The second volume is full of glory and splendor in the capital, and the spirit is full of vitality in the foggy city. Chapter 166 Li Taiwan
Subtitle of this chapter: Distributing two extras
"Oh wow, there really is a lake in Princeton... Um, there are boats on the lake."
As the golden sun set in the west, our Master Yuan stood quietly by the shore of Lake Carnegie in the bright spring sunshine, silently admiring the rowboats drifting in the lake and the setting sun. His burning heart, filled with the desire to commit suicide, could not help but think of water chestnuts and perch...
"Pika Pika."
"Master Ball, I'm just missing my homeland in this foreign spring. There's no need to be so sensitive."
"Host, whether you're homesick or yearning for home, just think about your Taihu water shield and Songjiang perch. Don't think about Shikumen houses or little red boats."
"Master Ball, you're meddling too much. Can't I even think about it?"
"Host, you need to have some self-awareness. Your S-value has entered the high alert range again."
Really, if you can't think about the same thing, think about something else...
For example, do you have any acquaintances in Princeton?
You know what, there really is one. That is Yuan Yanshu's fellow townsman from Wuxi, who is later recognized as the first cuckolded man in the Republic of China, Wang Geng, Wang Shouqing!
In 1911, he went to the United States to study, first at the University of Michigan for a year, then to Columbia University in his sophomore year, and then to Princeton University in his junior and senior years, where he studied history and political science. In 1915, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University, ranking 14th out of 116 liberal arts students. He then entered the Military Academy at West Point.
Of course, Master Yuan disagrees with the claim that this man is the first cuckold in the Republic of China. If his neighbor Xiao Wang is the first, then where does Emperor Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty stand?
Come to think of it, Wang Shouqing and "Beilu" are going to hold their wedding in Peking next year. If he tries to make trouble, he might really be able to ruin their wedding...
However, Yuan had come here with a grand mission to fulfill his grand plan, so he didn't have the time to bother with such trivial matters...
Well, actually, in his opinion, breaking up the two people's marriage was not due to Chuisiting at all, but rather had much less to do with Chuisiting.
In addition to Wang Geng, Princeton does have several famous Seres alumni.
Even though he studied economics, a rather unsophisticated subject, he was still very familiar with the names of Hua Luogeng, Yang Zhenning, and Li Zhengdao. However, these people were his "juniors", while the Chinese students studying at Princeton at that time seemed to be...
Well, how should I put it? These people are not unknown. Chinese students who could enter Princeton University in the early 20th century are definitely worthy of being on Baidu Encyclopedia.
However, these people's fame is not as good as Wang Geng and Wang Shouqing, let alone Meng Xiancheng and Meng Bohong.
"Excuse me, but are you Mr. Yuan Hongjian?" Just at this moment, a voice in Chinese came from behind him.
Yuan Yan suddenly turned around and saw two yellow faces. Both young men took off their hats and put them on their chests, their expressions and postures showing quite respect.
He thought to himself, could it be that these two people are the unknown people who cannot be considered "unknown people".
In fact, as long as our Master Yuan does not get "phlegm-qi" or loses his temper, his behavior towards others is quite normal.
He didn't dare to neglect it, and bowed to his fellow countrymen of the same age, saying: "I am not worthy of the title of sir. I am Yuan Yanshu. You are..."
"It's really Mr. Yuan!" The young man from Seris who asked the question let out an excited low cry.
Yuan Yanshu is now an absolute legendary figure among Chinese students studying in the United States, and his reputation is unparalleled.
His deeds also deeply impressed the vast majority of Chinese students studying in the United States. Except for a few "mature people" who thought he was too arrogant, everyone else was proud to have such a compatriot.
Let's not talk about Master Yuan's achievements in literature and economics. Just imagine, a hundred years from now, a Chinese student can seduce a popular Hollywood actress, and the daughters of wealthy Southeast Asian families cry and beg to marry him. How much hatred will such a man attract... well, admiration.
The man who cheered was wearing round-framed glasses, had a stocky build and a stoic demeanor. Speaking in Shandong dialect, he said politely, "Mr. Yuan, I'm Fu Wu, the president of the Princeton Mahjong Club. My name is Cao Shengwen."
"So you are Brother Shengwen. Nice to meet you." Yuan Yanshu enthusiastically extended her hand and shook hands with him, saying in a daze.
He had indeed heard Luo Puxiang mention this man. According to Luo Tuo Xiangzi, this classmate Fu Wu had taken the initiative to find Club No. 144, intending to open a Mahjong branch at Princeton University.
