Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

As darkness fell, the lights in the reading room were turned on.

One by one, the students left, leaving only Wu Zhu, who was writing furiously, and Brother Li, who was organizing newspapers.

The two were in the same space, neither of them speaking, silently going about their own business.

"Hungry... Ah!"

After a long while, the scratching sound of the pen stopped. Wu Zhu put away the pen, stretched, and picked up two manuscripts from the small square table covered with discarded manuscript papers.

One is a reply to Huaijin, and the other is a new novel published this month.

A heartless writing machine.

Brother Li came over to watch and, seeing the title, asked curiously:

"Kong Yiji... Brother Wu, could this be your new novel?"

There was no one else in the reading room now, so there was no worry about being overheard.

Facing Brother Li, Wu Zhu had no intention of keeping anything to himself and proactively handed over the manuscript:

"Yes, it's about an old-fashioned intellectual, and it's about the old imperial examination system. Would you like to take a look?"

"Great idea! I'll hold off on reading it for now... I'll wait for this month's issue of *New Youth* to publish it, and then we can discuss it together. That's the only way to understand the content. What's the point of just talking to a great author like you!"

Brother Li waved his hand and pushed the manuscript back, seemingly unconcerned, but he still secretly glanced at the first page.

Wu Zhu smiled and shook his head, folded up the manuscript, and began to tidy up the mess.

He copied "Kong Yiji," which is also a classic work by Lu Xun.

He drew inspiration from Gogol's "The Overcoat" and incorporated his own childhood experiences to create this short story. It directly criticizes the old education system, and since almost everyone in his previous life had read it, it left a particularly deep impression on him.

Some of the classic lines have been repurposed into purely entertaining memes on the internet in later generations, thereby diminishing the spirit of criticism. What needs to be done now is to return to criticism.

However, in order to cater to the audience in Yanjing, some appropriate adaptations still need to be made. At the very least, the content about "Luzhen" and "tavern" should be changed. Otherwise, if Lu Xun himself saw his experience, he would definitely come knocking on his door and kick him.

Wu Zhu quickly tidied up the discarded manuscript papers, and seeing that Brother Li was still not ready to leave, he invited him:

"We already agreed that I'd treat you to a meal after get off work. Let's go!"

"Next time, next time... Brother Wu, you go back first, I still need to read for a while."

"Don't let your body get ruined by starvation."

"I have dry rations."

Brother Li took out a small package and swung it around in the air.

This small package probably contains steamed buns and pickled vegetables, with maybe a little chili pepper.

Material life was extremely scarce, but in return, they had a rich spiritual life.

Wu Zhu sighed:

What time do you get home every day?

"There are blankets here. It's getting late, so you can rest here."

"Sigh... Fine then."

......

Wu Zhu couldn't persuade Brother Li, so she had to leave alone.

As soon as I stepped out of the reading room, I bumped into someone, or rather, was blocked by someone.

The young man in front of me wore round-framed glasses, was round and chubby, and had a confident look in his eyes, making him appear arrogant.

Wu Zhu thought for a moment, ruling out the possibility that Zhang Fengzai was sending people to retaliate, and looked puzzled:

"May I ask who you are?"

"Junior brother! I'm your senior brother whom you've never met before. What a coincidence that we've run into each other here!"

Fu Mengzhen grabbed Wu Zhu's hand and shook it vigorously. Then she pulled him back and hugged him tightly, looking very excited, almost to the point of tears.

Wu Zhu was completely confused.

Where did he get his senior brother?

Did Mr. Climbing Weng have other disciples? How could he not know?

Moreover, the young man in front of him was so strong that he could hardly breathe when he was being held down, and his voice sounded like it was stuffed with a megaphone, making his eardrums buzz.

"Excuse me, classmate, you've mistaken me for someone else?"

"I'm not mistaken! Absolutely not mistaken! You are my junior brother, and I am your senior brother!"

"Where did I get a senior brother from?"

"I am Fu Mengzhen, you understand?"

Wu Zhu then suddenly realized what was going on.

Fu Mengzhen was a prominent figure at Yenching University, and was once hailed by his classmates as "the first person after Confucius." He had naturally heard of his great reputation.

Considering Huang Kan's relationship with Qian Xuantong, the two could indeed be considered fellow disciples!

"Student Fu, there's no need for 'fellow student,' just call me Wu Zhu."

"Fine! Call me whatever you want!"

"Can you let me go? You're choking me to death..."

Wu Zhu forced out his words through gritted teeth.

Fu Mengzhen belatedly realized what was happening and hurriedly loosened his grip:

"You're too thin! Come on! I'll treat you to dinner!"

"Hey! What's wrong with you? I haven't agreed yet!"

......

Fu Mengzhen was in a hurry and didn't give Wu Zhu a chance to refute. She dragged him to "Nan Xiao Guan" on Ma Shen Miao Road.

