Go back to the past and be a schoolboy

Chapter 11

After all, ideals belong to the future, and now we have to return to reality.

As the chat continued, the topic finally returned to the job entry.

Cai Yuanpei put the cleaned glasses back on, took out a document from the desk behind him and handed it to Cheng Nuo.

"Zhiyuan, in fact, before you came, Uncle Han and Jingyang and I discussed this issue. We originally decided to hire you as a mathematics lecturer, and even everything was prepared."

According to the "University Order" issued by the Ministry of Education in 1912, university teachers can be appointed as professors and assistant professors, and lecturers can be hired when necessary.

Although Cheng Nuo was born in Harvard University, he was only an undergraduate after all, and he didn't have many important papers, so his speaking power inevitably lacked confidence.

After all, this is Peking University, one of the highest universities in the country, and there are many people who are more knowledgeable and famous than him, so it is very appropriate to start hiring Cheng Nuo as a lecturer.

For this treatment, Cheng Nuo accepted it, which fully met his expectations. He had no achievements so far, and a mere undergraduate student directly served as a teacher of Peking University. If he said it, he would be envied by many people.

You must know that Hu Shi, who had not yet returned to China at this time, took up the post of professor of liberal arts at Peking University in order to justify his name, and he did not hesitate to conceal his academic qualifications and claimed that he had obtained a doctorate.

But in fact, it took him ten years to defend his dissertation before he succeeded. During this period, Columbia University did not issue him a doctorate certificate, and he was considered a dropout at best.

But this also shows from the side that if the education is too low, it is easy to overwhelm the scene.

Open the letter of appointment and write on it with a brush:

Hereby hire

Mr. Cheng Nuo is a lecturer of Mathematics Department of this university, and I would be grateful for the engagement contract after I checked it out.

([-]) The term of this engagement is one year (starting from January [-]th, [-], to January [-]th, [-])
Upon expiration, if both parties agree to renew

([-]) The salary is one hundred and eighty yuan in national currency per month
([-]) All remuneration shall be handled in accordance with the University’s teacher service and remuneration regulations

Cai Yuanpei, President of National Peking University

January [-], the sixth year of the Republic of China

It is said that the salary of professors was high during the period of the Republic of China, but Cheng Nuo did not expect that the salary of lecturers was also scary. The monthly salary of 180 yuan was equivalent to 3 to [-] yuan in later generations.

But the purchasing power of the two is not the same.

For example, for an ordinary family of three, if you save a little, 10 oceans are enough to live a good year, and you can buy a few clothes at the end of the year.

If it is a bit extravagant, with three dishes and one soup every meal, with both meat and vegetables, the food expenses for a month are only seven or eight silver dollars.

Cheng Nuo has been back to China for so long, staying in a hotel and eating hot pot, and he only spent about one silver dollar so far, so he was quite surprised to have this salary.

With this salary, he was already satisfied, and without thinking too much, he was ready to sign his name.

Unexpectedly, Cai Yuanpei stopped him with a voice.

"Wait a minute, Zhiyuan, this is the letter of appointment we wrote before we didn't know that paper, and now we want to correct the content."

Cheng Nuo put down the pen in his hand and asked, "I don't know how Cai Gong wants to modify it?"

"Treat yourself better."

Cheng Nuo looked at the content of the letter of appointment again, and after confirming that he read it correctly, he said, "I am very satisfied with the treatment and salary. I don't know what else Cai Gong wants to add?"

"Haha, just watch it." Cai Yuanpei smiled.

I saw him return to the desk, spread out a blank letter of appointment, and began to rewrite the letter of appointment.

The previous content remains unchanged, but when it comes to the position, it starts to change.

The lecturer was changed to a professor, the working period was directly extended from one year to five years, and the salary was directly increased to 300 yuan.

Finally, it was signed and sealed, and solemnly handed over to Cheng Nuo.

"Zhiyuan, we think this treatment is more suitable for you."

