Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

Wu Zhu really intended to go to the reading room, mainly for the peace and quiet when replying to Huai Jin's letters, so he wouldn't be in a hurry to write his new novel.

Old Qian, you're still too naive...

Yenching University's Red Building Library is located on the first floor. You can get there by going down the stairs and turning the corner. Mr. Shouchang is the director of the library, and I see him quite often.

The rules for entering the library are very lenient. Faculty and students of the school can enter at any time during opening hours, and auditors from other schools who have completed the necessary procedures can also enter. As long as "eavesdroppers" do not deliberately cause damage, the administrators will turn a blind eye.

This is what we call freedom of thought, something that many universities in later generations have failed to achieve.

Normally, after finding a book, Wu Zhu loves to go to the second reading room, where there are domestic and foreign newspapers, allowing him to get firsthand information. If he hadn't been absent these past few days, he wouldn't have needed Huai Jin to remind him.

The distance wasn't far, and Wu Zhu hummed a little tune as she walked, in a very good mood.

The reading room doors were open. It was during class time, so there weren't many people inside, but a few were gathered around the librarian's desk.

Did you write this table of contents?

"Yes, is there anything you need, student?"

"Your handwriting is so messy, we can't read a single line. We have to read it aloud!"

"Excuse me, please respect me. Just say you don't know the word, don't use this tone to make things difficult for me."

"You're just a librarian, why should we make things difficult for you! Listening to your country accent, I wouldn't even want to listen to you speak!"

Several people were arguing loudly with the new administrator, seemingly because they couldn't see the catalog of newspapers in the warehouse clearly.

The students in the reading room all turned to look; some students passing by in the corridor also stopped to listen.

For Wu Zhu, the content of the argument was not important; what mattered was that he was very familiar with the administrator's accent!

The administrator, who could recognize the Hunan accent, was trying to reason with her while suppressing her sadness.

"Gentlemen, I'm an auditor and part-time library secretary. How can you look down on me like this?"

"Hey! Only those who couldn't get into Yenching University are auditing classes! We're all undergraduates, why can't we give you feedback!"

"Student, please don't discriminate against auditors."

"I'm discriminating, so take it or leave it!"

The administrator answered neither humbly nor arrogantly, but those people persisted, seemingly emboldened, and intensified their verbal attacks, completely disregarding the other party's dignity.

Wu Zhu, his face grim, strode into the reading room, squeezed into the crowd, and stood in front of the librarian:

"The reading room has explicit rules prohibiting noise..."

He then looked at the leader, his gaze indifferent:

"So, can you guys just shut up?"

Since Cai Yuanpei came to Yenching University to implement reforms, the atmosphere of the old school has been greatly changed. However, there are always some die-hards who cannot keep up with the times and engage in identity discrimination in a place that values ​​scholarship.

The leader of the group that was making things difficult for the administrator had a somewhat sharp-looking face and an arrogant look in his eyes.

Although dressed in a well-tailored suit, he exuded arrogance. Seeing someone dare to interfere, he immediately shoved Wu Zhu, but couldn't move him, so he changed the subject:

"Who do you think you are! We're just giving feedback to the school staff, what right do you have to interfere!"

My name is Wu Zhu.

Wu Zhu responded calmly, her gaze unwavering.

He stared intently at the young man in front of him and took a step forward, bringing the two to within half a foot of each other.

At this distance, they'll either kiss or fight.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense; the once bookish Yenching University reading room was now filled with a tense atmosphere.

"Wu Zhu? Isn't that the 'Bamboo Gentleman' from *New Youth* magazine?"

"It's him! You don't even recognize him?"

"We've met a few times, what's such a busy person doing here? And sticking up for an administrator, what's the point..."

The students watching were discussing it animatedly.

The leader had naturally heard of Wu Zhu's name, and with the surrounding voices, he was certain that the poorly dressed young man in front of him was the rising star of Yan Da, whose momentum was approaching that of Fu Mengzhen and others. He was speechless for a moment.

"Brother Wu! Long time no see!"

The administrator behind him was overjoyed, as if the trouble he had just experienced was nothing more than a trivial setback.

"Brother Li, it's been a long time. Please wait a moment."

Wu Zhu turned and nodded slightly to Brother Li, then looked directly at the young man leading the group again:

"No noise is allowed in the reading room, why are you breaking the rules?"

Not an inch will be yielded!

The young leader, seemingly rarely questioned in this way, also became angry:

"This person's handwriting is ugly, I can't see it clearly, is it unreasonable to ask him to read it to me word by word?"

"He's a librarian, and as a student, why can't I voice my opinion? I'm not only going to voice my opinion, but I'm also going to report it and have the school deduct his salary!"

Wu Zhu could always sense that this person exuded an inexplicable hostility ever since he heard his name. Unable to investigate further at the moment, he grabbed a piece of paper from the table and showed it to everyone around him:

"The handwriting claims to be unique, with the style of calligraphy, and it is indeed somewhat messy... but it's not illegible at all. Otherwise, so many students would have raised this issue long ago. You all understand this, right?"

