Reborn Bao Guowei, I really didn’t want to be a great writer!

Chapter 428 Speech in the th year of Wanli! The "relaxation" in Paris?
As the old district of GM, Paris can be said to be a place that many students yearn for.

Since the 20th century, countless celebrities have studied here.

The more famous ones include Ba Jin, Yong Kechang, Xue Yu, etc.

Of course, you can also find several foreign celebrities who are well-known in later generations.

For example, John Dewey, a top figure in the field of American education, and Kaonan, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine more than 20 years later.

At this point in time, if you are interested, you can find them at the University of Paris.

Of course, at the University of Paris, there are many students who are not so famous but who study hard in France and then return to serve their country.

They were the first group of Chinese students studying in France. Due to the limited economic capacity of the country at that time, they had to work and study to support their studies after arriving in Paris.

Among them, the two who achieved greater success later were Zheng Dazhang and Yu Binglie.

At this moment, in the crowded auditorium, Zheng Dazhang arrived late and finally found a place to stay and waited for the speech to begin.

"Brother Da Zhang?"

A surprised voice came to my ear.

Zheng Dazhang turned around and saw that this was Mr. Yu Binglie, whom he had met some time ago.
The other person is nine years older than me. He is now studying under Tony Garnier at the Paris École des Beaux-Arts. I even heard that he obtained the qualification of French national architect two months ago. It can be said that he has a bright future.

As fellow Chinese, overseas students will always help each other and stick together.

Seeing that Zheng Dazhang didn't have a seat, Yu Binglie immediately moved half of his butt out and asked him to sit down.

Most students of this era are simple and honest, and are more able to endure hardships.

After failing to refuse twice, Zheng Dazhang simply sat down.

Seeing the crowded auditorium, Yu Binglie couldn't help but sigh and said, "Mr. Bingwen is so famous that even the previously lazy students of the University of Paris are so active. Look at me, an outsider, who has the nerve to come and see Mr. Bingwen's demeanor."

Zheng Dazhang smiled and said, "Mr. Bingwen is certainly extraordinary. He just won the Goncourt Prize. I heard that his book, The Rural Teacher, caused a sensation in the UK. He can be said to be the pride of us Chinese people."

The two of them briefly expressed their feelings, and Yu Binglie seemed to remember something and asked with some concern.

"I heard that Brother Da Zhang has had some problems with his scholarship recently. If you have any financial problems, please feel free to ask. Although I am not rich, I can still help you out."

Yu Binglie is a person who values ​​talent. In his impression, Zheng Dazhang in front of him is a true genius.

The other party came to France to work and study at the age of sixteen, and was admitted to the Faculty of Science of the University of Paris with excellent results, and ranked first in the grade that academic year.

His outstanding performance was even reported by the French.

Some time ago, Yu Binglie also heard the news that the other party seemed to be about to become the first Chinese graduate student at the Marie Curie Institute.

If this succeeds, it will be a glory for all Chinese students studying abroad.

Unfortunately, Yu Binglie heard that the other party's family was not well off and the public funding for studying abroad was almost non-existent. After transferring to the University of Paris, he seemed to be in a financial crisis and was at risk of dropping out.

To be honest, even Madame Curie herself is now facing difficulties in research funding.

I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to help.

That's why Yu Binglie asked this question.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Zheng Dazhang's face, but he was unwilling to trouble this compatriot in front of him.

He knew that it was not easy for the other party either, so he kept making excuses.

"I do have difficulties in this regard, but now I have found a way to solve it. Thank you, Brother Binglie, for your concern."

For many international students at that time, due to the lack of comprehensive study abroad funds in their country, for those from poor families, tuition and living expenses mostly relied on scholarships.

Yu Binglie was obviously worried that the other party would give up his studies because of this.

Now he is about to enter Marie Curie's institute to study, which is a time when he has a bright future.

To be honest, Yu Binglie was not rich, but if the other party was in trouble, he would naturally have no choice but to help.

In fact, Yu Binglie could see through the other party's excuses, but he did not expose them. He just sighed in his heart and wondered if he could find some compatriots to raise funds to help the other party.

