Chapter 18

As the saying goes, plans can't keep up with changes. The first party meeting was scheduled to be held on July 14, 1905. However, it was officially convened on July 17, three days later than expected.

Chen Ke and Qi Huishen had been busy with school and medical matters, while Zhou Yuanxiao was responsible for guarding the workshop. During this period, Hua Xiongmao and You Gou also became increasingly elusive. You Gou claimed she was recruiting some of her former collaborators, and she confidently assured them that there were some very capable people among them.

Since Qi Huishen had to frequently meet with the British to complete the school's arrangements on paper, he couldn't accompany Chen Ke in treating patients. Chen Ke could treat patients alone, but since Hua Xiongmao was willing to take charge of the drug sales in Fujian, Chen Ke felt that Hua Xiongmao should travel. Chen Ke couldn't accompany Hua Xiongmao to Fujian, and it was also necessary for Hua Xiongmao to fully understand the use and effectiveness of the special medicine.

After accompanying Chen Ke on two medical visits, Hua Xiongmao seriously apologized, "Wenqing, I feel very uncomfortable when I see those patients, and I have nightmares at night. Wenqing, please let me sell the medicine. I can't handle treating patients."

No matter how Chen Ke explained the necessity of understanding the characteristics of the medicine, Hua Xiongmao insisted that he needed some time before he could continue seeing patients. Now, he felt nauseous at the sight of patients.

After Hua Xiongmao fled, You Gou volunteered to find a reliable Chinese Western doctor. Two days later, she brought a doctor named Wang Qian. Wang Qian was from Guangdong, and his family had many overseas Chinese in Nanyang. His uncle was a sailor, and Wang Qian graduated from a medical school in Marseille, France. From Wang Qian's vague description, Chen Ke was highly suspicious that the "medical school" might have had ship doctors as teachers.

However, when it came to intravenous injections, dosages, physiological saline, and drug preparation, Wang Qian answered fluently and performed the procedures skillfully. He was competent enough to be a doctor. Chen Ke was concerned about Wang Qian's background, given his family's overseas connections. Wang Qian was also recommended by You Gou's friend, and she offered to inquire further.

After all these events, the first party meeting was officially held on the morning of July 17. Five people attended: Chen Ke, Qi Huishen, Hua Xiongmao, You Gou, and Zhou Yuanxiao. Although everyone joked about the party meeting, when they actually sat around the table and convened under the party's name, even familiar friends felt a bit awkward.

Chen Ke tapped the table, "I declare the first party meeting officially begins."

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

"The first item on the agenda is to elect a secretary."

"What is a secretary?" Hua Xiongmao asked.

"The secretary is responsible for recording every topic, every person's speech, and the final resolutions. Additionally, after the meeting, the secretary must compile a summary of the meeting..." Chen Ke thought these things were easy to understand, but to his surprise, after explaining the secretary's responsibilities, the comrades had vastly different opinions.

"I can't write well, I can't do it," Hua Xiongmao said first. If Hua Xiongmao had stopped there, it would have been understandable. However, he continued, "This kind of work is for miscellaneous tasks. We should find someone specifically for this next time, right?"

Chen Ke tried to understand Hua Xiongmao from a positive perspective. He thought Hua Xiongmao's intention was that focusing on recording everyone's words would prevent him from participating in discussions. Therefore, this task should be given to someone who wasn't involved in the main work. Chen Ke also suspected that Hua Xiongmao considered the secretary a low-level position, and as "core cadres," they shouldn't do this.

Qi Huishen, who had experience in revolution, had a more practical approach. "We need to keep many things confidential. How can we use outsiders?"

"I can't write well, I can't do it," You Gou followed.

Zhou Yuanxiao remained silent until Chen Ke looked at him, then he reluctantly said, "I can't do it."

Chen Ke felt helpless about everyone's views. A small secretary position might seem insignificant, but in the Communist Party, the highest level of secretary, the General Secretary, is the top person in the party. There is only one true party chairman. If Chen Ke were the party chairman, the second in line would be the General Secretary. Often, status is not something to be fought for; it goes to who is suitable for the position without the need for competition.

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

Chen Ke said, "The second item on the agenda is to elect the chairperson of this meeting. I nominate myself."

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

"Do I need to write this too?" Qi Huishen was puzzled.

"This is the rule for our future meetings. Everything discussed in the meeting must be recorded," Chen Ke said seriously.

Hearing this, Qi Huishen began to write.

"The third item is that every topic will be decided by a show of hands, and everyone must speak. If you agree, raise your hand; if you disagree, state your opposition clearly..."

