Among the 127 members of the Huangpu Book Society, 58 were students of Fudan Public School. After Fudan Public School officially started classes, the workshop acting as the current headquarters of the Huangpu Book Society immediately became much quieter during the day. Early in the morning, all the comrades rushed over. Chen Ke immediately convened a Party meeting.

Due to the start of classes at Fudan Public School, the manpower originally available to work on the construction site also decreased immediately. The courses were changed to be taught in the evening. This affected the Party meetings greatly. So everyone agreed that the Party meeting would be changed to a brief meeting in the morning, and specific content would be discussed in the evening.

Wang Qinian's request wasn't anything special; selling to Chinese people was selling, and selling to foreigners was also selling. Since even the molecular formula had been published, everyone had fundamentally no great interest in this. Regarding Yan Fu's matter, no one made any reaction. Chen Ke looked at the comrades in astonishment, and the comrades also looked at Chen Ke.

"Don't you have any suggestions?" Chen Ke asked.

"You already rejected it; what else do you want us to say?" Hua Xiongmao asked in return. Everyone seemed unwilling to mention this issue much.

"I think Wenqing did the right thing," Qi Huishen finally offered an evaluation.

"I didn't say he did wrong either. This is Wenqing's private matter. I don't think it's necessarily appropriate to discuss it here," Hua Xiongmao said.

"Private matter?" Hearing this evaluation, Chen Ke's eyes widened. "The united front is one thing, but political stance is another. The reason I did this today is to tell everyone that in front of the Party, there aren't that many private matters."

Looking at Hua Xiongmao's surprised expression, Chen Ke waved his hand. "We'll talk about this matter again in the evening. Does anyone have anything else? My speech is over."

"If possible, the construction site needs more manpower. Compared to the original plan, the work on the construction site has increased," Hua Xiongmao said, suppressing the urge to debate.

"Isn't it much ahead of schedule?"

"Now that dormitory building is about to be completed. I feel that since we are already much ahead of schedule, we might as well hurry up and finish the work in one go. Occupying Brother Zhou's workshop all the time isn't too appropriate either," Hua Xiongmao suggested.

"You formulate a plan. See how much manpower is needed. Report in the evening."

Everyone reported the matters at hand; there were no particularly urgent matters, so the morning meeting adjourned. The school and the hospital were in the same direction. A pile of students followed behind Hua Xiongmao and Chen Ke, and the group walked lively toward the direction of the school.

"According to what Wenqing said, taking a teacher also needs to be reported?" Hua Xiongmao's voice contained a kind of puzzlement. Let alone Chen Ke didn't agree to take a teacher, even if he agreed, could it be that he betrayed the revolution just because of this teacher? Not to mention it was the famous Mr. Yan Fu who first proposed taking Chen Ke as a disciple. In the eyes of others, this was an honor, enough to show off. To be honest, Hua Xiongmao originally thought Chen Ke was showing off in a disguised form. Unexpectedly, Chen Ke's thinking was completely not like this. He actually treated this as a big matter. As if not reporting it was committing some big mistake.

"Not reported, but must obtain the approval of the Party Committee. Once joining the Party, without the approval of the Party organization, no Party member may take a teacher privately or join other political groups," Chen Ke's voice was slightly stern.

"Why?"

"It's stipulated in the organizational discipline. Go look yourself."

"Not being allowed to join other political groups, I can understand. But this taking a teacher is a bit unreasonable, isn't it?" Hua Xiongmao frowned slightly.

Chen Ke also frowned slightly; his tone was full of heavy admonition. "Indeed unreasonable, but this is the Party organization. Taking a teacher itself carries a kind of ideological and political identification, let alone personnel relations. All thoughts and politics of Party members must remain consistent with the Party. Otherwise, what is the meaning of forming a Party? The Party isn't a group of people crowding together for warmth in winter; the Party is a political group struggling for the same goal."

Hua Xiongmao lowered his head and walked for a while before answering, "What Wenqing says makes sense."

