As the saying goes, plans can never keep up with changes. The first Party meeting was scheduled to convene on July 14, 1905. It officially convened on July 17, three days later than expected.

Chen Ke and Qi Huishen had been busy with the school and treating patients, while Zhou Yuanxiao was in charge of watching the workshop. During this period, Hua Xiongmao and You Gou also became elusive. You Gou claimed she was recruiting some friends she had worked with before, swearing solemnly that there were some excellent talents among them.

Because the paperwork for the school needed to be finalized, Qi Huishen had to frequently contact the British with his father, so he couldn't follow Chen Ke around to treat patients. It wasn't impossible for Chen Ke to treat patients alone, but since Hua Xiongmao was willing to take charge of drug sales in Fujian, Chen Ke felt Hua Xiongmao had to go on business trips eventually. Chen Ke couldn't go to Fujian with Hua Xiongmao, so it was very necessary for Hua Xiongmao to fully understand the use of the specific drugs and their therapeutic effects now.

After going on medical rounds with Chen Ke twice, Hua Xiongmao earnestly apologized. "Wenqing, looking at those patients makes me feel uncomfortable all over. I have nightmares at night. Wenqing, I beg you, let me go sell the medicine. I can't do this doctoring business."

No matter how Chen Ke explained the necessity of understanding the drug's characteristics, Hua Xiongmao insisted that he needed some time before he could come into contact with patients again. Now, the sight of a patient made him nauseous.

After Hua Xiongmao fled in defeat, You Gou volunteered to find a reliable Chinese doctor trained in Western medicine. Two days later, she brought over a doctor named Wang Qinian. Wang Qinian was Cantonese, and his family had many overseas Chinese members in Nanyang. This Dr. Wang's uncle was a seaman, and relying on his uncle, Wang Qinian had graduated from some medical school in Marseille, France. Seeing Wang Qinian's vagueness, Chen Ke strongly suspected that the teacher of this "medical school" was likely the ship's doctor.

However, when talking about intravenous injection, dosage, saline solution, and compounding drugs, Wang Qinian answered fluently and his practical operation was quite skilled. He was competent for the position of a doctor. Chen Ke was worried about this Dr. Wang's background; since there were overseas Chinese in his family, his background wouldn't be that simple. Wang Qinian was recommended by You Gou's friend, and she said she would ask around.

After experiencing so many things, on the morning of July 17, the first Party meeting was officially held. There were five attendees in total: Chen Ke, Qi Huishen, Hua Xiongmao, You Gou, and Zhou Yuanxiao. Although everyone had been joking around when mentioning the Party meeting, when they really sat around the table and met in the name of the Party, the familiar friends looked at each other and felt a bit embarrassed.

Chen Ke patted the table. "I announce that the first Party meeting has officially begun."

No one applauded, no one spoke. Everyone waited calmly for Chen Ke to continue.

"Item one, let's first elect a secretary for this session."

"What is a secretary?" Hua Xiongmao asked.

"The secretary is responsible for recording every topic, everyone's speech, and the final resolutions reached. In addition, after the meeting, the secretary must compile a meeting summary..." Chen Ke thought these things were easy to understand, but to his great surprise, after explaining the secretary's responsibilities, the comrades' views were widely divergent.

"My handwriting is no good, I can't do it," Hua Xiongmao spoke first. If Hua Xiongmao had stopped there, it would have been understandable. But Hua Xiongmao continued asking, "This kind of thing is for miscellaneous staff. Shall we find someone specifically to do this next time?"

Chen Ke tried his best to understand Hua Xiongmao and interpret his words in a positive light. As Chen Ke thought, Hua Xiongmao's intention was probably—if one focuses on recording everyone's words, one cannot participate in the discussion. So, it's better to find someone uninvolved to do this work. Moreover, Chen Ke suspected that Hua Xiongmao considered the secretary a low-level position, and as "core cadres," this group shouldn't be doing it.

Qi Huishen had engaged in revolution before, after all, so his thinking was more reliable. "We discuss many things that need to be kept secret. How can we use an outsider?"