These rules, which Chen Ke had learned in elementary school, were proposed one by one and passed by a show of hands. Everyone thought Chen Ke would discuss important matters, but instead, they were relearning the rules. At first, it was fine, but after a while, everyone found it boring. Hua Xiongmao even started yawning.

Finally, Chen Ke finished explaining the meeting rules. Seeing that Qi Huishen had written everything down, Chen Ke asked the group, "After this meeting, what does the secretary need to do?"

No one understood what he meant, so Chen Ke had to ask again. No one remembered, and Qi Huishen hadn't either. He quickly looked at the meeting notes and found the answer. "The secretary needs to write a summary of the meeting."

"This is why we need a secretary. This is also why, in addition to keeping the original records of the meeting, a summary must be written," Chen Ke said with a smile. More specifically, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

As a time traveler, Chen Ke had never felt his advantage. In this unfamiliar era and world, Chen Ke always had to solve everything on his own. Starting from zero, facing people he didn't know, revolutionaries were easier to approach and find common ground with. In 1905, being a revolutionary was easier for Chen Ke.

During this short party meeting, Chen Ke suddenly felt his advantage. His true advantage was not the knowledge from the future but his understanding of how to build an organization to solve problems. The power of an organization is greater than that of an individual. Three cobblers can match Zhuge Liang. With a good organization, no genius can match it with individual effort.

As a time traveler, Chen Ke didn't know what the great figures of the past were thinking, but he knew what they did and how they built organizations to achieve their goals. The organizations he once despised, which were even "oppressors" to him, now made sense to him. It was because they were organized with strict discipline that they had such power.

"Hey, Huishen, I'll have to read your summary report when you're done," Hua Xiongmao teased.

Chen Ke glared at Hua Xiongmao, "Huishen, write down this meeting statement by Zhenglan."

Hua Xiongmao quickly said, "No, no."

Qi Huishen just smiled and didn't write.

The next topic was more serious. Chen Ke asked everyone, "What is the purpose of the revolution?"

"Establish a new system and save China," Hua Xiongmao, who had just been criticized by Chen Ke, quickly quoted Chen Ke's words.

"Do you all think what I said is correct?"

This question made everyone think.

Hua Xiongmao laughed, "What Wenqing said sounds reliable. Besides, the world is bound to be in turmoil. I naturally follow Wenqing. Besides, we've been so busy; there's no time to discuss this in detail."

"Then, we must form a study group to clearly explain the theory of revolution."

"I've been waiting to hear Wenqing's lectures," Qi Huishen agreed, and he quickly wrote it down.

"This brings up a problem. When will we have the lectures? Everyone is so busy, treating patients, selling medicine, and soon we'll be starting a school. How can we find the time?"

This was indeed a big problem. Everyone was busy during the day and only had time at night. All eyes involuntarily turned to You Gou, who couldn't come out at night.

"Don't worry about me. I won't delay everyone's affairs. I know your good intentions, and I will definitely come to the lectures at night," You Gou quickly said.

So, the party lessons were scheduled for 6 PM.

"This is not enough. We already have so much on our hands. We must recruit more people. I will now report on the tasks I believe we need to accomplish in the next year," Chen Ke said, taking out his notebook.

According to Chen Ke's plan, in the next year, they would establish a medical school with the British, and under this medical school, they would set up an affiliated primary school, an affiliated nursing school, and an affiliated hospital.

The hospital would require a lot of equipment. Apart from other equipment, if all the glass equipment had to be purchased, it would be too wasteful. Chen Ke believed they needed to establish a glass factory. If they were to establish a glass factory, they would need a large amount of coal, and small-scale purchases would be inefficient. Chen Ke told everyone that he planned to build a honeycomb coal factory.

This plan, in essence, was an extremely incomplete related industry complex. Everyone could understand. Next, Chen Ke explained his overall design for the school and factory.

From the construction of the school to the hiring of teachers, from the construction of the hospital to the hiring of doctors and nurses, and the more complex honeycomb coal factory. From the design and purchase of equipment to the procurement of anthracite, clay, and straw, as well as the selection of the factory site. The sale of products and the smoothing of various social relationships. Chen Ke spoke for about half an hour, and Qi Huishen interrupted him six times to pause and finish writing the current record.

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

"Right, how do we recruit people?"

"I can find some people from the countryside. There are so many idle people there," Hua Xiongmao said.

"Can those people work? Can they do the jobs we need them to do?" Chen Ke asked.

"I'll discipline them if they don't listen," Hua Xiongmao said.

You Gou looked at Hua Xiongmao with disdain, "We might as well recruit people in Shanghai."

