Chapter 61

You Gou is a very interesting girl, Chen Ke has always thought so. If he had seen You Gou slap a boy across the face, he would definitely have thought himself prescient. The boy was younger than You Gou but was a northern man. You Gou had learned some combat skills from Chen Ke. In the courtyard of the workshop, they had set up a human-shaped target, and Chen Ke had taught You Gou some basic fighting techniques. Chen Ke believed that instead of learning combat skills, slapping was a simpler technique. After slapping, a kick to the chest was more effective than anything else. Generally, men have weaker defenses against women, making such moves easier to succeed.

After the crisp slap, You Gou felt greatly refreshed. She had set up a similar human-shaped target at home and spent an hour every evening practicing punches and kicks on the thickly padded target. She had become quite proficient with a few basic routines. Just as she was about to kick, someone pulled her away. Turning her head, she saw that it was Qi Huishen. Qi Huishen stepped forward, pointing at the boy and shouting, "Is this how you talk to Teacher You? What do you mean by 'dog comprador'? I am a comprador too!"

The boy was truly stunned by the slap. He had been mocking "dog compradors" with two classmates, saying they were people who had forgotten their ancestors, and interspersing this with vicious ridicule of You Gou. They didn't realize that You Gou and Qi Huishen were discussing matters in the adjacent room. The school dormitory had just been built, and the Huangpu Book Club had moved in entirely. Perhaps because they were used to the workshop, the students spoke loudly, not noticing that their target of ridicule was just one wall away.

Hearing the argument, people from other dormitories and offices had curiously appeared at the door. Seeing that the fight wouldn't happen, You Gou shouted to the people outside, "Prepare for the meeting, to discuss the group division."

Since the party meeting had reached its first democratic resolution, Qi Huishen had to follow it. Chen Ke had repeatedly emphasized party discipline, insisting on obeying organizational decisions. Qi Huishen didn't dare to defy openly. After that, at the meetings, everyone began to discuss Chen Ke's articles on the economic situation in China.

The cotton issue was personally explained by You Gou. The number of professional cotton farmers in China is extremely low, even in developed textile regions like Shanghai and Songjiang. With the rapid development of China's textile industry, the demand for cotton has increased, leading to a rise in cotton prices. The rise in cotton prices has led the textile industry to purchase cheaper foreign yarn. This purchase has greatly affected the interests of landlords in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Landlords who expected to profit from the rise in cotton prices are naturally very dissatisfied. Moreover, landlords who operate some handicrafts are also very dissatisfied with the impact of cheap foreign goods. Various anti-foreign goods movements have emerged in Shanghai.

This is not just in Shanghai. With China's forced opening, landlords operating handicrafts in various regions have similar grievances. In 1905, except for Guangdong, other treaty ports also saw local merchants resisting foreign goods.

Chen Ke's analysis of this issue was quite thorough. However, for 21st-century China, the benefits of free trade are significant. After the U.S. economic recession, China unhesitatingly took up the banner of globalization, becoming the leading advocate and leader of free trade. Therefore, Chen Ke himself does not oppose free trade; he only opposes free trade that is detrimental to China. So, in analyzing this issue, Chen Ke was quite fair.

You Gou and Qi Huishen's families are compradors, so they can easily accept Chen Ke's attitude. Unfortunately, the students of the Huangpu Book Club are mostly from landlord and official families. Landlords firmly oppose the impact of industrialization, and officials detest the aggressive foreigners. Although these two groups are dissatisfied, they dare not directly confront the foreigners. Thus, their anger is directed at the compradors who rely on foreigners.

Ironically, after You Gou, a comprador herself, explained the cotton issue and the deeper economic principles, the students hated the compradors even more. They were also quite rude to You Gou.

Hearing You Gou's order, the people peering from the door immediately ran off. They called other classmates and rushed to the room serving as the meeting hall. A moment later, You Gou entered the classroom with a spirited demeanor. Standing on the podium, she wrote four large characters on the blackboard: "Seek Truth from Facts."

Turning around, she said with enthusiasm, "Some say women have long hair and short sight. I now formally tell you, let's compare hair lengths; yours are longer than mine." To prepare for the countryside trip, You Gou had cut her hair a few days ago. Her short bangs and shoulder-length hair, paired with her suit, made her look like a handsome boy.

"Seek truth from facts, so I don't want to hear any disrespectful remarks about women in the future." You Gou concluded.

The boys below exchanged glances. The statement was laughable, but they couldn't refute it. Not many people had cut their braids yet. Even if they had, most had foreign-style parted hair, long hair, or ponytails. The biggest difference was that their heads were no longer bald at the front. But compared to You Gou's hair, they were indeed longer. Many didn't like this female teacher, but in terms of knowledge, especially Western knowledge, they knew they were far behind. They were "daring to complain but not to speak." Seeing You Gou speak so confidently, the students looked around.

"Two days from now, we will go to the countryside for a practical investigation. Are you all prepared?" You Gou asked.

"Is Teacher You going with us?" someone asked.

"Yes."

