Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

sunset.

Rickshaw pullers ran towards the setting sun, while peddlers with bells carried their wares on their shoulders, calling out their business as they went.

Friday's pleasures are irrelevant to the vast majority of workers; they are merely the romantic notion of intellectuals.

In this era before the implementation of the eight-hour workday, today is just another boring and tiring day.

"I'm telling you, kid, you've got a sharp tongue and you'll get beaten up sooner or later."

"No way, I don't go looking for trouble..."

"Even if you don't provoke them, if you still talk like that outside of Peking University, you're definitely going to get slapped!"

"What should we do then? Just stay silent when someone insults us?"

"You can't resist, so you have to gain some weight. With more fat, it won't hurt as much when you get beaten. Also, when you're free, go to Yenching University's physical education classes; don't practice martial arts, swordsmanship, or assassination, just practice long-distance and short-distance running."

"I'll go check it out when I have time..."

Wu Zhu and Qian Xuan chatted along the way and bought a lot of children's toys before arriving at Xiangluying Toutiao Hutong outside Xuanwumen.

This place was once a gathering place for artisans who made incense burners. In the Qing Dynasty, it was divided into alleys in the order of first to sixth, with first meaning the first.

With many children in his family, Qian Xuantong found it troublesome and rarely went home, usually staying in the faculty dormitory of Yan'an Normal University.

Although I don't stay at home, I still have to go home to check on things if I have nothing to do on weekdays, and then go back to the dormitory at night. My colleagues jokingly call me "thirty miles away when I have nothing to do".

A locust tree was planted in front of the courtyard house, its fallen leaves scattered all over the ground, revealing the desolation of autumn.

Thump, thump, thump—

Qian Xuantong knocked on the door knocker.

"Mother! Someone's coming!"

"Okay, wait a minute."

A child's innocent voice came from inside, followed by a soft, gentle reply.

A short while later, the door was opened.

The woman who opened the door was gentle-looking and dressed casually, wearing a clean apron and with a little flour on her hands.

Behind the woman followed two timid children—

One looked to be over ten years old, and the other looked to be four or five years old.

If Wu Zhu wasn't mistaken, this was indeed his master's wife, Xu Wanzhen, with two young junior brothers. Without time to think, he quickly bowed.

"Greetings, Madam! I apologize for bothering you!"

"Okay, okay! Tell me what else you brought. Come on in, it's cold outside."

"I suggested buying some things for you, Master's wife, but you refused. So I had to settle for buying some toys for my two junior brothers instead."

Xu Wanzhen smiled warmly and made way for her.

This is the eldest disciple whom my husband has explicitly accepted as his apprentice. He keeps talking about him as soon as he gets home. He's different from the students he's taught before, so naturally, he can't be neglected.

She's been busy all afternoon preparing for this dinner party, and it's still not completely finished.

Xu Wanzhen led the two into the courtyard, then went back into the kitchen without even saying hello, as if she was afraid the food in the pot would burn.

Wu Zhu sniffed the air; the aroma of the food wafting out was typical of the Jiangzhe cuisine, though the flavors were somewhat mild.

"Come, let me introduce you to my two eldest sons."

Qian Xuantong lined up his eldest and second sons, as if he were showing off his little toys.

"This older one is my eldest son, Qian Bingxiong, who is eleven years old this year."

"The second son is Qian Bingqiong, who is five years old this year."

The two children looked at the toy in Wu Zhu's hand, their expressions pitiful.

Wu Zhu didn't deliberately tease his junior brothers. He distributed the Peking Opera masks, glass trumpets, small windmills, and cloth tigers in his hands all at once. The two junior brothers were all smiles and kept calling him "brother" and "brother," which pleased him.

He gently patted the heads of his two junior brothers, finding it very comforting.

Upon seeing this, Qian Xuantong was furious:

"Are you treating your junior brother like a dog?"

"No, sir, come closer, I have something to ask you."

Seeing Wu Zhu acting mysteriously, Qian Xuantong came closer.

Wu Zhu leaned close to his ear and whispered:

"I've heard that when you married your master's wife, you said that the marriage was only forced upon you, that you would only treat her as a younger sister, and that you would never mistreat her..."

After saying that, he pointed to his two junior brothers and posed a probing question:

"Where did these two kids come from?"

Qian Xuantong was speechless for a moment, his expression quite interesting.

Xu Wanzhen and he were childhood sweethearts, and he often lived in the Xu family when he was young, so the two had a very good relationship.