"Can the people in Shanghai do the job well? Do you know their backgrounds?" Hua Xiongmao countered.

"If they don't do well, they won't get paid. And can Zhenglan find teachers, doctors, and nurses from the countryside?" You Gou countered.

"At least they'll listen, right?"

"Um! Listen! I've run a factory before, and I haven't seen those relatives from the countryside listen well. They are clumsy and can't do anything right. If you scold them, they start arguing with you. Even if they know they are doing something wrong, they won't say it, but they will sabotage you behind your back. Compared to these obedient people, I'd rather find those who don't listen. At least when you hire workers, they work for pay, and if they don't do well, they know they won't get paid."

It seemed that You Gou had failed many times before, and the resentment in her words was intense.

"So, you're saying there are no good people in the countryside."

"There might be good people, but if they can't make it in the countryside, why would they come to the city? I haven't seen many such good people."

"Nonsense! The workers in the city are cunning and slippery, not good people at all."

You Gou and Hua Xiongmao argued. Neither could convince the other, and their emotions grew more intense. Chen Ke watched them argue without saying a word, just smiling. Qi Huishen couldn't stand it anymore and put down his pen, "Do you want me to write down what you're saying?"

This was quite effective, and the argument immediately stopped.

You Gou glared at Hua Xiongmao, and Hua Xiongmao coldly snorted and turned away, not looking at You Gou.

Seeing that both were silent, Chen Ke said, "The revolution must have a reason. The reason I know about the revolution includes something that explains what you just argued about."

"Wenqing, quickly tell us, who is right, me or Zhenglan?" You Gou immediately said.

"Right! Wenqing, you must clarify this," Hua Xiongmao insisted.

"First, what you both said is true, and you have seen it with your own eyes. I can confirm this."

"Hmph!" You Gou and Hua Xiongmao both snorted.

"Why does this happen? The principles of revolution explain this in several aspects. However, we are not having a party lesson now; the party lessons will start in the evening. So, let's continue with the current agenda. The work plan for the next year."

Seeing that You Gou and Hua Xiongmao were still insistent, Chen Ke turned to Zhou Yuanxiao, who had been silent, "Brother Zhou, you have run a factory before. We need an example of running a factory. Brother Zhou, can you prepare this example?"

Zhou Yuanxiao's face twitched. Running a factory was a failure he didn't want to mention. Chen Ke bringing up this example made him very uncomfortable. "Let's not, Wenqing. I don't want to talk about it."

Chen Ke disagreed with Zhou Yuanxiao, "Brother Zhou, we must understand this. If things go well, it's partly due to luck. But if things don't go well, it's definitely because we didn't do it right. Since we've spent so much money and effort, we must understand why we failed."

"I admit it, but let's not bring it up," Zhou Yuanxiao said dejectedly.

You Gou also disagreed, "No, Brother Zhou, you should talk about it. We need to understand how those people brought down your factory." She ignored Hua Xiongmao's disapproving look, "You should explain how your relatives from the countryside brought down your factory. It's a lesson from the past, a guide for the future. Since we are going to continue running factories, we can't make the same mistakes."

"Right, Brother Zhou, you must talk about it," Hua Xiongmao said in a confrontational tone.

"We are comrades, let's not hurt our friendship," Qi Huishen advised, "Wenqing, you should also talk to them. This way of speaking is not right."

Chen Ke smiled, "I want to lead everyone in the revolution because a true party member can see the whole world. Now, You Gou and Zhenglan are arguing because they are looking at the world through their own eyes, not understanding what the world is really like. I think they are like children arguing, not grasping the key points."

"Children also hurt their friendship," Qi Huishen said, understanding Chen Ke's meaning.

"What friendship do children hurt? One day they say they won't play together, but a few days later, they are playing happily again. This can't be persuaded."

Hearing this, You Gou angrily said, "I am not a child. I am talking about reason."

"Oh, talking about reason, then let's continue the meeting. We are here to have a meeting, not to argue. Right?"

Faced with Chen Ke's mature and tolerant words, You Gou had no choice but to remain silent.

"I talked about the 'Capital' last time. It discusses the development of enterprises. I also mentioned that in Sweden, 30% of child laborers die in factories before they turn 18. In Britain, workers are guaranteed to die from overwork within three years of entering the factory. This is the truth. The operation of capital has always been so brutal. In our Chinese textile factories, workers have fixed working hours, take holidays, and eat meat regularly. They also have money to buy the cloth they produce, so foreign goods are cheaper. Foreign goods flood in, and our national currency is devalued. I want to explain these things to everyone. I want to emphasize that I do not want to see this happen again, and I will not do it myself. How can we avoid this from happening?"

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