"Will we stay together?" the person asked boldly.

"We will stay separately." You Gou was not intimidated by such ridicule.

The students, being students, could only enjoy verbal sparring. Publicly acting lewdly was beyond them. Hearing You Gou's words, no one dared to say more.

"Everyone has received the topic for this investigation. What is our goal?"

Xiong Mingyang, speaking in Sichuanese, answered, "To investigate how foreign industrial goods have undermined the small peasant economy."

A month ago, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xiong Mingyang had a confrontation with Chen Ke. He then spread bad words about Chen Ke at Fudan Public School. After a few days, he calmed down and realized he had overreacted. The true reason for China's backwardness, wasn't that what Chen Ke had explained to everyone? Since Chen Ke could explain these things clearly, there might be more practical actions in the future.

Indeed, continuing to attend classes, Xiong Mingyang received a deeper analysis of China's current situation from You Gou. Now, with the social investigation, Xiong Mingyang was less agitated. Being from a bureaucratic family, he had traveled extensively and understood some worldly matters. The best way to counter the impact of foreign textiles was for China to produce cheaper goods. Before the classes, Xiong Mingyang thought this would be simple, but after the classes, he no longer felt that way. Things in the world are not as simple as they seem.

"Our investigation targets the rural areas around Shanghai, which have been most affected by industrial goods for a long time. The changes in the rural structure are significantly different from other rural areas. We will divide into twelve groups based on the proximity of water transport routes."

"Why water routes?" An Rui asked. He had been busy with his studies and missed several Huangpu Book Club meetings. He attended today's meeting because Fudan Public School had given the green light for the social investigation. Mr. Ma Xiangbo, a relatively enlightened person, allowed students to take leave for the investigation. After learning about the investigation, Mr. Ma Xiangbo called Qi Huishen to inquire and then discussed it with Yan Fu. They decided to allow students to take leave and even assigned a batch of students to join the investigation. Although these students were not members of the Huangpu Book Club, they attended the classes and were interested in the social investigation. It was better to let them participate than to have them constantly thinking about the investigation.

With the school's approval, An Rui, who had been hesitant, naturally joined. Since he missed the previous meetings, he didn't know the reason for this division.

"Water transport is the cheapest means of transportation around Shanghai. Most foreign goods are transported and sold through water routes. By investigating the areas within the range of water transport, we can obtain comparative results."

An Rui didn't understand the term "radiation." He asked directly. You Gou explained the literal meaning of the term, but seeing An Rui still puzzled, she said, "In simple terms, the farther it is transported, the more expensive it becomes. Do you understand?"

An Rui nodded.

"The more expensive the goods, the fewer people buy them. The cheaper the goods, the more people buy them. Do you understand?"

An Rui nodded again.

"So, we will investigate in segments to see the sales volume at different prices in each region and how the different sales of foreign goods have changed the local social structure."

This explanation was clear enough, and An Rui finally understood.

"Teacher You, I have a question." Lu Huitian raised his hand to speak.

"Go ahead."

"Why investigate the changes in inland water ports and routes?"

"Some places have become new distribution centers due to the influx of a large number of goods. More people are engaged in the transportation and sale of goods, and more people work there. The changes in ports and routes directly indicate the level of commodity trading activity in these areas. If we encounter areas with significant changes, we will focus on studying these changes. You will find many interesting things."

You Gou believed that the students would indeed discover many interesting things. Her family was a comprador family. Her grandfather, a poor landlord from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, started by selling nails and lamp oil and gradually became wealthy. Like others of her time, You Gou didn't like to talk about her family background. But being from a comprador family, she was not ignorant of business matters. Since working with Chen Ke, You Gou had learned a lot and gained a comprehensive understanding of theories and practices that she had only vaguely understood before. The once tedious "business principles" now had clear and concise theoretical explanations, like chemical equations. You Gou felt she had benefited greatly.

Regardless of their dissatisfaction with the female teacher, the students, under such clear explanations and assignments, knew they lacked such insight. After a few more questions, You Gou announced the start of the free discussion period. She walked down from the podium and out of the classroom. Smiling, she said to Qiu Jin, who had been standing outside the door, "Sister Qiu, why didn't you come in just now?"

"There's no point in disturbing you. I could hear well from outside," Qiu Jin replied with a smile.

"Come to my office and sit down." You Gou said, leading Qiu Jin down the corridor.

Qiu Jin was participating in the social investigation. Yu Youren, a teacher at Fudan Public School, was well aware of this investigation. He had visited Chen Ke and Qi Huishen's school and was quite envious of the large campus. Qiu Jin and Yu Youren had always planned to start a school but lacked resources. After discussing, they decided to work with Chen Ke. Chen Ke was not in Shanghai, so Qiu Jin directly approached Qi Huishen with this request, expecting him to follow Chen Ke's wishes. When Qiu Jin learned that You Gou, a girl, was also participating in the social investigation, she offered to go with her.

