After a day, Sun Yuanqi was in a slightly better spirit, and the fatigue of the journey was gone, and he began to prepare for the school. I've never done this kind of thing before, but now that I've done it, I know that there are a lot of things.

To set up a new school, there is generally a "×× School Preparatory Committee", and then each person is in charge of a share, such as fundraising, land acquisition and demolition, planning and construction, recruiting teachers, and drafting the charter...... Then, the school can get up.

But now, I have nothing, nothing to prepare. The big talk has been released, and the enthusiasm of the candidates has also increased. But what about schools? Not even a shadow. said that it was preparation, but apart from himself, he also had more than 80,000 US dollars and 10,000 taels of silver tickets on his body, and there was nothing.

Never mind! Things come the same way.

Let's start with fundraising. money, I still have some on myself, and this one can be skipped first.

Let's talk about land acquisition and demolition. Yes, decide on the school location first! That's the key.

Just do what you say. beckoned Lao Zhao to find a carriage and brought Han Yu and Chen Jide as student representatives. As soon as the students heard that they were going to choose a school site, a large group of people had to go to Hulala. Sun Yuanqi dissuaded him several times but didn't listen, so he had to bring Zhou Zongwu, Liu Bin, and Pan Xian again. Zhao Jingxing and Zhao Jingfan also wanted to go, but they were slapped back by Lao Zhao. Sun Yuanqi thought about it and brought Tong Jingsheng with him.

There are too many students, and they have to bring the leader of the Boxer and a few of his right-hand men as a deterrent. plus Lao Zhao, a group of more than a dozen people, went out of the city from Desheng Gate. In later generations, Beijing's colleges and universities were all in Haidian District, which is now the northwest corner of Beijing. So the carriage followed the road and went northwest.

The first to arrive at the pond is where the later Beijing Normal University is located, in addition to the mass grave, it is a reed. Sun Yuanqi shook his head: No, it's too close to Beijing. On the one hand, there is not enough room for development; On the other hand, there is a big and small incident in Beijing, and the school must be affected, so is there still less painful experience in the previous life? It's better to stay away from this place of right and wrong as soon as possible.

Then to Huangzhuang, where Renmin University is located, is now also relying on the reeds, not far from the capital. No way.

The Blue Flag Camp, where Peking University and Tsinghua University are located, are all royal gardens, and they will not allow themselves to build universities. No, it doesn't.

Further northwest, there is the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace. Passing around these two gardens, you will see a mountain with ups and downs. It was the remnants of Yanshan, and it was early summer, and the peaks were verdant. It was noon, and everyone was a little tired after walking forty or fifty miles, and the sun was shining. When I saw this mountain, I was immediately refreshed. When we reached the foot of the mountain, there was a small sparkling river. A refreshing cool breeze leaked out of the mountains, and everyone shouted "yes"!

Everyone found a shady place by the river to rest and eat dry food. Prepare to rest after eating, then walk around in pairs to see how it goes.

Sun Yuanqi distributed the dry food to the master who drove the car, and asked, "Have you been to this place before?" ”

The master took the dry food, hurriedly thanked him, and then said, "I have been to this place before." Because this place is close to the Chongzhen Mausoleum, there are Xiangshan and Reclining Buddha Temple a little farther away. But I didn't stop here, because there weren't many people here. ”

"By the way, how about the price of land in the suburbs of Beijing?" Sun Yuan has not been in contact with the three rural issues since he got up in the Qing Dynasty, and he has no idea about this.

"That's also divided into three, six, nine, and so on. There are also good river fields, twenty or thirty twenty-one acres. Ordinary fertile land, from two or three taels to a dozen taels, is not accurate. As for those leprosy lands, one acre is only a few hundred wen or a few dollars of silver. "There is no Chinese who do not care about the price of land, no matter which dynasty. So the coachman is a treasure.

Sun Yuanqi pointed to the mountain in front of him: "How much is this land worth per acre?" ”

"This? If an acre of land can be sold for ten taels of silver, the landlord should have secretly laughed. The coachman was surprised, "What can this land do?" You can't plow, you can't plant. ”

Lao Zhao also walked over, holding a handful of soil in his hand: "Mr. Sun, this land is not good!" It was full of sand and gravel, and the grass would not grow. Put us in Shandong, this place, no one wants. ”

Sun Yuanqi thought to himself: That's good! That's it!

After eating, everyone rested, and went around in twos and threes. Sun Yuanqi took Tong Jingsheng and Lao Zhao in a carriage and circled around this hill for half a circle, and the more he turned, the more satisfied he became. At that moment, Sun Yuanqi softly instructed Lao Zhao to go back and let Lao Zheng come forward, ask who the landlord of this land was, and then buy the land.

