Chapter 1017: 1016【Backward】

(Correct the mistakes in the first two chapters: 1. The closed disciples were used incorrectly, and have been changed to house disciples. 2. Banan District was called Ba County in the Republic of China. 3. Zhou Hexuan donated the money for the construction of the teachers’ dormitory due to Lao Wang’s miscalculation Too little, it has been changed from 1 million to 10 million, and the money for the toothbrush ceremony of Wei Lie has also been changed to 100,000.)

The salaries of faculty and staff of Southwest Associated University and Central University are of course different.

During the Anti-Japanese War, although the major colleges and universities were relatively difficult, the professors of Central University could still make ends meet, while the situation of other universities was hard to say. The Southwest Associated University belongs to the group with the worst situation, and it is impossible to find anything worse—it was disbanded long ago because it could not run the school.

It stands to reason that Southwest Associated University has gathered professors from Tsinghua University, Peking University and Nankai University, and its teaching strength can definitely rank first in China. How could such a school be overlooked?

Because of disobedience.

Southwest Associated University has always insisted on running an independent school. Most of the professors refused to join the Kuomintang, and they also published articles criticizing the policies of the Kuomintang in journals. Chang Kaishen also offered an olive branch many times, but Southwest Associated University did not appreciate it at all, and even repeatedly refused to move the school to Sichuan.

Therefore, Chang Kaishen must suppress the Southwest Associated University. He deliberately starved the professors, hoping to make them submit by this means.

Of course Chen Lifu knew what Chang Kaishen was thinking. He laughed and said, "Chongqing and Kunming are different after all. The price of goods is much higher. It is understandable that the salary of professors at Central University is higher."

"Of course we understand, but please also understand us from the Ministry of Education," Zhou Binglin began to calculate the economic accounts, he said, "Before the war, the minimum living expenses of a family of four in Kunming was 50 French currency, and the average monthly living expenses per person was 12.5 yuan , only in this way can we survive. Up to now, according to the actual price situation in Kunming, a family of four needs at least 6,000 yuan to survive, and the average living expenses per person is 1,500 yuan per month. In five years, the price has increased by a hundred times, and the professor However, the salary has not changed at all. The highest salary of a professor in our school is 470 yuan, while the salary of a teaching assistant is only 120 yuan. How can they live with their families?"

Chen Lifu said with a smile: "The faculty and staff of Southwest Associated University seem to have subsidies?"

"But those allowances were embezzled from the U.S. Geng's money," Wu Youxun was about to explode with rage, "If you really earn your wages to live, the teachers at Southwest Associated University would have starved to death long ago!"

Chen Lifu said: "So, the country's finances are difficult, and each school should find its own way. It's a good idea to embezzle Geng funds. Anyway, it's the money returned by the United States."

Zhou Binglin said dejectedly: "But the Geng money has been cut off. Japan occupied Shanghai at the end of last year, and the major international banks closed down one after another. The U.S. Geng money can't be remitted. From December last year to now, the school's Geng money reserve has been exhausted. In the second half of the year, teachers can only live on dead wages!"

"That's a problem." Chen Lifu nodded.

In fact, Chen Lifu also wanted to raise the salaries of teachers at Southwest Associated University. This is not out of good intentions, but because he does not want to bear the blame, because he is the Minister of Education.

If those well-known professors were really starved to death, Lao Jiang would definitely be scolded, but he, Chen Lifu, couldn't get away with it either.

Wu Youxun patted the table and said, "It's not just a problem, it's a big problem!"

Chen Lifu said perfunctorily: "I can't decide this matter. I have to report to the Executive Yuan and contact the Ministry of Finance."

Chen Xueping clasped her fists and praised: "Since Minister Chen took charge of the Ministry of Education, China's education industry has been booming. Both public and private are worthy of our admiration. Presumably Minister Chen is unwilling to see the predicament of Southwest Associated University. I hope Minister Chen can Solve the problem as soon as possible."

"Definitely, definitely." Chen Lifu continued to practice Tai Chi.

