At the site of Nankai University in Tianjin, workers have cleaned up the original ruins and various building materials are being transported here continuously.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Nankai University had been bombed by the Japanese army, and the school buildings were destroyed, and almost all buildings were razed to the ground. The only remaining building was Siyuan Hall, which was also bombed and caught fire, and it could still be repaired. Therefore, after the War of Resistance Against Japan, Siyuan Hall was the first old building to be restored by Nankai University.

Now the reconstruction committee of Nankai University has also been established in Siyuan Hall, and the old president Zhang Boling personally took charge and directed the reconstruction work of Nankai University.

By the autumn, Nankai University will have to resume classes. There is only one Siyuan Hall, which cannot meet the needs of teachers and students at all. There is not even enough class places, let alone the offices and dormitories of faculty and staff. Therefore, the most urgent task is to build some houses for school teaching and teachers' offices.

Zhang Boling sat in the office, holding a procurement budget in his hand, frowned and looked solemn.

Now Nankai University has been classified as a national university, and the reconstruction of Nankai University is naturally the Ministry of Education paid for it. After Zhang Boling reported the reconstruction budget of Nankai University to the Ministry of Education, he was cut by the Ministry of Education, which was half less. However, this was also expected by Zhang Boling. After all, Nanjing's financial difficulties cannot be due to the amount of money Nankai University needs.

In Zhang Boling's opinion, as long as the Ministry of Education gives money, it is a good thing. As for running a school, Zhang Boling is a professional. There is a way to do more money and a way to do less money. If the Ministry of Education doesn't give a penny, Nankai University will really not be able to resume school.

However, even if the Ministry of Education agreed to give the money, the money was not easy. It took two or three months to delay the reconstruction funds to be given to Nankai University.

The slowdown in funding by three months will definitely affect the reconstruction progress of Nankai University and the resumption of classes for students in the fall. However, these are all small problems. The key is that in the past three months, prices have soared and inflation has been severe. The funds approved by the Ministry of Education were originally barely able to rebuild Nankai University, but after these three months of delay, the funds are no longer enough.

Principal Zhang Boling was also worried about this matter.

Putting down the procurement budget, Zhang Boling took off his glasses in distress, rubbed his eyes, and then said, "If it really doesn't work, I can only reduce the size of the school building. See what is unnecessary. If it can be reduced, just reduce it!"

"Principal, these have been streamlined, and they really cannot be reduced." A person next to him said.

"But if we continue to build this way, our money will not be enough to buy materials!" Zhang Boling said helplessly.

"Principal, why don't you think about other ways to see if there are other channels to raise money?" the man asked.

The nickname of Zhang Boling as "begging for alms" is not for nothing. When he was preparing to build Nankai University, Zhang Boling went everywhere to beg for alms, raised funds little by little, and finally established Nankai University.

Zhang Boling shook his head, "It's hard. Now it's not as good as before. Before, the Japanese have not come, so it's naturally easier to ask for money from others. But after the Japanese have arrived, the wealthy families in the Beijing-Tianjin area have also escaped. They have long lost the industry in Beijing and Tianjin. Those who can keep the industry have become traitors and have now been liquidated. Now the country is in a mess and the situation is not peaceful. How can anyone pay to build a school?"

"If it really doesn't work, go to Tsinghua University or Peking University for help. Over the years, we have been studying with Tsinghua University and Peking University. They have a strong foundation and may be able to help us." The man said again.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Nankai University and Tsinghua University went south together, and publicly established Southwest United University, and now they are going north to resume classes. Although Nankai University is in Tianjin and Tsinghua University is in Peking, the three schools have shared hardships and have friendships with each other. Now that Nankai University is in trouble, it is not an exaggeration to ask Tsinghua University for help.

However, Zhang Boling still shook his head: "Every family has a difficult sutra. Our funding is insufficient. I think Tsinghua and Peking University are not sufficient. I guess they are short of money now! After all, our three schools have eight years of hardship. If I speak to them, they will definitely not stand by and give me money, but what is the difference between this and taking their flesh and blood to feed us ourselves? I can't do such a thing."

