Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

The recruitment speech ended amidst a chorus of "no"s.

This time, due to Wu Zhu's unexpected appearance, Shao Zhenqing was unable to cover some of the material, mainly concerning the ideals and beliefs of journalists. However, seeing the spirit of the Yenching University students, he felt it didn't matter whether he spoke or not; none of the students present were cowards.

Wu Zhu's performance, in particular, perfectly matched his ideal of "supervising the government, educating the people, and not fearing the powerful." It would be a dereliction of duty for him not to recruit this promising talent into the journalism industry.

"Wu Zhu, you promised, you can't go back on your word!"

"I am so grateful for Mr. Shao's high regard for me. How could I dare to go back on my word? Once your research association is officially established, I promise to attend whenever I have time."

"Okay, and you must also keep in mind the matter of writing articles for the Beijing Daily. You've already explained such profound principles, so writing a few commentaries shouldn't be difficult for you."

"Definitely, definitely..."

Watching Shao Zhenqing and the professors leave, Wu Zhu calmed down, but felt a lingering fear.

Oh, Kuretake, how could you be so foolish...?

What did he just do?

On the podium at Yenching University, he delivered a very inflammatory speech, openly opposing the Beiyang government's implementation of the "Newspaper Law," and it was quite effective.

He was too young and impulsive; he was easily provoked and joined the Liangshan bandits...

If you're not impulsive, passionate, and hot-blooded, are you still a young person?

Before he transmigrated, he was a sophomore in college, at the age of being passionate and outspoken. He would even snap at a dog walking by on the street, except he had never been able to talk back to the Chinese Optimus Prime...

After transmigrating, I was always cautious in the unfamiliar environment. In fact, my true nature had been suppressed for a long time. Now I finally got a chance to vent, and I went a little too far.

"Wu Zhu, quickly stretch out your hand and let me touch it!"

"How disgusting! How can you be so indecent in public!"

"Okay, I'll go back and touch it. Don't wash your hands."

"Get out! Get out!"

Guo Xingang moved closer to Wu Zhu, trying to indirectly shake his idol's hand, which almost disgusted Wu Zhu to death.

"Where to now?"

"Where else can we go if we don't go back?"

"Come on, come on, what you just said was absolutely brilliant! I'm going to go back and repeat every single word you said today to them!"

"You even took notes?"

"certainly!"

"Please don't hurt me! Tear it up already!"

"No!"

The two playfully bickered and rushed out of the classroom one after the other.

Guo Xingang had barely run two steps when he clutched his chest, panting and coughing repeatedly.

Seeing this, Wu Zhu quickly stepped forward to help him catch his breath:

"What's wrong with you? You're tall and strong, but you always look weak and cough at the slightest movement."

"I'm from Jiaodong. A few years ago, Yuan Shikai signed the Twenty-One Demands... I held a national humiliation rally in my hometown, and during my speech, I vomited blood out of anger, damaging my lungs... Since then, I've gotten worse year by year... I can't do strenuous activities, I can't exert myself..."

Guo Xingang was out of breath and answered the questions haltingly.

He is from Jiaodong – this statement alone is enough to answer all of Wu Zhu's doubts.

Because the Twenty-One Demands directly affect the fate of Jiaodong!

He never imagined that Guo Xingang had such a heroic past and such a sincere heart, that he could worry about the future of the country and vomit blood. How could people not be shocked?

"You...you haven't sought treatment, and you've just been living like this ever since?"

"Cure? It's incurable. The doctor said there's no hope. We'll see how many years we live."

"You have to try. Since you're determined to save the country, don't speak of death lightly..."

"When the country is in peril and the people are corrupt, it is better to die young."

Guo Xingang's breathing had calmed down somewhat. He broke free from Wu Zhu's support, leaned against the wall, and said these words with a smile, as if he had made up his mind long ago.

Wu Zhu remained silent, head bowed, standing in the corridor.

When he suddenly learned that his roommate, with whom he spent every day and joked around, was nearing the end of his life, how could he not feel heartbroken, having experienced death himself?

At this moment, any words of comfort seem somewhat inadequate...

The students passing by glanced at them, assuming the two were having a fight, and didn't dare to ask any more questions, so they quickened their pace and left.