Zhou Hexuan suddenly said: "Brother Chen, why don't we go to see President Jiang tomorrow?"

"No need, I can go alone." Chen Lifu knew that this matter could not be delayed any longer, otherwise Zhou Hexuan would definitely get involved, and the longer it was delayed, the more serious the trouble would be.

After the dinner was over, Chen Lifu left everyone to chat for a while, and then sent them out of the gate himself.

Chen Xueping could see the situation more clearly, he said: "Thanks to Mr. Zhou tonight, otherwise Chen Lifu would have to continue to perfunctory."

"Don't expect too much." Zhou Hexuan said helplessly.

A few days later, Chen Lifu went to Chang Kaishen, and Chang Kaishen called Kong Xiangxi to discuss it.

Immediately, the Ministry of Education issued the "Zongzi No. 45388 Instruction", deciding to issue "special office expenses" of more than 300 yuan per month to the executives of national universities during the extraordinary period.

What does it mean?

That is, 300 yuan in legal currency will be distributed to the department heads and above of the Southwest Associated University every month, and the distribution range is less than 30 people.

Wu Youxun was so angry that he almost vomited blood, and cursed: "This old Jiang has no good intentions, and wants to use a little charity to provoke the relationship between the school leaders and ordinary faculty and staff!"

"We can't accept it." Chen Xueping said.

Zhou Binglin said: "Of course I can't accept it. 300 yuan is only enough for half a month's food. Once we accept it, it will inevitably lead to internal divisions in the school!"

Zhou Hexuan said, "Let me think of a way."

"It's useless. If Southwest Associated University is not recruited by the government for a day, Lao Jiang will not raise his salary for a day. He wants to starve us to death!" Chen Xueping said depressedly.

Zhou Hexuan took out a check and said: "A few days ago, I gave Principal Mei 10 million French currency to repair the dormitory for the teachers. Unexpectedly, only half a month later, the price has risen again. There are 20 million French currency here. Take it back to Principal Mei. Tell him to exchange the money for building materials as soon as possible.

"Thank you!" Zhou Binglin carefully kept the check.

Zhou Binglin, Wu Youxun, and Chen Xueping returned depressed. Because they stayed in Chongqing for too long, they didn't have enough travel expenses to go back to Kunming, so they planned to walk back. Zhou Hexuan hastily subsidized another sum of money to help contact the car to Kunming to transport supplies, otherwise school would have started for a long time when they walked back.

From late August to early September, Zhou Hexuan went to see Lao Jiang three times. Lao Jiang became impatient after trying hard to persuade him, and finally agreed to raise the salaries of teachers ranging from 20 yuan to 50 yuan according to their grades.

This salary adjustment not only includes Southwest Associated University, but also teachers from all national universities.

Zhou Hexuan can be regarded as helping the university teachers, but this kind of busyness is useless. A wage increase of 20 yuan to 50 yuan is just the daily meal cost of a family of four, and there is little difference between whether it is increased or not.

After the start of the new semester, 25 professors who are concurrently leaders of Southwest Associated University jointly wrote a letter to the Ministry of Education, politely declining the "special office fee" of 300 yuan per month.

This incident of asking for a salary increase made the teachers of Southwest Associated University completely disappointed with the government. Even the professors who supported the central government in the past began to change their minds.

At any time, a person's political attitude is bound to be affected by economic factors, and scholars and professors are no exception. Since then, Wen Yiduo, Zhang Xiruo, Wu Han and others have become more and more radical, criticizing the government in various public occasions, and Wen Yiduo has even devoted himself to political movements and become a well-known national fighter for democracy.

The Kunming branch of the "Democratic League" was established on the campus of Southwest Associated University.

As professors asked to join, the Democratic League specifically broke the practice of not accepting individual members. Wu Han, Wen Yiduo, Li Gongpu, Fei Xiaotong and others all joined the alliance one after another. The professors of the Kunming branch began to completely fall to the Communist Party, and in the words of the time they became the "tail" of the Communist Party.

This paved the way for the subsequent assassination of Wen Yiduo and Li Gongpu because the government refused to raise wages.