Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

The group chatted until late, and their stomachs were growling with hunger.

In the end, Mr. Shouchang treated the two younger men to braised pork offal at a late-night food stall outside the school. He specially ordered large intestines that weren't cleaned properly and had extra garlic added. He also ordered a jar of Shaoxing wine for the three of them to share. After they finished eating, they went their separate ways and headed home.

Wu Zhu had a very fruitful day. The knowledge he had missed in his Mao Zedong Thought class was explained clearly by Mr. Shou Chang, and he gained a lot of knowledge.

So much so that he hummed a little tune all the way home, and was very happy.

I should participate in more book club activities in the future; I can't just keep spouting off bookish ideas with Mr. Climbing Weng. It would be good to get to know more female classmates, although I didn't see any today...

Speaking of female classmates, it's strange, but I still haven't received a reply to the letter I gave to Huaijin last time.

It's already October 11th, could it be that the parents found out?

It could also be because he's too busy with school...

Wu Zhu made up many excuses for Huai Jin, but never considered that Huai Jin didn't want to chat with him.

What a joke! Even if you don't like his views and novels, just look at that face that everyone would praise as great, no female reader could give him up!

The more he thought about it, the more vain he became, then it suddenly occurred to him that Huaijin apparently didn't know what he looked like...

Wu Zhu suddenly lost all his skills and strength, and walked all the way to his doorstep, where he found a stone lion squatting in front of the door.

To be precise, Yang Zizhen was squatting.

"Ahem!"

Wu Zhu quietly approached and coughed heavily a few times:

"Brother Zizhen, were you kicked out and came to me specifically to seek refuge?"

"Get lost! I fucking delivered a letter to you, but you fucking weren't here! I've been waiting until now, my legs are fucking numb from squatting, hurry up and help me up!"

Yang Zizhen was very angry, and her words were extremely scathing.

If my legs hadn't gone numb, I probably would have jumped up and kicked Wu Zhu's buttocks until they were bruised and swollen.

He took a silver dollar and waited for someone until now. It's a good thing he had professional ethics and didn't just leave the letter at the door!

If I go home at this time, I'm sure I'll get yelled at, and they might not even open the door for me!

Wu Zhu felt a little guilty, so he helped Yang Zizhen up and patted the dust off her clothes.

"As you know, I'm very busy all day long. I've been talking to someone all day, and I didn't expect you to come."

"Hmph! I came straight from school on Friday, after dropping off my bag, to deliver this letter to you. Making me wait until now is really ungrateful!"

Yang Zizhen was furious.

Wu Zhu silently took out two silver dollars and put them into Yang Zizhen's pocket. Then he looked up at the starry sky, pretending that nothing had happened, while secretly pricking up his ears.

"You...you...what are you saying? Take it!"

"It is my duty to contribute to your communication!"

Yang Zizhen's expression changed instantly, she beamed with joy, and took out the letter to hand to Wu Zhu.

The sooner you pay, the sooner they'll change their attitude...

Wu Zhu was speechless.

"Can't you have any bottom line? Does Mr. Yang owe you living expenses?"

"You think you have too much money?"

Yang Zizhen's probing question stumped Wu Zhu.

Good heavens, that makes so much sense!

"You're getting home so late... Could it be that you were influenced by those people from Yenching University and were looking for inspiration there?"

"I heard from my father that 'Yanjing Ke' is Hu Shih. I guess you've been under a lot of pressure lately. Sigh! I told you not to imitate Mr. Lu Xun, but to find your own style. See, you didn't listen to me!"

Yang Zizhen's thought process seemed to be working in a strange way. She suddenly connected the time she returned with Wu Zhu's lack of inspiration, and then her mind raced to the fact that Wu Zhu was under a lot of pressure, which made her quite happy.

Kuretake's level of speechlessness reached a new level:

"My new novel has been sent up; you'll be able to read it in four days."

"what?"

Yang Zizhen was incredulous and nearly vomited blood.

I was just saying a few words and that was it, why are you taking it so seriously!

