Hua Xiongmao was angry, or more accurately, he flew into a rage out of humiliation. You Gou's words weren't wrong; Hua Xiongmao knew some of his actions were inappropriate. Being pointed out his mistakes directly by a girl like this was indeed a loss of face. If it were usual, Hua Xiongmao might not have been so annoyed. He had known You Gou for a few months, and their relationship wasn't bad. In Shaoxing, there were no opportunities for young men and women to work together. Only in Shanghai, at Chen Ke's place, could everyone really work together without causing any special problems. Hua Xiongmao still cared very much about this collegial friendship.

If You Gou hadn't called him out publicly, Hua Xiongmao would absolutely not have been so angry; he might even have listened to You Gou's advice. But You Gou saying this at the Party meeting was absolutely unacceptable to Hua Xiongmao.

Among these few comrades, Hua Xiongmao was the earliest to follow Chen Ke. The two almost fought when they first met. Chen Ke's fierce style indeed overwhelmed Hua Xiongmao in momentum. Hua Xiongmao initiating a provocative conversation with Chen Ke in the tavern was, in a sense, just Hua Xiongmao trying to find a face-saving exit for himself. Although Hua Xiongmao was a military examination graduate, his family very much wanted him to study, pass the *xiucai* and *juren* exams, and step onto the official career path step by step. But Hua Xiongmao's character really wasn't the material for studying; he loved reading various legendary novels and also loved reading *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. Hua Xiongmao also had some self-knowledge; Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan—he dared not compare himself to them. Every time he read *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Hua Xiongmao couldn't help but think he should be that Zhao Zilong in chaotic times, following a wise lord to pacify the world.

Chen Ke reporting his identity as a revolutionary shook Hua Xiongmao's already restless heart. Since he was going out to venture anyway, perhaps following Chen Ke, this guy who seemed adept with both pen and sword, was also a good choice. In the later course, Hua Xiongmao felt Chen Ke was really a benevolent and virtuous Liu Bei. Regarding work, comrades, and friends, Chen Ke's approach could be called wholehearted. Chen Ke had knowledge himself, which already made Hua Xiongmao admire him. Chen Ke never kept secrets to himself and taught all his knowledge to everyone. Unknowingly, Hua Xiongmao had been deeply attracted by Chen Ke's demeanor and followed Chen Ke with dead-set devotion.

In these few months of working with Chen Ke, some of Chen Ke's weaknesses were also exposed. But Hua Xiongmao didn't think there was any problem. If Liu Bei could conquer the world alone, what use would the Five Tiger Generals and Zhuge Liang be? One hero needs three helpers, one fence needs three stakes; Hua Xiongmao understood this bit of logic. Moreover, it was precisely because of these weaknesses that Hua Xiongmao had a place to display his abilities. Although Hua Xiongmao didn't say it, he still hoped he could become Chen Ke's main pillar. At least a very important pillar.

Regarding Qi Huishen's rise within the team, if one insisted that Hua Xiongmao was jealous, it wouldn't be accurate. What Hua Xiongmao found unacceptable was the relationship between Qi Huishen and Chen Ke. These two might not be that intimate in personal friendship, but in the revolutionary cause Chen Ke poured his all into, their pace was very consistent. Hua Xiongmao felt he was gradually excluded from Chen Ke's circle by Qi Huishen.

These days, Chen Ke poured all his energy into the revolutionary cause. Hua Xiongmao naturally hoped he could bear more responsibilities, but Qi Huishen happened to step into the position of the "second person" step by step. This filled Hua Xiongmao with confrontational consciousness unknowingly. Precisely because he wanted to regain the position of Chen Ke's "most capable comrade" too much, unknowingly, Hua Xiongmao's performance became more and more out of line.

Now, You Gou spoke the truth and implicitly pointed out something Hua Xiongmao cared about very much in his heart—he also realized that doing this might be wrong. After Chen Ke's Party lesson education, Hua Xiongmao also understood the significance of the people's revolution. But Hua Xiongmao participated in the people's revolution solely out of personal loyalty to Chen Ke. From the political perspective of the People's Party, Hua Xiongmao faintly felt he had gone a bit too far, but out of personal loyalty to Chen Ke, out of that "friendship between ruler and subject, affection between flesh and blood" in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Hua Xiongmao felt he wasn't wrong again.

Under the intersection of such opposing thoughts of the self, You Gou's words were particularly unacceptable. But Hua Xiongmao didn't know what to say either. Amidst such embarrassment and anger, Hua Xiongmao couldn't help but glance at Chen Ke.