You Gou, of course, did not refuse. To prepare for the social investigation, she bought a dagger and a pistol. Her father, Old You, was so angry with her practicing martial arts at home that he ignored her. Recently, You Gou had been practicing with the dagger on the target, and her brother dared not speak to her. You Gou didn't have the courage to show the pistol. Practicing with a pistol at home would likely result in her being locked in her room. Qiu Jin claimed to be skilled in martial arts, and You Gou and Qiu Jin agreed to practice pistol shooting on the school grounds.

Carefully closing the door and locking the bolt, You Gou opened the drawer and took out a pistol wrapped in cloth. This was a Mauser military pistol. The Mauser factory obtained a patent on December 11, 1895, and began production the following year. Due to its wooden case, it is also called a box gun in China; with a 20-round magazine, it is called a large belly box gun. Its wide body is also known as a large mirror. The automatic version is called a selector, and the Mauser factory refers to it as a rapid-fire model, which began mass production in May 1931.

The pistol on the table was not the 1931 rapid-fire model. However, its blue-black body and beautiful wooden handle were quite charming. The pistol was purchased by You Gou through Wang Bin for 38 taels of silver. As soon as she saw the gun, Qiu Jin picked it up. The gun, weighing about two pounds, felt heavy in her hand, giving her a surprisingly reassuring feeling. She started aiming it around, which frightened You Gou. She quickly grabbed Qiu Jin's arm, "Sister Qiu, Wenqing said the first rule of using a gun is never to point it at anyone, no matter what."

Hearing You Gou's words and seeing her tense expression, Qiu Jin laughed and put the gun back on the table.

"What's the second rule?"

"The second rule is not to learn shooting until you know how to disassemble and reassemble the gun."

"Haha, you remember Wenqing's words well," Qiu Jin teased.

You Gou didn't think much of it. She took out a yellow bullet and started disassembling the gun. Chen Ke repeatedly emphasized that gun maintenance is the first key to survival in battle. Watching You Gou clumsily but effectively disassemble the pistol and clean the barrel, spring, and other parts with a set of clearly homemade tools, Qiu Jin helped and asked, "When will Wenqing return from Beijing?"

"He didn't say. Probably not until the Spring Festival."

"Wenqing is from the north, he might go home for the Spring Festival."

"He said he won't, so he won't." You Gou, focused on cleaning the parts, was a chemistry student and knew that the gun oil on the gun could prevent rust. Although the oil on her hands was uncomfortable, she carefully coated each part that needed protection. She then awkwardly reassembled the pistol. Just as she finished, she saw Qiu Jin still holding a part.

"Sister Qiu, you..." Snatching the part, You Gou disassembled the gun again, took out the manual, and checked each part to ensure nothing was missing. Only then did she continue reassembling the gun.

"Wenqing has been away for so long, I wonder how he is."

"Hmm." You Gou said absentmindedly.

"Hasn't he been away for so long that you don't miss him?"

"Hmm? Why?" You Gou, focused on reassembling the gun, asked casually.

"Some say the two of you..."

"Ha ha." You Gou gave a mocking laugh, still focused on the gun, "Let them say what they want. Wenqing and I are comrades, nothing more."

Qiu Jin was somewhat surprised. When she and Chen Ke met You Gou, they felt that Chen Ke and You Gou were quite compatible. Later, she heard some rumors. In those days, people believed "better to believe a mistake than to miss an opportunity." Even as a famous revolutionary, Qiu Jin couldn't escape this. So she wanted to get some information about Chen Ke from You Gou. Seeing You Gou's attitude, Qiu Jin was puzzled.

"Why haven't you married at your age?" Qiu Jin decided to take an indirect approach.

"What's good about marriage?" You Gou finally finished reassembling the gun, "If I marry a hero, I won't be controlled by him. If I marry a weakling, I won't bother with him. Wenqing said, 'Better to have your own than to rely on parents.' I'll focus on my own work and won't have time to take care of a husband."

As she spoke, You Gou raised the gun and aimed at the wall in front. Qiu Jin found You Gou's gun-holding posture unusual, the Mauser pistol lying flat horizontally. She asked curiously, "Why hold the gun like that?"

"Wenqing said this gun has a lot of recoil. When shooting, the muzzle will rise sharply. So you have to hold it this way to shoot accurately."

Qiu Jin was puzzled. Although You Gou insisted she and Chen Ke had no relationship, she often mentioned Chen Ke. Just as she was about to speak, she heard footsteps outside. Soon, someone knocked on the door. You Gou, not in a hurry, carefully put away the gun and bullets, placed the cloth back in the drawer, and locked it. Then she got up to open the door.

Outside was Qi Huishen. He looked a bit anxious, and as soon as the door opened, he came in with a piece of paper. Seeing Qiu Jin, he paused, greeted her, and then handed a letter to You Gou. The letter was simple, greeting everyone and asking Xie Mingxian to bring 400 doses of medicine to Beijing. As for his own situation, Chen Ke only mentioned developing party members. Looking at Qi Huishen and then at Qiu Jin, You Gou decided to practice shooting with Qiu Jin first.