"My handwriting isn't good either, I can't do it," You Gou followed up.

Zhou Yuanxiao remained silent until he saw Chen Ke looking at him. Only then did Zhou Yuanxiao reluctantly say, "I can't do it."

Chen Ke felt helpless regarding everyone's viewpoints. A small secretary might seem insignificant, but among the positions within the Communist Party, the highest rank of secretary—the General Secretary—was the number one person in the Party. There was only one true Party Chairman. If Chen Ke was the Party Chairman now, then the second in command would be the General Secretary. Often, status is not something to be fought for; whoever is suitable for the position doesn't need to fight.

Seeing no one vying for the secretary role, Qi Huishen said, "I'll do it." No one objected.

Chen Ke said, "Meeting item two, we elect the moderator for this meeting. I elect myself."

No one objected to this topic. Seeing Qi Huishen hadn't started writing, Chen Ke urged, "Huishen, write it down."

"This needs to be recorded too?" Qi Huishen was a bit puzzled.

"This is our rule for meetings from now on. In the meeting, everything must be recorded." Chen Ke said very seriously.

Hearing Chen Ke's words, Qi Huishen began to record.

"Item three, every future topic must ultimately be voted on by a show of hands. Everyone must speak. If you agree, raise your hand to indicate it; if you disagree, you must explicitly object..."

These rules, which Chen Ke had learned in elementary school, were proposed as topics one by one, and passed by a show of hands one by one. Everyone thought Chen Ke was going to talk about something important, but it turned out to be relearning rules. It was fine at first, but after a while, everyone felt it was very boring. Hua Xiongmao even started yawning.

Finally, the meeting rules were fully explained. Chen Ke watched Qi Huishen finish writing these down before saying to everyone, "After this meeting ends, what does the secretary need to do?"

No one understood what he meant, so Chen Ke had to ask again. No one could recall, and Qi Huishen couldn't remember either. He hurriedly looked through the meeting minutes and quickly found the answer. "The secretary must write a meeting summary after the meeting."

"This is the reason for having a secretary. This is also why, on the basis of preserving the original records of the meeting, a meeting summary must also be written." Chen Ke said with a smile. More specifically, the corners of Chen Ke's mouth pulled into a smile.

As a transmigrator, Chen Ke had never felt where his advantage lay. In this strange era, in this strange world, Chen Ke always had to rely on himself to solve all problems. Since starting from scratch and facing strangers, it was actually easier to make contact with revolutionaries and find a common language. In 1905, it was easier for Chen Ke to be a revolutionary.

The Party meeting had only been going on for a short while, but Chen Ke suddenly felt his advantage. His true advantage did not lie in the knowledge of later generations, but in knowing how to build an organization to solve problems. The power of an organization is greater than the individual; three cobblers equal a Zhuge Liang. If there is a good organization, any genius is unable to contend against it with individual strength alone.

As a transmigrator, Chen Ke didn't know what those great men of the past thought, but he knew what those great men did, and what kind of organizations they built to operate and achieve their goals. Those organizations Chen Ke had once loathed were holders of power; to Chen Ke, they were even "oppressors." But Chen Ke could now understand that it was precisely because they were organized and had strict discipline that they had such power.

"Yo, Huishen, when you write the summary report, I'll have to read it with respect," Hua Xiongmao teased.

Chen Ke glared at Hua Xiongmao. "Huishen, record this statement Zhenglan made in the meeting."

The implication of ridicule was so clear that Hua Xiongmao hurriedly said, "Don't, don't."

Qi Huishen just smiled and didn't move his pen.

The subsequent topics became much more serious. Chen Ke asked everyone, what is the purpose of the revolution?

"To establish a new system and save China." Hua Xiongmao, having just been criticized by Chen Ke, hurriedly quoted Chen Ke's words upon hearing this serious matter.

"Then does everyone think what I said is correct?"

This question triggered everyone's contemplation.