"But our money is really not enough. If we continue to build the school building according to the original planned, we will have to stop work halfway through construction."

"Oh, it's really a good cook!" Zhang Boling sighed and then said, "If it really doesn't work, build a few rows of simple tiled houses to serve as school buildings temporarily. If it doesn't work, then build a straw shed like in Kunming. When we have money in the future, we will push it down and build it again!"

At this moment, someone knocked in outside.

"Principal, someone is looking for you outside."

"Who is it? What's the matter with me?" Zhang Boling asked.

"The man claimed to have returned from the United States and was entrusted by Mr. Zhongshu to come to you specifically. He also brought a handwritten letter from Mr. Zhongshu."

"Zhongshu" is the face of Zhang Pengchun. Zhang Pengchun also worked as a professor at Nankai University, so the teachers in Nankai would call Zhang Pengchun the most "Mr. Zhongshu" instead of "Mr. Zhang", which is also distinguished from Zhang Boling.

This time, Zhang Boling was slightly stunned. Although Zhang Pengchun is now in the United States, Zhang Boling has always had contact with Zhang Pengchun. Before Zhang Boling came to Tianjin from Kunming, he sent a telegram to Zhang Pengchun. In theory, if Zhang Pengchun had something to look for Zhang Boling, he could send a telegram directly. There is no need to ask people to come from the United States to bring a letter to him from all the way. Even if there is an urgent matter, sending a telegram is faster than finding someone to deliver a letter.

But now Zhang Pengchun is specifically looking for someone to bring letters, which makes Zhang Boling realize that there must be something important about Zhang Pengchun, and it is the kind of thing that the law does not pass on to the three of them.

"Please come over." Zhang Boling said instructing.

After a while, a gentle middle-aged man was invited in. After seeing Zhang Boling, he immediately saluted and said, "You are Principal Zhang, right?"

After the two of them took a seat, the gentle middle-aged man took out a file bag from his bag. The file bag was very tightly wrapped, and the sealing position was even made with a varnished paint print.

"Principal Zhang, Mr. Zhang Pengchun asked me to hand over this file bag to you personally. Check whether the file bag is intact." The middle-aged man said.

"I'm really annoying, Mr. Zhang Boling thanked him and checked the file bag. There was indeed no sign of being opened.

After the middle-aged man completed his mission, he stood up and said goodbye. Zhang Boling opened the file bag.

There is a letter and a small file bag inside, which is also sealed with fire lacquer seals, and the envelope of the letter reads "My brother Bo Ling personally vents", which is exactly the handwriting of Zhang Pengchun.

Zhang Boling opened the envelope and looked at the letter carefully. Then his expression solidified, and then there was a hint of ecstasy on his face.

Zhang Boling hurriedly opened the small file bag and saw the Citibank promissory notes inside, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hahahaha..." The next moment, Zhang Boling couldn't help laughing.

Not long after, a teacher from Nankai hurriedly knocked in and said, "Principal, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm just so happy!" Zhang Boling answered.

"Happy?" The other party looked confused. You should know that not long ago, Zhang Boling was still worried about the reconstruction funding of Nankai University. After only an hour, why did he laugh happily!

Zhang Boling continued to laugh and said, "We have money, we have money to build a school! Didn't we want to build a library before? Now we have to build a chemistry laboratory, we also want to build it! Professor Huang wants to buy American experimental equipment? Buy it, buy everything! There is also a playground, and it also needs to be renovated, lay the good cinder, and repair two stands..."

"The principal is afraid that he is worried about money, and he is crazy about gaining and losing money, right?" the man thought subconsciously.

Zhang Boling did not hide it either. He said, "Chen Qiang has sent us money!"

"Chen Qiang? The Chen Qiang in the United States? It's so good. He finally didn't forget our Nankai!" The Nankai teacher suddenly showed joy and then asked, "Principal, how much has Chen Qiang given us?"