Looking at Hua Xiongmao's dejected appearance, Chen Ke punched him on the shoulder. "Didn't you just do something a bit inappropriate? No need to be like this. Why do we hold Party meetings? It's to discuss things happening at any time. Now we have discipline but lack regulations. There are no conventions; on this point, it's originally many Party members doing things and then everyone discussing. It's not like what I alone say goes."

Hua Xiongmao just nodded but didn't make a sound. Chen Ke felt that if he continued to speak, it would be like holding onto Hua Xiongmao's queue and not letting go. He changed the subject. "Among this group of students behind us, are there any you think can be recommended?"

Perhaps affected by what just happened, Hua Xiongmao was still not very enthusiastic, and his tone was much lower. "Just so-so. Compared to you, Wenqing, they are much worse. If I must say, the ones who work hardest and are most obedient in here are those few Japanese students. The smartest in doing things are the Chinese students, much stronger. But they've only worked for less than ten days; we still have to wait and see."

"Zhenglan, I'll reveal something to you first. Mr. Yan Fu wants to introduce me to go to Beijing once; I actually really want to go. But before leaving, I hope to teach everyone everything I've learned, so that when encountering problems, everyone won't be at a loss. I believe you can definitely do the work within your duty," Chen Ke said.

These words could be considered confiding; Hua Xiongmao immediately perked up after hearing them. He replied somewhat excitedly, "I will read the Party constitution thoroughly."

Chen Ke wasn't satisfied with this answer. But now wasn't the time to nitpick either. The hospital arrived; greeting everyone, Chen Ke took Mao Ping into the hospital.

Wang Qinian's evaluation of Mao Ping was very high, and he received Wang Qinian's approval face-to-face. Chen Ke opened the package he carried. Inside was enough medicine to treat 30 people. Everyone checked the drug powder; it hadn't deteriorated. Wang Qinian prepared five sets of syringes, cotton balls, alcohol, and other items. They were stored in the portable medical box. After Mao Ping finished checking, he signed his name on a borrowing receipt.

Chen Ke handed twenty taels of silver to Mao Ping. Mao Ping was also knowledgeable; after checking carefully, he also signed a receipt.

"The work over in Wuhan is handed over to you. Remember my requirements?"

"First, come back after the treatment ends. Second, I am going to treat illnesses, not to sell medicine," Mao Ping replied.

"Very good. I know you are enthusiastic, but don't do bad things with good intentions. This medicine originally has the potential to kill people; we absolutely cannot do foolish things or wrong things. You have to put your own safety first; if something happens, people will arrest you first," Chen Ke instructed earnestly.

"Mr. Wenqing, rest assured; I haven't finished listening to your lessons yet, so I absolutely won't be arrested in Hankou in vain. Do you have any other instructions?"

"I've said what I should say. Go. Bon voyage."

Mao Ping took his leave and embarked on the long journey for the revolution.

Chen Ke then talked business with Wang Qinian. The core problem lay in only one thing: what price Wang Qinian could get.

Wang Qinian hoped to get goods at the current 30% discount. Chen Ke told Wang Qinian that the lowest was a 5% discount. "Dr. Wang, selling to Nanyang is originally a business with very high profits. You say selling to Nanyang; I have no way to supervise either. It's not that I don't trust Mr. Wang, but that I simply don't want to supervise Mr. Wang. So don't even mention the 30% discount thing. I can't explain it to others."

Hearing this, Wang Qinian knew he absolutely couldn't persuade Chen Ke. So he had to agree.

"Mr. Chen, since it's like this, let's talk about the quantity for this month. I want 600 doses of medicine first."

"The storage period of this medicine isn't very long; Dr. Wang needs to pay attention to this matter," Chen Ke said unmoved.

"Naturally. Regarding the medicine, I will purchase goods from Mr. Wenqing twice a month."

"Dr. Wang, then you are going to leave our hospital, right?" Chen Ke asked.

"No, I like this hospital very much and also like working here. As long as Mr. Wenqing doesn't drive me away, I have no plan to leave."

Chen Ke naturally didn't mean to drive Wang Qinian away. Now things were spreading out everywhere; with Wang Qinian sitting here, no trouble had occurred all along. What Chen Ke hoped for now was to maintain the status quo.

