Just as Chen Ke was paying a visit to Mr. Gu Hongming, led by the gatekeeper, and the host and guest were conversing cordially, the meeting of the Shanghai Party Branch was proceeding with intensity. The meeting had been going on for half an hour, yet the atmosphere had not become lively with discussion; on the contrary, a depressing mood shrouded the conference room.

The Shanghai Party Branch now had five remaining members: Qi Huishen, Hua Xiongmao, You Gou, He Zudao, and Qin Wu'an. Chen Ke's original intention had been stated very clearly: he hoped the comrades could exert their own subjective initiative to complete the social investigations. Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua hadn't just quit and left. Before departing, the two had completed their own work and clearly assigned tasks to the members of the Huangpu Book Society. Everyone had also expressed that there would be no problem. At least when the two left, on the surface, there were no issues.

You Gou had lectured to the members of the Huangpu Book Society, Qi Huishen had always been responsible for coordinating the affairs of the Book Society, and Hua Xiongmao was responsible for the construction site work. Everyone cooperated happily at the beginning. But the work became harder and harder as they went on. The most crucial thing was how to analyze the obtained data.

"How to talk to the common people is very important. Being polite alone won't work." Hua Xiongmao had the richest experience in this regard, but unfortunately, Hua Xiongmao was now firmly tied to the construction site; the first dormitory building was about to be completed. Except for necessary Party meetings, Hua Xiongmao had moved to live on the construction site.

"You have to tell this stuff to the group members; what use is telling me? I actually want to go to the front line personally, but I really can't get away." Qi Huishen was under quite a lot of pressure during this period; a red pimple had appeared on his chin. Obviously, it was caused by anxiety. "It would be good if Wenqing were sitting in Shanghai."

"Wenqing finished writing his own report long ago. The key now is to let the students investigate personally." Hua Xiongmao was also very depressed; although Chen Ke didn't like playing with "secret master plans," he himself couldn't help leaving a set of his own manuscripts. Regarding the textile problem in the late Qing dynasty, Chen Ke had discussed it many times on forums in the 21st century. Based on the content of those discussion posts back then, Chen Ke wrote a report.

In the late Qing dynasty, accompanying the development of China's textile industry, the demand for cotton increased rapidly. But the small-peasant economy was extremely insensitive to market changes. No matter how high the cotton price was, peasants cultivating scattered small plots of land simply couldn't switch to producing cotton. Peasants growing grain couldn't even guarantee food and clothing; who would care about the cotton problem?

Landlords owning large amounts of land were even less likely to increase the cotton planting area. The reasons for this were relatively complex. Simply put, the biggest goal of landlords was to increase the land under their names. Generally speaking, the best way for landlords to increase land was to hoard grain; when a famine year came, they could expand their land area by acquiring land from peasants lacking grain. Unless they reached a dead end, peasants wouldn't sell their land easily. Peasants would only sell the land they settled down on as a last resort to survive. Planting cotton would absolutely not achieve such an effect. Grain could be eaten; what use was getting a pile of cotton?

Moreover, annexation itself might not necessarily achieve better economic results; the expansion of land area meant an increase in tax payments. Furthermore, what the small-peasant economy directly caused was the fragmentation of land. The land of a landlord's family wasn't all connected in one piece. Instead, it was scattered all over the vast countryside like stars. These realistic situations directly caused landlords to be unable to develop and use land more effectively. Collecting rent fit this situation best.

"A thing one person can do, dozens of people can't do well," Qi Huishen said, quite discouraged. He had read the report; the analytical data Chen Ke used in it was very detailed, and the conclusion was very persuasive. Qi Huishen actually suspected very much that, no matter how he looked, Chen Ke didn't look like someone who had been to the countryside, yet his views on the countryside were quite pertinent.

This lengthy essay analyzed many things, and the comrades in the Party had all read it. Hua Xiongmao had stayed in the countryside for a few years and agreed very much with this piece by Chen Ke. But agreement was one thing; the comrades of the Huangpu Book Society were not Chen Ke. Waiting for them to write such an article—who knew how long it would take? The social investigations in front of them were just like this; just letting these people collect changes in cotton prices in Shanghai was very unsmooth. Scattering people out, in these six or seven days, the data collected was fragmented, either repetitive or with very outrageous prices. Just for the cotton price in 1905, they actually collected data differing by more than two times.

