In order to avoid narrow nationalist sentiments affecting future research work, it is necessary to first register a Chinese industrial machinery company in **, controlled by Lias, and hire a Chinese comprador as the manager.

The Chinese manager came forward to discuss with the school about the establishment of the research laboratory. For this initiative, Zhang Zhidong's attitude is to be optimistic about its success and wait and see its changes. Sun Yuanqi believes that as long as he does not object, it is affirmative.

Under the mediation of Sun Yuanqi, the laboratory was established in September of the 32nd year of Guangxu (1908) in the Hubei Technology School, and the researchers included several students who had just graduated from Jingshi University in addition to the senior students of the school's steam engine, lathe and other subjects. The agreement stipulates that the company is responsible for the purchase of equipment and instruments, and the school is responsible for research and development. After the results of the research, the company invested in a one-time buyout of the patent rights and use rights.

While preparing for the establishment of the laboratory, Sun Yuanqi did not relax his active attention to the reform of normal schools.

After receiving the approval of the school, he quickly organized a teacher inspection team including Liu Shipei, Yang Du, Pan Xian and others, first screened the teachers of various normal colleges, and swept away all the foreign teachers who were stupid and pedantic and did not change from time to time, and replaced them with new teachers with culture and quality. After this round of rectification, the school has a new look.

Subsequently, Sun Yuanqi, Liu Shipei and others worked with the teachers of various subjects to evaluate all the students in school, re-divide the grades according to their grades, and then divide the majors according to their hobbies and specialties. There are many teachers and more students in the normal school, and this toss took nearly two months.

The new official took office with three fires, and Sun Yuanqi's fire not only burned the students crying for their fathers and mothers, but the original teachers were also complaining. As the culprit, he was also tossed to the bone: the old pedantic who can enter the school as a teacher, at least they are all lifted, and there are indispensable friends like this in the same year and such a friend behind him, as soon as he was laid off, there were immediately countless relatives and friends who came to the door to intercede and say that he wanted to open the net: the backward students who can enter the school and do not study well are most likely the children of official eunuchs, just waiting to get their qualifications to mix the official career, and finally survived until they were about to graduate, but they were suddenly demoted to the first grade, and they had to start from scratch in their twenties, and there was always the possibility of being persuaded to quit. How do you make those gentlemen embarrassed?

Fortunately, at the end of the Qing Dynasty, the students only dared to cry a few times, and no one dared to go to the gate of the governor's palace to meditate: Sun Yuanqi's backer was hard enough, and no one who was dismissed went to sue the black and stumble.

At the end of September, Sun Yuanqi came to the small restaurant at the entrance of the Lianghu Normal School for the last time, and told Li Zhongqi and several other students about physics, and told them some methods and skills for learning physics. At the end of the day, he said: "I heard that your school has been reformed and replaced with new physics and chemistry teachers, I think they will be much better than me, you can study hard with the teacher." I still have something to do, so I won't be here in the future. ”。

The student had already known that he would say goodbye to everyone recently, but now that he suddenly heard it, he still felt quite sad: "Brother Ren, are you leaving?" ”

"Yes! Thousands of miles to build a long tent, there is no banquet that will not be dispersed. I've been here for months, and I should go! "After meeting this group of students back and forth, there have only been six or seven times, and now when it comes to separation, Sun Yuanqi still feels a little reluctant.

Li Zhong scratched and asked, "Brother Ren, didn't you say before that you came to Hubei to take the entrance examination for our school?" During this time, our school did not enroll students, because the school made Master Sun rectify the teaching affairs, so it was delayed. But it doesn't matter, Master Sun is an internationally renowned scientist and educator, and his reforms will only make the school better than before, and we are all looking forward to it! Why do you say you're leaving? ”

Sun Yuanqi is now in his prime, but his face looks very young, especially in the late Qing Dynasty, when others think he is twenty-four or five years old. Entering the school at the age of twenty-four or five is a normal thing at this time. Therefore, this group of students believed in the reason made up by Sun Yuanqi.

"Yes, yes! Brother Ren, your English, physics, chemistry, and mathematics are so good, just tutor a few times, we can be at the top of the school exam, if you take our school, there will be no problem! The other students should do the same. 

