The second volume is full of glory and splendor in the capital, and the spirit is full of vitality in the foggy city. Chapter 252: Hongmen Banquet (Part 2)
This chapter is subtitled: University Professor, Chicken Thief
The banquet lasted from the zenith to the sunset.
The brothers and sisters in Anliang Hall took turns to come forward and urge us to drink. Even our "Taibai in wine" and "Green Emperor in the hall" could hardly stand such a torrent of wine... that round-the-clock battle.
But he was now a dignified insect vein sorcerer. Taking advantage of the opportunity to "change clothes", he devoured two or three lively cockroaches, and he became lively again.
In the battle between "Insect Pulse Warlock and Ordinary People", the former naturally won a great victory.
Of course, Situ Meitang would not participate in such a battle, so he went upstairs to have tea with Master Yuan, who had won the battle, safe and sound.
"Hongjian, have you decided what to do when you return to China this time?"
Yuan Yan quickly swallowed a mouthful of hot tea and said frankly, "Uncle, I wonder if you have heard of the China Public School?"
"China Public School..." Situ Dalongtou pondered for a moment before thinking, "But it's the China Public School that Liang Qichao presided over?"
"Exactly. The school's Dean of Academic Affairs, Zhang Jundongsun, sent me a letter of appointment, inviting me to become a professor in their economics department and to teach a writing course. The monthly salary is..."
Speaking of this monthly salary, our Master Yuan was also a little proud: "300 silver dollars."
According to the exchange rate at that time, 200 silver dollars were only equivalent to 150 US dollars, which was not even as much as the 50 US dollars a week salary he offered to his female secretary, Miss Esther Moman. What was he so proud of?
Well, that's not how it's calculated.
In 1917, when Hu Shi returned to China and joined Peking University, his monthly salary was only 260 silver dollars. This year, Wu Yuseng was invited by Mei Guangdi, a leader of the "Xueheng School", to teach at Southeast University, and he only received 120 silver dollars a month.
In 1926, He Cuilian was offered a position at Jinan University in Shanghai, with a monthly salary of 300 silver dollars. However, he believed that the Beijing-Tianjin region was the cultural center of China, with a higher level of education than other parts of the country. Therefore, he decided to give up the generous salary at Jinan University and instead chose the offer from Nankai University, which paid only 180 silver dollars per month.
I have to say here that the reason why Jinan University is so rich is that it was the only institution of higher learning in China at that time that specifically recruited overseas students, of course mainly overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia. Many wealthy businessmen from Southeast Asia donated a lot of money to this university.
However, at that time, Jinan University was still called Jinan Academy, and it was located in Nanjing instead of Shanghai. The university had a very bumpy history, and Yongyuan Jiankang even abolished the university, so I won’t go into details.
In other words, our Master Yuan's current net worth is slightly higher than Hu Shizhi's back then, so he can't help but feel a little proud.
In fact, Zhang Dongsun also investigated his background before offering such a high salary.
At this point in time, Yuan Yanshu's father served as a director of several exchanges and trust companies, and the Yuan family was not short of money at all.
Yuan Yanshu's ex-father-in-law still ran a bank, and his ex-brother-in-law was still a baby, so the Zhou family just needed the help of this former son-in-law.
In Zhang Dongsun's opinion, whether our Master Yuan inherits the "financial empire" or becomes a "midanalyst", can he make less money?
Furthermore, Mr. Hongjian was now a renowned writer, both in China and abroad. Even before returning to China, he was considered a leader of the New Culture Movement and a key figure in the vernacular movement. If he were willing to teach, he could go to Peking University or St. John's University if he wanted to... and these universities would certainly welcome him back.
In fact, Yuan Yanshu received many offers from universities during this period, including Peking University and St. John's.
By the way, Tsinghua University has not yet established a university department, so it is not qualified to invite our Master Yuan... This sounds so cool!
He would not go to Peking University because he had been from the south of the Yangtze River for both of his lives and could not get used to living in the north.
Moreover, the imperial capital will be in chaos for the next few years, and the Zhili-Fengtian War will begin in April next year. In addition, the northern warlords are powerful and have no respect for "civilization". What if they don't care about their status as superior Chinese?
So for safety reasons, I might as well stay in the Shanghai Concession. Apart from other concessions, I think the Japanese Concession will definitely be safe.
By the way, what will happen if he stays with the Japanese for too long?
That's easy. In the future, he will become the world's leading expert on Japan. He will say that all 100 million Japanese citizens are warriors and female warriors with black cards of Tiannao. There is no other way to tame them except to go to Kudanzaka. Who will dare to object then?
I think the Japanese themselves would not object... Not only would they not object, they would even be grateful for having a confidant like Master Yuan.
He could not go to St. John's because it was a church school. How could an atheist and "antichrist" like him teach in a church school?
Among the universities in Shanghai, only the China Public School is relatively famous and offers high salaries.
Of course, the most important reason was that the university was known for its "freedom." At least in the 1920s, scholars at the Chinese Public School taught capitalism, socialism, nationalism, and anarchism without any scruples, and their thinking was very active.
This was exactly what Professor Yuan Da wanted, so he finally chose the China Public School.
"Since you have made your decision, Hongjian, I will not say any more..."
In fact, Situ Meitang had also received a letter from someone who wanted to invite Master Yuan to take up a teaching position in Guangdong. However, since the other party had already made a decision, he could not say anything more.
He said with some emotion: "Hongjian, I want to say thank you. If it weren't for your wujiapi, our Anliangtang..."
"Uncle, you're being too polite. After all, I'm also a Hong family brother. Why should I be thanked for helping out?" Yuan Yan interrupted him and said, "If you really want to thank me, please do me a small favor."
Situ Dalongtou was also a man of the underworld. When he heard this, he patted his chest and said, "Hongjian, just speak frankly. Are you afraid that I will refuse you?"
"Uncle, let me tell you..." Yuan Yan, who had dozed off and found a pillow, said cheerfully, "I want to recruit some people. I wonder if you could help me out?"
"Manpower? What kind of manpower do you want?" Situ Dalongtou asked in confusion, "Hongjian, you know we don't have any serious intellectuals in Anliang Hall..."
Master Yuan waved his hand and said, "Uncle, you misunderstood. I'm not looking for intellectuals, so why would I need that? I'm looking for some...some people with special skills."
"What kind of expertise?" Situ Meitang asked curiously.
Yuan Yan suddenly considered his words and said, "Uncle, I believe you have heard the story of Mengchangjun. I am going to England to be a modern-day Mengchangjun, so I need some talented thieves."
"Hahaha... a modern Mengchang Jun... hahaha..." Situ Dalongtou asked with a smile, "Hongjian, Hongjian, I now believe that you are truly a disciple of our Hong family..."
"But, Hongjian, what do you want these people to steal? They can't be stealing the crown of the King of England, can they?"
"Uncle, what's the use of that thing? I want to steal someone..."
