Watching the Japanese leave, Zhao Tianlin handed a letter to He Rui. "*Ta Kung Pao* journalist Mo Yang wants to interview you again, Brother He. He says in the letter that he has also invited some interested French merchants. He specifically asked about my views on the President proclaiming himself Emperor; presumably, he won't let you off easily when he sees you."

He Rui smiled. "If Journalist Mo interviews Siping, I will certainly say everything I know and say it fully."

Zhao Tianlin knew He Rui was speaking from the heart and teased, "Does Brother He think the President proclaiming himself Emperor is not a major event?"

"National affairs are major events. Matters of seeking personal gain, no matter how big the fuss, are essentially trivial."

Zhao Tianlin studied law; following He Rui's train of thought, he understood immediately after a little consideration. He sighed, "Brother He is right. But he is the President after all."

"When I was young, I looked at the world map and imagined to my heart's content how to conquer this world based on what I knew. It is said that youths in European countries have similar experiences. In my view, this kind of thing is much bigger than President Yuan proclaiming himself Emperor. How many dreams a country can support determines how far it can go."

"Dreams of conquering the world?" Zhao Tianlin couldn't help frowning slightly.

"Youths don't understand the cruelty of the world; what they call conquest is just curiosity about the world. Don't use adult thinking to understand the rhetoric of youths."

"I am concerned about those European youths," Zhao Tianlin sighed.

"If every family in China has its own world map and globe, and every child can go to middle school, I think at least one boy out of ten will do this," He Rui answered frankly.

Zhao Tianlin didn't respond but took out a budget application. "Brother He, the expenses for opening schools in towns and villages have been calculated."

He Rui took it, read it for a moment, and praised, "Brother Zhao letting Militia Captains be PE teachers—this idea is truly reasonable."

"Did Brother He think I was stuck in the past?" Zhao Tianlin laughed loudly.

He Rui also laughed. "Not at all. I know PE is a very scientific course and must be taught by professional teachers. I also know Brother Zhao is very serious about these details. That's why I marvel that Brother Zhao can break through prejudice and accept an imperfect solution. Please rest assured, Brother Zhao; when the village Militia Captains come to town for training, I will teach them the basics of kinesiology as much as possible. Textbooks in this area are already being compiled."

Zhao Tianlin was somewhat moved. "Brother He's learning is truly unfathomable."

"First, although I know kinesiology, I know limited amounts. Second, I can't possibly research this knowledge myself; I can only organize people to research and progress in this area. All I can do is point out that this direction exists and provide funding to support work in this area. It's enough that we know this matter. There is another matter I need to discuss with Brother Zhao."

***

A few days passed quickly. *Ta Kung Pao* journalist Mo Yang arrived in Siping with seven or eight French and British merchants.

Getting off the train, they saw the welcoming team already holding up banners. Below the banner, the Republic of China flag was in the center, with the British flag on the left and the French flag on the right.

Amidst the rhythmic, light, and neat tapping of the drum corps, a man in a long gown walked out of the ranks and began playing a flute.

The flute sound was melodious, and the drumming stopped immediately. Hearing the tune, the British merchants were immediately somewhat moved. Although bagpipes and Chinese flutes are very different, the tune of *Auld Lang Syne* was equally beautiful.

This song is Scottish folk music, but Scotland and England have been united for two hundred years, and it is also deeply loved by the English. Suddenly hearing familiar music from home in a foreign land, the British merchants' faces were full of surprise and joy, and the Scottish merchant's eyes were even a bit red.

Although the French were a bit surprised, they listened proudly with a polite appearance. The tune wasn't long and finished in two minutes. The flute player paused slightly, then played *La Marseillaise*. The French merchants unconsciously adopted a standing-at-attention posture.

Although the flute was melodious and lacked the majestic power of a symphony orchestra, the neat, low drumming of the drummers under the conductor's direction highlighted the atmosphere.

The music ended, and He Rui, in a crisp military uniform, walked out. He first said loudly in French, "Welcome to Siping." Then he said it again loudly in English. Immediately afterward, he stepped forward to shake hands with the merchants one by one.

Mo Yang had already greatly touted He Rui to the merchants along the way and had made plans to introduce both sides properly after arriving at Siping train station. But he never expected He Rui to do this. Judging from the current effect, it had greatly exceeded Mo Yang's best expectations.

However, He Rui didn't say much. After shaking hands, he said, "I have prepared a meager banquet to welcome you all. Please follow me."

After speaking, he took the lead. Mo Yang looked at He Rui from behind, seeing that although this young Siping Governor was polite and cordial, his bearing was that of a big shot, as if a king were entertaining his guests.

The group took rickshaws straight to Huaqing Tower. Mo Yang looked at the streets and felt they were completely different from his last visit. It wasn't that the buildings on both sides of the street had changed, but the cleanliness of the streets themselves was completely different. And there were traffic police directing traffic at intersections. The whole of Siping was originally an ordinary county town outside the pass, but now it faintly had the feel of a big city like Tianjin.

Arriving at the second floor of Huaqing Tower, a young man wearing a well-fitted suit, handmade leather shoes, and hair styled neatly with pomade walked out of a private room. He first saluted He Rui, then turned to the merchants, greeting them in a London accent.

Although the French merchants didn't usually speak English, they understood English doing business overseas.

Mo Yang distinguished carefully and finally found the memory. This young man was actually Wu Youping, the Siping Mayor's Assistant he met last time.

The merchants were also surprised. Wu Youping introduced himself, "I am the Acting Mayor of Siping, Wu Youping. If you gentlemen come to invest in the future, we will inevitably have many dealings."

After speaking, he led the merchants into the private room to rest.

Taking advantage of a gap, Mo Yang pulled Wu Youping aside. "Brother Wu, your English..."

Wu Youping laughed. "I attended a church school in Tianjin, so naturally I learned English and French. I'm just not familiar with French; I can listen, but can't speak more than a few words."

"Then your outfit?" Mo Yang, even after confirming the source of Wu Youping's English, couldn't equate the short-clothed youth from last time with the current British-style youth.

"This suit. My father asked a tailor in Tianjin to make it when I graduated. Brother Mo, is this suit already out of fashion?"

Mo Yang shook his head repeatedly. He hadn't thought at all about whether the suit was out of fashion; he just hadn't expected Wu Youping to be able to show such a side. Just this outfit and English—even people from the Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs were no better than this.

Wu Youping said, "Brother Mo, when we take our seats in a moment, I still have to ask Brother Mo to introduce everyone one by one."

Only then did Mo Yang remember his previous preparation. He originally wanted to introduce everyone one by one at the train station. However, introducing before taking seats was fully in accordance with European and American etiquette. Mo Yang hurriedly replied, "Naturally."