Didn't you just write one last month? Why are you writing another one this month? Are you trying to leave no way out for the literary world?

"You liar."

"If I were to lie to you, you'd be my son."

"Damn! What did you write this time?"

"I'm not telling you, are you in a hurry?"

Yang Zizhen was more than anxious; she wished she could kneel down before Wu Zhu right now, just to see the new novel as soon as possible.

However, he still had some bottom lines, and with the release date fast approaching, he wasn't in a hurry and immediately thought of another possibility.

"You're not... trying to challenge Hu Shih, are you?"

"Well, you can think that way if you want, but I don't recommend it. Because if you think that way, you'll feel terrible later, and you'll definitely slap yourself in the face."

Speak like a human being!

You'll find out in a while.

Wu Zhu smiled mysteriously, while the Dragon King grinned crookedly.

Yang Zizhen saw that no matter how she asked, she wouldn't reveal anything, and since it was indeed very late, she didn't have time to chat anymore. Without even saying goodbye, she ran towards home.

I'm sure I'll get a scolding when I get home today, but for these two silver dollars, it's worth it!

......

In the courtyard.

The door to the back room was ajar. Since tomorrow was Saturday and no one had classes scheduled, the lights were on inside, and you could hear people chatting.

Wu Zhu pushed open the door, and a strong aroma of braised food wafted out.

Upon closer inspection, I saw that my roommates had bought pig's head meat, fried peanuts, shredded tofu, and salted duck eggs, and were chatting together.

Where there are dishes, there must be wine. Except for Guo Xingang, who was drinking tea, the other two were drinking strong liquor, the most common rough liquor in the city.

It's cheap and potent; if you get drunk, you can sleep all day.

Life is good!

"You're finally back! We've been waiting for you! Come on, let me fill your cup!"

Wang Kunlun took out a large porcelain cup and made a gesture as if to pour a cup.

"You know I'm going to quit drinking!"

Wu Zhuyi refused resolutely and firmly.

"Come on, how many times have I told you!"

"Yeah! Even a stray dog ​​on the street who says it won't poop is more trustworthy than you!"

"Do we need to repeat to you what you were like when you came back on Monday?"

The three roommates scoffed at this and mocked it mercilessly.

Wu Zhu felt ashamed when he thought about the embarrassing situation he had when he returned from Dongxinglou a few days ago.

The food and wine were delicious, and he drank so much that his legs were weak. He was dragged home in a rickshaw, and by the time he entered the door, he couldn't even lift his legs. It was Guo Xinggang who saw him coming out and called two other men to carry him to the bed...

His plan to quit drinking was repeatedly thwarted, not because he lacked willpower, but because the temptations of the world were too great for him to resist.

"Since that's the case... then drink it! Pour me half a glass!"

"What are you pretending for? Two ounces of liquor, are you rinsing your mouth?"

"Then pour me a glass!"

"That's more like it."

Chen Gongbo filled Wu Zhu's cup to the brim, estimating it to be about four ounces.

Wu Zhu took the liquor, took out a bowl, grabbed some snacks to go with the liquor, and sat down at his seat. Instead of putting the food in his mouth right away, he first opened Huai Jin's letter.

This move immediately drew criticism.

"Wu Zhu, when you're bragging like this, don't you read the letter first?"

"Reader's letter, long live understanding."

"You're talking nonsense! I've observed you closely. You don't reply to a single letter from your readers; you just read them all and stuff them into your drawer. This letter must be from one of your female classmates, maybe even your girlfriend!"

"You're right, you're right, okay!"

Faced with Guo Xingang's discerning eye, Wu Zhu could only retreat in order to advance, pretending to be indifferent in order to cover up the fact that she only replied to female readers.

Sigh! People are afraid of becoming famous, just like pigs are afraid of getting fat!

Once you become famous, people around you will always pay attention to you, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and everything you do will be remembered by those who care.

"Come on over, it's more fun with lots of people!"

"I'm fed up! This awful drinking culture! You guys are the biggest obstacle on my path to quitting drinking!"