Chapter 489 - 236: Starting Off with a Debt (4.8K)

As someone who was born into a poor family, Professor Stokes was actually quite opposed to the idea of favoritism.

During his university years, he had many conflicts with those students who got in through connections.

He was even given a somewhat insulting nickname, "the bricklayer’s son," in the 1850s.

Following the usual trajectory.

Stokes carried this hostile attitude towards favoritism throughout the rest of his life.

During his tenure as President of the Royal Society, he strictly advocated academic integrity and resolutely opposed all forms of favoritism.

Influenced by this.

The academic atmosphere across the British Peninsula became extremely pure.

This clean environment produced a great number of renowned scientists, and later Stokes was also regarded as a reformer, having made outstanding contributions to nurturing talent.

Therefore, for the suggestion made by William Whewell, Stokes really wanted to righteously refuse.

However...

The conditions offered by the other party were simply too tempting...

The Trinity College class scheduling slot alone was enough to make him waver.

The course scheduling at the University of Cambridge was valid for two years. Stokes was currently conducting a very promising theoretical research, which would produce results in a little over a year.

As long as he persevered until the theoretical report was released, he would inevitably become famous and no longer need to worry about the source of his students.

Thus, the class scheduling slot at Trinity College could be considered a strong shield during his weakest period.

Not to mention the teaching qualification for Wheat, the super tuition reducer, which was also a formidable weapon!

Although ever since Little Niu passed away, the evaluations like "the second Little Niu" emerged one after another, as rampant as authors on a fifth-grade platform, they had lost any authority and reference value.

But as far as Stokes knew, Wheat was different, he seemed to actually have some potential to grow into a second Little Niu....

So it’s not that Stokes lacked firmness; it was that William Whewell gave too much.

Thinking of this.

Stokes couldn’t help but sigh resignedly and said to William Whewell:

"Dean, you win."

William Whewell smiled and patted Stokes on the shoulder, showing a touch of gratification as though seeing Bai Jie succumb to righteousness:

"Mr. Stokes, please believe me, your choice is correct."

"Although student Luo Feng is somewhat... somewhat lacking in knowledge, he might be a good seedling, perhaps he’ll cultivate into a genius in the future?"

Stokes was already a bit unwilling, hearing this made him even more frustrated.

He slightly glanced at his respected Dean, speaking in a stiff tone:

"Dean, does your statement have any persuasive power?"

Then he pointed to the axe in Wheat’s hand, ignoring Xu Yun’s presence, and straightforwardly said:

"Let me put it bluntly, if he can achieve even thirty... no, twenty percent of Maxwell’s accomplishments, I’ll eat that axe on the spot!"

Wheat glanced at the axe in his hand, then at Thomson beside him:

"...."

Why do these people always like to gnaw on axes?

Then Stokes wiped his bushy beard, took a deep breath to calm himself down:

"Dean, let’s leave it for now, you’ll need to put some effort into the course scheduling, don’t forget your promise."

"I have other matters, so I won’t disturb you any longer."

Having said that, he took a look at Xu Yun, feeling a bit guilty, so he added:

"Luo Feng, although I have no expectations for your abilities, I won’t deliberately make things difficult for you."

"If you don’t believe me, you can ask about my reputation. Alright, remember to attend classes on time, farewell."

After saying that, he nodded to Wheat and Thomson and quickly left the office.

Seeing this.

Wheat quietly leaned towards Xu Yun and whispered:

"Mr. Luo Feng, this Professor Stokes seems a bit irritable..."

Hearing Stokes’s departing footsteps, Xu Yun shrugged indifferently.

He understood Stokes’s thoughts quite well, after all, favoritism is hardly a respectable matter across time and places:

"There’s nothing I can do about it, I’m here through the backdoor after all; to put it bluntly, I’m just a burden."

Upon hearing this, Wheat was taken aback, and then fell silent.

William Whewell, however, returned to his desk and pressed a bell on it.

After a moment.

Werner’s voice quickly came from outside the door:

"Dean, did you call for me?"

William Whewell nodded and said to him:

"Student Werner, please go and ask Student Aveline to come over, she should be attending class on the third floor of the clock tower."

Werner, fully aware of his role as a tool, immediately bowed efficiently:

"Understood, I’ll take care of it now."

After Werner left.

William Whewell looked towards the three of them, Thomson, and was about to say something.

But then Wheat suddenly raised his head and spoke first:

"Dean, I have a request, and I hope the university can approve it."

William Whewell’s attitude towards Wheat was quite mild, and upon hearing this, he gestured generously:

"Student Maxwell, feel free to ask whatever you want!"

Wheat pointed at Xu Yun and said:

"I hope to share a dormitory with Mr. Luo Feng."

Then, without waiting for William Whewell to respond, Wheat turned around and made a cheer-up gesture to Xu Yun:

"Mr. Luo Feng, you will be staying at the University of Cambridge for four years. I believe that if you work hard to persist, you can successfully graduate on your own merit."

"Even though our courses differ, as long as we live together, I can help you tutor knowledge after class."

"I heard that Mr. Feiyu once told Lord Newton, as long as you keep moving forward, you can see the hope flower, so never stop!"

Xu Yun:

"...."

One must admit.

Although Wheat’s tone was a bit juvenile, his actions were still somewhat heartwarming.

