Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Yanjing, people were still immersed in the shock of "Rickshaw Boy" and could not get over it for a long time.

"Mengzhen, what did you say back then? That Xiangzi would definitely have a happy ending?"

"Don't even mention it! If I knew who this guy from Yanjing was, I'd have to give him a good beating with my fist, which's as big as a sandbag!"

"Count us in!"

The lotus pond in Yenching University's Second Affiliated Hospital is gradually withering. Students stroll by and pass by, but no one is in the mood to glance at it. They are still discussing the completed novel "Xiangzi's Story," which shows how dissatisfied they are with the ending.

Don't let them catch you, or you'll be in big trouble!

Besides researching "Rickshaw Boy," Fu Mengzhen has recently been working on starting a magazine. As for the progress...

He was already quite prestigious among the students at Yenching University, and thanks to his strong encouragement, many students are now willing to join...

Many people came for Zhu Junzi, but only he and a few others knew that this was a huge pie in the sky, so big that no one could swallow it.

He was still thinking about how to approach this fellow disciple and extend an invitation without being too offensive.

After all, if Wu Zhu heard about him using someone else's name as a pretext, he would probably have to write a special novel about him in "New Youth".

The content satirizes how frivolous and impetuous students are these days, saying that they'll be laughed at wherever they go, let alone running a magazine, so he's under a lot of pressure right now.

"Mengzhen, didn't you say we'd see Wu Zhu in the next few days?"

"Yes, I've admired him for a long time, but I've never been able to strike up a conversation with him."

"With him as our chief editor, our magazine would definitely be a resounding success in academia!"

The students chimed in, each expressing their desire to meet the outstanding students of Yenching University.

Fu Mengzhen broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this:

"It'll be soon, it'll be soon... As you all know, he's a very busy man. He's either helping Professor Qian organize materials or writing in the reading room. It's not easy to see him."

"Okay, everyone's waiting for you to step in and help out, don't let them down!"

"Look, isn't that Old Man Gu and his group!"

Someone shouted.

The group immediately stopped and looked closely; the three oddballs from Yanda University were walking towards them.

The three of them were followed by servants who served Gu Hongming tea and water, making them a beautiful sight as they walked around Yenching University.

"Ouch! Shit!"

As soon as he shouted, most of the crowd dispersed, leaving Fu Mengzhen with only a few people behind.

As the three oddballs from Yanda University approached, they all bowed in unison:

"Good morning, Master Huang, Master Gu, Master Liu!"

"Good morning."

The three oddballs from Yanda bowed slightly and answered indifferently.

Huang Kan kept a close eye on the traitor who had "betrayed and defected to the enemy":

"I heard you've made something of yourself lately, hooking up with those new literature people and preparing to launch a magazine. Are you planning to use me as a scapegoat?"

"Don't worry too much about academic disputes, Mr. Huang."

"Hmph! You won't even call me 'teacher' now! You're a traitor to your teacher!"

Huang Kan flicked his sleeves and turned to leave, not bothering to linger any longer.

People with different principles cannot work together; it's a very simple truth.

Since Fu Mengzhen responded to the call of the new literature movement, the relationship between the two deteriorated rapidly, and Huang Kan often ridiculed his former protégé in class.

But after all, they were master and disciple, so there's always some past affection between them.

Now that students want to start a magazine and promote the development of modern literature, teachers who respect tradition are destined to become targets. At that point, the two will have a public falling out, inevitably leading to a heated debate. How could things possibly be so easy for them...?

Fu Mengzhen watched Huang Kan's figure gradually disappear, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

In this day and age, one must either be conservative and backward, or sever ties with old relationships and plunge into the torrent of history. As a young man, he was unwilling to choose the former, and more importantly, he hadn't yet figured out how to face this pioneer of Chinese literature when the magazine was finally launched...

He quickly composed himself and shouted in a loud voice:

"Let's go back to the Red Mansion for class!"

......

The three oddballs from Yenching University, who were out for a stroll, stopped to rest by the corona of the Second Academy due to their physical limitations.

"Outrageous! The new school is absolutely outrageous!"