Back in the city, Sun Yuanqi made up his mind: it seems that this land will not cost much, and now the key is to find a suitable architectural design firm to be responsible for the design and construction. But there's no hurry, after all, the land hasn't been bought yet.

The next morning, Lao Zheng went out to inquire about the news. Sun Yuanqi himself prepared gifts and went to visit the American minister, Mr. Conger.

The U.S. legation does not seem to have suffered damage during last year's events, at least not much has changed from the outside. The guards at the door had changed, and they no longer recognized Sun Yuanqi, so they had to follow the rules and ask to see him. Fortunately, fluent English and Yank Johnson's name still played a big role, and Sun Yuanqi soon met Mr. Conger.

After a big incident, Mr. Conger is already a little old, but he is still very happy to see Sun Yuanqi: "Oh, oops, isn't this Mr. Yanke?" Have you time to visit me today? ”

"Yes, Mr. Conger. How are you doing? Sun Yuanqi handed over the gift.

"Thank you for the gift, Yank." The two sides sat down in the drawing-room, and then Mr. Conger continued: "Yanke, you are now famous. Well, maybe I should call you 'Dr. Yank Johnson, the most outstanding young scientist, Yale, MIT professor', haha......"

"Whatever you want." Sun Yuanqi was also unceremonious about jokes.

Mr. Conger said in a deep tone: "By the way, I regret what happened last year. I didn't expect it to turn out like that, as you said. ”

"I believe that you have done the best you could, Mr. Conger. For that, I am very grateful! Sun Yuanqi bowed.

"Alright! All right! None of us talk about these unpleasant pasts. Thankfully, we have a bright future. Mr. Conger picked up a cup of coffee, and the black lady brought it.

The black lady smiled and said, "I remember you, young man, and remember that you liked to drink cappuccinos." ”

"Thank you!" Sun Yuanqi got up slightly and took the coffee.

After the black grandmother retreated, Sun Yuanqi explained the purpose of this visit: "Mr. Conger, I came back from the United States this time mainly to build a school. ”

"It's a great idea!" Mr. Conger nodded, "You are worthy of being a student at Yale University, you know, Yale students have founded the most schools in the United States." Now, the target has turned to China. ”

"If that's a compliment, let me say 'thank you.'" Sun Yuanqi laughed, and then said very sincerely: "So, I hope that Mr. Conger can recommend a reputable architectural design firm." ”

Mr. Conger looked at him left and right, "I recommend it?" Oh, maybe you should ask your alumni more appropriately, after all, he is a professional. ”

"Who?" Sun Yuanqi thought to himself: The Yale alumni I know, those are single digits.

“JemeTienYo。”

"What?" Sun Yuanqi didn't understand these words, these pronunciations were weird, it felt like Cantonese, "Zhan Tianyou? ”

Mr. Conger nodded, "It should be him." If I'm not mistaken, he graduated in 1881 with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the Department of Civil Engineering at Yale's Sheffield Institute of Technology. ”

Huh? Comrade Zhan Daniu is my "alumnus"? Sun Yuanqi felt a burst of excitement in his heart.

It was learned from Mr. Conger that at this time, Zhan Tianyou had been invited by Sheng Xuanhuai and the Railway Corporation to go south to preside over the restoration of the Pingli Railway Project. After Sun Yuanqi returned home, he began to write letters to Zhan Tianyou, one of them, as an alumnus and junior, took the initiative to contact his feelings; The two are to hope that he can recommend a professional architectural design company.

In this way, the two things of land acquisition and demolition and planning and construction can be put aside for the time being, and wait for a response. The next step is to recruit teachers and draft the charter. The school's charter is easy to manage, and the "Preliminary Draft of the School School System" written by himself not long ago has been changed. The key is the teachers, and now they can be their own bare-bones commander.

Ding Yunliang! This old gentleman is good, and the relationship is also good, that is, he is in a high position, and he is already a second-class member of the Qing government, and I am afraid that his small temple will not tolerate this big Buddha.

What about the others?

In the past few days, Sun Yuanqi has been worrying about this problem every day.

On this day, after Sun Yuanqi finished teaching the students and was revising the school's constitution in the college, he heard the porter's announcement: "There is an old man who comes to visit and says that he is your alumnus." ”

Alumnus? Could it be that Zhan Tianyou Zhan Da Niu came to our house? Hurry up, please! No, I should have greeted it personally.

When I got to the door, I saw a middle-aged man about forty years old, wearing a long robe and a bookish face. Sun Yuanqi muttered in his heart: Could it be that Zhan Daniu looks like this? Right? But he said: "I don't know which senior came to the cold house, please come to the house!" ”

"You're Sun Baixi's junior brother, right? It's really a young man! Tang Guoan, whose name is Jiechen, was the second batch of official students who were selected by Zeng Wenzheng in the twelfth year of Tongzhi (1873), and later entered the law department of Yale University. As he spoke, the man bowed to Sun Yuanqi.