Hearing the other party speaking in Shandong dialect, Master Yuan's heart was moved, and he asked, "Brother Shengwen, are you from Liaocheng? Your ancestor was the first number one scholar in the Qing Dynasty... um, the Qing Dynasty?"
"Yes, I am from Liaocheng, Shandong. The ancestor of our Fu family is Mr. Xingyan." Fu Wu replied with some surprise, "Mr. Yuan is really well-informed and has a good memory. He even knows this matter."
The first top scholar in the imperial examination of the Qing Dynasty was Fu Yijian (1609-1665), courtesy name Yupan and pseudonym Xingyan. Born in Shandong, his ancestral home was in Jiangxi. He served as a confidential minister to Emperor Shunzhi and a teacher to Emperor Kangxi. He rose to the rank of Grand Secretary of the Wuying Palace and concurrently Minister of War, a highly influential civil servant in the early Qing dynasty.
Yuan Yanshu thought to himself, "It's not that I'm well-informed, but you have a Fu Sinian in Liaocheng, Shandong. That's why I'm asking this question. Even if you two don't know each other, you're still relatives."
"Hahaha..." Master Yuan laughed and recited a limerick, "A letter from home a thousand miles away is just for a wall, so what if I give you three feet? The Great Wall still stands today, but Qin Shihuang is no longer here."
It is said that the Fu family and their neighbor had a dispute over land. When Fu Yijian, who lived in the capital, learned of the dispute, he wrote this poem and sent it back home. The Fu family retreated three feet, and the neighbor, moved to move back, also retreated three feet. Thus, an alleyway was created between the two houses, which became known as "Renyi Hutong."
He said sincerely, "The Fu family's reputation is known throughout the country. How could I not remember it, brother?"
As soon as Yuan Yanshu said this, Fu Shengwen's heart was immediately melted and he was so moved that he couldn't speak.
So if you want to have a good relationship with the Seres these days, praising them in person may seem a bit corny, but praising their ancestors is definitely a good trick.
The man after Fu Wu wasn't bad looking, but he had a rather sinister expression. "Mr. Yuan, my name is Duan Xisheng, I go by my pen name, and I'm from Hefei."
Master Yuan immediately praised: "The name of something that cannot be heard is called rare, which means the sound that cannot be heard. Brother Duan, this is a good name. May I ask how you and Premier Duan address each other?"
The most famous Duan from Hefei today is Octavian Duan. This person specifically told me he was from Hefei, so I guess...
Duan Xisheng replied calmly, "Master Zhi is my...uncle."
As expected. In fact, Yuan Yanshu was a little disapproving in his heart. He didn't know whether his uncle was a distant relative or a direct relative. He could only jump around once more in 1924 through Feng Yuxiang, the "Christian General", "the reincarnation of Lu Bu", and the "little expert in defection".
But even if it was just for show, he still had to say a few words of praise: "Oh! Brother, I really admire your uncle."
Master Yuan once again spoke in a sincere tone, "Brother Xisheng, if you have the chance, please help me pass on a message to Uncle Ling. The three founding of the Republic are a great contribution to the country. The six failures of the Prime Minister will be passed down to future generations."
Duan Xisheng's face also showed a touch of emotion. He bowed slightly and said, "I will definitely convey Mr. Yuan's words."
Yuan Yanshu nodded with satisfaction and shook hands vigorously with Duan Qirui's nephew.
He wiped his sweat in his heart. It was troublesome to talk to Seres intellectuals. Just a simple greeting took up so many words... well, thought.
I only heard Fu Wu say: "Mr. Yuan..."
Master Yuan immediately waved his hand and said, "I'm not worthy of this. Brother Shengwen, please just call me Hongjian."
"Well," said the Shandong native, who was also quite forthright, "Brother Hongjian. We, the colleagues of the Princeton Mahjong Club, were delighted to hear that you were coming. Therefore, we have sent the two of us as representatives to invite you, Brother Hongjian, to visit us for guidance and a simple meal. Would you be willing to do us the honor?"
Yuan Yanshu was still very interested in getting to know more "unknown people".
Just look at the two unknown people in front of you, one is a relative of Fu Sinian, and the other is Duan Qirui's nephew... Of course, they are very likely distant relatives, and when they return to China, they will be connections.
How can a master be as high as a cliff? He should be as open as the sea and embrace all rivers.
He had long recognized that the masters of today's Seres, Liang Qichao, Cai Yuanpei , Zhang Taiyan, Chen in the South and Li in the North, Hu Shizhi...
