Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

The four roommates devoured the food in a whirlwind, leaving not a single grain of rice behind.

After lunch, Guo Xingang set off for Yenching University to participate in the preparatory work for the "National Society." Meanwhile, Wang Kunlun and Chen Gongbo had already made plans to go to the street to watch cricket fighting and experience the old Yenching lifestyle of walking birds in cages.

There are very few entertainment options in this era. If Wu Zhu hadn't traveled through time to find something to do, he probably would have developed depression long ago.

He declined all three invitations.

He's definitely qualified to join the "National Society," but there's no real need for him to.

In his memory, although the members there were all anti-imperialist and patriotic, their ideological leanings were quite different. Having Mr. Shouchang as an advisor was enough; if he went in, he'd be driven crazy by the noise.

As for going to see the old Yanjing Pokémon store, that's not as important as replying to this letter...

After the three left, Wu Zhu took out the letter from his classmate Huai Jin and quickly opened it.

He's a very shrewd person. He doesn't reply to any letters from male readers, but he answers every question from female readers, which is his main approach to treating them differently.

[Sir! I really did receive your reply!]

I was feeling really down today, but when I heard someone had sent me a letter addressed to my pen name, I almost ran around in circles in the yard. My grandma just shook her head at me.

I read your words of encouragement several times, and my nose tingled with emotion! You made me realize that my confusion wasn't unfounded wishful thinking, but something worth taking seriously. Thank you!

Wu Zhu sighed silently, "The world is so beautiful."

If all his readers were this adorable, they wouldn't randomly draw the "insulting blind box," that would be wonderful.

[When I first saw your answer regarding Nora's ending, my heart skipped a beat. It was so cold and ruthless, exactly like your writing style.]

[But upon closer reflection, I can understand your reasoning—it's not that your writing style is cold, but rather that this is how the world is, and you've simply written it down in the most realistic way.]

[I was very upset at the time, but thankfully you gave me another direction. Although I don't fully understand the specifics now, I've asked my father to look for articles about Zetkin and Ms. Luxemburg at Yenching University, which you recommended to me.]

[If you hadn't spoken up so frankly, I probably wouldn't have realized for a long time that a female student's way out isn't just running away like Nora, but also joining forces with a wider range of forces to tear down the wall that holds that door in place. This idea is unfamiliar, yet it excites me!]

You're amazing, sir!

"No, no..."

Wu Zhu was actually a little smug, but not to the point of being smug.

Regarding Nora's fate after leaving, he happened to see "What Happened to Nora After Leaving" while reading "The Complete Works of Lu Xun" in his previous life, and that's how he learned the answer.

At that time, Lu Xun had already begun to develop a materialist view of history, and his answer to this question was much more profound than Lu Xun's. Lu Xun was merely echoing Lu Xun's words, but when he could genuinely influence the thoughts of a female student, he felt a strange sense of responsibility.

As for recommending Luxembourg and others to Huaijin, it's because I've seen the demonized "feminism" on the internet in later generations. It completely abandons, distorts, falsifies, and modifies the ideals of these pioneers, packaging the personal interests of a few elites as the interests of the group and class, and vainly thinking that they can reap the benefits just by talking. Now that we are on the eve of ideological awakening, it is natural to recommend the right path to people.

As for whether Huaijin will become like them in the future, that is her own choice.

Wu Zhu shook his head vigorously to shake off the thought and continued looking down.

Your insights on academics are truly profound. I should aim to become an independent person, and learning shouldn't be confined to the study!

I've decided to apply to a women's normal school. I also plan to organize a book club to find some like-minded girls. The first group will read "Nora" and your "Medicine." I also want to do part-time work to see what life is like outside the study. I'm afraid that only then will I truly understand you, sir.

I plan to audit classes at Yenching University after I get into university, and then try to get a full-time student position!

Wu Zhu nodded repeatedly, extremely pleased.

Good boy!

If this were a fairy from a later era, she would have to cry, make a scene, and even threaten suicide; how could she understand that rights must be fought for?

Teachable, teachable.

And that scholar, I never expected you to describe him so vividly with just a casual remark!

[I caught a glimpse of a blurry figure, and through your pen, it became a mirror reflecting many people. You have no idea how wonderful that feeling is.]

In short, I'm eagerly awaiting the new issue of *New Youth* day and night, more so than when the final exam results are released—I'm a hundred times more anxious, no exaggeration.