At this moment, Bao Guowei has slowly walked onto the stage.

Seeing Bao Guowei, Zheng Dazhang immediately said excitedly: "Brother Binglie, look, look, Mr. Bingwen is here! He looks so young! Even younger than he looked in the newspapers!"

Thunderous cheers immediately erupted from the venue, and the two people's attention immediately shifted to the stage.

At the same time, the two men straightened their backs and raised their heads.

In the past, Chinese students studying abroad were always discriminated against and excluded by many Western students.

Honestly speaking, even if they don't care, they will still have some resentment in their hearts. In a sense, the country's decline makes these international students unable to hold their heads up even when they are abroad.

But the appearance of Bao Guowei made everything different.

This is the first pure Chinese scholar who can gain such popularity and courtesy in the West!
In a sense, Bao Guowei has a special meaning in the hearts of overseas scholars.

There were not only these two people present, but also many Chinese faces.

But the next moment, everything seemed different.

When many Western students heard that Bao Guowei was going to talk about Chinese history, they were inevitably disappointed and became restless in the audience.

They didn't want to listen to Chinese history, and some people even shouted in the audience.

"We don't want to know the history of China, but you can tell us about the Annales School's theory!"

"I want to hear about Bao's economic theory."

"What's so good about Chinese history? It's a failed country and it's not worth learning from."

"What should I do?"

Zheng Dazhang looked around and saw some dissatisfied Western students.

"Hey, that's the case at the University of Paris," Yu Binglie said with emotion. "People always say that this is a university with a relaxed atmosphere, and they praise it highly, which creates a problem. Students here rarely respect a speaker from the bottom of their hearts, especially when the speaker is younger than themselves."

"But." Zheng Dazhang still said with some confusion. "Didn't these people welcome Mr. Bingwen before?"

"Let's put it this way. These people only respect those who are truly knowledgeable. Besides," Yu Binglie hesitated for a moment and said indignantly, "Mr. Bingwen is a Chinese."

Chinese. This word deeply hurt Zheng Dazhang's heart. He clenched his teeth and looked at the young man on the stage.

At this time, before Bao Guowei could answer, someone in the audience asked another question.

The person who stood up was a local French college student, and he spoke loudly to Bao Guowei on the stage.

"Mr. Bao, I heard that you pointed out the right economic path for the British. I think we French are no worse than the British. We have learned some Chinese history in class, but it is either too obscure or too old, and has no reference value for us.

I thought maybe you could tell us a little bit about the economics of this.”

The student held his head high, not seeming to be discouraged by Bao Guowei at all, and even seemed to want to intimidate him.

For a moment, all kinds of voices were heard in the venue, and it was almost out of control.

Obviously, many students were also biased by what they saw. Although they liked Bao Guowei's works, they couldn't help but feel some contempt when they saw his young face.

What's worse, some people threatened that if Bao Guowei talked about Chinese history, they would leave immediately and not listen.

Facing this situation as soon as he came on stage, if a person of the same age came on stage, he would probably be in a mess at this moment.

However, Bao Guowei has gotten used to it. When he was in China, he debated with people every day. He was not afraid of a group of scholars and officials, and he even fought with people like Chiang Kai-shek.

Bao Guowei did not take the disturbance caused by some students seriously at all.

He just stared at everyone without saying a word until everyone saw his unmoved expression and gradually quieted down, then he slowly opened his mouth to speak.

"My fellow students, this seems a bit narrow-minded."

This sentence was spoken in French, and even had a pure Parisian accent.

Given Bao Guowei's learning ability, it was not difficult for him to learn a few French sentences in a few days and then learn the accents of the scholars around him.

For a moment, many French students were stunned. Even the foreign students who had studied in Paris for several years might not have an accent as pure as that of the French students.

But according to the news, it seems that the other party has only been in Paris for a few days?
Even the student who asked the question just now was a little stunned.

Who is this person on the stage?
But when he turned around, he became a little angry.

