Chapter 287 The More You Know, the Better

Mr. Qi Gong accompanied Wang Deming as they strolled and chatted on the campus of Beijing Normal University, pouring out all his depression and bitterness to him. Perhaps it was because of Wang Deming's words of dissuasion that made him trust Wang Deming from the bottom of his heart, and of course it could also be because of Wang Deming's personal charm: "South Wall".

"Deming, if you hadn't dissuaded me, I might have really complained in the newspaper one day."

"Oh, what do you say?"

"You don't know that there are a few people in school now, who talk about Marxism-Leninism but never about Marxism-Leninism. They are not party members, but they act more like party members than party members! For example, when teaching literary history now, those who focus on the Qin and Han dynasties cannot mention the Tang and Song dynasties; those who focus on the Tang and Song dynasties cannot mention the Ming and Qing dynasties! As long as the scope of the subject is extended beyond the scope, they will say that your lecture notes are beyond the syllabus. What do they know? Literature is a continuous process, how can it be so divided?"

"Isn't this a complete tape and chicken stealing?"

"Isn't it? What's even more shameful is that they actually said: if it has local characteristics, it means it has people's characteristics and can be discussed, but if it doesn't have local characteristics, it doesn't mean it has people's characteristics and can't be discussed. What's the point of talking about that?"

Wang Deming was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth. How could these people play so extravagantly?

But thinking back to my past life, I saw all kinds of things that were beyond basic human cognition. Today, this famous university professor made XX remarks, and tomorrow, that famous university professor made XX remarks:
There are also famous painting illustrations, and the textbooks are suitable for self-study.
Wang Deming understood that not everyone is Qian Xuesen, Deng Jiaxian, or Wang Ganchang. These heroes all studied science. Qian Weichang, the father of mechanics, switched from liberal arts to physics at Tsinghua University.

Before leaving Beijing Normal University, Wang Deming glanced at the reading corner on campus. Someone was holding a newspaper and shouting. He whispered to Mr. Qi Gong again: "Don't talk nonsense in the newspaper!"

Mr. Qi Gong nodded heavily!

Afterwards, Wang Deming found time to visit Peking University and found Mr. Yang Shanquan who taught in the Spanish Department.

Mr. Yang was a strange man. He was a frequent visitor to Zhao Shouyan's home, but he never took a bus from Peking University's Yanyuan to Dongsi 2nd Street in the city. He walked the 20-plus miles round trip, which took more than three hours, and he recited Shakespeare while walking.

Sometimes when I arrived at the place, I hadn’t finished reciting yet, so I would continue reciting while standing. I would not sit down to drink tea until I finished reciting.

In addition to being familiar with Mrs. Zhao, he was also good friends with Zhu Jiajin's second brother Zhu Jialian. When he went to Zhu's house in Chaodou Hutong, he also walked back and forth in the same way, which was a strange thing.

Another strange thing is that when he taught English in the Spanish Department of Peking University, he only taught students to read Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear, interpreting them sentence by sentence and explaining them in Chinese. He never talked about the structure and layout of the script, nor the contradictions and conflicts of the characters in the script.

However, in Wang Deming's view, this is a truly smart person. Walking is physical exercise, and not following the script is to avoid political risks.

In fact, there are several Peking University professors who are frequent visitors to the Zhao family, but their ideas are not so clear.
"I heard that you translated a novel by an American female writer?"

"Yes."

".Where did you learn Spanish?"

"I like it and I learn by myself."

".Great. You came this time?"

"I want to know what Peking University teachers and students think about the rectification of our thoughts over the past few months. I want to write a survey research. Without a survey, I have no right to speak."

".I'm not sure."

"Just take me to the place where they often discuss things."

".good."

The grass is lush and the birds are singing by the Weiming Lake. On the green grass by the lake, there are circles of people sitting. Several professors and teachers, as well as a few students with shiny hair, are waving newspapers in their hands from time to time, and are standing in the circle and expressing their opinions loudly.

In Wang Deming's opinion, some of the views have gone a bit too far, which is what is called: putting aside facts and talking about reason.

Wang Deming was handsome and young, and Yang Shanquan was a teacher at Peking University. The two of them stood on the side listening, and people thought they were both from Peking University, so no one came to persuade them to leave.

"Tsk tsk, Mr. Yang, how come Hu Shi's liberalism is still lingering and spreading in your Peking University? Listen, isn't what they say already deviating from the rectification of thought? They have already started to attack. What are they thinking?" Mr. Yang said with a straight face and expressionless face, "This is their freedom."

"That's right. In the name of freedom, thank you, Mr. Yang. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have heard such a wonderful sophistry."

Tsinghua University is now a pure science school, and liberal arts have been assigned to Peking University. In order to find people, Wang Deming spent some time and effort. Finally, through Diana, he found Big Nose who taught at Tsinghua University, and then found Qian Weichang in a roundabout way.

Qian Weichang is also a fat, smiling old man, wearing a white vest, white shirt, and black pants, sitting on a small stool. "Tell me, what do you want from me? To be a lobbyist? It's hard for you to find me through Big Nose. Doesn't Big Nose know that I hate them the most?"

"You hate some rigid systems of the Soviet Union, not any particular person among them. Otherwise, how could I find you through them?" Wang Deming sat on a small stool with his legs together and his hands on his knees, just like a primary school student facing his teacher in class.

"You are such a stiff guy!" Old Man Qian pointed at Wang Deming's sitting posture, "Let's make it short!"

"How about I play a game of chess with you first?"

"Oh, you're trying to please me. Come on, let me tell you, the chess players in Tsinghua are not very good at it. They don't know how to think. They just rush around recklessly. Humph, how else can I lose to them?"

Qian Weichang cheerfully entered the room, brought out a small table, put a Go board on it, and urged, "Quick! Quick!"

As soon as the game started, Wang Deming started sweating. Where did this lousy chess player come from? You say that others can't play well? And you say that others don't know how to think? You are the kind of person who thinks in a linear way and doesn't know how to adapt, right?

The game of chess lasted a whole afternoon before Wang Deming finally beat Old Man Qian by two points.

Old Man Qian smacked his lips and said, "I don't know what kind of person you are, but you're pretty good at chess."

Wang Deming laughed dryly and replied: "It was a narrow victory, a narrow victory!"

"Tell me what's the matter? After you finish, we can have a chat and have dinner at our house tonight!"

"Well, I'm doing an investigative report."

"Which university did you go to? Did you study journalism?"

"No, I'm a factory doctor."

"Well, why do you care about this shit?"

"I feel that what many experts said in the newspapers seems wrong, and I don't know why they said so, so I want to investigate."

"My butt is crooked, I hate that I'm not an American!"

Shit, it's so rare to meet someone who shares the same opinion of them as I do!

"Aren't you studying in America?"

"Yes. That's why I can see clearly!"

"You are this!" Wang Deming gave a thumbs up.

"Don't talk nonsense, give me another plate! Old lady, cook two more dishes tonight. A friend of mine is coming to our house for dinner."

Am I a friend of a great scientist now? Are you too casual or am I too casual?

(End of this chapter)