Sun Yuanqi waved his hand: "I have other things, so I don't plan to take the entrance examination." It's just that this reform of the normal school, what do you really think? ”

"Very well, we are all very supportive of reform." One of the students, Dong Xianzong, said, "The current school is really a scholar." The previous school was a cattle herding class! “

"After the reform, the teachers are better! People want to learn more! Recently, the most common poem in everyone's mouth is "Mention learning, there is no talent on the cross street: mention learning, and the city is full of intoxication" hahaha. ”

"It is said that the new teacher was invited by Master Sun from Jingshi University, and even the teachers of the craft school have been changed together!"

After listening to the students' gossip discussions, Sun Yuanqi felt that the energy of the reform was not in vain, and he was greatly gratified: "In this case, everyone should work harder to go to school and strive for early academic success." ”

Li Zhong scratched his mind when he saw that Sun Yuan had made up his mind, so he asked, "I don't know when Brother Ren will be able to see you again this time?" ”

"That's not good. If you have a fate, I believe we will meet again. Sun Yuanqi replied, "By the way, what are your plans in the future after you finish your studies?" ”

Several students glanced at each other, and then Li Zhong scratched and said: "We must use what we have learned to build a new China of freedom, democracy, equality, and fraternity." With that, his eyes were fixed on Sun Yuanqi.

Sun Yuanqi knew that under the active promotion of Zhang Zhidong, Hubei had a civilized social atmosphere, so that the new army and the new students of the academy became the main force in Xinhai later. Hearing what Li Zhong said, he was naturally not surprised at all, but just nodded: This kid is no different from other new students, and he has a backbone on the back of his head.

Seeing that Sun Yuanqi's face was not abnormal in the slightest, Dong Xianzhang added: "We should be for the country and the people, anti-*, seek democracy, anti-feudalism, and seek civil rights!" “

Isn't it just to rebel?

Sun Yuanqi knew it in his heart, and when Ping nodded, he said "um".

Seeing Sun Yuanqi like this, the rest of the students seemed to have found a soulmate, and then said in unison: "We want to drive out the Tartars and restore China!" “

As soon as the words fell, the curtain of the box was rudely opened, and a poorly dressed guy with a meaty face broke in: "How many little rabbit cubs actually dare to rebel?" Go with the master! "As he spoke, he was about to come up and arrest someone.

Dong Xianzong was a little surprised, quickly stood up, and asked, "What are you doing?" ”

"Master is Wuchang County Ya!" The man's face was arrogant, "Acquaintances, hurry up and obediently go to the yamen with the master." Otherwise, huh! “

Sun Yuanqi turned his face at this time, glanced coldly at this half-official and half-bandit hooligan, and reprimanded in a deep voice: "Get out!" “

The so-called "moving qi and raising the body" Sun Yuanqi has been an official for a while, and when he scolded him like this, that person was really timid. Seeing that there were still five or six young people in the room, they had the posture of rolling up their sleeves and coming over to beat them together, so they were so frightened that they hurriedly fled in disgrace. Seeing this, everyone laughed in unison.

Li Zhong was afraid that Sun Yuanqi would be worried, and explained: "Brother Ren doesn't have to worry, Brother Dong has a reputation for showing talent, even if the Wuchang County Order comes, he can't do anything with us!" “

"Yes, only the mention of the school can get rid of the fame of Xiucai, they can't do anything to us! Besides, we also have people in the Yamen of the Scholar Envoy, so we don't have to be afraid of them! Another added.

Sun Yuan was shocked: There are actually party nails in his yamen? He immediately asked, "How come you have people in the Yamen of the Scholar Division?" ”

Li Zhong scratched and said: "Brother Ren knows that we have a small group, called the Daily Notification Society, and all the members are people with lofty ideals, all over the military, political, and academic circles in Hubei. If you're interested, you can find us at St. Joseph's Church in Gaojia Lane another day! “

A few people gave a general introduction to the situation of the day-informed meeting, and everyone was about to get up and leave, when they heard a burst of chickens and dogs jumping outside the door. Before he could go out to look, seven or eight thugs with guns and knives poured into the box, shouting in unison: "Don't go and fight the thieves!"