It was 9:00 AM on September 8 when Qiu Jin appeared at the entrance of Zhou Yuanxiao's workshop. The last time she was here was over three months ago. This street didn't seem to have changed much; there weren't many rickshaws passing by, and they looked quite old. Pedestrians still mostly wore short clothes. However, the few old ladies sitting idly by the street were somewhat different. Qiu Jin still remembered that when she came here with Chen Ke and the others last time, the old ladies had stared at her for a long time. Now, those few old ladies merely glanced at her and continued their leisurely chat.

Turning into the small alley, Qiu Jin saw the gate that she still had an impression of. A few months ago, Zhou Yuanxiao's workshop was still a place where visitors were few and far between. Although it was a bright summer day in early May, that cold and desolate feeling was like the countryside in autumn. After pushing open the gate, the desolation that rushed toward her from the quiet and empty courtyard made Qiu Jin feel a little sentimental.

Now, it was a cloudy day, and the dark clouds at the tail end of the continuous autumn rain had not completely dispersed. But the workshop Qiu Jin was facing now seemed like a lively, large beehive. Before she even reached the doorway, various noisy sounds drifted out from inside. An unpainted sign hung at the doorway; on the light yellow raw wood board were written four large characters: "Huangpu Book Society." This was definitely not Chen Ke's handwriting, but it was Chen Ke's style: simple and brisk. Qiu Jin almost laughed looking at it; if this wooden board weren't wide enough and the characters weren't beautiful, it would look like the kind of tombstone stuck on a hastily filled grave. The gate was wide open, and Qiu Jin stood at the doorway and looked in; the courtyard was full of people.

Just as she wanted to go in, she heard the rumble of wheels behind her. Turning her head, she saw a large cart coming in from the street corner and stopping at the courtyard entrance. Several young men in white lab coats jumped off the cart. They were full of vitality and began to move things down from it with brisk steps.

Qiu Jin sighed secretly to herself; it had only been three months, but this place was completely different.

"Mr. Qiu?!" someone shouted.

Qiu Jin looked intently and found the young man opposite her somewhat familiar. Looking more carefully, it turned out to be the leader among those Japanese youths who had come back with Chen Tianhua. He wasn't wearing the Japanese kimono from when they last met, but a white shirt, greenish-grey trousers, black cloth shoes, and a doctor's white lab coat over them.

"Ah! Hello," Qiu Jin said with a smile.

"Mr. Qiu, I didn't introduce myself last time. My name is Kuroshima Jinichirō. Please give me much advice." Although he spoke strange Chinese and wore Sinicized Western clothes, Kuroshima still bowed to Qiu Jin according to Japanese etiquette in a well-behaved manner.

"Mr. Kuroshima, hello." Qiu Jin bowed slightly in return.

"Is Mr. Qiu here to look for Mr. Tianhua?" Kuroshima asked.

"Uh..." Qiu Jin pondered slightly. She was actually here to look for Chen Ke.

"Then you're here to find Mr. Wenqing, right?" Kuroshima was very clever. "When I went out to transport things this morning, Mr. Wenqing was still here."

"Kuroshima, come give a hand," shouted the young men who were struggling to lift a large box down.

"Okay," Kuroshima Jinichirō responded. He said to Qiu Jin with a slight apology, "Mr. Qiu, I'll go get busy first. Please go in yourself."

Since she had been recognized, Qiu Jin didn't stand foolishly at the doorway anymore. Stepping through the gate, she saw that several new straw sheds had been built in the originally empty courtyard. That is to say, thatched roofs were built on strange-looking wooden frames; they were very simple but looked quite nice.

Quite a few people sat in every straw shed. The outermost straw shed seemed to serve as a classroom. Quite a few people sat neatly in front of the blackboard inside. You Gou, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, stood in front of everyone, using a pointer to tap on strange symbols above a row of Chinese characters. "*ba*, *ba* (handle)!"

You Gou's gentle and soft Jiangnan accent speaking Northern Mandarin had a unique flavor. However, the accents of the students in front of You Gou were even more interesting; from Shaanxi to Huguang, everything was there. The same pronunciation sounded truly myriad and bizarre in Qiu Jin's ears. You Gou was teaching very seriously and didn't notice anyone else coming in at all. Qiu Jin didn't want to disturb her either. The few tiled houses on the north side of the courtyard still retained their old appearance; presumably, Chen Ke was still working inside. Qiu Jin walked toward there.