The stove is right at the entrance, filled with the aroma of cooking. The main dish is freshly stir-fried food, and the fragrance hits your nose directly.

Wu Zhu had been here a few times before. Because the restaurant caters to students, the prices are relatively cheap, but the taste and portions are quite good, making it a restaurant with good value for money.

Fu Mengzhen waved to the shopkeeper, and the waiter immediately brought out the dishes. Before long, a large table was filled with food, indicating that the table had been reserved in advance.

Stir-fried liver tips, deep-fried meatballs, stir-fried tripe, mutton head meat, hot and sour soup...

Wu Zhu was dazzled by the sight. Even if it was cheap, they couldn't eat like this! Could the two of them finish it?

"Fu, can't you just get to the point? Giving me such a big gift right off the bat feels like a show of force..."

"Uh...I see...Then I'll just say it directly!"

Fu Mengzhen rubbed his hands together, looking quite hesitant:

"Brother Wu, to be honest, I do have something important to discuss with you."

"I've heard that you're always very outspoken when you talk to other people."

"I'd like to ask Brother Wu for a favor!"

Fu Mengzhen poured Wu Zhu a full glass of wine as a sign of respect.

Wu Zhu didn't rush to take the cup, but gestured for Fu Mengzhen to continue, saying that she couldn't agree to help without even understanding what was going on.

"I want to respond to the slogan of *New Youth* magazine and organize a student club to publish the magazine. We've almost found enough people, just one last key member!"

"I?"

"Yes! Our student clubs at Yenching University would feel incomplete without someone like Brother Wu."

Fu Mengzhen was very sincere and didn't put on airs like an older brother just because he was more senior than Wu Zhu. On the contrary, he was very careful to read Wu Zhu's expression, afraid that Wu Zhu would not agree to the invitation.

Wu Zhu pondered for a moment, then tapped the table with his fingers seemingly unintentionally:

"What do you need me to do?"

"First of all, we definitely want you to be the chief writer. Secondly, we need your help to put in a good word for Mr. Zhongfu so that we can apply for some funding... You know I was Huang Kan's student, and Professor Chen is worried about my background, so he said we need to find a guarantor."

Fu Mengzhen explained his predicament and raised a glass to Wu Zhu.

To start a student club or magazine, the most pressing issues are money and venue, and poor students have no choice but to turn to the school for help.

This requires the senior liberal arts students to submit their opinions to the principal, and then the council will discuss and vote on the matter.

He had secretly gone to see Chen Zhongfu a few days ago, but Chen Zhongfu hesitated because he was Huang Kan's student and Huang Kan was hostile to the new literature and feared that he was a "spy" sent by the old literature. So he said that he needed a guarantor.

The organizers discussed it and originally wanted to approach Hu Shi, because Hu Shi was close to the students and was also a fellow writer of "New Youth," so he would likely support them.

But after thinking it over, Fu Mengzhen realized that student clubs, after all, are students. If professors are always involved, there will be no freedom left. So she still had to find students.

Currently, the only person at Yenching University who meets the criteria is the talented young man sitting across from me.

Wu Zhu looked into his eyes, making sure he had no ulterior motives, and thinking about the course of history, he actually felt quite honored. He nodded and said:

"I can write, but I need payment for it. I don't have much free time on weekdays to worry about club affairs... Besides, it's your club that you're going to run, so I can only help you out and act as your guarantor with Mr. Zhongfu. How much money you can get depends on how much your proposal can impress Mr. Zhongfu. I make no guarantees about that."

"no problem!"

Fu Mengzhen moved her wine glass forward a little.

Wu Zhu smiled, raised her glass, and clinked it against the glass.

The two of them didn't care at all when the wine spilled on the food, and they finished it off in one gulp.

Wu Zhu picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of mutton head meat, and muttered as he chewed:

"What name does Brother Fu plan to give the publication?"

"To be honest, I haven't decided yet."

"Let's call it 'Trendy'."

"Hmm? What do you mean by that, Brother Wu?"

The English title "The Renaissance" can also be translated as "The Renaissance."

"Great name! I'll suggest it on the day of the official preparatory meeting, and the members will vote on it by raising their hands!"

Since she did not intend to adopt a dictatorial approach, Fu Mengzhen did not immediately agree, saying that she needed to discuss it with the members.

Wu Zhu naturally understood; it was democratic decision-making!

Sharing the benefits and bearing the bad together is a kind of liability exemption system.

Because if something goes wrong, the blame can be shifted onto the leader...

He nodded, looked at the table full of dishes, and asked:

"Brother Fu, you ordered such a huge table of food, are you sure you can finish it all?"

"We definitely can't finish it all, but since this is a banquet for Brother Wu, we should have plenty!"

"Can I pack a few dishes to go?"

"Can!"