Looking at Chen Ke's helpless expression and slightly frowned eyebrows, it seemed he wanted to say something. This actually gave Hua Xiongmao a step down; he forcibly suppressed his anger and looked at Chen Ke. His heart felt somewhat relaxed instead.

You Gou didn't really want to do anything to Hua Xiongmao originally, nor did she know Hua Xiongmao's true inner thoughts. The reason she said that sentence just now was merely some very simple dissatisfaction with Hua Xiongmao's loss of composure at the Party meeting. Seeing Hua Xiongmao's anger just now, You Gou also felt somewhat regretful. Since Hua Xiongmao didn't make a sound, she simply turned her head to look at Chen Ke too.

As a result, Chen Ke closed his eyes, like a charlatan about to perform magic. This actually made everyone somewhat confused. Everyone looked at Chen Ke, waiting for him to continue performing.

Political work requires listening first. This isn't just political work; dealing with people is also like this. If only one person speaks, that is absolutely not communication. So Chen Ke decided to wait for the conflict to erupt first. In all honesty, Chen Ke absolutely didn't hope for a conflict to erupt, but the eruption of conflict was an inevitability, absolutely not accidental.

The reason Chen Ke closed his eyes was escape in a sense; anyway, if everyone quarreled, it was enough for him to have ears. Opening or closing eyes didn't affect hearing. As a result, Chen Ke waited for a while, but there was no sound. He hurriedly opened his eyes and saw everyone staring at each other in silence, looking at him. Hua Xiongmao was concerned, and You Gou was curious. The quarrel actually ended so miraculously. It surprised Chen Ke somewhat.

Although it wasn't very clear what exactly happened, work came first. Chen Ke naturally wouldn't intensify the conflict again. "Today we established the organizational principles of the People's Party. Previously we also determined the Three Great Styles of People's Party members. Zhenglan, tell us about those Three Great Styles."

"Ah?" Hua Xiongmao found this question rather unexpected. But Chen Ke emphasized it repeatedly in Party lessons, forcing everyone to recite it every class. Hua Xiongmao really hadn't forgotten the specific content. "The Three Great Styles of People's Party members: First, integrating theory with practice. Second, forging close links with the masses. Third, practicing criticism and self-criticism."

After finishing the Three Great Styles, Hua Xiongmao was already clear about Chen Ke's meaning of blame. Among these Three Great Styles, what Chen Ke wanted to emphasize now was the third one, "criticism and self-criticism." Although he was still unconvinced in his heart, Hua Xiongmao's anger had calmed down.

"Regarding the matter of developing new Party members, we have Party members, we have theory, and we have the masses. In this work, I hope, I demand that comrades carry forward the Three Great Styles of the People's Party," Chen Ke said.

Everyone either lowered their heads in thought or was baffled. After a good while, You Gou suddenly laughed, causing everyone to look over.

"Three Great Styles, huh. It sounds a bit like an old pedant talking about cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world."

"People's Party members are supposed to be sages. This is absolutely correct."

"Sages? Now everyone in the world is desperately trying to make money, to get promoted and get rich. On the contrary, our People's Party actually wants to be sages and engage in this benevolence, righteousness, and morality! We, we are genuine revolutionaries; we are going to rebel. Haha, haha, hahahaha." The more You Gou spoke, the more ridiculous she found it; finally, she simply lay on the table and laughed loudly. Other comrades showed bitter smiles, but Wu Xingchen couldn't help laughing a few times along with You Gou.

You Gou had mocked Hua Xiongmao just now. Hua Xiongmao actually wanted to criticize a few sentences about such a speech from You Gou. But for some reason, he felt You Gou was very right. He couldn't say words criticizing You Gou against his conscience no matter what. In this strange atmosphere, Chen Ke first gave a helpless bitter smile, then suddenly, even he couldn't help laughing loudly. Since Chen Ke laughed, other comrades naturally didn't suppress their laughter anymore. They all laughed loudly in their own individual ways.

Wu Xingchen switched between a sneer and a loud laugh. You Gou and Hua Xiongmao laughed like children. Chen Tianhua laughed until tears flowed. Chen Ke and Qi Huishen's laughter was full of helplessness and an uncontrollable mirth. He Zudao and Qin Wu'an were purely infected by the mass action; after laughing for a while, they looked somewhat at a loss at the comrades a few years older than them laughing loudly.

Chen Ke wasn't angry. He had also posed this question to himself. In the chaotic era of the 21st century, as a communist, the first thing to establish was a firm moral outlook, and a true moral outlook at that. When he truly understood rationally that this was a necessity, Chen Ke's sensibility erupted immediately. He fell on the bed in his room alone and laughed loudly. In the following days, no matter the occasion—on the bus, riding a bicycle, or at work—whenever he thought of this question, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing loudly. Countless curious, surprised, disgusted, and even contemptuous eyes couldn't dampen Chen Ke's mirth in the slightest.