After receiving the new appointment letter, Cheng Nuo's mind went blank, and a poem echoed in it:
Kyushu is angry with wind and thunder,
Wan Ma Qi is sad.

I persuade God to shake again,
Eclectic and talented.

With such a president, it is no wonder that Peking University can shine in the Republic of China and play an important role in modern history.

Cai Yuanpei's open-mindedness and trust really moved him.

It would be a lie to say that he was not moved, but after careful consideration, Cheng Nuo shook his head and returned the letter of appointment.

"Thank you, Mr. Cai. I accept your offer. It's just that Zhiyuan has little talent and learning. He is really ashamed to receive such an honor before he is born. I cannot accept this letter of appointment."

At this time, an unknown person suddenly became a professor of mathematics on the bright side. Even if he was roasted on the fire, others would inevitably be suspicious.

Qin Fen stood up and persuaded: "Zhiyuan, you have little talent and little knowledge, aren't you also belittling me and seniors, don't underestimate yourself, it's better to accept it quickly."

Feng Zuxun also agreed: "That's right, we don't compare academic qualifications in mathematics but only look at results. At present, Zhiyuan's achievements have surpassed the two of us, but our positions are lower than ours. What do colleagues from Peking University think of our subjects?"

Mr. Cai deliberately put on a hard face, pretending to be unhappy: "Could it be that Zhiyuan thinks that I don't know how to tolerate others? If you recognize me as the principal, it's better to accept the letter of appointment."

Seeing their posture, Cheng Nuo knew that Cai Yuanpei and the others really valued him, and also knew that they wanted him to stay in Peking University, but now was really not the time, he didn't want this kind of limelight.

"Mr. Cai, you misunderstood. It's just that the thesis has not yet been published, and everything is still unclear. It is really difficult to convince the public to be a professor at this time. It's better to take it easy for now."

Cai Yuanpei refused to give up, and argued with reason: "Why do I need to ask outsiders about the matter of my Peking University, given time, Zhiyuan's grades will definitely surprise them."

Feng Xuxun stood up and jokingly said: "Zhiyuan, I see that you are advancing by retreating, and you have taken a fancy to my position as a mathematics senior. It's easy to talk about it. I'm worried about a lot of government affairs and I can't do my studies at ease. You come to be this senior Just helped me out of the sea of ​​suffering."

What Cheng Nuo didn't know was that there was a shortage of teachers in the Department of Mathematics of Peking University at this time. At present, there were more and more students in the entire department, but there were only six or seven teachers. Many of them were not full-time in mathematics, but part-time in the physics department next door. Professor, the faculty is quite scarce.

At the beginning, Cheng Nuo's term of office was written as one year, just to have room for activities and facilitate promotion in the future.

Seeing that the more he said the more outrageous, Cheng Nuo's lips were almost polished and he couldn't persuade the three of them.

But he is not a person who changes his mind easily, so he finally thought of a way and said: "Cai Gong, I accept the new letter of appointment, but you have to promise me one condition."

"What conditions."

"That is, I accept it but don't sign it for the time being. I still stay at Peking University as a lecturer. When I feel that my ability is suitable for the position of professor, I will sign it. What do you think?"

Qin Fen wanted to argue for a few words, but was interrupted by Cheng Nuo in time.

"Brother, I have made up my mind, don't try to persuade me again."

Cai Yuanpei looked into Cheng Nuo's eyes and felt the firmness in it. Knowing that he couldn't change his mind, he could only sigh, "In that case, Zhiyuan, we won't persuade you any more. We still hope that you will sign a new letter of appointment as soon as possible."

The painting style changed, and he smiled again: "However, we will pay your salary according to the professor's treatment."

"Cai Gong, this is not suitable." Cheng Nuo was a little anxious, but he didn't expect to be turned into a customer.

Cai Yunpei didn't want to continue this topic anymore, and solemnly stretched out his right hand:

"Zhiyuan, welcome to Peking University!"

(End of this chapter)