(Correcting the errors in the first two chapters: First, the closed disciple used the wrong one, and it has been changed to the inward disciple.) Second, Banan District was called Ba County during the Republic of China. Third, due to Lao Wang's miscalculation, Zhou Hexuan's donation to build the teacher's dormitory was too small, which has been changed from 1 million to 10 million, and the money for Wei Lie's tooth sacrifice has also been changed to 100,000. ）

The salaries of faculty and staff of Southwest Associated University and Central University are, of course, different.

During the Anti-Japanese War, although it was difficult for all major universities, the professors at Chuo University were able to make ends meet, while the situation at other universities was difficult to say. The Southwest Associated University belongs to the group in the worst situation, and the worse ones are really impossible to find - they have long been disbanded because they cannot 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 rank first in China. How can such a school be overlooked?

Because of disobedience.

Most of the professors refused to join the Kuomintang and published articles in journals criticizing the policies of the Kuomintang. Chang Kaishen has also thrown olive branches many times, but Southwest Associated University does not appreciate it at all, and even repeatedly refuses to send the school to Sichuan.

Therefore, Chang Kaishen must suppress the Southwest Associated University, and he deliberately starved the professors, hoping to make them submit through this means.

Of course, Chen Lifu knew Chang Kaishen's thoughts, and he said with a haha: "Chongqing and Kunming are different after all, the prices are much higher, and it is understandable that the salaries of professors at Central University are higher." ”

"Of course we understand, but we also ask the Ministry of Education to understand us," Mr. Zhou said, as he began to calculate the economic accounts, "Before the war, the minimum living expenses for a family of four in Kunming were 50 yuan in legal currency, and the average monthly living expenditure per person was 12.5 yuan, so that they could make ends meet." Up to now, according to the actual price situation in Kunming, a family of four needs at least 6,000 yuan to survive, and the average monthly living expenses per person are 1,500 yuan. In five years, prices have increased hundredfold, but professors' salaries have not changed in the slightest. The highest salary of professors in our school is 470 yuan, while the salary of teaching assistants is only 120 yuan. ”

Chen Lifu said with a smile: "The faculty and staff of Southwest Associated University seem to have allowances, right? ”

"But those allowances were misappropriated from the United States," Wu Youxun's lungs were about to explode, "If you really get your salary and live honestly, the teachers of Southwest Associated University will have starved to death!" ”

Chen Lifu said: "So, the country's financial difficulties, each school should find its own way. It's a good idea to embezzle the Geng money, and it's all money returned by the United States anyway. ”

Zhou Binglin said depressedly: "But the Geng money is broken, Japan occupied Shanghai at the end of last year, and the major international banks closed one after another, and the United States Geng money can't be remitted." From December last year to the present, the school's Geng fund reserves have been completely exhausted, and in the second half of the year, teachers can only live on dead salaries! ”

"That's a problem." Chen Lifu nodded and said.

In fact, Chen Lifu also wants to raise the salary of teachers at Southwest Associated University. This is not out of good intentions, but because he does not want to be infamous because he is in the position of Minister of Education.

If he really starved a few of those well-known professors to death, Lao Jiang would definitely be scolded, but he Chen Lifu didn't want to get out of it.

Wu Youxun patted the table and said, "It's not just a problem, it's a big problem!" ”

Chen Lifu said perfunctorily: "At this time, I can't be the master, I have to report to the Executive Yuan, and I have to contact the Ministry of Finance." ”

Chen Xueping clenched his fists and praised: "Since Minister Chen took charge of the Ministry of Education, China's education has been thriving, and it is worthy of our admiration both in public and private. Presumably, Minister Chen does not want to see the dilemma of the Southwest Associated University, and hopes that Minister Chen can solve the problem 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 meet President Jiang tomorrow?" ”

"No need, I'll just 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 dragged on, the more stiff it would be.

After dinner, Chen Lifu left everyone to chat for a while before personally sending them out of the door.

Chen Xueping saw the situation more clearly, and said: "Thanks to Mr. Zhou tonight, otherwise Chen Lifu will continue to be perfunctory." ”

"Don't give up hope." Zhou Hexuan said helplessly.

A few days later, Chen Lifu went to Chang Kaishen, and Chang Kaishen came to Kong Xiangxi to discuss.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Education issued the "Instruction No. 45388" of the Ministry of Education, deciding to pay "special office expenses" of more than 300 yuan per month to the managers of national universities during the extraordinary period.

What does this mean?

It is 300 yuan of legal currency issued to the leaders above the head of the department of Southwest Associated University every month, and the scope of distribution is less than 30 people.

Wu Youxun was so angry that he was about to vomit blood, and scolded: "This old Jiang is not well-intentioned, and wants to use a little charity to provoke the relationship between school leaders and ordinary teachers!" ”

"We can't accept it." Chen Xueping said.

Zhou Binglin said: "Of course it is unacceptable. 300 yuan is only enough for half a month's meal, once we accept it, it will inevitably lead to internal division in the school! ”

Zhou Hexuan said: "I'll think of a way again." ”

"It's useless, the Southwest Associated University will not be recruited by the government for a day, and Lao Jiang will not raise his salary 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 legal currency to repair the dormitories for the teachers. Unexpectedly, only half a month has passed, and this price has risen again. There are 20 million fiat currency here, you can bring it back to Principal Mei. Let him quickly exchange the money for construction materials, and if it drags on, it will have to rise. ”

"Thank you!" Zhou Binglin carefully put away the check.

Zhou Binglin, Wu Youxun and Chen Xueping returned depressed, because they had stayed in Chongqing for too long, their travel expenses back to Kunming were not enough, and they planned to walk back on foot. Zhou Hexuan hurriedly funded a sum of money to help contact the car that went to Kunming to transport supplies, otherwise it would be a long time before they walked back.

From late August to early September, Zhou Hexuan went to see Lao Jiang three times. After hard talk and hard persuasion, Lao Jiang was impatient, and finally agreed to raise the salaries of the teachers by 20 yuan to 50 yuan according to their ranks.

This salary adjustment is not only for Southwest Associated University, but also for teachers from all national universities.

Zhou Hexuan can be regarded as helping the university teachers, but this kind of help is useless. The wage increase of 20 yuan to 50 yuan is the daily meal price of a family of four, and there is not much difference between rising and not rising.

After the start of the new semester, 25 professors from Southwest Associated University who also served as leaders 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 made the teachers of Southwest Associated University completely disappointed with the government, and even the professors who used to support the central government began to change their thinking.

At any time, a person's political attitude is inevitably influenced 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 in various public occasions, and Wen Yiduo has devoted himself to political movements and has become a well-known fighter for democracy in the country.

The Kunming branch of the "Democratic League" was established on the campus of the Southwest Associated University.

Because the professors asked to join one after another, the Democratic League broke the practice of not accepting individual league members, and Wu Han, Wen Yiduo, Li Gongpu, Fei Xiaotong and others all joined the league one after another. The professors of the Kunming branch began to completely turn to the Communist Party, and in the words of the time, they became the "tail" of the Communist Party.

This laid the groundwork for the assassination of Wen Yiduo and Li Gongpu later, because the government did not give them a salary increase.