1905 and 2005, two years standing at two ends of 100 years, were a wonderful cycle in some rigid contrast. In 1905, old cultural traditions were already crumbling under the impact of foreign industrialization. Things like benevolence, righteousness, and morality that had been dogmatized completely collapsed, and justice became merely something on paper. This was wonderfully similar to 2005. Chen Ke remembered that he only determined communist and socialist concepts in 2005. In that era, China's own industrial development was extremely rapid, and old dogmas were no longer respected at all. And "morality," as the high ground of dogma, was even questioned.

Chen Ke had to be convinced of one thing afterward: materialism and communism themselves are a system of thought, a moral system. Adherence to this system of thought itself will inevitably lead to the reconstruction of morality. Several years later, a guy suddenly criticized Chen Ke: "For you true *wumaos* (50-cent army), you have faith."

This sentence was truly like an enlightenment; only then did Chen Ke suddenly realize his own change.

Faith is a kind of firm belief. How long it took Chen Ke from being forced to view problems with materialist dialectics to actively viewing problems with materialist dialectics, he himself didn't remember clearly. But Chen Ke had a fresh memory of the indescribable sense of absurdity triggered by determining the significance of morality back then, as well as the loud laughter triggered.

Chen Ke was not surprised at all that the comrades had such a reaction. Chen Ke desperately instilled the materialist view of history into them, and these comrades indeed accepted it truly. So they, like Chen Ke back then, felt the importance and inevitability of morality, and then they could only laugh loudly. Chen Ke's work was still very fruitful.

Chen Ke's mirth disappeared, and his gaze inadvertently became resolute. The comrades gradually stopped laughing. Their gazes didn't scatter; they were equally full of vitality.

"Does everyone think we can't be the moral benchmark of this era? Should we not be the moral benchmark of this era? Or is it that benevolence, righteousness, and morality are wrong to begin with?" Chen Ke's voice was full of power.

"No, it's not wrong. But as soon as I think, as soon as I think that I, a person who is said to be good for nothing behind my back, am actually a model of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, and also a sage... I just can't help wanting to laugh." You Gou's face showed a look of wanting to laugh. Or rather, the lower half of her face wanted to laugh, but You Gou's eyebrows were frowned tightly, her eyes were red, and tears couldn't help rolling down. Wiping her tears forcefully, You Gou sat up straight with high spirits. "Wenqing, tell us what to do in the future."

Except for Wu Xingchen, other comrades also sat up straight, looking at Chen Ke with firm eyes. Waiting for Chen Ke's orders.

"We represent China's new benevolence, righteousness, and morality. We are also destined to establish the benevolence, righteousness, and morality of China for the next hundred years." Chen Ke's voice was powerful but not arrogant. "What we need to do now is to promote our concepts to the people. Now, we face a Huangpu Book Society. In the future, we will promote our concepts to all of China. Therefore, I want to emphasize again here that all People's Party members must unswervingly implement the Three Great Styles of the People's Party: integrating theory with practice, forging close links with the masses, and practicing criticism and self-criticism. Everyone still has a lot to learn in the future."

The comrades had returned to calm, and everyone's attention was more focused than at the beginning. The unhappiness between You Gou and Hua Xiongmao just now had long flown to the nine heavens.

"Now let's proceed with the specific division of labor. Arrange the work of developing new Party members well. Let's start the discussion," Chen Ke said.

This Party meeting lasted from 6 PM until 12 AM. After analysis, discussion, and adjustment by the comrades, the new personnel arrangement finally reached was vastly different from everyone's initial intuitive imagination.

The work of the department responsible for production was actually handed over to Qi Huishen. Qi Huishen was fully responsible for school construction and hospital operation. After all, this line was brought in by Qi Huishen. You Gou was responsible for drug production and chemistry lectures, and also concurrently held the job of academic affairs arrangement at the headquarters. Wu Xingchen was responsible for drug sales. Those customers originally brought in by Hua Xiongmao were handed over to He Zudao. Hua Xiongmao and Qin Wu'an were responsible for labor on the construction site and personnel observation work. Qin Wu'an himself also had to undertake accounting work. Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua fully controlled propaganda work.