Hua Xiongmao laughed, "What Wenqing says sounds reliable. Besides, the world is definitely going to be in chaos. Naturally, I listen to Wenqing. Furthermore, we were so busy before, where was the time to explain this in detail?"

"Then, we must organize study classes. To explain the theory of revolution clearly."

"I've been waiting to hear Wenqing lecture." Qi Huishen agreed with this suggestion very much. As he spoke, Qi Huishen hurriedly recorded on the paper.

"This brings up a problem: when do we give lectures? Everyone is so busy, treating patients or selling medicine. We are about to start a school soon; how do we squeeze out this time?"

This was indeed a big problem. Everyone was busy during the day and only free at night. Everyone's eyes involuntarily fell on You Gou. Among them, You Gou couldn't really come out at night.

"Don't worry about me, I can't delay everyone's business. I appreciate your kindness, but I will definitely come to attend the lectures at night," You Gou said hurriedly.

So the time for the Party class was set for six o'clock in the evening.

"This is not enough. We already have so many things on hand, we must recruit people. I will now report to everyone on the things I think need to be done within the next year." Chen Ke took out the notebook he carried with him and said to the group.

According to Chen Ke's plan, in the coming year, they would establish a medical college together with the British. With this medical college as the main body, they would set up an affiliated school and a nursing school attached to the medical college. They also needed to open a hospital affiliated with the medical college.

The hospital needed a large amount of equipment. Leaving aside other equipment, if all the glass equipment had to be purchased, it would be too wasteful. Chen Ke believed they needed to open a glass factory. If they were to open a glass factory, they would need a large amount of coal, and purchasing on a small scale was too inefficient. Chen Ke told everyone that he prepared to build a honeycomb briquette factory.

Such a plan was essentially an extremely incomplete complex of related industries. The group could still understand it. Next, Chen Ke told everyone his overall design for the schools and factories.

From the construction of schools to the hiring of teachers; from the construction of the hospital to the hiring of doctors and nurses. As for the honeycomb briquette factory, that was even more complex. From equipment design and purchase to the procurement of anthracite, clay, and straw, as well as the selection and construction of the factory site. Product sales, and smoothing out various social relations. He spoke for over half an hour like this. Qi Huishen had already interrupted Chen Ke's statement six times, asking him to pause so he could finish writing the current record.

While Qi Huishen was writing desperately, You Gou said, "Wenqing, we don't have enough people. We have to recruit."

"That's right, how do we recruit?"

"I can find some people from the countryside. Anyway, there are so many people with nothing to do right now," Hua Xiongmao said.

"How is their work? Can they do the work we need them to do?" Chen Ke asked.

"If they don't listen, I'll deal with them," Hua Xiongmao said.

You Gou looked at Hua Xiongmao with disdain. "That's not as good as recruiting in Shanghai."

"Can people here in Shanghai do a good job? Do you know their background inside out?" Hua Xiongmao asked back.

"If they don't do well, we don't pay them wages. Besides, can Zhenglan also find those teachers, doctors, and nurses from the countryside?" You Gou retorted.

"At least those people are obedient, right?"

"Hmph! Obedient! I've opened factories with people before, and I haven't seen how obedient those relatives from the countryside are. They are clumsy and can't do anything right. If you say a couple of words to them, they make a fuss with you first. Even if they know they did wrong, those country folk don't say it, but there are plenty who sabotage you behind your back while working. Compared to these 'obedient' people, I'd rather find those disobedient workers. At least with hired workers, they work for wages; they know if they don't do well, they won't get money."

It seemed You Gou had failed quite a few times before; the resentment in these words was unusually strong.

"According to you, there are no good people among country relatives."

"There should be good people, but if they were good, would they be unable to survive in the countryside and run to the city? I haven't seen many such good people."

"Nonsense! City workers are sly and slippery, how are they any good?"

...

...

You Gou and Hua Xiongmao started arguing. Neither could convince the other, and their emotions became increasingly intense. Chen Ke watched them argue without saying a word, just snickering. Qi Huishen couldn't stand it anymore. He put down his pen. "Do you want me to record your words too?"

