(Photo : The Monument of National Southwest Associated University)

Wang Zengqi wrote a prose entitled "New school building" in his old age. In the article, he wrote: "Once, there was a professor who used to teach in Southwest Associated University. The professor went to give lectures in America. An American asked him, during the eight-year history of Southwest Associated University, how could professors and students bear the poor equipment and poor conditions. why the university can nurture so many talents? The American asking these questions was a professor who made special studies on the history of Southwest Associated University. He just wondered why the eight-year-old Southwest Associated University could bring out more talents than the talents born in Peking University, Tsinghua University and Nankai University for 30 years. Why? Our professor only said a word: liberty."

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Wang Zhengqi' Alma Mater is Southwest Associated University. In 1939, he went to Yunnan province to take part in the Chinese university entrance exam. Wang Zengqi spent 7 years in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan. His math was so-so, but his composition was quite well. So he wanted to try his fortune when he chose to apply for Southwest Associated University, which was combined by China's most famous universities--Peking University, Tsinghua University and Nankai University.

Fortunately, Wang entered Southwest Associated University. His schoolmates were from various different places of the country. A schoolmate walked to the university from his home in Henan province. Another student rode a donkey to school. How tough it was for these young people with thought to attend a university during wartime. Wang Zengqi recalled: "Most of the schoolfellows came to seek truth and wisdom."   

Many famous professors were no longer as elegant as they were in Beijing. However, their tattered clothes in no way detracted from their quality of teaching. Wang Zengqi said: "Once a student came out of her girl's dormitory and was planning to go to school room. It was dark. Suddenly she heard heavy sounds of footsteps echoed behind her, the girl was nervous and looked back. Unexpectedly, she found her professor of chemistry Zeng Zhaolun was wearing a pair of broken shoes with his toes and heels all out." Even through they were such poor, the professors insisted on teaching. This is another reason for Southwest Associated University to nurture so many talents.    

Wang Zengqi recalled: "The professors in Southwest Associated University could teach whatever they want to. And they could teach however they want. This is their freedom. My teacher Liu Wendian taught us "Zhuangzi" fables for one year. He said at the beginning of the class, "I don't understand Zhuangzi fables, and nobody can." All the professors are unaffected and natural in Southwest Associated University.