"100,000 yuan!" Zhang Boling stretched out ten fingers.

The face of the teacher of Nankai suddenly sank. He said helplessly: "Principal, although 100,000 yuan is not a small amount, the prices are soaring now. This 100,000 yuan is probably far from filling the funding hole for our reconstruction of Nankai!"

"I didn't talk about French currency, I'm talking about US dollars, 100,000 US dollars!" Zhang Boling said.

"What? One hundred thousand US dollars? Oh my god! So much money! Where did Chen Qiang come from so much money!" Teacher Nankai exclaimed.

"Even in the United States, 100,000 US dollars is a big number. Ordinary people can't save so much money in their lifetime. It's not easy for Chen Qiang to work hard in the United States over the years. It is probably all his savings over the years! We can't let him down. We must make Nankai beautiful and make Nankai the best university in China!" Zhang Boling said, clenched his fists, and then continued: "I have to book a few train tickets to Shanghai. I have to go to Citibank in Shanghai in person and withdraw the money!"

Nanjing opened the foreign currency market in March, and the fiat currency against the US dollar instantly soared from 20 to 1 to 2020, and this number has been rising. Now it has reached 3,000 fiat currency to be exchanged for 1 US dollar. The 100,000 US dollars donated to Nankai University will be exchanged for fiat currency, which is 3000 million fiat currency. There is no problem in building a few more Nankai schools.

With this money, Zhang Boling became tough in an instant. Nankai University can build teaching buildings, libraries, dormitories, playgrounds, laboratories, purchase various experimental equipment, and even the office funds in the next few years are very rich. It can be said that Nankai University has a bright future.

...

After Zhang Boling returned from Shanghai, he went to Peking again and invited President Mei from Tsinghua University to have dinner.

In Quanjude, Peking, President Mei and Professor Huang from Tsinghua University are waiting for Zhang Boling's arrival in the private room.

President Mei of Tsinghua University was one of the first batch of students studying in the United States. He has served as the president of Tsinghua University since 1931. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, he served as the chairman of the school committee of Southwest United University. He also shared hardships with Zhang Boling, and the two had a deep friendship.

Professor Huang graduated from Tsinghua University and went to the United States to study. After returning to China, he taught at Nankai University and served as the secretary-general of Nankai University. He has a dual background of Tsinghua University and Nankai University. During the Southwest United University, a Southwest United University Normal College was added, which was led by Professor Huang as the president of the Normal College. When the Anti-Japanese War was just victorious, he served as the director of the Tianjin Municipal Education Bureau for four months. After resigning, he planned to continue teaching. He happened to wait for three universities to resume school in Peking, so he was called by Zhang Boling today.

Before Zhang Boling came, Principal Mei and Professor Huang started chatting.

"Professor Huang, do you know what Principal Zhang is asking me?" Principal Mei asked.

"It must be an important thing to invite you to Quanjude, but it's cheaper for me. I've been treated orally today, and I haven't eaten Quanjude's duck one day!" Professor Huang said.

"Important things?" Principal Mei nodded thoughtfully, and then asked, "Can it be that Nankai reconstruction is facing difficulties?"

"This is the matter for ten days." Professor Huang continued: "The reconstruction fund provided by the Ministry of Education was insufficient, and the money was delayed for three months before it was in place. Now prices are soaring, and various materials are much more expensive than three months ago. The reconstruction funding provided by the Ministry of Education for Nankai is definitely not enough. Principal Zhang may be asking you for money."

"Hey... Actually, the funds are too short of money at Tsinghua University!" President Mei said helplessly.

"What are you going to do? Principal Zhang asked for money, so he couldn't refuse it directly!" Professor Huang asked.

"The situation in Nankai is more difficult than Tsinghua University. At least Tsinghua University's school buildings are there, but Nankai's school buildings are basically blown up by the Japanese. Principal Zhang needs even more money. Our three schools have shared weal and woe, so we Tsinghua University also has to squeeze out some funds to support Nankai!" Principal Mei said.