Bao Guowei's answer was nothing short of arrogant. He actually said that the students present were too narrow-minded?
The other party has only won the Goncourt Prize, so does he dare to speak so arrogantly here?
For a moment, many students in the audience were furious, feeling that Bao Guowei had insulted them, and several students even left the venue on the spot.

Bao Guowei did not show any sign of panic, and spoke to himself as if the audience were all cabbages.

"To understand history, in a sense, is to understand the economy, culture, and thought of the time. You only seek economic and literary discussions without considering the historical background. Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?
Do you know that there is a famous saying in China that goes, "We can learn from history to understand the rise and fall of nations"? "

These words were transmitted throughout the entire auditorium through the microphone, the voice was full of energy and deafening.

In particular, Bao Guowei's translation of the famous Chinese saying can be regarded as faithful, expressive and elegant, and almost every student understood the meaning of this sentence.

Many people couldn't help but feel a little surprised. This Chinese scholar seemed to be more capable than they had imagined?

Some students who were about to leave stopped after hearing this and decided to listen again. It seemed that there was something more!

"Yes!" Zheng Dazhang said excitedly. "These Paris students are simply blind. Mr. Bingwen has written two historical masterpieces, "Guns, Germs, and Steel" and "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword", and is well-known in the world history community.

Why not talk about history? "

Yu Binglie shook his head and told the truth.

"These people are not unwilling to listen to history, they just don't want to listen to Chinese history. If it is the two books mentioned above, they should be interested."

"These people..." Zheng Dazhang wanted to curse, but he couldn't.

Yu Binglie sighed and said, "Let's listen to Mr. Bingwen's speech. I hope this will change these people's prejudice against China."

At the same time, at the front of the auditorium, in an inconspicuous seat, sat an old man who looked to be in his seventies.

He was wearing a clean suit, his hair and beard were neatly groomed, and his eyes were deep beneath a pair of glasses.

The old man was holding a large notebook in his hand, and occasionally he would tap the cover of the notebook with the tip of his pen. This was a bad habit, and he didn't know how many pens he had damaged because of this habit, but he couldn't help it when he was thinking.

Bao Guowei on the stage had just finished saying two sentences when a school staff member bent down and ran to the old man and said respectfully.

"Professor Dewey, the president invites you to attend a school meeting to discuss awarding you an honorary doctorate degree. Please take a look."

Dewey hesitated for a moment, then turned around and said with a warm smile.

"There's no rush. Ask the principal to drive first. I can miss an honorary doctorate, but I can't miss such a wonderful speech."

After saying that, he pointed at Bao Guowei on the stage.

Seeing that the staff wanted to talk, Dewey couldn't help but jokingly said, "Sponsor a smart, talented and interesting child. You can also stay and learn from him."

Considering Dewey's age and status, it is not an exaggeration to call Bao Guowei a child.

"No, no, no."

The staff waved their hands again and again, but the gentleman was determined not to go to the meeting and there was nothing he could do.

When he went back to report to the principal Paul Abel, the latter also showed a helpless expression.

During the meeting, a professor asked, "Mr. President, what should we do now?"

"What else can we do?" Paul Abel said helplessly, spreading his hands. "Without Mr. John Dewey, who will we give the honorary doctorate to?"

After saying this, he stood up and walked towards the door, speaking to the professors.

"Gentlemen, let's go and watch Mr. Bao's speech. I want to see what kind of speech could make Mr. Dewey reluctant to leave."

On the other side of the auditorium, Bao Guowei had already started his speech. He turned around and wrote a few big words on the blackboard.

"The fifteenth year of the Wanli reign."

He turned to the students and explained with a smile: "This is an era name of the ancient Chinese dynasty Ming. It is not a year with any major events, but it is an excellent year for us to understand the economic, political and cultural conditions at that time."

"The fifteenth year of the Wanli reign was 1587 AD.

This was the year before the full Spanish fleet was dispatched to invade England.

There were no major events in the Ming Dynasty during this year. Even though there were problems such as drought, epidemics, and earthquakes, these disasters were inevitable for the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty. As long as they did not turn into major disasters, they would have no impact on the overall situation.
But in these minor details, there is actually the crux of something big happening."

(End of this chapter)