Go back to the past and be a schoolboy

Chapter 17 Opening Speech

The next day, Cheng Nuo settled the brother and sister in the inn, bought two steamed buns on the way, ate them as they walked, and arrived at Peking University early.

Standing in front of the Red Building of Peking University, Cheng Nuo was overwhelmed with emotion. He never thought that he would have the opportunity to enter together and participate in the major changes in history. His love was so deep that he just wanted to chant a few poems, but he saw through the auditorium window that there was already a There are so many people, if you don't go in, I'm afraid you won't be able to get in.

Today is not only the inaugural speech of Mr. Cai Yuanpei, but also the opening ceremony of Peking University. In addition to the teachers and students of his own school, dignitaries, celebrities, and newspaper reporters also flocked in, wanting to see what the first education chief of the Republic of China will do. Govern this school.

Whether they fall into the quagmire together or shape the glory of the past together, the world is full of curiosity.

"Yes, I will have plenty of time to work here in the future, so it's not too late." Cheng Nuo shook his head, comforted himself, and prepared to enter the red building.

It looked okay from the outside, but when I entered, I found that the auditorium was almost full, and there were only two seats left in the last row near the corridor.

Although the position is a bit off, it is better than standing and listening to the people behind.

Cheng Nuo hurried over, grabbed a seat and was about to sit down. Unexpectedly, a girl came from the front door and also wanted the same seat.

With a "bang", the two of them bumped their heads together.

Cheng Nuo hurriedly apologized without rubbing his head. Coincidentally, what the two said later was in unison, exactly the same.

"sorry."

"You sit first."

The two realized it too, looked at each other and burst out laughing.

In the end, Cheng Nuo got up and walked outside the seat: "Student, sit down first, I'll take the one outside."

The girl was not a pedantic person either, she nodded with a blushing face, sat in with her shoulder bag and whispered softly: "Thank you, I was in a hurry just now, I didn't see that there was already someone here, I'm sorry. "

There is no right or wrong in this matter. After sitting down, Cheng Nuo shook his head and said with a smile, "It's not your fault. I think it's Cai Gong's fault. Who made him so popular and his position so sought-after."

The girl was also amused by this remark, she covered her mouth and chuckled, and said softly: "Next time I meet Uncle Cai, I must tell him to let him give a speech and go to the playground. Everyone is standing, so there is no need to fight for seats."

After hearing this, Cheng Nuo also thought that this girl was quite interesting, so before the ceremony started, he quietly took a look at her.

Oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, delicate features, stretched and elegant, a typical image of oriental beauty, at first glance, it looks like the king of the daughter country in the 86 edition of Journey to the West.

Especially those eyes, with the tendency of "a smile that moves people's hearts, and a glance that captures people's souls", Cheng Nuo didn't dare to look directly at her when he was talking to her.

But looking at this girl's school uniform, she might be a college student.

After looking back, Cheng Nuo murmured a little, could it be that his memory has gone wrong, there should be no female students in Peking University at this time.

It should be that after Mr. Cai started to reform Peking University, the first year after the university, that is, in 1920, girls were admitted to school for the first time, so this girl should be from the girls' school next door.

With a cheeky face, Cheng Nuo coughed and asked, "Hello, classmate. I'm Cheng Nuo from Peking University. I don't know which school you are from. Nice to meet you!"

"North China Union Women's University." The girl was particularly shy, and she blushed again after saying a few words: "My name is Wen Yin, and I am very pleased to meet you."

Seeing this, Cheng Nuo, who was ready for the next sentence, suddenly got stuck, didn't know what to say, scratched his head and said, "Well, classmate Wen, if you need me in Peking University, you can go to the mathematics department to find me."

After Wen Yin heard it, she nodded and said nothing.

At this time, with a burst of warm applause, Mr. Cai, the protagonist of the Peking University Red House today, walked slowly.

With a deep but very powerful voice, he delivered a speech that is still deafening to this day.

"Five years ago, when Mr. Yan Jidao (Yan Fu) was the principal of our school, I asked you to tell you three things."

"One is to hold on to the purpose."

"The second is to forge virtue."

"Three is to respect teachers and friends."

"This is the only thing I have discussed with you today. I will meet with you for a long time in the future, and I can discuss it at any time."

From the policy of running the school, the disadvantages of the school, to admonishing the students, criticizing the society, to the school spirit and outlook, and future arrangements, Mr. Cai Yuanpei stated all the pain points and key points, which directly ignited the atmosphere of the audience, and he was full of enthusiasm for the future of Peking University. hope.

When the speech was over, everyone stood up and applauded, and the applause could not stop for a long time.

Later generations have seen this kind of scene many times in film and television works. Cheng Nuo thought that he would not have a particularly deep feeling, but when he entered the lecture scene, he found that this idea was too naive. Driven by the atmosphere, he became One of the people who applauded the most excitedly in the whole venue, he didn't even know when the tears fell.

Wen Yin next to her was still careful, and quietly handed over a handkerchief.

"Student Cheng Nuo, take it and wipe it."

"Sorry, I made you laugh." Taking the handkerchief, Cheng Nuo was a little embarrassed, and wiped it quickly. After using it, he suddenly realized that it was soiled by others. Do you want to wash it before sending it back.

Wen Yinlan was heartbroken, seeing Cheng Nuo's appearance, she could probably guess what he was thinking, so she took out another handkerchief from her satchel, and signaled that I still have another handkerchief for you.

Now Cheng Nuo breathed a sigh of relief, folded the handkerchief and put it in the bag he carried with him.

Over there, Mr. Cai did not leave after the speech, but stayed where he was to answer some reporters' questions.

"Hello, Mr. Cai, I am Shao Jingqing from Beijing News Compilation Agency. As far as I know, after you took office at Peking University, you not only did not dismiss the old faculty, but recruited many new professors. For example, Liang Shuming of your school is only 24 years old this year. Is it too radical for you to hire a student who was not admitted to Peking University as a professor of literature? Will the coexistence of old and new factions affect teaching?"

As soon as this remark was said, there was a commotion among the people present. It is hard not to doubt that a 24-year-old can become a university professor without any education, and he is still at Peking University, one of the highest institutions of learning.

Cai Yuanpei obviously foresaw this scene, he looked calm, clapped his hands to appease everyone: "I always thought that talents are rare, and we can't blame them for everything. So at Peking University, we don't ask about education background, we only look at knowledge."

"For the theories of various schools, I follow the general practice of universities in various countries, follow the principle of freedom of thought, and be inclusive. No matter what kind of school, if they try to make sense and hold on to it for a reason, they will not reach the fate of natural elimination. Even if they are opposite to each other, I will listen to them. develop freely."

"A hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend. This is what I expect from Peking University."

(End of this chapter)