The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

After the school affairs meeting in the morning, Zhou Hexuan accepted Zhong Guanguang's invitation in the afternoon to inspect various departments, libraries, laboratories, and specimen rooms of the school.

Zhou Hexuan didn't say anything while walking around all the way. In fact, he thinks Peking University has too many liberal arts majors and too few science and engineering majors, which is obviously too biased.

But there is no way, and now all universities in China are like this.

Liberal arts is cheap, as long as there are teachers and textbooks, it can be done. Science and engineering are very troublesome, various experiments are too expensive, and some advanced scientific instruments and equipment are also scarce. If students of science and engineering want to go further, they must study abroad, and they cannot do research at all in China.

When I came to the Department of Physics, Li Shuhua, the dean of the Department of Physics, introduced: "The Department of Physics had seven professors and lecturers last year, but due to various reasons, there are only three left this year, including me, the dean of the Department."

"Can you teach me?" Zhou Hexuan asked.

"Barely can handle it," Li Shuhua said with a smile, "Every teacher teaches at least five courses at the same time, for example, I teach "Principles of Mathematics", "General Physics", "Physical Optics", "Electrodynamics", "Theoretical Mechanics" and Specialized Physics Experiments."

Zhou Hexuan felt a little sad when he heard that, these are all admirable teachers.

Science and engineering professors like Li Shuhua cannot write articles and give lectures to make money, and only rely on teacher salaries to survive every month. In the case of several months of salary arrears at every turn, many of them have to find someone to borrow money for meals, but they can still insist on teaching several courses at the same time.

If they go south, they can improve their lives casually. The reason why he didn't leave was because he was responsible and he couldn't bear to abandon his students.

At this time, when get out of class was over, Zhou Hexuan walked into the classroom and opened a textbook "Electric Current and Electron Theory in Gases". He was surprised to find that the book was all in English, so he couldn't help asking: "Peking University's physics department is all English textbooks?"

Li Shuhua replied: "There are some Chinese textbooks, but they are also translated according to the rules."

"Students use English textbooks in class, so there will be no communication barriers?" Zhou Hexuan asked curiously.

"Communication barriers do not exist. For students studying engineering, knowing English is the foundation of the foundation," Li Shuhua said: "The content and system in some textbooks do not match the actual situation in China, especially when it comes to life, production and experiments. part."

Zhou Hexuan asked: "Is it just like Peking University, or is it like this in all universities in China?"

Li Shuhua explained: "This is the case all over the country. The textbooks for science and engineering are dominated by English textbooks, supplemented by Chinese textbooks."

Zhou Hexuan frowned and said, "Have you ever thought about it, let's compile a set of science and engineering textbooks ourselves?"

"Have thought about it, who wouldn't?" Li Shuhua smiled helplessly, "It's a pity that the project is too large, and it must be organized and promoted by the government."

Zhou Hexuan said: "The government can't take care of it, but you can contact Tsinghua University, and Tsinghua University and Peking University will form a 'Chinese Textbook Compilation Team'. The professors use their spare time to combine China's actual conditions to compile our Chinese science and technology. After the textbooks are compiled, I will be in charge of promoting them, and they will be published and printed by the Peking University Publishing Department. As for the editor’s manuscript fee, it can be settled in one lump sum, or the royalties can be calculated according to the printing volume.”

"Of course that's good," Li Shuhua said happily. "If the textbook can be compiled, all engineering students in China will benefit."

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "You should contact the teachers of science and engineering first. Those who are willing to compile textbooks should report their names. I will go to Tsinghua University tomorrow. Let's take our time, compile physics textbooks first, and then do chemistry, geology, Mechanical subjects."

Li Shuhua acted immediately, and when he told Zhou Hexuan's idea, the other physics teachers all agreed. They have too many courses during the day, and they can't spare time at all. The work of editing textbooks can only be rushed at night.

The next morning, Zhou Hexuan came to Tsinghua Academy, and even old friends like Liang Qichao didn't have time to pay a visit, so he went directly to the Department of Physics of Tsinghua University.

He was received by a handsome young man less than 30 years old. This person was Ye Qisun, the director of the Department of Physics of Tsinghua University and one of the founders of modern Chinese physics.

Ye Qisun, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, with a parted hairstyle, made tea himself and said, "Mr. Zhou, I have admired your name for a long time, and I never thought you would come to my house as a guest."

"It's a bit abrupt, I came here without first saying hello." Zhou Hexuan apologized.

"Haha, I'm not a government office here, so I don't need to notify in advance." Ye Qisun joked.

Zhou Hexuan immediately explained the purpose of his visit: "Professor Ye, it is like this. Since most of the Chinese physics textbooks use the English version, it is not very convenient to teach. So I want to compile a textbook that is in line with the actual situation in China. Peking University is not capable enough, and I hope to cooperate with Tsinghua University. .”

"This is a good thing," Ye Qisun said happily, but said awkwardly, "To be honest, there are only a few physics teachers in Tsinghua University, so I'm afraid they won't be of much help."

The Department of Physics of Tsinghua University was established last year, and there is a severe shortage of teachers. Except for Ye Qisun, the head of the physics department, there is only one professor (Mei Yiqi), two lecturers (Zhao Zhongyao, Zheng Yanfen) and one teaching assistant (Shi Ruwei), which is even worse than Peking University. Although there are only three teachers left in the Department of Physics of Peking University, they are all at the professor level.

Zhou Hexuan said: "It doesn't matter. There are many people and strength, as long as they are willing to help. And I can't let everyone contribute for nothing. There is a manuscript fee for editing textbooks. I hope Professor Ye can support it."

"Of course I support this matter, please rest assured Mr. Zhou." Ye Qisun agreed wholeheartedly.

Ye Qisun is also a man of God. As the founder of the Department of Physics of Tsinghua University and one of the founders of modern Chinese physics, he is not only proficient in physics, but also has a thorough knowledge of both Chinese and Western cultures. He has studied astronomy, calendar and the Four Books and Five Classics since he was a child. .

In the century-old history of Tsinghua University, Ye Qisun, Pan Guangdan, Chen Yinke, and Mei Yiqi are known as the Four Great Philosophers.

Zhou Hexuan stayed at Peking University for five days this time, helping to change Peking University Publishing Department into Peking University Publishing House, participated in the founding meeting of Peking University Research Department, and finally led Tsinghua University and Peking University to jointly establish the "Chinese University Textbook Compilation Group."

Although the time was short, Zhou Hexuan felt that it was particularly fulfilling, and it was much more meaningful than writing articles for newspapers in Tianjin.

All these tasks required money. Zhou Hexuan paid 1,000 oceans in advance to the "Textbook Compilation Team" in his own name, which was used for the daily contact of professors and the advance payment of manuscript fees. Another 2,000 yuan was donated to Peking University's scientific research department. They need money to purchase materials and conduct experiments.

As for Peking University Publishing House, Zhou Hexuan does not need money for the time being. Peking University has its own "student bank", and the money in the student bank is enough for the initial expenses of Peking University Press.

After everything was settled, Zhou Hexuan had time to visit friends in Peiping, and then went to meet the famous Gu Hongming with Zhang Taiyan.