Sun Yuanqi had no choice but to salute in the same way: "Sure enough, it's a senior!" Hurry up in the house please. ”

After sitting down, Tang Guoan explained the origin: "In the past, I knew that Yale University had a great Chinese alumnus, and I was very curious. Some time ago, when I read "Zilinxi Daily", I realized that it was you, a junior brother. At a young age, he is a doctor, a professor at Yale and MIT, and a young talent! Recently, I visited the American minister and learned the address of my younger brother, so I took the liberty to visit. Disrespectful, please Haihan! ”

Only then did Sun Yuanqi know the reason: "Senior is polite! The arrival of the big car really makes Peng Shen shine. ”

Tang Guoan listened to Sun Yuanqi's words and seemed to recall the old days: "Actually, I don't deserve the title of 'senior'. Alas——, with the full support of Zeng Wenzhenggong and Li Hefei Zhongtang, the imperial court successively sent four batches of 120 students to study in the United States, and I was the third batch. Of the 120 students, more than 50 young children went to universities in the United States, including 22 at Yale University, 8 at MIT, 3 at Columbia University, and 1 at Harvard University. ”

Sun Yuanqi was shocked and moved by this number, and it can be imagined that the children studying in the United States study hard.

"Of course, we are not as good as you, junior brother. You are not only a Ph.D. at Yale, but also a professor at Yale and MIT. Tang Guoan seemed a little sad, "The total number of people who entered Yale were Zhan Tianyou, Ouyang Geng, Rong Kui, Huang Kaijia, Liang Dunyan, Zhang Kangren, Zhong Wenyao, Cai Shaoji, Tan Yaoxun, Li Enfu, Rong Xingqiao, Zeng Pu, Chen Peihu, Liu Jiazhao, Chen Jurong, Lu Yongquan, Qi Zuyi, Lu Zuhua, Xu Zhenpeng, Zhong Juncheng, Qian Wenkui, and me. Most of us are studying engineering and law. those who study engineering, including Zhan Tianyou, Ouyang Geng, and Rong Kui; Those who studied law include Zhang Kangren, Liang Dunyan, and Cai Shaoji. I also studied law. In the seventh year of Guangxu (1881), the original 15-year plan for young children to stay in the United States died halfway, and all the students were recalled to China. At that time, among the 22 international students at Yale University, only Zhan Tianyou and Ouyang Geng successfully completed their studies. Yung and Tan resisted the recall and stayed in the United States to complete their studies at Yale University. Li Enfu and Lu Yongquan returned to the United States after being recalled, and also finished reading Yale. Zhang Kangren also returned to the United States after returning to China, but later entered Columbia University. I had just entered Yale University. ”

Hearing this, Sun Yuanqi was also a little sad.

"So, if you want to talk about seniors and senior brothers, only these six people should be." Tang Guoan, who is forty years old, also said this, with a look on his face, "Even so, after graduating in the ninth year of Guangxu (1883), Tan Yaoxun worked in the Chinese Consulate in New York, and died of lung disease in the autumn of that year. ”

Sun Yuanqi was by the side, and he didn't know how to say it.

Tang Guoan forced a smile: "Hehe, when I saw my junior brother today, I remembered those things in the past, and I talked so much about it, which made my junior laugh." However, in the whole Qing Dynasty, there are only a dozen of us alumni at Yale, plus you, the junior. If there is anything in the future, alumni can also take care of it more. ”

Speaking of taking care of it, Sun Yuanqi remembered the lack of teachers in his school, so he asked tentatively: "Senior, where are you now?" ”

Tang Guoan smiled: "Gao? I can't say it. He only served as a secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also served on the Gyeongbong Railway. Most of us are eating on the railway. ”

Sun Yuanqi said: "I returned to China this time because I cooperated with Yale and MIT to set up two laboratories, and I need a group of teachers and researchers. ”

Tang Guoan nodded: "I have written down this matter." However, don't expect too much from us old guys, after all, we haven't been in college for long, and the two brothers Zhan Tianyou and Ouyang Geng have only been in college for three years. Besides, it's been 20 years since we all came out of school, who still has the ability and heart to enter the laboratory? ”

Sun Yuanqi thought about it, too. It is estimated that the problem of teachers will continue to plague me! However, Tang Guoan agreed to be a member of the school's preparatory committee, and would write to other students, hoping that they would also "join" the school's preparatory committee.

The next day, when Sun Yuanqi went to visit Mr. Ding Yunliang, he fooled this old gentleman into taking the post of deputy director of the school's preparatory committee. In this way, the preparatory committee was so-so, and there were only three people, and the only one who did it was himself.

It was not until July 1 that there was good news. Lao Zheng has found the landlord of the land!