A moment later, Guo Xingang's complexion improved slightly, but he was still pale. He put his arm around Wu Zhu's shoulder.

"Let's go."

"Okay, let's go."

"When are you going to write a new novel? Ever since you came to Yanjing, I feel the literary scene has become much more lively."

"I only finished writing it a few days ago, you can't treat people like donkeys."

"I'll treat you to stir-fries at Haiquancheng Restaurant, three dishes and a soup!"

"That won't work either, my brain isn't up to the task..."

......

The two haggled along the way, and just as they reached the top of the stairs, they bumped into Mr. Climbing Elder.

Qian Xuantong looked unwell, with his hands behind his back, looking very serious!

Guo Xingang immediately released his hand and bowed slightly:

"Hello, Professor Qian!"

"it is good."

Qian Xuantong bowed in return, then glanced at Wu Zhu with a face full of disapproval.

"Look at them! And look at you! Where is even a shred of respect for your teachers?"

"I'll be going now, you two continue your conversation!"

Seeing that things were going badly, Guo Xingang betrayed his teammates without hesitation.

Wu Zhu was utterly speechless, and a fawning smile appeared on his face:

"Please don't think too much about it, sir. There were outsiders present just now, so I didn't perform well. I apologize for that!"

"..."

Faced with Wu Zhu, who was about to kneel down, Qian Xuantong's lips twitched. He didn't expect this guy to be so flexible in his approach, readily agreeing to the challenge.

Where is your scholarly integrity? Where is the detached brilliance in your books? Where is the powerful presence you exuded during your speech?

How can someone impersonate a slave so convincingly? Even Liu Er, who followed Gu Hongming, couldn't pull it off...

"Judging by your posture, did you come here specifically to ambush me?"

"Hmph! I just didn't expect that this apprentice I snatched would be so knowledgeable about journalism. Is he planning to switch schools?"

Qian Xuantong's tone was somewhat sarcastic.

It turns out it was because of the speech just now, but it was a wonderful misunderstanding...

Kuretake was both amused and exasperated.

"No! It just so happened that I came across something I knew about."

"There's a saying that there can only be one sun in the sky. Mr. Climbing Elder has treated me well, so naturally I will be loyal to you and guarantee I will never have any disloyalty!"

loyalty!

loyalty!

loyalty!

Say the important thing three times!

Qian Xuantong was flattered by the praise and his complexion improved considerably.

When one of your top students makes a name for himself, it certainly makes the teacher proud. I was just bragging about it to someone for ages!

Actually, he wasn't trying to restrict Wu Zhu; he was just deliberately trying to suppress him so that Wu Zhu wouldn't get too carried away and become a target of the government, leaving the teacher to clean up the mess.

But Wu Zhu was unaware of his thoughts. Seeing that Mr. Climbing Elder was hesitant to express his opinion, he assumed that Mr. Climbing Elder's flattery had not been successful enough.

"I joined the journalism research association just to learn more! Mr. Shao is a man of few words, and he specifically asked me in public. I couldn't very well refuse him, could I? Wouldn't Mr. Cai hang me up and beat me afterward?"

"Besides, inviting me to write for the Beijing Daily is the same principle!"

As he spoke, he even made a gesture of opening his heart.

Qian Xuantong smiled speechlessly and waved his hand:

"Alright, that's not why I called you."

"Shizhi said he's been urging you to write a new novel for a while now, but you haven't made a move yet. Are you planning to make me go to your dorm to urge you?"

Wu Zhu could no longer laugh.

Because he could tell that Mr. Pa Weng was quite the type to visit Sanyan Well Alley at night and stay there until midnight. And he really didn't doubt that Mr. Pa Weng had the leisure to do so, otherwise how would "Diary of a Madman" have come about?

How could a foodie like this not be fed? And the student knew perfectly well how much the old man could eat...

"Don't rush! I've already come up with a plan, and I'm going to find a seat in the reading room right now to write!"

"I'll go with you."

"I lose all inspiration when you're around..."

"you!"

Qian Xuantong, his face ashen, gritted his teeth and punched Wu Zhu, noticing that the kid had been living a good life lately and had gained quite a bit of weight.

"I'm leaving! Mr. Climbing Elder, are you coming again?"

"Get out of here! Just looking at you annoys me! You traitor!"