Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

The sun and moon revolve.

The train sped across the North China Plain, the sounds of its collisions mingling with the occasional whistle, creating a symphony that was most soothing to the senses.

With that distinguished young fellow villager by her side, Wu Zhu felt much more at ease and was no longer afraid of pickpockets. She leaned against the car window and drifted off to sleep.

Just as he was dreaming about his future life, the train suddenly slowed down and braked abruptly amidst shouts and curses.

Wu Zhu nearly tripped and fell flat on his face, but luckily the young man next to him caught him. Before he could even say thank you, the train conductor rushed into the carriage.

"The roadbed ahead in Yancheng has been washed away by torrential rain and is impassable!"

The carriage erupted in chaos, with passengers hurling insults and profanities.

Wu Zhu calculated the time, and his heart sank.

The fifteen days were drawing to a close, and if he couldn't arrive in the capital on time, he would lose his chance for the interview. Although he had other ways to make a living, he would still have let down his family and fellow villagers.

"Please be patient. The road ahead is being repaired as much as possible. Passengers who are patient can wait on the bus."

"If you're really in a hurry, you can take your ticket and get off the train, then walk to Xuchang Station to transfer!"

The train conductor made another announcement.

Time waits for no one, so Wu Zhu didn't complain, packed her things and got off the bus.

The young man next to him had already stood up, preparing to meet up with his companions and get off the bus.

"Young man, are you also planning to leave first?"

"Yes! It's urgent, I can't wait."

"It's dark and the roads are slippery now, why don't we travel together and look out for each other?"

"It is an honor!"

More than twenty young people disembarked from the bus in a grand procession amidst shouts, their thin clothes soaked by the rain.

Wu Zhu recalled that it was a great honor to be able to travel with the first group of students from southern Hunan to France for work-study programs!

You should know that the future achievements of this group of people are limitless!

Just then, a young man started to back out, saying:

"Going to Beijing presents such difficulties; going to France requires crossing the ocean, and the difficulties would be immeasurable!"

According to the train conductor, the stop was a full 60 kilometers from the next station. Walking in the dark, on slippery roads, and in the pouring rain would be a challenge for anyone, so it's no wonder some people said that.

Wu Zhu bowed to the young man in the lead:

"I have important business to attend to in the capital and cannot wait for you to accompany me. I am very sorry."

After saying that, he braved the rain and walked alone toward the north.

The solitary figure deeply moved the young leader, who then addressed his companions loudly:

"We are determined to save our country, are we afraid of such difficulties? Are we not even as courageous as this young man?"

His words were like a shot of adrenaline, and all complaints ceased. The group quickly caught up with Wu Zhu and, under the watchful eyes of the other travelers, trudged wearily into the unknown darkness.

I don't know which passenger spoke first:

"These young people are going to be something else in the future..."

......

When trekking long distances on a rainy night, someone always needs to take the lead.

Wu Zhu walked side by side with the young man leading the way, and the two began to talk as they waded through the slippery mud.

"Young man, what's your name? And what brings you to the capital?"

"My name is Wu Zhu. I've come to Beijing to apply for a research fellowship at Yenching University. The application deadline is approaching."

"Great ambition! We're going to France for a work-study program. My name is Li Ren."

Even though he had expected it, Wu Zhu was still inevitably shaken when he actually heard the name.

"I was just ahead and heard Brother Li say that we should explore ways to save the country. You and the rest of you are truly ambitious. I only took the exam to find a way out. Compared to you, I am nothing."

"A way out? Saving the country? Without an individual's way out, how can there be a way out for the country? We're just on different paths. You dare to take the exam for a research fellowship at Yenching University, so your scholarship must be solid. What subject do you plan to apply for this time?"

"liberal arts."

Upon learning this answer, Li Ren's interest grew even stronger, and he patted the backpack on his shoulder:

"Then you must have read quite a few books and magazines, like this one, *New Youth*, just like me?"

For Wu Zhu, who came from a later generation, "New Youth" was a household name. He often read it in his spare time, and now he didn't need to pretend to be knowledgeable.

