Chapter 25

Public lectures in China in 1905 were a rather peculiar affair. For the common people, scholarly pursuits were the domain of the educated. The ordinary residents of Shanghai knew that foreigners also engaged in scholarly activities and were even better at it than the Chinese. However, no matter how one looked at it, scholarship had little to do with the common folk. Therefore, the posters, promotions, and advertisements in Shanghai's newspapers did little to spark any particular interest in learning among the masses.

The rise of Shanghai, besides bringing more job opportunities as a trading port, saw urban development lagging far behind social progress. Chen Ke never enjoyed wandering around Shanghai. In 1905, Shanghai was a city filled with slums and shantytowns. Apart from the concessions and a few old neighborhoods, Chen Ke's evaluation of the city was that it was "not even up to the level of a Chinese county town in the 1980s." The massive influx of people into Shanghai for a living directly led to the city's cramped and chaotic living conditions for decades to come.

Zhou Yuanxiao's old workshop was the most aesthetically pleasing building to Chen Ke, being both large and spacious. The several hundred square meters of drying space were highly satisfactory. Whenever he stepped out, the crowded alleys, dilapidated buildings, and vast shantytowns made Chen Ke lose any desire to stroll around.

In such a poorly constructed city, it was easy to imagine the meager entertainment options available to the common people. So, while the masses had little interest in scholarship, they were willing to go and see the spectacle.

The venue for this lecture was not far from the teahouse where Chen Ke and You Gou had their first meeting. It was a site arranged with the help of the British. When Qi Huishen announced the address at the party meeting, the three who had participated in the beating of the foreigners, whether as attackers or spectators, couldn't help but burst into laughter, leaving Qi Huishen puzzled. You Gou explained the situation with a mix of laughter and words, and the comrades in attendance burst into laughter. Apart from Hua Xiongmou, it was surprising to learn that Chen Ke was also someone who would resort to physical violence at the slightest provocation, which greatly contradicted everyone's impression of him. As for Miss You Gou being able to stab someone with chopsticks, that was even more unimaginable.

Qi Huishen teased You Gou, calling her a heroine. You Gou smiled and pulled out a Swiss Army knife from her pocket. This was something she had extorted from Chen Ke. "Next time I stab someone, I'll use this. I won't use chopsticks anymore," she said.

Hearing this, Qi Huishen grimaced and didn't dare say anything more.

The venue was at a street corner, cordoned off with ropes to create a space of over 100 square meters. It was well-ventilated and very public. The first speaker was You Gou. In those days, there were no microphones, so lectures relied entirely on the speaker's voice, making it pointless to have a large venue.

On the first day of the lecture, unexpectedly, over 300 people showed up. About half were there for the spectacle, while the other half were parents curious about the new school's teachers.

The advertisements and flyers clearly stated that this lecture was given by the teachers of the newly established Shanghai Renxin Medical College. This new school boasted a strong faculty, and You Gou was a German-educated teacher. In that era, German-educated students were seen by ordinary parents as having knowledge as high as the sky.

You Gou, dressed in a light gray suit, a floral shirt, and low-cut leather boots, walked onto the stage, leaving the audience momentarily confused. You Gou's attire was considered "fashionable" for the time. The crowd murmured in low voices. No one knew what this lady, who looked completely out of place, was about to do. You Gou raised her left hand and looked at the watch Chen Ke had insisted she wear. The shiny object was something that many wealthy parents had seen or heard of. The crowd stirred again.

"Hello everyone, I am a teacher at Shanghai Renxin Hospital. My name is You Gou. Today's open lecture will be given by me," You Gou's clear voice carried far, and everyone in the front and back could hear her. The audience erupted in excitement. A young woman studying in Germany was already shocking news in Shanghai, let alone one who was giving a lecture. Some people were disappointed and began to leave, muttering curses, while more people surged forward to get a better look at the woman. A woman who could study in Germany must have come from a wealthy family. In Shanghai, while many women worked, it was rare to see a wealthy woman willing to speak in public. The front-row attendees, including Qi Huishen, He Zudao, and Qin Wuan, quickly stood up to maintain order.

When You Gou lit a white candle, the crowd burst into laughter. You Gou's face turned red. In fact, from the moment she stepped onto the stage and saw the hundreds of eyes fixed on her, she felt a bit dizzy, her skin tightened, and her back hair stood on end, her legs feeling weak.

This wasn't like teaching Chen Ke and the others, who were all familiar faces, and You Gou felt comfortable. It also wasn't like teaching the progressive youth in the workshop, who had some knowledge and could at least maintain politeness.