In the following days, various small problems emerged endlessly. Hiring people, rushing work, distributing medicine—various matters were tedious beyond belief. Chen Ke allocated work more reasonably while preparing for the social investigation.

Strangely, since the Mid-Autumn Festival, fewer and fewer people came from Fudan Public School. Chen Ke thought it was busy in the school; it wasn't a bad thing if they didn't come, just right for him to finish the things at hand easily. Unexpectedly, a few days later, a Fudan Public School student who had joined the Huangpu Book Society rushed over. This student was named Murong Wu. Upon seeing Chen Ke, Murong Wu shouted anxiously, "Mr. Chen, Xiong Mingyang has been spreading rumors in Fudan Public School these past few days that you are not a revolutionary at all, but a royalist. He also prevented other students from coming to the Study Society. He fought with a few people this afternoon. Mr. Chen, you have to go persuade them."

Hearing this, Chen Ke couldn't help smiling bitterly. He said in his heart: *Child, Xiong Mingyang saying I'm not a revolutionary, I think that's a kind of protection. You defending me so stiffly... are you planning to take my life?*

This student Xiong Mingyang was the one who sorrowfully requested Chen Ke to make a revolution at the Mid-Autumn night dinner. Chen Ke had always had a deep impression of him. Xiong Mingyang was from Sichuan and first studied at Nanyang Public School in Xi'an.

Nanyang Public School was a quite famous new-style school at the time, but it hadn't shaken off the shackles of old feudal traditional education; from private school to new-style school, there were great changes in management, but it was still accustomed to using old autocratic and harsh ethical codes to bind students. At the same time, teachers didn't understand the new ideas sprouting among students, and antagonistic sentiments often occurred.

On November 5, 1902, during a class of the fifth class of the Public School, the literature teacher Guo Zhenying discovered a washed ink bottle on the teacher's seat. Thinking that the students were intentionally teasing him, he investigated strictly. The students of the fifth class all answered: "Don't know." Guo then threatened the students sitting in the front row, Bei Yingbo and Wu Shiqing, limiting them to report within three days, otherwise increasing the punishment. Under threat, a student in the fifth class falsely accused Wu Zhengjun of placing the bottle. On the 13th, the school complied with Teacher Guo's request and announced the expulsion of the innocent student Wu Zhengjun, thus arousing the opposition of the fifth class students. After arguing and striving with the principal, there was still no change. The whole class of students immediately decided to drop out collectively to show protest. Before leaving, they went to various classes separately to say goodbye, explain the reason, and express opposition to this autocratic oppression. This action won the sympathy of the whole school's students. After Principal Wang Fengzao knew about it, without asking the reason, he announced the expulsion of all students of the fifth class. The whole school's students were in an uproar, causing strong public indignation. The students immediately elected representatives themselves to request the school to withdraw the order. The principal refused and lost his temper at the same time, deciding to "take this as an example." Under these circumstances, the students' resistance was aroused even more. After discussion, the whole school's students decided to drop out collectively to express protest, explicitly proposing opposition to using autocratic and arbitrary means against students.

At this point, the school felt very awkward and invited Mr. Cai Yuanpei, the head teacher of the special class respected by students, to mediate. After Mr. Cai's patient persuasion, the students agreed to suspend action. Cai Yuanpei went to visit the Public School Supervisor Sheng Xuanhuai that night, but Sheng declined to see him with the excuse of "having other important matters." After several negotiations, by the morning of the 16th, there was still no effect. All students decided to pack their bags and assemble on the big playground to wait for the final reply. Around 10 AM, there was no reply. Thus, the whole school's students, in the order of classes, chanting the slogan "Long live the Motherland," walked out of Nanyang Public School in an orderly manner. Mr. Cai Yuanpei, who had always had democratic ideas, also resigned in anger and left the school with the students. Mr. Cai took the students to the "Chinese Education Association" to ask for help. With the support of the Education Association person in charge, Zhang Binglin, and others, the "Patriotic Study Society" was established immediately, enabling the dropout students to continue studying.