There were more people going in and out of the tiled houses. Everyone looked at Qiu Jin with slightly curious eyes, but no one asked. Before she reached the door, Chen Ke's peculiar Beijing accent drifted out. "No additional printing. Haven't you heard that things are precious when they are rare? The sales volume of the *Huangpu Review* isn't stable yet; just print 1,500 copies a day for now. Also, hmm, Huishen, you've decided on the location for that outward bound training I mentioned last time, right?"

"It's already decided," a voice Qiu Jin was unfamiliar with replied.

"Notify everyone first; the day after tomorrow, everyone must go participate in the training for me. Unless knives are raining from the sky, I'll lead everyone there personally."

Compared to a few months ago, Chen Ke's voice hadn't changed. Although he was issuing orders, there wasn't much change in his tone either.

Qiu Jin stepped into the room and saw that half of the room was filled with tables and strange glass instruments, while the other half had a few tables. Chen Ke and a young man were sitting at a table talking.

"Sister Qiu?" seeing Qiu Jin, Chen Ke immediately stood up and shouted in surprise. Chen Ke hadn't changed much; even his smile was exactly the same as a few months ago.

"I trust you have been well since we parted, Wenqing," Qiu Jin also laughed.

Chen Ke moved a stool for Qiu Jin. "Sister Qiu, wait a moment; I'll talk to you after I finish this matter."

After Chen Ke and that young man finished handling a few matters that needed attention, the young man buried his head and began writing some documents. Only then did Chen Ke turn around. "Xingtai said Sister Qiu was also returning to China after he came back. You really made me wait." After speaking, Chen Ke looked Qiu Jin up and down. "Sister has become thinner from the running around during this period."

"Wenqing is in high spirits, on the contrary."

"Eating my fill then sleeping, eating after sleeping; I estimate I've gained quite a bit of weight."

After saying this, the two laughed heartily.

"Why didn't I see Zhenglan and Xingtai?" Qiu Jin had just looked around; some young men were busy around those experimental instruments, but she didn't recognize any of them.

"Zhenglan has been out selling medicine recently. Xingtai is lecturing next door."

"It seems everyone is very busy."

"Does Sister Qiu have any plans recently?"

"Does Wenqing have any instructions?"

"That depends on whether Sister Qiu is willing to condescend."

"How so?"

"If Sister Qiu wants to return to Shaoxing, I happen to have a sum of money to send to Brother Bosun. If Sister Qiu plans to stay in Shanghai, my nursing school here lacks a principal."

Qiu Jin had originally wanted to run a school in Shanghai. Hearing Chen Ke say this, she became interested.

"It seems Wenqing has earned quite a bit of money."

"This money is earned in large amounts, but it's spent even faster," Chen Ke laughed.

While the two were talking, He Zudao walked in quickly. "Wenqing, two gentlemen from Fudan Public School want to see you."

"Sister Qiu, wait a moment; I'll go welcome them in." After Chen Ke finished speaking, he stood up.

A moment later, Chen Ke led two people in. Qiu Jin didn't know the leader, but the one behind was an acquaintance of Qiu Jin. The two noticed each other almost simultaneously. "Xuanqing is also here?" that person shouted happily.

"Youren. Why did you come?"

The one speaking to Qiu Jin was Yu Youren. Both were members of the Guangfu Society and had met last year. Everyone hadn't seen each other for a long time, but meeting at Chen Ke's place brought both unexpected joy and considerable surprise. Seeing Chen Ke smiling foolishly, somewhat unable to make heads or tails of it, Qiu Jin hurriedly introduced Yu Youren to Chen Ke.

"I've long looked forward to meeting you." Chen Ke had heard this name but didn't remember this person's deeds. But someone who could make it into history books was definitely no ordinary person.

Yu Youren didn't stand on ceremony, however. He hurriedly introduced the other person to Chen Ke. "This is Mr. Yan Fu."

Chen Ke and Qiu Jin were instantly stunned. Qi Huishen was burying his head in writing a report. Hearing this name, he put down his pen and stood up abruptly. Before Chen Ke could speak, Qi Huishen asked somewhat stammeringly, "Is this the Mr. Yan Fu who wrote *Tianyanlun*?" Chen Ke felt that Qi Huishen's voice was trembling a bit.

"Exactly," Yu Youren replied.

Ever since seeing *Tianyanlun*, Qi Huishen had been a super fan of Yan Fu. He once had the thought of applying to the Beiyang Naval Academy. Today, learning that this "handsome uncle" standing before him was the Mr. Yan Fu he had always admired incomparably, he couldn't care about anything else. While excitedly saying, "Yan... Mr. Yan, hello. I've read your book; it's the utmost honor to meet you today," he walked up and extended his right hand. Having spent a long time with Chen Ke and the others, Qi Huishen was already very accustomed to shaking hands. Plus, having dealt with British people a lot recently, he was also accustomed to shaking hands when facing wealthy and powerful people. In his excitement, he had forgotten that meeting people like Yan Fu required bowing and saluting.

