This is the first serious school affairs meeting held by Zhou Hexuan since he became the president of Peking University.
Participants in the meeting, in addition to Zhong Guanguang, Tan Xihong, Ma Heng, Ma Yuzao, Li Shuhua and others, also included Zhou Zuoren, whom Zhou Hexuan had not met last year.
Zhou Zuoren wore glasses and had a beard. He looked about 60 or 70% similar to Lu Xun, but his figure was much stronger.
There are three biggest impressions of Zhou Zuoren in later generations: first, he and Lu Xun were brothers, second, he wrote very good prose, and third, he became a traitor when Japan invaded China.
But many people may not know that Zhou Zuoren also wrote essays at the beginning, which he himself called "essays on current affairs." Not only did he write essays, but his words were also quite sharp and had a certain degree of criticality and advanced nature.
However, after Zhang Zuolin sent troops to surround Peking University and arrest progressive people, Zhou Zuoren gave in.
Later, when compiling and publishing anthologies, Zhou Zuoren deleted a large number of old essays for fear that excessive articles would offend the authorities. Moreover, his writing style gradually changed, from being keen on criticizing current affairs to indulging in romance.
A "fighter" turned into a "hermit" and even ended up becoming a cultural traitor.
Zhou Hexuan sat in the chairman's seat and said to everyone with a smile: "I am incompetent as the principal. Thank you for your hard work in the usual school affairs."
"No, I would like to thank Principal Zhou for letting me go." Zhong Guanguang said immediately.
Everyone also agreed. After all, Zhou Hexuan paid his wages out of his own pocket, so everyone owed him a favor.
Zhou Hexuan added: "The reason for holding this meeting today is mainly because of money. To be honest, I don't have the ability to ask for money from the Ministry of Education, and I can't get the Boxer compensation for the time being. But the school must continue to run, and we can't let the teachers work in vain.
, so we must find a way to open source it.”
"How to open up the law?" Ma Yuzao said with a smile, "We can't just let everyone do business."
"If we can do business, that would be great," Zhou Hexuan said. "Peking University is a well-known university in the country, which is a major advantage. We have to find ways to make money here. My idea is, let's set up a publishing house."
Zhong Guanguang answered: "Peking University has a publishing department, but it doesn't make much money. It would be good if it can maintain a balance of payments."
Peking University does have a publishing department, which not only publishes the school magazine, but also publishes many progressive publications, including some red propaganda books.
Because of this, Li Xinbai, director of the Publishing Department of Peking University, was wanted last year and hid in his wife's natal home for a year. Now he is working as a teacher in a middle school in Nanjing incognito.
Why can’t Peking University Publishing Department make money?
Just look at the publications it publishes.
"Chinese Theory of International Law", "History of Western Ethics", "Literary Music", "Introduction to Indian Philosophy"... they are all academic journals with low sales volume. It's a shame if they can make money.
Peking University teachers have written many best-selling books. For example, Lu Xun's works sold well in the past. However, these popular and progressive publications were robbed of business by Peking University Xinchao Society, which was originally a scholarly group and has now developed into a well-known publishing house.
Headquartered in Shanghai.
Zhou Hexuan said: "I would like to make two suggestions to develop the Peking University Publishing Department. One is to insist on academic publishing, including textbook publishing. When I return, I will contact the Hope Education Foundation. Starting next year, all Hope Primary School textbooks will be published by Peking University.
If you have connections, you can also contact universities, middle schools and primary schools to take over their textbook publishing business. The second point is to develop popular best-selling book business. No matter whether it is the Mandarin Duck and Butterfly School or the Five-Year-Old School.
The Fourth New Literature can be published by the Peking University Publishing Department. This is an extremely profitable business. We are all scholars and may not bother talking about money. But the current situation is that Peking University is in a difficult situation and needs money to continue its operations."
Everyone here was silent. This is a very sad thing. The most famous university in China actually requires a group of professors to discuss how to do business.
Zhong Guanguang was the acting president. He had to express his position on this. He immediately said: "I think President Zhou's suggestion is feasible, but we need to find a professional who understands business management to serve as the director of the Publishing Department of Peking University."
"This is easy to do," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "just advertise for recruitment and say that the position of director of the Publishing Department of Peking University is vacant. Anyone with ability and experience can apply. If you have suitable candidates, you can recommend them."
Zhou Zuoren said: "Li Xiaofeng has done a good job at Peking University. He is also a graduate of Peking University. Why not let him serve as the director of the Publishing Department of Peking University."
"That's inappropriate," Zhou Hexuan waved his hand immediately, "I have seen this person before, he is too philistine. Moreover, he is very close to some wanted scholars, and it is easy to provoke Zhang Zuolin's dissatisfaction."
Zhou Zuoren no longer speaks. He has become increasingly silent in the past year and rarely expresses his opinions publicly.
"Let's vote by a show of hands. If you agree to the open recruitment of the director of the publishing department, please express your position." Zhong Guanguang said.
Everyone looked at each other, and more than 90% of them raised their hands in agreement. They were so worried about money that they couldn't sleep.
"Very good, everyone is working together," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "My "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" has been handed over to Lili Book Company for publication, but "The Legend of Heaven and Dragon Sword", which has just been serialized recently, can be run without the help of the Peking University Publishing Department.
.”
Tan Xihong said: "Principal Zhou has been a big help. Yours is now being watched all over the city, so you won't have to worry about sales."
Zhou Hexuan took out another mechanical diagram and said: "This is the agricultural harvester I envisioned, which can harvest rice and wheat. Its main body is a wooden structure, and only a few parts are made of steel. It is easy to make and repair, and the cost and selling price are
It’s also cheap and suitable for China’s small-scale farmer economy. However, this is just an idea. It requires repeated trials and improvements by professionals who understand machinery. I will donate this drawing to Peking University, and you will ask engineering students to form a scientific research and development department. As long as there is a finished product
, you can find businessmen to cooperate, and you should be able to make money."
Everyone circulated this drawing, and Zhong Guanguang praised: "What a great idea. If this kind of machine is produced, it will greatly speed up agricultural harvesting. Especially in heavy rains, with this kind of harvester, farmers will save a lot of money."
This is a move that benefits the country and the people, and I personally agree with it."
"I agree too!" Others raised their hands.
Zhong Guanguang smiled and said: "I am old and incapable of talent, so I am willing to serve as the director of the Scientific Research and Development Department of Peking University."
"That's just right." Zhou Hexuan said happily.
Zhong Guanguang is not only a botanist, he also designed his own factory production line when he was young.
Zhou Hexuan continued: "I hope that the Scientific Research and Development Department of Peking University can exist as a group institution for a long time. Teachers and students in engineering can use their ingenuity and use their professional knowledge to invent and create. Maybe there will be a few more from Peking University.
Edison-like figure.”
"I agree!"
"I agree too!"
"..."
This recommendation was unanimously approved.
Little did Zhou Hexuan know that the product of his whim would develop extremely brilliantly in the future. By the 21st century, Peking University's "Research Department" had become one of China's top scientific research groups. Later, Peking University dedicated a bronze statue of Zhou Hexuan in front of the laboratory building.