The students who saw the catalog nodded in approval.

Kuretake put down the catalog, took a step back, and pointed to the "No Noisy" sign on the wall:

"If you have any complaints about the staff, you can go to the librarian's office and raise them with Director Li. Let him give you a fair opinion. I believe he will not be biased."

"And what did you do?!"

"Like street thugs, he led his classmates in an aggressive manner, disturbing the peace and violating rules and regulations. He even forced the new administrator to read the table of contents word for word. Did he even treat him like a human being?!"

"President Cai advocates freedom of thought and has specifically relaxed the system of allowing auditors to attend classes. As the host of Yenching University, you not only failed to fulfill your duties as a host, but also dared to openly discriminate against guests. Do you want to destroy all the achievements of these years?"

They label people while spouting plausible arguments—that's the old-fashioned way of doing things!

The students watching had already been persuaded and were all agreeing.

The young man leading the group stammered, his lips moving, but he couldn't give an answer for a long time; after all, the hat was really too big...

"I don't want to talk to you. Students are a mirror of their teachers."

"Who is your professor? What kind of example did he set? Let him come and talk to me!"

"The more we debate, the clearer things become. Even if we don't come to a definitive conclusion today, we'll report it to Lord Cai!"

"At worst, we'll go to the sports field and reason with them, using every open method to determine who's right and who's wrong today!"

Wu Zhu's words were rather arrogant.

Although researchers are different from undergraduates and preparatory students, and the content they are exposed to on a daily basis is different, they should not have this attitude towards undergraduate professors.

It's clear she's genuinely angry, wanting to confront the adults directly and completely disregarding authority...

The students who had spoken with Wu Zhu a few times noticed his stern tone this time and immediately realized he was angry. Their eyes lit up and they pulled out sunflower seeds from their pockets.

It's really exciting to see someone using their pen to hurl insults offline. They start by saying you're not worthy of being a student and challenge the professor in a debate. At least, there wasn't anyone like this at Yenching University before—a student directly challenging an undergraduate professor, showing absolutely no fear of the established authority…

He truly deserves to be called a leading figure in modern literature. He can distinguish right from wrong and is not afraid of power. This is the true spirit of a scholar!

Starting today, Yenching University will have one more outstanding student in addition to its three oddballs!

Under Wu Zhu's relentless pursuit, the young man's face turned pale and then red. It was absolutely impossible for him to go and call the professor. With such a big mess, he would be in the wrong no matter where he went, and it would be strange if the professor didn't kick him out.

"Let's go."

He called to his trembling followers, forced his way out of the crowd, and then fled the scene, his back view somewhat disheveled.

"Zhang Fengzai is used to being arrogant, it's good that someone teaches him a lesson."

"Yes, Huang Laoguai's students all have his personality; they look down on this and that."

"Hey! Don't say that. Student council president Fu, apart from having a loud voice, is really not that bad."

The students chattered amongst themselves, and soon dispersed. Those who wanted to read continued reading, while those who needed to attend class hurried to their classrooms.

"Zhang Fengzai... why does he seem so familiar..."

Wu Zhu muttered to himself when he was suddenly patted on the shoulder.

He turned his head, and Brother Li grasped his hand, saying sincerely:

"Thank you so much, Brother Wu, for stepping in and saving me today. Otherwise, a real conflict might have broken out, and I would have lost my job..."

"No, it's only right to speak out when you see injustice! Brother Li, come out and let's talk."

Wu Zhu pulled Brother Li into the corridor.

"I heard from my mentor that you did indeed publish an article in 'New Youth' magazine. Your novel 'Medicine' is really well written. I was right about you back then."

"I did something insignificant. Brother Li, didn't you also publish 'A Study of Sports'? We're in the same boat. How come you're working as a librarian now?"

"Alas! To be honest, I borrowed money to come to Yanjing. When I arrived, I realized how high the cost of living was. Even sharing an apartment with my classmates who came with me didn't have enough money. I had to ask my mentor to help me get this job at Yenching University. It costs eight silver dollars a month, which is enough if I'm careful with my spending."

Brother Li poured out his grievances.

Suddenly remembering something, Wu Zhu slapped his forehead and hurriedly pulled out ten silver dollars from his pocket, stuffing them into Brother Li's hand:

"Look at my memory, I should have asked Brother Zizhen to help me pass on the travel expenses you lent me."

"I only have this much with me, so please keep it. If you need more, come find me anytime. If you can't find it at Yenching University, go to No. 59 Sanyan Well Alley. I share a place there with someone."

Brother Li looked troubled and refused to accept the silver dollars.

Upon seeing this, Wu Zhu immediately realized that he didn't want to charge extra for this, and explained:

"It's only right to pay back debts. I'm earning royalties from writing novels now, so I don't have to worry about food or drink. You can take it without worry."

"I only lent you five silver dollars initially, so please take back the remaining five silver dollars, Brother Wu. Don't tarnish our relationship with such usurious loans."

"Fine, fine, take it, I'm begging you!"

"Ah, Brother Wu, this repayment came just in time..."