"How did these people talk to merchants? Can't even ask a price clearly." Qi Huishen was responsible for summarizing data. Looking at these things, he only felt a headache. Qi Huishen collected as many textile prices of various years as possible according to the plan. In this matter, what provided the greatest help wasn't the students running all over the streets, but the Concession Statistical Yearbook Wang Bin got.

"What exactly does Wenqing want us to do? To make us make fools of ourselves?" Comparing the motley variety of data collected by the Huangpu Book Society with the Concession's statistical yearbook, Qi Huishen even had such a thought.

You Gou was responsible for drug production; recently, production and sales were both booming, so she didn't participate in the social investigations. "I say, you two stop complaining here. Why did Wenqing organize the social investigations?"

"Isn't it to clarify the current status of China?" Qi Huishen replied grumpily.

"But I remember Wenqing said the purpose of engaging in social investigations was to expand the ranks of Party members, right?"

"Uh?" The gazes of other comrades fell on You Gou's face simultaneously.

"Engaging in social investigations is mainly to find comrades who can believe in the people's revolution. Before Wenqing left, he didn't know how many of this group of people could be absorbed into our organization. That's why he wanted to do social investigations. Looking at it now, Wenqing's plan is obviously wrong. Let's change the method."

Hearing You Gou's words, no one responded. This was the first time someone stated directly that Chen Ke's method was inappropriate. Everyone couldn't completely accept this small shock for a moment.

"How does Sister You plan to do it?" He Zudao asked first. This child had always respected and supported You Gou very much since he knew You Gou participated in making medicine.

With He Zudao's question as a lead, You Gou continued, "Since those people are disappointing, we don't need to expect them to have Wenqing's insight. Now simply rearrange the social investigations around this report of Wenqing's. Let those people realize that the problems pointed out by Wenqing are the reasons for the soaring textile prices today. This is faster."

This suggestion sounded very good; You Gou didn't mean to oppose Chen Ke at all. According to the new plan, it could also serve the function of screening Party members.

Seeing everyone was somewhat persuaded, You Gou struck while the iron was hot and said, "Let alone those people, even among us Party members, who can write a report of the same standard as this piece by Wenqing relying on themselves? Since none of us can write it, then let's see who can understand it first. When radishes sell fast, one doesn't wash off the mud; whatever is scooped into the basket is a vegetable."

Although these words were reasonable, they sounded full of a helpless flavor. Hua Xiongmao didn't oppose too much. Qi Huishen, however, couldn't quite accept it. Qi Huishen knew Chen Ke hoped to gather a large group of comrades who could realize the significance of the people's revolution. And didn't Chen Tianhua understand the significance of the people's revolution? The original intention of these social investigations was also like this: through the analysis and investigation of social reality, let the young people inclined toward revolution discover contradictions themselves, and then expand the Party membership very effectively. Although You Gou's statement made sense, this wasn't what Chen Ke and Qi Huishen originally hoped for.

Qi Huishen didn't speak, and Hua Xiongmao refused to speak either. The Party meeting fell into an awkward silence. The one breaking the silence was He Zudao again. "Let me say a few words."

Looking at the slightly timid He Zudao, You Gou gave He Zudao an encouraging smile. He Zudao's tender little face flushed slightly, but his chest puffed out.

"Everyone knows the reason I followed Wenqing. Mr. Wenqing and Sister You Gou saved my life. This is one of the reasons I must follow everyone. Since joining the Party, I feel I can understand Wenqing's words, and they make a lot of sense. But if you let me think of these things myself, I won't be able to think of them in this lifetime. Mr. Wenqing never feels he is anything special. He thinks what he can do, we can also do. I think we can do it in the future, but we can't do it now. Now we just need to find people like me who can understand Mr. Wenqing's words and are willing to walk with Mr. Wenqing."