After all, the number of students at the University of Cambridge is limited, and Xu Yun’s identity as a "counterfeit" will inevitably spread quickly to various colleges, it’s just a matter of time.

Therefore, it can be foreseen.

Xu Yun will face more scrutiny and discussion, and it will be even more malicious than that from Stokes.

Almost no one will communicate with him in a friendly manner.

In such a situation.

Wheat being willing to firmly stand by his side will undoubtedly bring him considerable nonconstructive criticism.

But on second thought, this actually fits Wheat’s character.

After all, Wheat is considered one of the best in terms of character in the history of science. In terms of virtue, Little Niu is only worthy of carrying Wheat’s shoes...

For instance, when Wheat discovered Cavendish’s manuscript, he not only didn’t claim it as his own but chose to share it with the world.

It’s important to know.

This manuscript recorded Cavendish’s lifelong theoretical achievements, many of which were still in the deduction stage during Wheat’s time.

If Wheat had claimed those manuscripts as his own and published them under his name....

Now the fight for the top seat in the history of science wouldn’t just involve two immortals, but three of them.

Additionally, Wheat sponsored dozens of middle school and university students, and after the Second Opium War broke out, he published an article condemning the British atrocities—even though the "East" in the article included India as well as the homeland, it still testified to Wheat’s integrity.

Later when Wheat was setting up the Cavendish Laboratory, the British Royal Family offered to donate a batch of instruments, with funds drawn from the reparations.

In his reply, Wheat straightforwardly refused the offer, stating that he ’didn’t want those dirty things stolen from other people’s homes.’

Wheat faced exclusion in his latter years, both from the academic and political spheres.

The exclusion from the academic community was naturally due to ideological differences.

But the political exclusion was partly related to his opposition to the invasion of China... or rather, the invasion of the East.

Thus, Wheat’s integrity and kindness are beyond question, not to mention that Xu Yun once saved his life, making his request quite understandable.

But despite Wheat’s kindness, William Whewell couldn’t help but frown.

The request for Wheat to get postgraduate treatment isn’t difficult.

After all, special cases deserve special treatment.

Actually, even without Wheat mentioning it, he was already planning to arrange for postgraduate treatment.

But the problem is...

Now the postgraduate dorms at the University of Cambridge, except for St. John’s College, are all standard two-person rooms.

According to the original plan.

The school would arrange for Thomson to be Wheat’s roommate—this is also why Thomson could be Wheat’s receptor.

But with the appearance of Xu Yun as a variable, the whole plan has been disrupted.

Rejecting Wheat would be troublesome, after all, he just wants to choose a roommate...

Thinking of this.

William Whewell had to give up other thoughts and said to Wheat:

"No problem, Maxwell, I’ll take care of the dormitory matters."

"Yay!"

Upon receiving the dean’s promise, Wheat was so excited that he bowed:

"Thank you, Mr. Dean!"

William Whewell waved his hand nonchalantly, but inwardly he sighed.

Although he had agreed, he still felt somewhat upset as his own arrangements had been completely disrupted.

Is there a way to vent myself that doesn’t have any substantive impact...

As he thought about it,

A flash of inspiration hit William Whewell’s mind.

That’s it!

He quickly walked over to the broken showcase, bent down to search, and soon found a piece of parchment.

He took the parchment in hand, approached Xu Yun with a kindly expression, and said:

"Luo Feng, I remember you saying that Mr. Feiyu is your ancestor, correct?"

Xu Yun nodded and replied:

"Yes, he’s one of my distant ancestors."

Just when Xu Yun thought William Whewell was going to ask a few questions to verify his identity, the Trinity College dean suddenly smiled brightly and clapped his hands heavily:

"That’s great!"

Without waiting for Xu Yun to respond, William Whewell smoothly unfolded the parchment, pointed at it, and explained:

"Luo Feng, Mr. Feiyu once did a transaction with Lord Newton, both contributed technology and capital, and developed the famous tomato sauce, you remember this, right?"

Xu Yun nodded:

"Of course I remember."

William Whewell’s smile grew even brighter as he continued:

"Then you should also know, later because Mr. Feiyu was out of contact, Lord Newton kept Mr. Feiyu’s dividends with him, both agreed on a custody fee of 0.08% per day."

"Mr. Feiyu agreed to this custody method in his response, the original letter is in the University of Cambridge’s museum."

Xu Yun: "...."

He felt a vague sense of unease.

William Whewell looked at Xu Yun’s brow, now covered in cold sweat, and gently waved the parchment in his hand:

"According to the account statement, Lord Newton managed the funds for a total of five dividend distributions."

"The amounts are sixty-seven pounds, one hundred and thirteen pounds, two hundred seventy-nine pounds, seven hundred sixty pounds, and two thousand seven hundred sixty-six pounds."

"In total, they amount to 3885 pounds."

"Let’s omit the earlier interest and dates and start calculating from the last amount of two thousand seven hundred sixty-six entered into custody."

William Whewell quickly wrote a series of numbers on paper; as the dean of Trinity College, his mathematical skills were indeed strong:

"The last dividend was entered into custody in 1723, which was 4 years before Lord Newton passed away."

"1723 to 1850 spans 127 years, 127X365X3885X0.08% is..."

"144071.34 pounds!"

Xu Yun: "???????"

He suddenly wanted to ask William Whewell a question:

Boss, just like in the last life when debts were carried forward, can these amounts be calculated without interest?

.....