Although Qiu Jin was also excited, she wouldn't be like Qi Huishen after all. She watched with interest as Qi Huishen stole Chen Ke's limelight. According to Chen Tianhua, Chen Ke was the leader of this small group. Qiu Jin looked at Chen Ke, wondering what reaction Chen Ke would have to this. Chen Ke also looked overjoyed; he didn't care at all that Qi Huishen rushed ahead to shake hands. Seeing Yan Fu extend his hand slightly awkwardly, only to be held tightly by Qi Huishen, and then Qi Huishen dragging Yan Fu and stammering words of admiration, Chen Ke just grinned foolishly. He didn't have the slightest look of displeasure.

Qiu Jin had originally been somewhat suspicious of Chen Ke, wondering if Chen Ke might be a guy who appeared loyal but was actually treacherous. But looking at Chen Ke's performance, he really didn't seem like that kind of deeply hidden, crafty old fox. Instead, it was quite consistent with the behavior appropriate for his age of twenty-five. This actually made Qiu Jin somewhat confused.

Yan Fu had seen many fans like Qi Huishen. Seeing Qi Huishen dragging him and chattering, he was also a bit impatient. He withdrew his arm slightly. Qi Huishen wasn't completely muddled; he hurriedly let go and apologized. Then he turned and went out the door.

"Mr. Yan, my name is Chen Ke. I've long looked forward to meeting you. Mr. Yan honoring us with your presence is truly my utmost honor." After speaking, Chen Ke also extended his right hand. With Qi Huishen preceding him, Yan Fu was somewhat more accustomed to it. After shaking hands with Chen Ke, Yan Fu looked left and right. Chen Ke guessed that Yan Fu wanted to speak in a relatively quiet place. Over there, the testers doing experiments looked over with burning eyes one by one. Chen Ke shouted, "Comrades, this is Mr. Yan Fu. Everyone hurry up and say hello."

Hearing this, the experimenters said hello to Mr. Yan Fu together.

"You continue doing experiments. If it's convenient for Mr. Yan Fu later, everyone can come up and talk again." After speaking, Chen Ke pulled the cloth curtain in the middle of the room shut, then laughed, "We only have this kind of environment here. If Mr. Yan feels it's inconvenient, shall we go out and find a place to talk?"

"Here is fine too," Yan Fu replied.

Chen Ke hurriedly pulled over stools, wiped them one by one with the sleeve of his white lab coat, and let everyone sit.

"Mr. Yan came here; do you have any advice?"

Qiu Jin looked at the two with interest. Yan Fu was fifty-one this year, extremely handsome, came from a naval officer background, and had served as the principal of the Beiyang Naval Academy. That calm bearing honed over time was naturally extraordinary. Even in this ordinary, or rather somewhat crude environment, he commanded respect.

Chen Ke was only half Yan Fu's age and wore a very casual white lab coat. Of the stools in this room, Chen Ke chose the lowest one for himself to sit on. But that natural and considerate action just now, along with the sincere smile on his face, in Qiu Jin's view, meant his imposing manner was not at all inferior to Yan Fu's.

Both sides were silent for a moment. It was Yu Youren who spoke first. "Mr. Chen, our school is about to start, and this venue is about to be put into use. I wonder how much longer your remaining lectures will take."

"May I ask what position Mr. Yu holds at the school?"

"I am temporarily in charge of academic affairs; I am responsible for these venue matters."

"Ah, Mr. Yu, this was my oversight. The day before yesterday, at the end of the lecture, I told the students that the lecture series had ended. Yesterday I wrote a letter informing Mr. Ma of this matter. But I forgot to notify the school. I formally inform you now that the class has finished, and the school's venue will no longer be used. Please forgive the inconvenience caused to you and the school due to my oversight."

"Mr. Chen has misunderstood; I didn't come to condemn you for this matter. The school already knows about you stopping the lectures. The students are roused with indignation and insist that you finish this course. For this, the students sent representatives specifically to find Mr. Ma. Mr. Ma sent me here to ask how many class hours remain. If you don't mind, could you go to our school and finish this course?"