"The reconstruction work of Tsinghua University is probably affected, right?" Professor Huang asked.

"It's okay. If it really doesn't work, I can use the Boxer Indemnity Fund." Principal Mei replied.

Tsinghua University was built with Americans using the Boxer Indemnity from the Qing government. At that time, a Boxer Indemnity Fund was also established. Tsinghua University's daily operations were also supported by this Boxer Indemnity Fund. Most of this fund was in domestic banks with legal currency, and a small part was in US banks. The domestic part eventually turned into waste paper due to hyperinflation, and the part in the United States was later used to build the Tsinghua University on the treasure island.

At this time, Zhang Boling knocked on the door and came in.

"Sorry, Principal Mei and Professor Huang, I'm done here and I'll have to wait for you for a long time." Zhang Boling said with a smile.

"Principal, I'm greedy for this, so I've come here early." Professor Huang said happily. He once taught at Nankai University, so he directly called Zhang Boling "Principal".

After the three of them sat down, the chef pushed the roast duck in. The slices were ready and served on the table. The three of them had almost finished eating. Principal Mei then asked, "Brother Bo Ling, you are looking for me this time, what's more than that?"

"Yuehan (President Mei's name), I came to you this time for the resumption of the three schools. I wonder if the Ministry of Education allocated sufficient funds to the resumption of the university?" Zhang Boling said.

"Our funding is barely enough." Principal Mei replied.

In fact, Tsinghua's funds are also very tight, but Principal Mei is worried that if he said Tsinghua has no money, Zhang Boling would be embarrassed to ask for money. Principal Mei also wanted to help Nankai, so he said, "It's barely enough", and then he will wait for Zhang Boling to ask for money.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Boling took out a thick envelope from his arms and handed it to Principal Mei.

"Brother Bo Ling, what does this mean?" Principal Mei asked in confusion.

"Yuehan, don't hide it from me. I know that Tsinghua is also short of money. There is some money here. You can use it first. We will calculate the funds for our Nankai University to support Tsinghua University's resumption of school!" Zhang Boling said.

Principal Mei was stunned for a moment, but still took the envelope and opened it and saw that it was full of green US dollars.

"So much US dollars! Principal Zhang, where did you get it?" Principal Mei widened her eyes in surprise.

"Do you still remember Chen Qiang?" Zhang Boling asked back.

Principal Mei nodded: "Of course I remember him. In the 21st year of the Republic of China, I just became the principal of Tsinghua University. Chen Qiang was going to the United States to participate in the Olympics, but he had no funds and had come to Tsinghua University to raise funds. I heard that he is in the United States now, is this money related to him?"

"This is the resumption of school funds donated by Chen Qiang to Tsinghua University." Zhang Boling said.

Zhang Boling did not say that the money was divided from the 100,000 US dollars donated to Nankai by Chen Qiang, but directly said that Chen Qiang donated it to Tsinghua University, which could be regarded as putting this favor on Chen Qiang's head.

"I really didn't expect that Chen Qiang still remembers what happened back then for more than ten years!" Principal Mei sighed. He did not refuse, put away the envelope, but remembered Chen Qiang's friendship in his heart.

Zhang Boling took out another envelope and continued, "Chen Qiang also donated a sum to Peking University, but there is no one in charge at Peking University now, so he asked President Mei to keep the money for the time being and hand it over to him after Hu Shi comes."

President Mei took the envelope in person and continued: "When Hu Shi served as ambassador to the United States, he made great contributions. He thought that after he returned to China, he would at least give him a position like the Minister of Education, but he didn't expect that he would only come to Peking University as the president."

The original President Jiang of Peking University had other important positions, so he resigned from the position of President of Peking University. At this time, Peking University was waiting for the new president to take over. The new president of Peking University was Hu Shi.

—————
Chapter completed!