In Sun Yuanqi's impression, the landlords are full of brains, and they set up various bird cages every day, and they are teasing the big girls and little daughters-in-law all over the street; Or lie in the palatial house every day, while holding a dozen concubines, while abusing the master of long-term work. When Sun Yuan saw this landlord, he was stunned: Is the landlord a little miserable?

Look at his yellow face and thin muscles, he has no meat on his body, and his clothes are also leaky meat. This dress was thrown on the street, saying that he was a beggar and a homeless person was believed by people.

Sun Yuanqi asked suspiciously: "Are you the landlord of that land?" ”

When the man saw Sun Yuanqi, he took out the title deed from his arms tremblingly, and replied, "Go back...... If you go back to your father, it is...... Yes, this ...... This is the title deed. ”

Sun Yuanqi asked his own question: "Then why are you so downcast?" ”

"Hey! That's a child's motherless mother—it's a long story. We are flag people, and our ancestors are also wide. When he entered the customs from Long, he circled tens of thousands of hectares of land in the suburbs of Beijing. Later, as the family grew larger and larger, the fertile land was divided piece by piece; The expenses are also getting bigger and bigger, and the fertile land is sold piece by piece. Back and forth, all that's left is this riverbank where rabbits don't poop. Otherwise, there is no land left, and no one wants it, so it will be left to this day! The man saw that Sun Yuanqi had a kind face, and he didn't stumble when he spoke, "Since the Guangxu year, the money of the banner people has been getting worse day by day. That's pretty good, at least there's still one. Last year, Guangxu Ye and the Empress Dowager ran away, and even a little bit of money stopped. But the whole family opened their mouths to eat, so they had to be clothes, household goods, and houses, and change their stuttering. I also want to do this title deed, but I don't accept it in the pawnshop. In a few days, the whole family will starve to death......"

In the end, I want to cry. Sun Yuanqi saw that he was a sincere person, and he did not deceive him: "What price do you want to sell for that piece of land?" ”

"Master, we know that your mansion is Sun Shouzhou Zhongtang. Lord Nakado is a good person, and we can trust his family. You make a price, and I'll sell it. The man was unambiguous.

Sun Yuanqi was hard to say: "You are a seller, why do you have to make a price?" ”

"Well, that land is not very good. Earlier, the pawnshop also said that the land was full of stones, and no one wanted to give it away for free. Master, if you want to buy it, just give a few taels or a dozen taels of silver. The man gritted his teeth and counted them.

"Huh?" This price made Sun Yuanqi surprised: This is too little, right?

The man looked at Sun Yuanqi with a surprised look, and immediately burst into tears, and knelt down: "Master, this is our last belongings, please give us a few taels of silver, let our whole family be a full ghost, and when we arrive at the underworld, thank you for your great kindness!" ”

"Get up, get up." Sun Yuanqi hurriedly helped him up, "Then you can show me the title deed." ”

The man wiped his tears and handed the title deed in his hand to Sun Yuanqi. On some rough paper, the boundaries of the four sides were roughly drawn, and finally there was a sentence, Sun Yuanqi saw clearly: "Ji Shan Tian is two thousand five hundred and seventy-one five and a half acres." ”

"Two thousand five hundred and seventy-one?" Sun Yuanqi looked at it carefully for a long time and confirmed that it was indeed a "day", so he asked with some doubts: "What does day mean?" ”

"......" Lao Zheng was stunned when he heard this.

Sun Yuanqi thought that he didn't understand, and pointed to the text on the title deed and said, "That's the word!" ”

"Oh, six acres a day." The man immediately explained.

The Qing Dynasty still had this unit of measurement? It's weird. Sun Yuanqi thought for a while: "That's it, after all, this land is handed down by your ancestors, if it is sold cheaply, not only you, but as a buyer, I will not look good." Besides, all of you depend on it for your food, and I can't watch you sell me your land and starve in the future. If you want to sell it, I will give you a tael of silver a day, and the fraction will be converted into whole pieces, for a total of two thousand six hundred taels. Do you think it's okay? ”

"Two ...... Two thousand six hundred and twenty ...... Silver? The man's mouth was wide enough to clench his fists.

"Do you think it's okay?" Sun Yuanqi asked again.

"Okay! That's great! Thank you! Our whole family will never forget the great kindness of our grandfather for the rest of our lives......" said the man, and the man's tears fell again.

Lao Zheng, who had been standing next to him, opened his mouth: "If it's okay, then you can find a few of your own family, be a witness, and go through the formalities!" Just in case you have a lot of dreams at night. ”

The man, like a rabbit, scurried out to find someone, and after a while, a few people dragged in and dragged in. Sun Yuanqi casually found a neighbor, the two sides signed a contract to sell, pressed their fingerprints, and had another meal, and the 15,000 acres of school land went to Sun Yuanqi's name.

In this way, the first step in the establishment of the school was finally sold.

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