A professor's rebirth: I entered Tsinghua University in 1977.

"Hongyi, tell me, what was your original intention?"

After Fang Zimu finished reading the report and materials, he gently put them down, took off his reading glasses, looked at Liu Hongyi, and asked seriously.

Liu Hongyi answered without hesitation, "Mobilize all available resources and expedite construction. Secretary Fang, I believe that education development should be the top priority. I believe that any work that benefits education should be attempted."

"Take Zhuang'an as an example. If we rely entirely on our own efforts, I've calculated that it will take at least three years before the county finances have the spare capacity to increase investment in basic education throughout the county. If we want to build a qualified primary school in every brigade in the county, it will take at least another three years."

"This time is too long and will delay the education of an entire generation."

"Secretary Fang, in today's world, competition is omnipresent. Competition between countries, between provinces, and between regions ultimately comes down to education."

"Whoever provides better education and cultivates more talents will have an advantage in the competition."

"This has actually been our national policy since the founding of the People's Republic of China. After World War II, Germany and Japan were almost in ruins. But they were able to develop rapidly in just a few decades. The key reason was that they implemented universal education, rather than elite education."

“After the founding of our country, we followed this path.”

"It's just that our foundation is weaker, our basic principles are worse, and we have a large land area and a large population, so it's much more difficult for us to implement universal education than for those small countries."

In fact, there are some other reasons, but Liu Hongyi did not say them. He believed that Fang Zimu could definitely think of them.

However, if Germany and Japan knew that they had become "small countries" in Liu Hongyi's mouth, they would probably feel a little dissatisfied.

Fang Zimu nodded gently and said, "Hongyi, your point of view is correct, but will this Hope Project have a negative impact? Will it expose our family's dirty laundry?"

This is a common concern among most cadres at present.

We are indeed backward and poor, but knowing it in your heart and saying it out loud are two different things.

Liu Hongyi said, "Secretary Fang, the essence of our reform and opening up is to let the world understand us, and at the same time, let us understand the world. Reform and opening up welcomes foreign guests to visit our country, to invest, and to develop... Ultimately, we want everyone to better understand our actual situation."

"On the one hand, we want to attract more people, but on the other hand we are hiding it. Isn't that a contradiction?"

"In fact, even abroad, in developed Western countries, domestic development is very unbalanced. Rich people in wealthy regions have organized many charitable foundations to donate money and supplies to poorer areas, providing various kinds of assistance. This has long become the norm."

"Secretary Fang, over the past few decades, despite facing extreme hardship, our country has tightened its belt and provided aid to many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Those countries haven't considered it shameful to accept our aid."

"Take the Anlang Nation to our south, for example. Have they received enough aid from us over the years? They always complain it's not enough, never too much!"

"Humph, what a bunch of ungrateful bastards!"

Fang Zimu snorted coldly, cursed, and then laughed again.

"Hongyi, that's indeed the truth... But do you think that if we really launch this Hope Project, will anyone donate to us?"

There is no doubt that Liu Hongyi's last few words were very convincing to him.

The Asian, African and Latin American countries can accept our aid with peace of mind and do not feel that it is "exposing their own family shame", so why can't we accept the aid of other countries and people with peace of mind?

This thing is always mutual.

If we are the only ones who help others but never ask for help from others, wouldn’t we be the “sucker”?

Hit the swollen face to fill up the fat man!

Liu Hongyi breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as he could get through to Fang Zimu, there wouldn't be much resistance to Project Hope, at least within the province. Tai Zhengyang would definitely support him. But on this matter, he really had to consult Fang Zimu first; he couldn't bypass Fang Zimu and ask Tai Zhengyang directly.

Otherwise, Fang Zimu would definitely have some opinions about him.

While Tai Zhengyang is in office, Fang Zimu will not say anything, but once Tai Zhengyang leaves office, it will be hard to say.

How could Secretary Liu make such a mistake?

"Secretary Fang, there will still be many people willing to donate."

"When I was at Qinghua University, Qinghua Electronics Factory had a major client in Singapore, Professor Li Hanmei, who was of Chinese descent. Her father went to Singapore for business a long time ago and still retains our nationality, making him an overseas Chinese. Her family has a deep affection for their motherland."

"Professor Li once proposed establishing a scholarship at Qinghua University to help students from disadvantaged families complete their studies. However, because the government provides monthly subsidies to university students, which covers their daily needs, this proposal has been shelved for the time being."

"I estimate that if I talk to her, the Li family alone can donate at least 100,000 or 200,000 yuan to our Zhuang'an Hope Project. In addition, Qinghua Technology Development Corporation has many foreign clients, and Chuzhou also has many foreign trade customers. They are all targets we can win over."

"To be honest with Secretary Fang, I just need a legitimate name right now. Donations are not a problem."

"I can't say how much more it will be, but I can still raise one or two million in donations for Zhuang'an's Hope Project within two years."

Fang Zimu suddenly took a breath of cold air.

"One or two million?"

"Doesn't that mean all the rural primary schools in Zhuang'an County can be rebuilt?"

One or two million in this era is worth hundreds of millions in the future.

If we work hard during the construction process, be frugal, not spend money recklessly, and prevent people from using public resources for personal gain, and use the best resources where they are needed most, it is entirely possible to rebuild all the rural primary schools in a small county like Zhuang'an with a population of only 200,000.

Liu Hongyi smiled and said, "Secretary Fang, my plan is this: within two years, we will strive to raise two million in donations. Adding to the county's funding, we will strive to build a complete high school, middle school, and elementary school education system throughout the county. This will ensure that all school-age children in the county can attend school."

"A model county should be comprehensive, not just embodied in certain aspects."

Anyway, it is no longer a secret that Tai Zhengyang asked Liu Hongyi to make Zhuang'an a model county, so Liu Hongyi is no longer modest.

Fang Zimu laughed.

"Okay, Hongyi, just for what you said, I support you!"

"I'll take on this burden!"