The crowd was dressed in various ways, with more short-sleeved shirts and some in long gowns. Most were men, with women and children at the edges of the venue. You Gou finally understood the meaning of "to see a thousand miles, one must climb higher." The stage was not very high, about half a meter, but it was enough for You Gou to see all the audience, and her gaze could even extend to the street, where many passersby looked over, and even the second-floor windows across the street opened, with heads poking out.

After composing herself, You Gou turned and wrote the lecture's title, "The Story of the Candle," on the blackboard.

To be honest, in 1905, while the crowd loved spectacles, they were curious about a woman giving a lecture and wanted to get a closer look at this female teacher. However, there was still some basic etiquette. Although You Gou's appearance on stage as a woman was shocking, the newspaper coverage and her public display of the watch made the audience somewhat respectful of this "female teacher." Moreover, the course was originally prepared by Faraday for children, focusing on experiments and being lively and engaging. It was not for advanced scientific education but for popularizing science. Therefore, You Gou's lecture was very simple and easy to understand.

The audience, regardless of their wealth, had all used candles and knew about breathing. Through a few simple experiments, everyone understood that air was composed of two types: one that could be breathed and one that could not. They also understood why covering a fire with a basin or soil could extinguish it. The crowd was simple, and the straightforward principles and experiments immediately made them feel they had gained a lot. They developed a deep respect for the clear and beautiful female teacher on stage.

When You Gou announced the end of the day's lecture, someone in the audience shouted "bravo," and the applause and cheers echoed. You Gou, blushing, bowed slightly and then fled the stage. This normal reaction from a young woman caused even more applause.

You Gou loosened her tie, and Qi Huishen, clapping, approached her, "You did well." In the past, You Gou might have chatted with Qi Huishen, but with hundreds of eyes on her, she nodded slightly, "I'm leaving now." Qi Huishen quickly called for a rickshaw driver to take You Gou back to the workshop.

As soon as You Gou left, parents flocked to Qi Huishen to ask about the new school, its location, when classes would start, where the female teacher came from, and what she taught. Surrounded by these enthusiastic parents, Qi Huishen fully experienced You Gou's earlier feelings. He stood on the stage and loudly announced the details of the Shanghai Renxin Medical College. He Zudao and Qin Wuan were responsible for distributing the Huangpu Review, which included the lecture content and a school introduction.

Thinking the parents would disperse, more questions were raised. Was the school really free? How would medical students find jobs after graduation? What about the affiliated high school and nursing school? What about the affiliated hospital? Would there be more lectures tomorrow?

"Wenqing, you were completely wrong!" Qi Huishen complained inwardly. Chen Ke had predicted that the number of attendees would not be too few or too many, but the number of parents inquiring and enrolling would not be high. Qi Huishen agreed. However, the number of inquiries was far beyond expectations.

This was not the most surprising part. After answering the parents' questions, some people came to peek, clearly just to see the spectacle. After a while, they asked if there was a beautiful female teacher giving a lecture. Seeing their hopeful and lecherous expressions, He Zudao and Qin Wuyang's faces changed. They uniformly replied that there would be no lecture the next day and chased them away.

The next day's scene was even more impressive. After Qi Huishen reported the situation the previous night, Chen Ke had him contact people and, through Qi Huishen's father Qi Si'e, borrowed two foreigners from the British. These two were tall Russians. They were there to add prestige to the British school, and the British were willing to help. Each of these "gray horses" of the Tsar agreed to a daily wage of fifty pence and stood in the corners of the venue, immediately intimidating the crowd. The number of people attending the lecture the next day was several times that of the previous day. Yesterday, there was still some space, but today, the venue was packed, with people even standing on the street.

You Gou's lecture was even more captivating, with experiments like the electrolysis of water using a Voltaic pile. Seeing the flammable gas decomposed from water greatly challenged the audience's worldview. Everyone looked at You Gou with not just respect but awe. In many people's eyes, this female teacher might be a Daoist adept. Water that could extinguish fire was actually composed of a flammable gas and a non-flammable gas. Wasn't this magic?

When You Gou finished her lecture and was about to leave, female parents had already blocked her, praising her knowledge and asking countless questions. You Gou was moved. This was the first time since returning to China that she had been so revered. To be honest, after returning to China, You Gou had not been taken seriously. Before meeting Chen Ke, even her collaborators, men, either envied her or looked down on her, deliberately keeping their distance.

After meeting Chen Ke, everyone respected each other and got along well. However, Chen Ke's knowledge far surpassed You Gou's, and she did not feel particularly remarkable. Only now, although the audience might not fully understand her knowledge, their genuine respect and admiration made You Gou truly realize the power of science. The women who asked questions were full of hope that their children could be as knowledgeable and educated as You Gou. Faced with these people, You Gou was even moved.