Wu Zhu calculated the time; it was only September 28th, still a long way from October 15th, so there was no need to rush to write.

Now that he has money, laziness has come knocking, corrupting his will.

Well, there was no such thing as an iron will to begin with, so there's no question of corruption; it was just that my true nature came out.

If Mr. Zhongfu, who advocates "progressive rather than retiring," knew this, he would definitely be scolded and pulled down by the ear.

He shivered and decided to avoid his fellow members for the time being.

[When I read your next masterpiece, I will definitely write a long note and send it to you to tell you my feelings.]

[Sir, the letter is almost full. Actually, I feel the fog ahead is still there, but I'm not afraid anymore, at least not at this moment as I'm engrossed in writing.]

New bones may indeed grow on an old body. They may be vigorous, or they may be silent, but I believe that with your guidance, I, and countless others like me, will surely walk in the right direction.

Looking forward to your reply.

【Huaijin】

September 24th, 1918

There's a gift I made for you in the envelope!

"uh-huh?"

Wu Zhu put the letter away and picked up the envelope.

Sure enough, there was a bamboo bookmark inside. It was crudely made and had no design; it was just a simple long strip. It was clearly handmade by a novice craftsman.

He picked up the bookmark and examined it closely. It was polished fairly smoothly so it wouldn't hurt his hands. It was also engraved with two lines of small characters: "A thousand blows cannot break its strength, let the winds blow from east, west, north, and south." However, they were a bit crooked.

It's a small gift but a big sentiment!

Wu Zhu decided to use this from now on, and it was definitely not because Yang Zizhen said that this classmate Huaijin was good-looking.

How could he be so vulgar!

Those are normal emotions and desires; everyone has them, okay? Nobody's a god in heaven...

He put the letters and bookmarks into the drawer, tore off a piece of paper, and took out a fountain pen from his chest.

After a moment's thought, he put pen to paper:

[My letter to Huaijin has been received. I am very pleased that you have such awareness.]

Have you seen the latest issue of the *Beijing Dialect Daily*? It published a novel called *Rickshaw Boy*, which is well worth reading.

......

Two days later, on September 30th.

The north wind eventually blew from Yanjing to Shanghai, bringing with it the news that the Beijing Daily had broken its highest sales record with the novel "Camel Xiangzi".

As veteran newspaper readers know, during its heyday, the Beijing Daily maintained a daily circulation of over 10,000 copies, making it the undisputed number one newspaper in Beijing. It was no exaggeration to say that every merchant and ordinary person had a copy. Who among the merchants and laborers of Beijing did not know Chief Writer Peng?

However, after the Beijing Daily suffered a series of setbacks, it fell into a slump and became a second-rate tabloid. It was thought that it was facing closure, but who would have thought that a novel like "Camel Xiangzi" would come along and bring it back to its heyday!

Sales exceeded 10,000 units for three consecutive days, with a peak of 22,000 units in one period! What does that even mean!

It's worth noting that the *Shenbao* newspaper broke its single-issue sales record of 20,000 copies just last year...

This was unbelievable to the journalists in Shanghai and Nanjing. Therefore, they specifically asked someone to bring the *Beijing Daily*, determined to see what magic *Camel Xiangzi* possessed, and whether the "Yanjing Traveler's" writing truly captured the myriad aspects of life in Yanjing as legend had it!

Of course, the more you look at it, the more silent you become.

Bao Tianxiao and Zhou Shoujuan sat in the coffee shop downstairs from the editorial office of "Fiction Pictorial," each holding a copy of the literary supplement of "Beijing Dialect Daily." After confirming that it was indeed the copy they had rejected, they couldn't help but smile bitterly.

They didn't say anything about regretting not being able to keep the good novel. The two of them made the decision after careful consideration and were certain that the story of Xiangzi would receive a good response.

I just didn't expect the reaction to be so terrifying, it completely shook the literary circles of both places.

Nowadays, many literati in Shanghai and Songjiang are willing to pay high prices to buy complete copies of "The Story of Xiangzi". The "Beijing Daily", which originally cost three copper coins a copy or two copies costing five copper coins, has seen its value skyrocket to three silver dollars a copy in Shanghai and Songjiang!

"I thought I overestimated him, but I underestimated him after all."

"Yes, such immense wealth, and we didn't seize it..."

"No matter how much we say, it's useless. Old Liang and his men aren't afraid of death, but we are. Just you wait, I don't believe the Beiyang government won't take some action soon."