After the work was subdivided, everyone immediately felt huge pressure. Everyone urgently developed the idea of recruiting new Party members. Even if Hua Xiongmao still didn't want to be under Qi Huishen, he didn't have the energy to care about this problem now. It was Hua Xiongmao himself who originally urgently hoped to undertake the assessment work on the construction site. Now that the work was entirely handed over to him, he began to worry about whether he could do it well.

You Gou was right; asking Hua Xiongmao to command everyone's work calmly, methodically, modestly, and prudently like Chen Ke—he didn't think he could achieve Chen Ke's level. But he requested this work himself; rejecting it capriciously was obviously inappropriate.

Chen Ke looked at his wristwatch. "It's twelve o'clock; let's adjourn. Zhenglan, you and Zudao send You Gou home."

Hua Xiongmao felt happy inside. You Gou had considerable organizational ability anyway; while sending You Gou back, he could just ask for advice. Moreover, He Zudao was a good kid and wouldn't speak ill of people behind their backs. Even apologizing to You Gou in front of He Zudao wouldn't be considered shameful. He Zudao was equally happy. Since Hua Xiongmao's customers were to be handed over to him in the future, being with Hua Xiongmao gave him an opportunity to ask Hua Xiongmao for advice.

The three got up and went out. Everyone also went to rest one after another. Only Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua were left in the venue.

"Wenqing, how should this propaganda be conducted? Wenqing should have a constitution, right?" Chen Tianhua asked.

"I need to write something. Xingtai, tell me your ideas first. Can I listen while writing?"

Watching Chen Ke prepare paper and pen, Chen Tianhua couldn't help laughing. "Another sleepless night, huh."

"It's not the first day or two we've stayed up late together. Comrade, let's start work."

"Is the article long?" Chen Tianhua asked.

"It will take over an hour."

"Then you write and I'll watch. We'll talk after you finish writing."

"Also good."

Chen Ke started writing after speaking. This wasn't some creation, just the Chairman's famous *Oppose Book Worship (Dogmatism)*. Chen Ke scribbled down the outline.

1. No investigation, no right to speak.

2. To investigate a problem is, indeed, to solve it.

3. Oppose book worship.

4. Departing from actual investigation will produce an idealist class estimation and idealist guidance in work, resulting in either opportunism or putschism.

5. The aim of social and economic investigation is to arrive at a correct appraisal of class forces and then to formulate correct tactics for the struggle.

6. Victory in China's revolutionary struggle depends on the Chinese comrades understanding the Chinese situation.

7. The technique of investigation.

After writing the outline, Chen Ke handed this page to Chen Tianhua. "What does Xingtai think?"

Chen Tianhua looked at it for a while. "Wenqing wants to conduct a social investigation? What exactly is this about?"

"Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat. To revolt, one must know what China really looks like. It's very easy for people like us to eat and drink and sit here blowing about revolution."

"China has reached such a state now; what else is there not to know?" Chen Tianhua was very puzzled.

"Then Xingtai tell me, what state is China in now? You speak, I'll listen."

Chen Tianhua naturally spoke about the general things: forfeiting sovereignty and humiliating the country, the people having no means of livelihood, ceding territory and paying indemnities. Generally speaking, it was still that set of stuff Chen Ke had heard many times. Chen Ke wrote swiftly. When Chen Tianhua spoke excitedly, Chen Ke also nodded and hummed twice to express agreement.

There wasn't much content, plus having said it many times, Chen Tianhua knew Chen Ke was very clear about this. He couldn't go on after less than ten minutes. Chen Ke raised his head and asked, "Then let me ask a question. Ceding territory and paying indemnities, the people having no means of livelihood. What is the specific connection between these two problems? How does ceding territory and paying indemnities lead to the people having no means of livelihood step by step? Can Xingtai explain?"

"Uh?" Chen Tianhua was stunned. He originally thought Chen Ke was focusing on writing and only let him speak out of consideration for his emotions. He didn't expect Chen Ke to question his words directly. He was somewhat unaccustomed to it instead.

"Our propaganda is to promote revolution, to let more people join our organization, join our ranks. Now, treat me as an object to be persuaded. I am a youth; I am a peasant. I want to ask, I know there are problems with ceding territory and paying indemnities, but how exactly did it make my life destitute? How exactly does this bad thing operate, making my life worse and worse? In this bad thing, who are the bad guys, and where exactly are they bad? Xingtai, you tell me."

After Chen Ke finished speaking, he continued to bury his head in writing the draft. Chen Tianhua opened his mouth several times wanting to speak, but found he couldn't say anything. He really knew nothing about this himself.

After a long silence, Chen Ke placed the part he had already written in front of Chen Tianhua and continued to bury his head in writing. Chen Tianhua hurriedly picked up the paper and began to read.