Qi Huishen managed to maintain his composure, parting the crowd and quickly escorting You Gou to a rickshaw. He, He Zudao, and Qin Wuan then continued answering questions, which took nearly two hours to clear the venue.

In the evening, the party meeting discussed the matter. The attendees were no longer just a few, including Qin Wuan, who had joined the meeting.

"Who would have thought that the people now have such a thirst for science," Qin Wuan praised. Chen Ke had a high opinion of Qin Wuan, who came from a small workshop owner's family in Songjiang and was the third son. He had studied at a church school and later worked in a cloth shop. After the shop went bankrupt, Qin Wuan was unemployed and met Qi Huishen. Later, Qi Huishen invited him to attend lectures. This young man was calm, patient, and hardworking. Chen Ke intended to cultivate Qin Wuan as a core member.

"We need to find a construction team to start building the school," Qi Huishen said excitedly.

"I've already found the people, just waiting for Wenqing to meet them," Hua Xiongmou said.

"Then let's do it as soon as possible."

The next day, Chen Ke met with Yuwen Bada. Before the meeting, just hearing the name, Chen Ke thought Yuwen Bada might be a tall, strong man. However, upon meeting, Chen Ke was greatly surprised. Yuwen Bada was not short, but he was round and plump. In his thirties, he had a balding head. His round, ruddy face had large, black, lively eyes, and his thick lips were a pinkish color, making him look like a well-fed baby. Most people would expect Yuwen Bada to have a high-pitched voice, but when he spoke, it was deep and resonant, with a commanding presence. This stark contrast left Chen Ke shocked.

"I heard Brother Chen has a job for us," Yuwen Bada said sincerely, at least his voice was sincere.

Chen Ke suspected he was being deceived by Yuwen Bada's obvious contrast and could not read his thoughts. He composed himself and spoke with a cold, clear tone and emotion. Indeed, seeing Chen Ke quickly regain his composure, Yuwen Bada's expression showed a hint of panic.

Yuwen Bada's price was high, and Chen Ke argued his case. Whenever Yuwen Bada tried to justify his price with his deep, trustworthy voice, Chen Ke's cold, firm voice stopped him.

"Brother Yuwen, the accounts don't add up like that," Chen Ke smiled gently and began to calculate the costs. From food expenses, wages, to wear and tear on clothes, and potential injuries, the total was more than half less than what Yuwen Bada asked for.

"That's not how it's calculated, Mr. Chen. By your calculation, we'd starve," Yuwen Bada shook his head.

"Brother Yuwen, how do you think it should be calculated?" Chen Ke asked, seeing Yuwen Bada getting flustered.

After some haggling, the price entered the final "decisive stage." Yuwen Bada almost pleaded with Chen Ke, who unceremoniously reduced the daily wage by five coins.

Yuwen Bada reluctantly agreed. Earning money was not easy in those times. Chen Ke proposed a one-month project, which would earn a decent amount. However, Chen Ke's next move almost drove Yuwen Bada mad. He handed over a detailed construction plan. It specified various workloads, rewards, and penalties. After reading it, Yuwen Bada knew he was dealing with an expert. He pointed out several unreasonable points, such as lifting a beam in such a short time being impossible.

Chen Ke was unmoved, pointing to the explanations next to those points. Yuwen Bada only needed to provide the manpower as specified in the plan. The scaffolding and lifting equipment would be provided by Chen Ke's side. In those days, construction teams handled everything themselves, so a detailed design from the client was unprecedented. Yuwen Bada questioned who would pay if the project was not completed on time. Chen Ke pointed to the relevant contract clauses, which provided detailed explanations.

Faced with such a flawless contract, Yuwen Bada finally gave in.

After sending Yuwen Bada away, Wu Xingchen arrived. He fulfilled his promise, bringing five people who looked like martial artists. Chen Ke could not afford to be rude and took them to the same restaurant they had visited before.

Over drinks, Wu Xingchen introduced the five to Chen Ke. They were all in their twenties, with two having scars on their faces. They all spoke with a Shandong accent and seemed to have weathered many storms, appearing quite steady.

After a few drinks, they talked about their backgrounds. Chen Ke suddenly thought of something and slowly steered the conversation towards the Boxer Rebellion. The Shandong heroes' expressions darkened. The leader, Xu Youli, said, "We were fighting foreigners in Beijing. Then the government suddenly turned on us. If it weren't for Brother Wu leading us and a hundred others to escape, we would have died in Beijing."

Hearing this, Wu Xingchen's face changed.