Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

The next day at midday.

The sunlight lazily spilled onto the floor tiles of the courtyard, casting layer upon layer of shadows on the bricks and tiles.

Ma Yu's room was filled with the sweet and soft smell of pork.

"Hungry......"

It was almost lunchtime, but she was still wrapped in a quilt, curled up in bed, too lazy to even open her eyes.

"Gurgle—"

My stomach growled at an inopportune moment.

She had already slept in and hadn't gotten up for breakfast, but the smell of her hometown dishes waking her up instantly woke her up.

This isn't your average hometown dish!

Based on her analysis of the smell that slipped in through the crack in the door, it was a mixture of spicy and mellow aromas, with the smell of braised pork with rich, dark soy sauce and the aroma of steamed cured meat with fermented black beans and chili!

Wait a minute! It also tastes like soybean and pig's trotter soup!

Thinking of this, Ma Yu seemed to see the trotter soup simmering on the stove, making a "glug-glug" sound, and his mouth watered uncontrollably.

"Slurp!"

She hurriedly wiped her mouth clean, struggled to open her eyes, and got up to rub her fluffy hair.

Is it some important occasion that we're eating such hearty dishes today?

Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, Double Ninth Festival has passed, and no one in the family celebrated their birthday...

Could it be that this is to invite Huaijin to break my fast?

Ma Yu's appetite was whetted, and after much thought, she came up with the most reasonable explanation—

To entertain guests.

The craving that had just arisen was immediately suppressed.

She hated having guests at home because her parents would make her dress neatly, be mindful of her manners, and sit obediently at the table, listening to the adults talk about boring topics, which made her very uncomfortable.

Occasionally, they'll ask about my studies, and I have to give a proper answer. But after answering, there's a good chance I'll get a lecture, which is even more tiring than being lectured in class.

What could be more enjoyable than sneaking out to a restaurant, then finding Zhu Junzi's residence, personally delivering the letter I had written to him, and incidentally meeting the gentleman I had long admired?

If you won't see me, then I'll come to you. You can't refuse me!

"Get out of here!"

Ma Yu jumped up, quickly dressed herself, tidied her hair, picked up the letters from the inner compartment of her schoolbag, and quietly opened the door.

Once she was sure her parents and guests weren't there, she hurriedly filled a basin with water to wash up, dressed herself neatly, and even found a small mirror to admire herself.

Even without makeup, she looks great. If she made her face up with fancy makeup, her husband might find it unappealing!

She quickly tidied up, put the letters in her pocket, and, drawn by the increasingly strong aroma of food, went to the empty courtyard.

The only sounds coming from the kitchen were the clanging of spatulas and Grandma humming a little tune.

Ma Yu tiptoed like a thief, trying to slip past the door and head straight for the tightly closed gate.

"Oh! Little Yu'er is up."

"You're so energetic! Come on, give me a hand and peel this garlic."

Grandma saw her through the window, came out of the kitchen, and had a kind smile on her face.

Ma Yusheng looked utterly dejected, then forced a smile and turned to say:

"Grandma, I have something urgent to attend to and I have to go out. I won't be having lunch at home."

The tone of his voice carried a hint of negotiation.

Grandma ignored her and walked closer, grabbing her arm:

"What could be more urgent than eating? Your father is hosting a banquet today, and I've heard they're very important and highly educated! Your father said you can't go out; you have to stay home."

"I have nothing to say to those old men. I'm sitting there like a clay idol, it's so uncomfortable. Grandma, please let me out..."

Ma Yu started to whine and act cute, but her grandmother just wouldn't let go.

An elderly person and a young person were pulling at each other at the kitchen door, and the commotion alerted the people inside the house.

"Ma Yu! Where are you going!"

Ma Yuzhao walked out of the house, dressed impeccably, with an unusually serious expression on his face.

Now that Laozi was out, Ma Yu didn't dare to argue with her grandmother anymore. She stood still and pleaded:

"Dad, I've made plans to meet a classmate at the Yenching University library. We'll just grab a quick lunch outside. You're hosting a dinner party, there's no point in me just sitting here..."

He'd lie just to get out...

Ma Yuzhao immediately noticed something was wrong with his daughter and said sternly:

"Nonsense! What information is so urgent? There's someone on duty every day; you can find the information this afternoon. We have important guests coming at noon today, so you must be home!"

"But I made plans with my classmates!"

"Then let your classmate eat at home before going."

Ma Yu was completely out of options.

But she wasn't a sheltered young lady like Lin Daiyu; she was a woman who embraced new ideas, loved reading, and whose thinking was becoming increasingly independent. She was most averse to this kind of restrictive arrangement!

"Dad! I'm so old! Don't I even have the freedom to go out for a meal by myself? You treat me, I see whoever I want to see, can't we just leave each other alone?!"

"You want to meet that random pen pal of yours who popped out of who-knows-where?"

"He's not some random guy!"

Ma Yu's stubbornness kicked in, and she clenched her fists and retorted.

Ma Yuzhao was a little embarrassed after being scolded by his daughter, but he patiently tried to persuade her:

"The person coming to our house today is a promising young man that your father wants to introduce you to. His knowledge and experience will surely satisfy you... He's a hundred times better than anyone you've met outside."

"No one has a better pen pal than me! My pen pals are a thousand times better than those pretentious people you introduced! Even if the likes of Hu Shih and Fu Mengzhen came, it wouldn't matter!"

Ma Yu blurted out, her cheeks slightly flushed from anger, like an angry little colt.

They even introduced her to promising young men—was the tone suggesting they wanted to arrange a marriage for her?

Using such an arbitrary method, there is absolutely no freedom!

One person wanted to surprise their daughter and didn't want to reveal who the guest was; the other was afraid that their father would find out about their pen pal's identity and cause trouble for Wu Zhu at Yenching University.

The two continued to misunderstand each other, even though it was just a simple matter of opening their mouths and clarifying the nuances of the situation...

Ma Yu now dislikes not only meeting "young talents," but also Ma Yuzhao's overprotective care.

She turned and walked away, making a move to open the door:

"I won't see him, I won't see him! My pen pal is more capable than anyone you've hired! He understands every word I write, and knows everything I'm thinking! You and that pretentious guy don't understand me at all!"

Ma Yuzhao's face was contorted with anger.

Damn it! Don't let him find out who my daughter's so-called pen pal is!

If anyone finds out, they'll definitely break that male vixen's legs!

Grandma was so anxious that she kept rubbing her hands, but she couldn't say a word.

"Yu'er, calm down."

Chen Dexin also came out of the house and called out softly.

Ma Yugang paused as he placed his hand on the door, then turned around with a pitiful expression, his eyes red and his lips pouting without saying a word.

Chen Dexin came to her, took her hand, and gently advised:

"Today's guest has impressed Yenching University with both his literary talent and courage. Even President Cai is very pleased with him. Meeting him will only benefit you, and we will not force you to do anything afterward."

"No... It's the Republic of China now. *New Youth* magazine talks about freedom, not conformity..."

Ma Yu protested with a tearful voice.

She was determined to be Nora and would never submit to arranged friendships.

So he shook his head at Chen Dexin, broke free of her hand, and turned to open the door.

bang-

The door was yanked open.

The excessively bright sunlight outside poured down without restraint, instantly flooding the eaves and turning the area behind the door a stark white.

Ma Yu was blinded by the sudden bright light and instinctively closed her eyes.

Inside her closed eyelids was a chaotic gold, and the echo of her father's reprimands still lingered in her ears, but that no longer mattered.

Because she vaguely felt that there seemed to be a person standing directly in front of her, backlit, with a tall figure and indistinct outline.