This really worked; the argument ended immediately.

You Gou glared aggressively at Hua Xiongmao, while Hua Xiongmao snorted coldly and turned his head away to ignore You Gou.

Seeing that both of them were silent, Chen Ke said, "Revolution requires revolutionary principles. The revolutionary principles I know happen to contain something that addresses what you were just arguing about."

"Wenqing, say it quickly. Is what I said right, or is what Zhenglan said right?" You Gou asked immediately.

"That's right! Wenqing must explain this clearly." Hua Xiongmao also wouldn't let it go.

"First of all, what you said is all truth, things you've seen with your own eyes. I can confirm this."

"Hmph!" You Gou and Hua Xiongmao huffed at the same time.

"Why such a situation occurs... several aspects of revolutionary theory discuss this matter. However, this is not a Party class right now; the Party class will start in the evening. So we will continue with the current agenda: the work plan for the next year."

Seeing that You Gou and Hua Xiongmao both looked a bit reluctant to let it drop, Chen Ke said to Zhou Yuanxiao, who had only simply stated his position and remained silent: "Brother Zhou, you have also opened a factory. We really need an example of opening a factory for this topic. Brother Zhou will be responsible for preparing this example, how about that?"

Zhou Yuanxiao's face twitched. Failing at running a factory was something he refused to mention. Chen Ke actually brought up this example, leaving Zhou Yuanxiao feeling very bitter. "Let's forget it, Wenqing. I don't want to bring that up."

Chen Ke did not agree with Zhou Yuanxiao. "Brother Zhou, this kind of thing must be figured out. If something succeeds, there might be a bit of providence involved. But if something fails, it's definitely because we didn't do it well. Since we spent so much money and put in so much effort, we have to understand clearly how we failed, right?"

"I've accepted that matter. If we don't have to mention it, let's not," Zhou Yuanxiao said despondently.

You Gou also disagreed. "No, Brother Zhou, you should talk about it. Let's see how those people actually ruined your factory." After saying this, she ignored Hua Xiongmao's dissatisfied look. "You should explain clearly how those country relatives ruined your factory. Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future. Since we are going to continue opening factories, these mistakes cannot be repeated."

"That's right, Brother Zhou, you must speak," Hua Xiongmao said in a tone that showed he was clashing with You Gou.

"We are all comrades, don't hurt the harmony," Qi Huishen persuaded. "Wenqing, you say something to them too. Speaking like this isn't right."

Chen Ke laughed. "The reason I want to pull everyone into the revolution is that a true Party member can see the entire world clearly. Right now, the reason You Gou and Zhenglan are arguing is that they are looking at the world through their own eyes, rather than looking at what this world actually is. I feel they are just like children quarreling right now, completely missing the point."

"Children quarreling also hurts harmony," Qi Huishen understood Chen Ke's meaning and laughed.

"What harmony do children hurt? One day they say, 'I won't play with you anymore,' and a few days later they are playing together happily again. You can't persuade them out of this."

Hearing this, You Gou said angrily, "I am the child. I am reasoning."

"Oh, reasoning. Then let's continue the meeting. We are here to hold a meeting today, not to quarrel. Right?"

Faced with Chen Ke's tolerant and mature words, You Gou had to stay silent.

"I talked about *Capital* last time. It discusses the development of enterprises. I also mentioned that in Sweden, 30% of child laborers die in factories before reaching adulthood. In Britain, after entering the factory, it is guaranteed that workers will be worked to death within three years. These are all truths. The operation of capital has always been this bloody. But in our Chinese textile factories, workers go to work at fixed times, rest during holidays, and frequently eat some meat. They even have money to buy the cloth they spun themselves. So, the foreigners' goods are cheaper than ours. Therefore, when foreign goods rush in, our national goods cannot compete. I am telling you all this now to emphasize that I do not want such things to repeat. At least I, myself, will not do such things. How can we avoid such things happening?"