(Correction of errors in the first two chapters: 1. The term "closed disciple" was used incorrectly and has been changed to "house disciple". 2. Banan District was called Ba County during the Republic of China. 3. Due to Lao Wang's miscalculation, Zhou Hexuan donated the money to build the teacher's dormitory.
Too little, so it has been changed from 1 million to 10 million, and the money for Wei Lie’s tooth beating ceremony has also been changed to 100,000.)
Of course, the salaries of faculty and staff at Southwest Associated University and Central University are different.
During the Anti-Japanese War, although major universities faced difficulties, professors at Central University could still make ends meet, while the situation at other universities was hard to describe. Southwest Associated University was among the worst-off, and even worse ones could not find early graduates.
It was disbanded because it could not run the school.
It stands to reason that Southwest Associated University has gathered professors from Tsinghua University, Peking University and Nankai University, and its teaching strength can be ranked first in China. How could such a school be ignored?
Because of disobedience.
Southwest Associated University has always insisted on running an independent school. Most professors have refused to join the Kuomintang and have published articles criticizing the policies of the Kuomintang in publications. Chang Kaishen has also extended an olive branch many times, but Southwest Associated University does not appreciate it at all.
He even refused to send the school to Sichuan many times.
Therefore, Chang Kaishen must suppress Southwest Associated University. He deliberately starved the professors in the hope of making them surrender through this method.
Of course Chen Lifu knew what Chang Kaishen was thinking. He laughed and said: "Chongqing and Kunming are different after all. Prices are much higher. It is understandable that the salary of professors at Central University is higher."
"Of course we understand, but we also ask the Ministry of Education to understand us," Zhou Binglin began to calculate the economic accounts. He said, "Before the war, the minimum living expenses for a family of four in Kunming was 50 yuan in French currency, and the average monthly living expenses per person was 12.5 yuan.
, Only in this way can we maintain our lives. Up to now, according to the actual price situation in Kunming, a family of four needs at least 6,000 yuan to survive, with an average living expense of 1,500 yuan per person per month. In five years, prices have increased a hundred times, and Professor
The salary of our school has not changed at all. The highest salary of professors in our school is 470 yuan, while the salary of teaching assistants is only 120 yuan. How can they live with their families?"
Chen Lifu said with a smile: "It seems that the faculty and staff of Southwest Associated University have subsidies, right?"
"But those subsidies were misappropriated from the U.S. Geng Geng Fund," Wu Youxun was almost furious. "If we were to live honestly on wages, the teachers at Southwest Associated University would have starved to death long ago!"
Chen Lifu said: "So, the country is in financial difficulty, and each school should find a solution on its own. It is a good idea to embezzle Geng funds. Anyway, it is money returned by the United States."
Zhou Binglin said depressedly: "But the Geng funds have been cut off. Japan occupied Shanghai at the end of last year and major international banks closed down. The United States cannot remit the Geng funds. From December last year to now, the school's Geng fund reserves have been completely exhausted.
After all, teachers will have to live on dead wages in the second half of the year!"
"That's a problem." Chen Lifu nodded.
In fact, Chen Lifu also wants to raise the wages of teachers at Southwest Associated University. This is not out of good intentions, but because he does not want to be stigmatized because he is the Minister of Education.
If a few of those well-known professors were really starved to death, Chiang Kai-shek would definitely be scolded, but Chen Lifu would not be able to escape his involvement.
Wu Youxun slapped the table and said, "It's not just a problem, it's a big problem!"
Chen Lifu said perfunctorily: "I can't make the decision at this time. I have to report it to the Executive Yuan and contact the Ministry of Finance."
Chen Xueping clasped her fists and boasted: "Since Minister Chen took charge of the Ministry of Education, China's education industry has been booming, which deserves our admiration both publicly and privately. I believe that Minister Chen does not want to see the dilemma of the Southwest Associated University. I hope that Minister Chen can
Solve the problem effectively as soon as possible.”
"Definitely, definitely." Chen Lifu continued to practice Tai Chi.