He Zudao himself had always been the image of a well-behaved baby, never stating any views of his own. These words today were already very active and proactive, although to everyone's ears, He Zudao only said so out of support for You Gou.

The intra-party democracy of the People's Party could be said to be the strongest among various political parties now, but no matter what organization, there will be the so-called "seniority" problem. This has nothing to do with Party discipline but is a very realistic aspect of human nature. Since He Zudao didn't have any heavyweight performance before, his speech now couldn't play a leading role immediately. But the atmosphere of intra-party democracy had been built for a few months after all; everyone also began to think about He Zudao's words. Being able to make everyone attach such importance to He Zudao, whose status was relatively weak, was enough to prove that Chen Ke's efforts played a considerable role.

Among the People's Party, He Zudao's status wasn't the "lowest"; Qin Wu'an's seniority was weaker. Seeing He Zudao's statement, Qin Wu'an was also encouraged. "I request to speak," he said.

Seeing Qi Huishen, who acted as the chairman of this meeting, nod, Qin Wu'an said, "Does everyone think I am qualified as a Party member?"

Qi Huishen was a very smart person; hearing these words, he already knew what Qin Wu'an meant. Just as Qi Huishen expected, Qin Wu'an supported He Zudao's viewpoint; he expressed that what needed to be gathered now were qualified Party members who obeyed the Party's discipline, not outstanding revolutionaries like Chen Ke. You Gou's suggestion made a lot of sense.

Qi Huishen turned his head and glanced at Hua Xiongmao; coincidentally, Hua Xiongmao also looked over. There was some helplessness in both their eyes. Originally, Qi Huishen's idea was that he and Hua Xiongmao would set the tone for this matter, and then proceed according to this keynote. But in the current situation, according to the organizational discipline of the People's Party, the minority obeys the majority. Now it was obviously three to two; if voted on, You Gou's new plan would win steadily.

Regarding the possibility of losing the vote, Qi Huishen really didn't care too much. The problem was, if the vote passed, then it would completely overturn Chen Ke's earliest plan. Moreover, Chen Ke's plan at the time really wasn't a voting result, merely an opinion he proposed. So once the new vote passed, this would be the decision of the Party organization. According to the People's Party organizational discipline established by Chen Ke single-handedly, even after Chen Ke himself returned to Shanghai, before a new discussion and vote were conducted within the Party, he also had to obey this resolution. Regarding this matter, Qi Huishen felt an indescribable wrongness.

Qi Huishen now faced a dilemma. If he insisted on executing Chen Ke's established policy, he would first face a situation difficult to execute. The People's Party hadn't really encountered such a situation until now. Today, when Chen Ke, Chen Tianhua, and Wu Xingchen all left Shanghai, Qi Huishen and Hua Xiongmao were considered the "two giants" within the Party. The problem was, comparing seniority and prestige, these two couldn't be talked about as the second person in the Party either. You Gou wasn't inferior to the two of them anywhere. If Qi Huishen insisted on saying the original plan was formulated by Chen Ke, it would inevitably have the suspicion of "borrowing authority." He already cared very much about that faint opposition with Hua Xiongmao. It's hard to find solid evidence for personal emotions. Grasping at shadows is undesirable. Moreover, although Chen Ke did have such a plan, intra-party discipline was repeatedly emphasized as the most important, and intra-party discipline was also formulated by Chen Ke. If someone mentioned this, Qi Huishen would immediately fall into a self-contradictory situation.

Just as Qi Huishen was considering, he heard You Gou say, "Then let's vote on this issue." This was the sentence Qi Huishen least wanted to hear, but according to organizational discipline, since You Gou proposed a vote, as long as one more person agreed, then a vote must be held. Sure enough, He Zudao supported You Gou's proposal. "I agree to vote."

You Gou, He Zudao, and Qin Wu'an all raised their hands to express agreement. Hua Xiongmao was silent for a long time, then also raised his hand slowly. Finally, the Shanghai Party organization passed You Gou's proposal with an overwhelming advantage of four to one.