He loved reading and could sit for a whole day without being urged. Xu Wanzhen would just sit quietly by his side and keep him company.

Over time, Xu Wanzhen developed feelings for him, but he remained indifferent, treating her only as a younger sister.

As a result, his older brother arranged a marriage for him with his childhood friend, a sister he had grown up with. Naturally, he, who was open to new ideas, did not want to be forced into an arranged marriage. However, his elder brother was like a father to him, and he could not refuse, so he had no choice but to accept it reluctantly.

For the first few years of their marriage, the couple slept in separate rooms, and he certainly did not mistreat his wife.

Later, seeing that his marriage was in trouble and his wife was not pregnant, his friend advised him to divorce his wife or take a concubine.

As a result, he seemed to be provoked, and the consequence was that the two children they have now developed feelings for each other over time...

"gentleman?"

"Having two children innocently?"

"Old Qian, you're such a scoundrel, always putting on airs in front of me."

Wu Zhu continued to exert himself, his mouth almost splitting open with laughter.

The older generation is just stubborn. If they like something, they should just say so. Why make such harsh statements? Aren't they embarrassed to be proven wrong?

Qian Xuantong was extremely embarrassed, caught in a dilemma, and angrily kicked his apprentice before rushing towards the kitchen.

"You take your junior brother to play for a while, I'm going to help your master's wife!"

......

Whether they were genuinely trying to help or not, the dishes were served very quickly.

On the eight-immortal table in the center of the main house, there are plates of home-style dishes.

A flavorful assorted hot pot, crisp and appealing traditional shrimp, fragrant braised pork with dried bamboo shoots, sliced ​​mutton with a sauce, and steaming hot braised lion's head meatballs...

It wasn't anything fancy, but the table was full of food.

"Master's wife, you're too kind. There are only a few of us, and there will be quite a few left over."

"Oh, no, please have a seat."

Xu Wanzhen invited Wu Zhu and Qian Xuantong to sit down first, and then went into the kitchen, where it seemed that there were still some dishes to be served.

The Qian family has an open-minded tradition and doesn't have any rule against children sitting at the table. The eldest and second eldest sons held their bowls, staring longingly at the dishes, their mouths watering.

"Eat, eat first! We're not picky at home, eat as much as you want!"

Qian Xuantong poured Wu Zhu a cup of yellow wine and started eating first.

Wu Zhu picked up a piece of braised tofu with scallions, put it in his mouth, and his eyes lit up. He then frantically ate the rest of the food, enjoying the tender and flavorful lion's head meatballs and the sweet and delicious assorted stew. He was truly delighted with the meal.

Soon, Xu Wanzhen brought in the last bowl of crucian carp soup and sat down as well.

"Master's wife, your cooking is amazing!"

Wu Zhu was so busy he couldn't lift his head, but he gave a thumbs-up in sincere praise.

Xu Wanzhen was a little embarrassed. She smoothed her hair and lowered her head to eat her rice in silence.

The rice wine has a low alcohol content, and one jar after another was opened. After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly familiar.

Wu Zhu chatted with Qian Xuantong about trivial matters, making no mention of the argument that afternoon, which allowed Xu Wanzhen to say a few words, and bursts of laughter could be heard from time to time during the meal.

The two junior disciples were still young and had limited capacity for food. They had already eaten their fill and were sitting quietly at the table listening to the adults speak, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Finally, the second brother, being the boldest, came to Wu Zhu's side, grabbed his leg, and looked on with bright eyes:

"Brother Wu, Dad said your articles are read by many people, that's amazing! I want to write articles too, like you, and become a great writer!"

The child's innocent words made the adults laugh.

Qian Xuantong laughed and scolded, "This little brat can't even read properly, yet he wants to be a literary giant like your Brother Wu?"

But Wu Zhu thought of something more serious, and gradually his smile faded:

"You can't have that kind of dream!"

Why?

The second child's babyish question was very cute.

Wu Zhu adopted a scare tactic, pretending to be intimidating a child, and earnestly advised:

"Just listen to me. I have a good eye for talent. You're not cut out for this... You're good at science. Study science in the future, then go abroad to study and serve your country."

"What is science?"

"I learned something that makes your hair fall out."

"Then I won't learn it."

The second child answered decisively, without any hesitation, and clung to the handsome older brother.

Wu Zhu was at her wit's end. She put down her chopsticks and pinched the second son's face:

"I'll kneel down before you, okay?"

"sure!"

"...Give me back my toy."

"No! Hehehe..."