"I was greatly inspired, especially by Lu Xun's 'Diary of a Madman,' published in May. It was truly breathtaking!"

It's August now, so if you think about it, he wasn't wrong.

Li Ren spoke again, seemingly seeking guidance humbly:

"Brother Wu, what are your thoughts on the books 'The Grand View of the Black Curtain' and 'The Soul of Jade Pear'? To be honest, my thoughts are mixed these days, and I read all sorts of books and magazines, so I can't tell right from wrong right now."

Although the stories and cultural carriers of "The Grand View of the Black Curtain" and "The Soul of Jade Pear" are different, they both belong to the "Mandarin Duck and Butterfly School" and can be considered the ancestors of later online literature.

After pondering for a moment, Wu Zhu decided to express his opinion, even if he was afraid of making a fool of himself.

As an intellectual from a rural background, his most direct impression was:

"In my opinion, publications like 'The Dark Side of the World' expose some of the darker aspects of society, but they often linger on revealing people's privacy and degenerate into anecdotes about slandering personal enemies. They are of no benefit to enlightening the public and are contrary to the ideals of 'New Youth'."

"As for 'The Soul of Jade Pear,' forgive my bluntness, the writing and story are indeed very beautiful, and the talented men and beautiful women depicted are captivating. But in this book, there are no people like my father and brothers who toil in the fields... because the author cannot see them, and naturally, there is no place for them in the book."

His words were calm and firm.

Li Ren turned his head in the rain:

"That hits the nail on the head! Brother Wu, your words have been very enlightening!"

......

With a close friend by my side, the 60-kilometer journey wasn't tiring at all.

The two became increasingly engrossed in their conversation, discussing everything from literature to rural life, and then to the current political situation.

With his vision ahead of his time, Wu Zhu always manages to offer insightful perspectives that impress Li Ren.

With his insatiable thirst for knowledge, Li Ren meticulously unravels complexities using his vast knowledge base, and a clear goal begins to emerge in his mind.

He increasingly felt that the poorly dressed young man beside him had a passionate heart, but he was suppressing it and not showing it.

Daylight and darkness fell again. As the outline of Xuchang Station came into view, two groups of people were about to transfer to different trains and faced parting ways.

Before leaving, Li Ren grasped Wu Zhu's hand, his gaze intense:

"A conversation with Brother Wu is worth more than ten years of reading empty articles. Your insights must not be overlooked! If you wish to pick up a pen after arriving in Beijing, be sure to submit your work to *New Youth*. I eagerly await seeing your masterpiece!"

Wu Zhu nodded emphatically: "I will certainly not let you down!"

After a conversation, an idea struck him, and he made his decision.

To fill the void of the awakening era, restore history to its original state, and avoid major deviations in direction, while also earning some royalties to supplement one's livelihood.

As for whether to ride the wave of trends... we'll see! At least for now, he only has the idea of ​​making money by plagiarizing.

However, by this time, *New Youth* had abolished the payment system for manuscripts, and articles were now submitted by editorial staff members for translation and writing. Professors, with their higher incomes, could work out of passion, but he couldn't...

Do you have enough money on hand?

"To be honest, I only have four silver dollars left."

Upon hearing this, Li Ren took out five silver dollars and forcefully stuffed them into Wu Zhu's pocket. He then asked a station staff member for paper and pen, quickly wrote down an address, and handed it to Wu Zhu:

"People from southern Hunan should take care of each other when they are away from home."

"My mentor teaches in the capital. If you encounter any difficulties, you can go to the address above to find him. Just mention my name."

"It's not as easy to submit articles to 'New Youth' these days as it used to be, so he might be able to help you."

A warm feeling welled up in Wu Zhu's heart, because he knew that the money the young man beside him had also been borrowed from like-minded people, and now it was not appropriate to refuse him anymore.

He took the paper handed to him. It was not just an address, but a solemn recognition, a calling card to that exciting circle, and also a symbol of friendship between fellow townsmen.

"Thank you very much for your help, Brother Li. I will repay the money when I arrive in the capital! Farewell!"

"Let's not talk about that anymore. See you in the capital!"