Of course, in his mind, these people were only temporarily on the same level as him. When he returned to China, these people would definitely look up to him. Because he was the internationally recognized master, and these masters were just arrogant at home.
They all have a small group behind them, either from the same hometown or classmates, either with the gratitude of master and apprentice or with the feeling of support. If you don't have a network of relationships, how can you be a master?
Therefore, Master Yuan agreed without hesitation: "Since my colleagues are so kind, I have no choice but to accept it."
So he took his female secretary and male bodyguard and followed the two into the mahjong club not far away.
This mahjong club probably attracted all the Chinese students studying in Princeton, and even attracted a few trendy American students.
Yuan Yan suddenly gained some goodwill with them, and when it got dark outside, everyone got up and prepared to go out for dinner.
“Squeak!”
Just then, three middle-aged Asian men pushed open the door and walked in.
The middle-aged man in the lead looked to be in his forties, with a high forehead and a big nose. His face was not bad, and his temperament was very elegant. One could tell at a glance that he came from a good family and was well-educated.
Fu Wu, the president of the Mahjong Club, greeted him, "I'm sorry, sir. It's too late today. We can't accept any guests."
"Sorry to bother you. But we are not here to play mahjong." One of the visitors said in Chinese that sounded a bit stiff.
The middle-aged man looked around at everyone... In fact, there was no need to observe carefully. The 17-point charming Master Yuan was like a bright light in the dark night, or a piece of pork belly in the dog food bowl. He was the first person anyone saw.
So the leader asked him without hesitation, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Yuan Yanshu?"
Hmm, that's strange. The words are polite, but the tone sounds a bit aggressive.
I am the pride of the yellow race, the light of Seres, an old friend of the Japanese people, and the Korean people... It doesn't matter whether I am the one or not.
In short, where do these three East Asians come from? How dare they speak to me in such a tone?
Master Yuan's face turned serious. He clasped his fists and said calmly, "I am Yuan. What advice do you three distinguished guests have for me?"
The young man with the flattest and largest face among the three stepped forward and introduced himself: "This is the commander-in-chief of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Li..."
Hey, you Koreans are still trying to act so high in front of me?
"Wait!" Yuan Yan immediately raised her hand, pointed at the newcomers and asked loudly, "Are you guys here to scam people?"
He curled his lips and said, "There used to be a Great Korean Empire... but didn't you die?"
Master Yuan didn't even bother to look at the three newcomers' expressions. He turned around and asked the Seres, "Gentlemen, have you ever heard of the Republic of Korea?"
This was the first time these people met this outstanding compatriot today, so they did not have the same tacit understanding as his original three partners.
If Camel Xiangzi, Six-Fingered Lute Demon and Xiao Yang Shengjian heard this tone, they would definitely pretend to be confused and cooperate with President Yuan in the show.
Duan Xisheng was quite enthusiastic. He was the first to nod and said, "I have indeed heard of the Republic of Korea. I remember, um... it should be in 1919, the year before last, that Korean exiles established the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai."
"Oh..." Yuan Yan suddenly turned around and apologized, "I'm sorry, I've been concentrating on my studies these past few years and haven't heard anything about the outside world, so I didn't know your country had renewed the contract."
The tone and voice of his voice were not very pleasant to the ear, which made the faces of the three sticks in front of him even uglier.
Yuan Yanshu clasped his fists again and said, "However, it's really too late today, and we really have to close here. America doesn't have kimchi and bibimbap, so we won't keep the three people from the Republic of Korea for dinner."
"You!" The two young Koreans were so angry that they were about to explode.
The leading commander, General Li, was also very angry, and he had come here to cause trouble.
So he asked Master Yuan in a rather arrogant tone: "Mr. Yuan, I came here to ask you a question. Are you a coward?"
"Am I a coward?" Our Master Yuan's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he asked cheerfully, "Li... Um, Commander-in-Chief, are you challenging me to a duel?"
He clapped his hands and said happily, "Great! I thought no one would challenge me to a duel after last time."
"Duel? No, no. Not at all!" Commander Li was so angry that he couldn't speak clearly. "I'm asking why you didn't respond to the questions I raised in the newspaper!"
Yuan Yan, who had already taken out a handkerchief from her trouser pocket, was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud, "Hahahaha... So it was you who defended Wilson in the newspapers these days..."
“Ha…hahaha…hahaha!”
He stopped laughing and raised his hand... Well, the Haolunshi watch has not been repaired yet.
Our Master Yuan glanced at his companions on either side, then waved his hands forward in a very impressive manner and said, "It's too late, let's go eat!"
