How can I justify myself as a Magnate if I don't indulge myself?

Peking University's anniversary celebrations continued in full swing...

Whether it was the May Fourth Youth Day performances organized spontaneously by students in various areas of Yan Garden or the anniversary show in the auditorium, all of them attracted a great deal of attention...

And those big shots from Peking University, after completing the initial ceremony of the anniversary, unanimously made their way to the meeting room...

Peking University President Lin Guangzhong...

Three vice-chancellors...

Several directors, deans...

One could say that the entire leadership layer of Peking University was gathered here...

Gu Heng had originally planned to show off and then slip away, but clearly, he had thought too much...

He had barely come down from the stage and hadn't even managed to return to his seat when he was brought into this meeting room by Liu Qiao...

Facing this group of magnates, Gu Heng couldn't help but swallow his saliva a bit...

These were all top figures in the education sector of Hua Country...

Although they didn't have the actual power like administrative officials from each province and department, in terms of prestige and name recognition, they were in no way inferior to those senior officials...

Showboating is fun in the moment, but it leads to a funeral pyre afterwards...

Feeling the scrutinizing gazes of these university leaders, Gu Heng felt utterly uncomfortable... Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"Gu Heng, right?"

After a while, President Lin Guangzhong finally spoke.

Upon hearing this, Gu Heng nodded and greeted Lin Guangzhong with a smile, "Good day, President."

"Please sit down."

Feeling that it was awkward to stand, Gu Heng didn't put on airs. He sat down directly in a chair next to him, face-to-face with President Lin.

"The speech you gave in the auditorium just now, could you repeat it for us here?"

Without hesitation, Gu Heng said, "The 10 million I donated to the university has already been deposited in the school's donation account. I believe all the university leaders are aware of this.

As for the speech today in the auditorium, it was purely influenced on the spot by Academician Chen Zhizhong's impact, leading me to make that commitment publicly.

Repeating it probably isn't necessary. Essentially, I plan to establish two scholarship funds supervised jointly by the university and myself, funded by me and operated by the university, to provide some modest help to students in our school who need support."

Before Lin Guangzhong could speak, a balding, slightly overweight man in his fifties suddenly interjected, "Do you realize that what you said require taking responsibility? Why didn't you discuss it with the university in advance before taking such initiative?

Now you've put the cart before the horse, and the media journalists have recorded everything. If this plan you mentioned doesn't get implemented, who will bear the brunt of the public opinion impact? Will it be your responsibility, or the university's?!"

Hearing the bald man's words, Gu Heng couldn't help frowning.

He admitted that he had indeed acted impulsively.

But no matter what, shouldn't Peking University be the beneficiary?

Why the hell should he, who's donating his own money, get a verbal lashing from this old fatty?

Sensing Gu Heng's displeasure, Lin Guangzhong interrupted the bald man and said to Gu Heng, "Don't take what Director Xu said to heart. He has been teaching at Peking University for over 30 years, rising from an ordinary lecturer to the current Director of the Academic Affairs Office. He has come to regard the university as a part of his life and is worried about the school's reputation being affected."

After speaking, he continued, "But do you know how much money it will take to make the promises you made during the few minutes in the auditorium a reality?"

Gu Heng honestly shook his head.

He didn't have an exact figure.

A year might cost three to four million or so...

The bald man looked at Gu Heng, who seemed clueless, and became even more irritated.

"Since you don't know, then let me tell you, 2000 student scholarships a year amounts to 20 million! As for the number of students needing financial aid, our university's undergraduate tuition is roughly 5000 a year, which adds up to 20,000 over four years, plus living allowances, one impoverished student would need a subsidy of 30 to 40 thousand!

Currently, at Peking University, there are over 1000 students who meet the criteria for financial aid, and each year we never admit fewer than 200 impoverished students. Accounting for a four-year cycle, the spending on financial aid scholarships will reach about 50 million, averaging an annual expenditure of 12.5 million. Together with the scholarships, you would need to donate over 35 million a year to the university to just about maintain the normal operation of the fund!

Moreover, this isn't something that ends with a one-time donation; you need to make contributions year after year! A minimum of four years! That's 1.4 billion!"

The amount wasn't too far off from the number he had calculated...

Over a billion in four years...

It wasn't a lot...

But seeing the bald man's demeanor, Gu Heng was somewhat puzzled...

The money he was donating was his own; it wasn't the man's money, so why was he so agitated?

Before Gu Heng could speak, the bald man started ranting again...

Only this time, not at Gu Heng, but at Liu Qiao, "It's simply preposterous. I was staunchly against giving this Gu Heng an alumnus spot for his so-called donation of 10 million. Our Peking University's spirit has been repeatedly tarnished by such bottomless tactics!

Now with talk of setting up some foundation, it completely disregards our school authorities! With such a massive project worth hundreds of millions in financial aid, who will bear the consequences if something goes wrong? Who can bear it?! Can you, Liu Qiao?"

Liu Qiao was on the receiving end of the bald man's outburst but maintained his composure, sitting quietly in his spot.

What Gu Heng did today was indeed too impulsive...

So it was normal for the bald man, a conservative like Director Xu, to furiously berate him...

But Gu Heng had given Liu Qiao a heads-up in advance, and he had given his tacit approval...