Chapter 118: Applying for School Accreditation

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In the imperial capital of China, within the courtyard of the Wang family residence, Li Fu was playing a game of Go with the elderly Master Wang while engaging in conversation. It was shortly after the New Year, and naturally, Li Fu had come to the capital to pay a visit. After all, his relationship with Wang Yun had been confirmed, and all that remained was to formally register their marriage and hold the wedding banquet.

“I didn’t expect your Go skills to be quite impressive. It’s been a long time since I’ve found a worthy opponent,” Master Wang remarked, holding the white stones as he pondered his next move, brow furrowed in thought.

Li Fu smiled faintly. Although he had only recently begun learning Go, making him no match for the elder, he had the assistance of Xiao Ying, whose calculating abilities far surpassed those of AlphaGo by an unfathomable magnitude. With such help, he could easily hold his own against Master Wang.

As they played, their conversation drifted widely, naturally turning toward the current state of China.

“Li Fu, what do you think of our country’s present condition?”

“Our nation is flourishing, on the brink of what can be called a grand renaissance. Yet many problems persist. The current situation remains fragile; any sudden upheaval could send us back to square one,” Li Fu answered cautiously after careful thought. In the presence of the elder, words and actions required careful consideration.

“Hm, in your view, where are our nation’s weaknesses? What needs improvement?”

Master Wang nodded slightly, fully aware of China’s circumstances. As Li Fu had said, if China were a person, it would be one who had just risen out of poverty into modest prosperity—but this prosperity was unstable, fragile. A single illness or disaster could plunge it back into hardship.

“There are many areas requiring reform, especially education, healthcare, and social welfare—these alone demand long-term efforts. Beyond that, deeper issues like social fairness, justice, equality, the overall quality of the populace, and a transformation of societal spirit remain largely neglected despite their profound impact,” Li Fu explained, drawing from his knowledge of the Han Technological Empire, a super-civilization seed he had studied. Modern China had merely overcome the struggle for sustenance and now sought higher ground, but numerous flaws hindered further advancement.

“Fairness, justice, equality?”

Master Wang gently set down his stone, reflecting deeply on the meaning behind Li Fu’s words.

“Precisely. As the cultural level of our people rises and with the advent of the internet, information flows freely. Our citizens are no longer the uninformed masses of the past; they increasingly yearn for fairness, justice, and equality. Yet society is rife with the opposite—inequities and injustices, many perpetrated even at the highest levels.”

Li Fu nodded thoughtfully and continued. His remarks were not baseless nor aimless. Anyone who had entered society could feel it. Take for example college graduates seeking employment: positions in banks, government, and public institutions often require connections. Within state-owned enterprises, jobs are frequently passed down from grandfather to father to son. Such practices abound, deepening social stratification, which will only worsen over time.

“Hm.”

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Master Wang nodded knowingly. He understood these realities well, but also recognized how exceedingly difficult, perhaps nearly impossible, it would be to change them.

“So, what do you think should be done to transform all this?”

“Education and technology!” Li Fu answered without hesitation.

“Explain in detail,” the elder urged upon hearing the swift reply.

“The importance of education goes without saying. It elevates citizens’ quality, endows them with better survival skills, and strengthens our competitiveness in an increasingly fierce international arena. Yet our education system has veered off course.”

“For instance, making English one of the three most critical exam subjects is fundamentally flawed. We cannot assume that because the world is becoming globalized, every citizen must master English. This emphasis has cost us dearly.”

“Many excel in science and engineering, but because of poor English scores, they fail the college entrance exam and are ultimately wasted. Education has gradually deteriorated into rote exam preparation—that is the greatest failure.”

“As for technology, it is the key determinant of a nation’s and civilization’s strength. Should humanity enter the interstellar or cosmic era, technology will become even more vital.”

Li Fu carefully organized his thoughts, speaking of what he had long wished to express. His own academic record had been excellent, enabling him to attend China University. Yet in high school, he had witnessed countless top science students fall short due to English, relegated to third-tier schools and gradually forgotten.

Many of these individuals, if properly nurtured, might have become outstanding scientists or engineers. Yet because of this foreign language—studied for years—they found no opportunity to utilize it. A lifelong regret.

“The elevated status of English stems largely from our people’s historical lack of confidence. Though we have now risen, in spirit we remain dwarfs, lacking true self-assurance.”

Master Wang nodded upon hearing English mentioned. Indeed, this was a product of a particular historical period. In the early years of the founding of the nation, there was even debate about abandoning Chinese entirely in favor of English as the official language. He had lived through those times and knew well.

Great effort and resources had been poured into learning English, yet it proved practically useless in work and daily life for most. It was akin to someone spending countless hours honing a mythical dragon-slaying skill with no real battlefield to apply it.

A single individual’s misguided path affects only their destiny; but a nation’s missteps determine its fate.

“Yes, our people remain too lacking in confidence.”

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Li Fu nodded slowly as well. The manifestations of this lack of confidence were many—for example, wealthy and middle-to-upper class emigrants who insisted on respecting others wherever they went, while not demanding respect in return. There were countless such instances.

“I heard from Wang Yun that you plan to establish a university. How do you intend to approach education? What is your teaching philosophy?”

The topic turned towards Li Fu’s preparations to found Sanjiang University, which Master Wang recalled Wang Yun had mentioned before.

“My teaching philosophy is simple: invest generously, combine theory with practice, and demonstrate every concept from the textbooks rather than merely reciting and testing once.”

“The curriculum will emphasize high technology, focusing on future fields like aviation and aerospace, primarily in science and engineering.”

Sanjiang University was crucial to Li Fu, for it would determine whether he could cultivate sufficient talent. Currently, employees, especially researchers, required extensive training after recruitment.

While theoretical knowledge was adequate, practical skills, divergent thinking, and creativity lagged far behind. This was manageable for now, but in the starry expanse of space, Li Fu believed it necessary to adopt the Han Technological Empire’s educational model.

Everyone should be nurtured as a scientist. The investment in education must not only be generous but also targeted—technology-centric—to enable the civilization to master powerful innovations swiftly, gaining strength to thrive amidst the universe’s harsh realities.

This visit to the capital was not merely to see the Wangs. Li Fu also sought Master Wang’s assistance in securing approval to establish the university. Private universities in China faced daunting bureaucracy, requiring countless stamps and enrollment qualifications, each subject to layers of approval.

Although Sanjiang Town, Meijiang County, and even the Jiangnan Provincial Government had contributed significantly, resolving minor issues, and although faculty could be recruited with substantial funding—especially with Li Fu’s status as a Nobel laureate and national academician—final approval remained elusive.

Most private higher education institutions were merely branch colleges of established universities, lacking true standing. Many operated as vocational schools, masquerading under grand names but serving primarily as profit centers.

Students often merely spent a few happy years paying tuition and emerged with diplomas that failed to open doors at many companies. Little real learning occurred.

Li Fu was unwilling to settle for such a university, nor did he intend to profit from Sanjiang University. He aimed to create an institution that genuinely cultivated elites.