and the Self-Strengthening Movement missed the point. Why is that?"

"To build a factory, one must know what the factory is for. Whether it was the Manchu Qing or the Self-Strengthening Movement, they only cared about building the factory. As for how to actually use it, they had no idea even after it was finished. They simply wasted vast sums of silver to support a bunch of people, all for nothing. It was true for the Qing, and it was true for the Self-Strengthening Movement. That’s why I say they missed the point." Chen Ke watched Cai Yuanpei’s reaction as he spoke. Cai Yuanpei merely nodded slightly. The "future" president of Peking University did not understand industry. "Mr. Cai, when the Great Powers are mentioned, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?"

Cai Yuanpei thought for a moment before answering, "Strong ships and sharp cannons."

Chen Ke nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Everything the Manchu Qing did was merely to produce those ships and cannons. But the ships and cannons of foreign nations are products of an entire industrial system. To seek the fruit while ignoring the root—that is where the Qing missed the point. Furthermore, in European countries, those in power are the financial magnates of industrial production. Whatever their motives, they must push for national industrialization. If China does not change its system, there is absolutely no future."

"But looking at your articles, you don't seem to entirely approve of foreign systems either," Cai Yuanpei followed up.

Chen Ke said solemnly, "If we were to follow the path of foreign nations, setting aside the fact that the opportunity has already passed, I will give Mr. Cai one specific example. Over a hundred years ago, both Sweden and Britain were developing their textile industries. In Swedish textile mills, the child labor mortality rate exceeded thirty percent. In British textile mills, they guaranteed that whoever you were, you would be worked to death within three years of entering the factory. Ultimately, the Swedish mills couldn't compete with the British on cost and were crushed. If the Manchu Qing were overthrown, would you be willing to let China walk that same path?"