Xiong Mingyang naturally also participated in the dropout. Then he returned to Shanghai with Cai Yuanpei and a large group of students and joined Aurora University.

"What did Mr. Ma, oh, the school say?" Chen Ke asked with concern.

"The school side just persuaded everyone to separate; those who fought were taken to the Academic Affairs Office. There is no other news for the time being. I hurried over to notify Mr. Chen," Murong Wu said anxiously.

"Many thanks. Since it has become like this, I can't pretend not to know now that I know. I'll go to the school with you now," Chen Ke replied helplessly.

"That's best," Murong Wu said happily. "Mr. Chen, you'd better give a speech in public. There are many people in the school who care about you. If you give a speech in public, you will definitely be able to redeem quite a few students."

*Are you guys asking me to incite rebellion in public?* Chen Ke thought. But in these years, inciting rebellion in public wasn't any rare thing. Not to mention Ma Xiangbo's school.

Packing up things a bit, Chen Ke took Murong Wu and Xie Mingxian to the school together.

Entering the Academic Affairs Office, there was no one. Murong Wu hurriedly went to look for the Dean of Academic Affairs. Chen Ke took out a notebook and began to make a draft. After writing a part, Chen Ke handed the page written first to Xie Mingxian.

Xie Mingxian picked it up and read:

"Today, we stand here! Standing on the land of Chinese people! Standing in Shanghai, this land watered by our ancestors with blood and dignity! Standing on the campus of a Chinese new-style university. Before me are classmates on the campus. Outside the campus wall stands a nation, a nation groaning in humiliation! After that war ended, the pride of our nation was gone! Those victors ride on our necks acting like tyrants; they trample on our dignity at will, the dignity of the noblest nation in the world! You tell me, do you choose to rise up in anger like the generous and elegiac righteous men of ancient times, or be a slave?! You might want to say: Mr. Chen Ke, I need a bowl of rice, need to settle down and get on with my life. Yes. Your statement is very correct; life is truly too important. But I want to tell you. There is another thing in this world more important than life, that is freedom! That is dignity! As long as the French flag still flutters over Shanghai for a day, our dignity does not exist! As long as those Frenchmen and Englishmen run amok on our land, our dignity does not exist! As long as on the map of the world, this country called China is fragmented and weak, our dignity does not exist! As long as people of other countries let out a contemptuous laugh when mentioning the word China in chats, our dignity does not exist! What we need is not a bowl of rice! But a living space! The living space of a nation! This living space is not achieved by begging and protesting, but by iron and blood! Others bully us, even the weakest nation comes to trample on us, and we only shout: We express strong indignation and protest. Such people are spineless! Such people are lowly! We should make the enemy tremble with the deafening sound of cannons! We should crush their dignity and lives, letting them know we are not a bunch of cowards who only know how to protest! You must remember, a country that only knows how to protest is a spineless country! A government that only knows how to protest is a spineless government! When our dignity, territory, and living space are all trampled upon, a government that still protests shamelessly—we do not need it! You will eventually abandon them too! I am very proud that among you people, such spineless people are very few! Before me is a legion with five thousand years of noble and unyielding blood flowing! This blood once flowed in the veins of our ancestors; they never yielded! Now, it gurgles and rushes in our bodies. You tell me. Are you willing for it to cool down!?"

"There are two things that can unite people: common ideals and common blood and tears. We have great ideals immersed in Chinese history; we will shed our last drop of blood for this ideal! In today's Shanghai, nothing can save our motherland except this ideal! The Treaty of Nanking is a huge humiliation! We have the determination and reason to refuse to execute it! Do what you want to do! Just like he led his compatriots to hold high that banner of freedom and kill the enemy bravely! If you desire to fight, then go fight! Then I will be able to see whether you are slaves or unyielding Chinese!"

Chen Ke originally thought Xie Mingxian would say this text was too sensational. Unexpectedly, Xie Mingxian only gave one sentence of evaluation: "Mr. Chen, compared to your usual lectures, this text is empty and devoid of substance."