Hearing Yu Youren's words, Chen Ke didn't answer directly. Instead, he glanced at Yan Fu, seeing that Yan Fu was just looking at him with a serious expression. Chen Ke really couldn't understand; if it were just for this matter, it would absolutely be impossible to have Yan Fu personally take the field. But since Yan Fu had already come, how should he handle it?

Qiu Jin watched Chen Ke's actions and found it quite interesting. She also couldn't guess why Yan Fu had come. But Yan Fu definitely came prepared. Chen Ke drawing Yan Fu in as his own support was the best strategy. Seeing Chen Ke glance at Yan Fu, Qiu Jin knew Chen Ke was scheming about Yan Fu. While she was pondering, she heard Chen Ke speak. "Mr. Ma and the others care so much for the students; I admire it very much. I don't know what the students said, but this course has indeed been finished. I also said the same to Mr. Ma in the letter."

"Already finished?" Yu Youren actually had a look of surprise.

"Indeed, it has already finished." Chen Ke nodded with a smile.

Hearing Chen Ke say this, Yan Fu spoke up. "Mr. Chen. I read your great work. I also listened to your last few classes. Obviously, it wasn't finished."

"Mr. Yan, if you don't mind, just call me Wenqing." As Chen Ke spoke, he wrote these two characters on paper and handed it to Yan Fu.

Yan Fu glanced at it and put it down.

"Mr. Yan, I originally only prepared to finish lecturing on objective dialectics and subjective dialectics at Fudan Public School. I already completed my original plan the day before yesterday. The class is over." Chen Ke said with that candid face Qiu Jin was familiar with.

"Wenqing didn't plan to lecture on all the content?"

"Indeed, I didn't have this plan."

Listening to this dialogue, Qiu Jin really didn't know if Chen Ke was too serious or too arrogant. Hearing this, Qiu Jin somewhat understood what was going on. Chen Ke held a lecture series at Mr. Ma Xiangbo's school and also gave all the manuscripts to Mr. Ma Xiangbo. But he withdrew without lecturing on all the manuscripts. The students were reluctant to let him go. Ma Xiangbo was famous for cherishing students. Naturally, he wanted to ask Chen Ke to finish this course.

Who was Mr. Ma Xiangbo? He was Cai Yuanpei's teacher. It was definitely inappropriate for Mr. Ma to come forward personally. He sent Yu Youren to lobby, but feared Chen Ke wouldn't give face. As a result, he let Yan Fu come along.

If it were anyone else, they would probably have gone to lecture happily. In the literati circle of Jiangnan, Mr. Ma Xiangbo was a grandmaster. Gaining Mr. Ma's approval was equivalent to the entire Jiangnan literati world opening its doors to Chen Ke. But Chen Ke, not knowing what medicine he had taken wrongly, rejected it so seriously.

If playing hard to get with a boorish fellow, perhaps it would work. But playing this trick in front of Ma Xiangbo's disciple Yu Youren, and especially in front of a figure like Yan Fu... Chen Ke was probably still too green.

"Could it be that Wenqing has some difficulties?" Yan Fu asked.

"Difficulties are absolutely out of the question. In the plan I arranged, I really only prepared to lecture that much. Further on, my affairs have already been arranged. I cannot comply with Mr. Ma's kindness; I am very uneasy. But since I set a plan, I must abide by it. Mr. Yan, and Mr. Yu, I will specifically write a letter to explain this matter to Mr. Ma."

Chen Ke's meaning of rejection was so clear that he didn't even leave room for turning back. Not only Yan Fu and Yu Youren, but even Qiu Jin's expression changed. According to this meaning, Chen Ke would absolutely not go to lecture before completing his own plan. If Chen Ke changed his mind halfway, it could only prove that Chen Ke was a capricious villain.

But if Chen Ke didn't go to lecture, this air of importance was a bit frighteningly big. An ordinary scholar encountering such a situation would definitely climb up the pole. Hitching a ride on the big ship of Mr. Ma Xiangbo and Fudan Public School would be of unimaginable help to the future. If Qiu Jin had this opportunity, she would absolutely not let it go. But Chen Ke didn't take this to heart at all. From what he said now, he fundamentally only put his own affairs at the very front. Other things were not considered at all.

"Wenqing, are you really a scholar?" Qiu Jin thought to herself. Suddenly, Qiu Jin understood. Chen Ke might be a returned student; looking at Chen Tianhua's recommendation and Ma Xiangbo's attention, he should also be a literati. But Chen Ke had always claimed to be a revolutionary. Between his own career and prestige in the Jiangnan literati world, Chen Ke chose his own career.

"Wenqing, can't you choose a method that satisfies both sides?" Qiu Jin was really anxious for Chen Ke.