Zhou Hexuan suddenly said: "Brother Chen, why don't we go to see President Jiang tomorrow?"
"No need, I can go alone." Chen Lifu knew that this matter could not be delayed any longer, otherwise Zhou Hexuan would definitely get involved, and the later it was delayed, the more serious the trouble would be.
After the dinner was over, Chen Lifu kept everyone chatting for a while before sending them out personally.
Chen Xueping could see the situation more clearly and said, "Thanks to Mr. Zhou tonight, otherwise Chen Lifu would have continued to deal with it."
"Don't get too hopeful." Zhou Hexuan said helplessly.
A few days later, Chen Lifu went to find Chang Kaishen, who in turn called Kong Xiangxi for discussion.
Immediately, the Ministry of Education issued "General Order No. 45388" and decided to pay "special office expenses" of more than 300 legal currency per month to the managers of national universities during extraordinary times.
What does it mean?
That is, 300 yuan in French currency is distributed to the department heads and above of Southwest Associated University every month, and the scope of the distribution is less than 30 people.
Wu Youxun was so angry that he almost vomited blood and cursed: "This old Jiang has no good intentions and wants to use a little charity to drive a wedge between the school leaders and ordinary staff!"
"We can't accept it," Chen Xueping said.
Zhou Binglin said: "Of course we cannot accept it. 300 yuan is only enough for half a month's meals. Once we accept it, it will inevitably lead to division within the school!"
Zhou Hexuan said: "I'll think of another way."
"It's useless. If the Southwest Associated University is not recruited by the government, Chiang Kai-shek will not raise wages for a day. He wants to starve us to death!" Chen Xueping said depressedly.
Zhou Hexuan took out a check and said: "A few days ago, I gave Principal Mei 10 million French currency to build dormitories for teachers. Unexpectedly, only half a month has passed, and the prices have risen again. There are 20 million French currency here.
You can take it back to Principal Mei and ask him to convert the money into building materials as soon as possible. If it continues, the price will increase."
"Thank you!" Zhou Binglin carefully put the check away.
Zhou Binglin, Wu Youxun and Chen Xueping returned home depressed. Since they stayed in Chongqing for too long, they did not have enough money to return to Kunming and planned to walk back. Zhou Hexuan quickly funded a sum of money to help the contact transport supplies to Kunming.
car, otherwise school would have started for a long time by the time they walked back.
From late August to early September, Zhou Hexuan went to see Lao Jiang three times. He tried hard to persuade Jiang, but he became impatient and finally agreed to increase the salaries of teachers by 20 yuan to 50 yuan according to their grades.
.
This salary adjustment applies not only to Southwest Associated University, but also to teachers in all national universities.
Zhou Hexuan can be regarded as helping the university teachers, but this kind of busyness is useless. The salary increase of 20 yuan to 50 yuan is the same as a day's meal for a family of four. There is not much difference whether there is an increase or not.
After the new semester started, 25 professors who were part-time leaders of Southwest Associated University jointly sent a letter to the Ministry of Education, politely declining the "special office fee" of 300 yuan per month.
This demand for a salary increase has made the teachers at Southwest Associated University completely disappointed with the government. Even the professors who used to support the central government have begun to change their minds.
At any time, a person's political attitude will inevitably be affected by economic factors, and scholars and professors are no exception. Since then, Wen Yiduo, Zhang Xiruo, Wu Han and others have become more and more radical, criticizing the government on various public occasions.
Yiduo devoted himself to political movements and became a nationally famous democratic fighter.
The Kunming branch of the "Democratic League" was established on the campus of Southwest Associated University.
As professors requested to join, the China Democratic League broke the convention of not accepting individual members specifically for this purpose. Wu Han, Wen Yiduo, Li Gongpu, Fei Xiaotong and others all joined the league one after another. The professors in the Kunming branch began to completely support the Communist Party
The party, in the words of the time, became the "tail" of the Communist Party.
This paved the way for the subsequent assassinations of Wen Yiduo and Li Gongpu because the government refused to increase wages.