"A while ago, a 'Bamboo Gentleman' appeared in *New Youth*, and now *Beijing Daily* has another one, 'Yanjing Guest,' showing off his shameless writing and writing about the sordid affairs of peddlers and paddlers!"

"Look at the students at Yenching University now! Under the instigation of these guys, they're all like they're possessed. They've actually started following the trend and imitating 'New Youth,' and they're starting to organize new student clubs. It looks like they're going to use you and me as examples!"

Huang Kan held the sun's corona with his hand, spitting as he spoke, veins bulging on his forehead, his expression one of uncontrollable rage.

It seems that his encounter with Fu Mengzhen just now has ultimately prevented him from remaining calm and composed.

He angrily pulled a newspaper from his pocket, unfolded it like a diaper, and handed it to Gu and Liu:

"Look at this, gentlemen! What kind of writing is this? Does it bear even the slightest resemblance to the ancient texts of our China? This is utterly disgraceful!"

"Brother Ji Gang, why get so angry?"

"Brother Tang, tell me how to avoid getting too angry!"

Gu Hongming called a servant to bring tea and offered it to Huang Kan, but Huang Kan politely declined, leaving Gu Hongming clapping his hands in frustration.

"What does this madman know about literature? He merely picks up superficial arguments from the East and the West, attempting to overturn the foundation of our millennia-old Confucian ethics and literature! He boasts about a few colloquialisms, hoping to gain attention from the masses, just like a country bumpkin barking like a dog in a temple, only making himself a laughingstock."

"The grandeur of Chinese literature, the profoundness of its principles, and the elegance of its language! How can such depictions of the sweat and toil of peddlers and the vile, corrupting the hearts of the common people, even come close to its rank?"

"In my opinion, these arrogant brats should first find a rickshaw, carry their shallow knowledge, and go properly study the classics!"

Gu Hongming's passionate speech made Huang Kan feel much better, and he immediately threw the newspaper on the ground as if afraid of getting his hands dirty.

"Ahem!"

Liu Shipei, who had been silent, coughed.

Unlike Gu and Huang, he looked at the newspaper on the ground, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

"What insightful opinion does Uncle Shen have?"

"While the writing itself is crude, in my view, its intent is truly sinister."

"Oh?"

"The entire novel 'Medicine' satirizes the ignorance of the Chinese people, and its wickedness needs no further explanation. As for 'The Story of Xiangzi,' although it does not explicitly mention politics, it touches on politics in every aspect. It depicts rampant bandits and the devastation of the people. It seems to be written in vernacular and realistic language, but in reality, it incites the people. Have you noticed that although Zhu Junzi and Yanjing Ke have very different writing styles, they actually share the same underlying drive to get to the bottom of things and overturn something?"

Liu Shipei, with his sleeves tucked in, calmly stated his views.

Gu and Huang's expressions tightened.

This was not a random act, but a conscious trend that aimed not only to overturn old literature, but also to overturn their living environment, and to make them aware of the danger.

If the new literature triumphs over the old literature, they can still rely on their existing knowledge to remain stubborn scholars, and they won't starve no matter what.

But if the new literature sparks some social change, will they still have their current social status in the future?

Huang Kan realized the crux of the matter:

"Brother Shen is absolutely right!"

"If we continue to sit idly by and do nothing in this academy, allowing it to mislead students and the common people, then the teachings of Confucius and Mencius will be in danger, and where will we find a place to live?"

"We can't delay any longer. The plan to start a publication to fight back needs to be put on the agenda. We also need to win over the students!"

"In my opinion, the journal should be titled 'National Heritage'! It should elucidate the inherent scholarship of Chinese civilization, clarify the true meaning of classical texts, and stand in stark contrast to those new schools that forget their roots and traditions!"

Liu Shipei readily agreed.

Gu Hongming did not intend to participate, but specifically stated that he would provide moral support to the two.

Huang Kan gestured for everyone to come closer and lowered his voice:

"My student Zhang Fengzai, who works part-time at the Gongyanbao newspaper, revealed that the authorities are very dissatisfied with the recent public opinion climate in Yenching and intend to suppress the momentum of the development of new learning..."

"It is said that a 'Newspaper Law' is being prepared to regulate newspaper distribution!"