Chen Ke didn't know that the first truly meaningful intra-party democratic resolution of the People's Party was born at this time. Of course, even if Chen Ke knew, he absolutely wouldn't be angry. At this time, Chen Ke, Chen Tianhua, and Gu Hongming were chatting happily. Gu Hongming was thin; his skin, wrinkled like a jujube pit, actually meant he was glowing with health now because of happiness. He understood Latin; after listening to Chen Ke's detailed explanation of the standard Hanyu Pinyin pronunciation, Mr. Gu Hongming was truly overjoyed. He simply talked with Chen Ke about the issue of promoting Hanyu Pinyin. Of course, there was actually no problem with the promotion of Hanyu Pinyin; it was just a matter of how to promote it. The Imperial University of Peking was both the highest institution of learning in the country and the highest national educational administrative organ, governing schools in all provinces. Mr. Gu Hongming, as an instructor, naturally had plenty of ways. Chen Ke could understand Mr. Gu Hongming's enthusiasm, but he didn't have any illusions about the effects of these promotions. The promotion of Hanyu Pinyin in New China relied on the perfection of the compulsory education system. Even so, without the development of radio and television, without the huge demand for text input in the internet age, Hanyu Pinyin wouldn't have had such profound influence.

Of course, Chen Ke wouldn't be stupid enough to say these things. He just catered to Mr. Gu Hongming's speech very calmly. Later, the topic gradually shifted from pronunciation to translation. Chen Ke firmly supported using Latin-based paraphrase as the basis for translating proper nouns; an important example was the "Mediterranean Sea" (*Di Zhong Hai*). For Chinese people, seeing this noun, they could imagine a sea in the middle of the land. Moreover, in Latin, the word Mediterranean is also composed of two roots, "middle of the earth" and "ocean." Chen Ke had read some articles; it was said that some show-off "public intellectuals" loved transliteration like fools. For foreign proper nouns, they followed transliteration completely, turning the very ingenious translation noun "Mediterranean" into a noun composed of a long string of Chinese characters with strange pronunciations. Chen Ke opposed this quite strongly.

Mr. Gu Hongming supported Chen Ke's opinion very much; he himself was a firm supporter of traditional culture. Everyone's topic turned to Chen Ke's book again. Mr. Gu Hongming didn't stand on ceremony either; he pointed out directly many places in Chen Ke's book where he argued irrationally. As for those imprecise places in the book, Mr. Gu stated clearly that because there were too many unreasonable contents, an "errata" needed to be written. Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua knew well how big this project was. Chen Ke actually didn't read many history books; *Records of the Grand Historian* and *Records of the Three Kingdoms* were okay, but when reading *Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance*, he could simply fall asleep while reading. During the writing process of this book, Chen Tianhua was fully responsible for the sorting of historical materials; he had the most say. One old and one young discussed this issue. The two quoted copiously from many sources, talking in high spirits, making Chen Ke drowsy listening. Finally, the two had a result: Mr. Gu Hongming suggested establishing a special compilation group among the students of the Imperial University of Peking to perfect this book. For Mr. Gu to give Chen Ke such face—not to mention Chen Ke, even Chen Tianhua was somewhat moved.

"Wenqing, Mr. Yan sent five sets of your books in one go. I put three sets in the library. They were borrowed empty as soon as they were put in. I invited you over this time because I wanted you to hold a lecture. I wonder what Wenqing thinks."

To be able to hold a lecture at the Imperial University of Peking, the predecessor of Peking University, was truly a great honor. Chen Ke wasn't overjoyed; on the contrary, he felt somewhat faintly timid. If talking about revolutionary principles, Chen Ke wasn't afraid. If talking about social structure and economic operation, Chen Ke wasn't afraid either. He worried that if the students got entangled with him on historical issues, with Chen Ke's historical level not even equal to a dilettante, he would definitely make a fool of himself. But the purpose of coming to Beijing was to develop comrades; a lecture was a very good platform. Chen Ke plucked up his courage and agreed.

"Then how about starting tomorrow?" Mr. Gu asked.

"Everything follows Mr. Gu's arrangement," Chen Ke replied.