Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

Chapter 80 A letter sent to Zhang Taiyan!

Finally, we saw the last section.

The story begins with a creditor coming to collect a debt from Lao Bao and threatening to "take the matter to the police" to corner him. However, unexpected events occur at the crucial moment.

Suddenly, a school servant from the Imperial Academy in the capital delivered a letter: requesting Bao Guowei's parents and guarantor to come to the school immediately.

[When Lao Bao entered the reception room, he was taken aback. Bao Guowei and a young man sat in the corner, their faces deathly pale. Bao Guowei's eyes were fixed on the wall as if rooted to the spot; his hair was disheveled, and the grease was gone. But his student uniform was still impeccably pressed.]

The school supervisor then stepped up to Bao Guowei and told him in detail how Bao had gotten into trouble at school and with the *Gongyan Bao* newspaper.

In order to gain a better position within the Changming Chinese Studies Society, Bao Guowei was eager to publish a "heavyweight" research article refuting Hu Shi's "fallacies" regarding the history of philosophy.

He secretly altered an ancient book in Guo Chun's collection...and used it as the core "ironclad evidence"...first circulating it within a small circle, and after receiving "praise," he preemptively published an academic news flash under the guise of a special reporter for the *Gongyan Bao* newspaper, claiming a "startling discovery," directly targeting Hu Shi, and implying tacit approval from Mr. Wang and others. The article caused a small-scale sensation.

Scholars from Hu Shi's faction seized upon this evidence of academic fraud and launched a fierce attack, calling it "a shameful act of old-school scholars resorting to fabricating evidence when they were at their wits' end," and demanding severe punishment.

Mr. Wang was furious upon hearing the news, declaring that he had no connection with this person and denouncing him as "malicious and a disgrace to traditional Chinese culture." To salvage its reputation, the *Gongyan Bao* newspaper immediately published a clarification, dismissed Bao Guowei, and accused him of "deceiving the newspaper and engaging in misconduct."

Driven by vanity, Bao Guowei went so far as to alter ancient texts and fabricate evidence. As a result, after his actions were exposed, he was abandoned by all sides.

He sacrificed the pawn to save the king, and in the end, enraged, he resorted to violence.

In an effort to quell the controversy, the Imperial Academy of Chinese Learning in Beijing decided to expel Bao Guowei and demand that he compensate the victims for their losses.

"Well written!"

Qian Xuantong shouted loudly.

Now that Hu Shih's name has been brought up, it feels somewhat like an attempt to cover up the truth.

Wu Zhu, you little devil, you're always causing trouble for those around you...

Qian Bingqiong was startled and asked in a childish voice, "Dad, didn't Bao Guowei steal things? What do you say about him?"

Qian Xuantong held his youngest son on his lap and explained earnestly, "It's naturally bad that Bao Guowei did bad things."

"But you, Wu... but the person who writes articles, peeling back the layers of filth behind traditional Chinese studies and academic research, is very good."

"Look at Mr. Wang. When his student got into trouble, he kicked him aside and even stomped on him, saying it was 'defilement of traditional Chinese culture.' But it is precisely these outdated and conservative people who use the banner of traditional Chinese culture to do despicable things."

He not only critiqued the novel, but also confided his unhappiness to his closest relatives.

Every time he heard Huang Kan insult him, he would tolerate it out of consideration for their fellow disciples. Now that he had taken in a lawless disciple, he would use his pen to vent his anger for him.

It wasn't for nothing that I spoiled my apprentice!

Old Bao's vision went black for a moment, and his ears rang. He slumped into a chair.

"My money—my money—traditional Chinese culture—how could this be—our Bao Guowei—he wants to pass on traditional Chinese culture—"

Traditional Chinese culture cannot be without people!

"Academic integrity is the foundation of scholarship. His fabrication of evidence is not the behavior of a student."

Bao Guowei walked ahead... his crisp student uniform now seemed incredibly ironic... his old cloth shoes barely made a sound on the sidewalk, leaving only a weak and silent shadow.

[Old Bao suddenly wanted to lift Bao Guowei up... to cry over that set of ideas they held as gospel, which were ultimately tainted by their own people and turned against their illusory dreams of traditional Chinese culture.]

In the end, Lao Bao's faith collapsed, he lost his dignity and money, his debts piled up, and he ended up with a rift between father and son.

At the same time, it subtly mocks the fragility of the "traditional Chinese learning" dream held by old literati in the face of dramatic changes in the times.

The novel unfolds through five chapters, shaping the story of an old-fashioned scholar immersed in a "dream of traditional Chinese learning," who devotes everything to his son but ultimately sees his dream shattered.

It also created a student who was vain, opportunistic, and eager to climb the social ladder, but failed due to academic misconduct and moral problems.

It further points out the current ills of traditional Chinese learning: it has become a tool for some people to curry favor with celebrities and vie for discourse power, rather than a genuine inheritance of knowledge.

Qian Xuantong remained silent and pondered.

The tragic ending drowned out the sharp irony.

The elegy sung by the guests in Yanjing for the sake of traditional Chinese learning was far more resounding than the struggles of the old literati themselves.

Was Bao Guowei wrong? Was Bao Guowei despicable?

It's probably not possible to simply judge it as good or bad from a moral standpoint.

Old Bao believed in traditional Chinese culture his whole life, and it repaid him in the cruelest way; and wasn't Bao Guowei also a victim incubated by this outdated system?

As he was thinking, Qian Xuantong suddenly laughed.

The writing style switches so effortlessly, the subject matter so broadly, and the insights so profound.

His laughter grew louder and louder, and tears even welled up in his eyes.

This satire of traditional Chinese culture in "The Bao Family" is far more incisive than the charade he performed with Liu Bannong. We'll have to see who takes the bait then.

Compared to his students, he, as the master, was practically a greenhorn.

"Dad, why are you crying?"

The eldest son, Qian Bingxiong, asked in confusion.

Qian Xuantong wiped his eyes, his tone relieved: "Father didn't cry... Father was just laughing, laughing at certain people who will probably have trouble sleeping and eating from now on, and will have to avoid your senior brother."

"I also laugh at this stagnant literary world; finally, a dragon daring to stir up trouble has arrived!"

"Excellent!"

The two brothers failed to understand these words.

Qian Xuantong, without any intention of explaining, folded up the two days' worth of "Beijing Daily" neatly and stuffed them into a cowhide envelope.

Then he ground the ink, laid out the paper, and picked up his brush:

[Dear teacher, I apologize for disturbing you.]

[A new phenomenon has recently emerged in Beijing: "Yanjing Guest." First, there was "Rickshaw Boy," and then "The Bao Family," which has turned the capital upside down.]

[I am sending you the full text of "The Bao Family" for your reading.]

This novel vividly portrays the realities of the traditional Chinese learning circle. In particular, its defense of Mr. Wang using the guise of "refined elegance" resonates with my former mentor's assessment of my friend Ji Gang: "His talent is boundless, but unfortunately, he is too burdened by the habits of a pedant." It is truly remarkable.

[This disciple is dull-witted, yet judging from his writing style and profound insight into human nature, only someone of exceptional intelligence and deep understanding of the inner workings of our circle could produce such a work. After much thought, only that "good-for-nothing" apprentice I took in this year might be a possibility. This boy is unruly, yet incomparably sharp-tongued; if it is indeed him, then this action will inevitably bring him trouble.]

Very few people should know the pseudonym used by your disciple's grandson. However, nothing stays hidden forever. I fear that if Ji Gang, Shen Shu, and other brothers see it, they might mistakenly identify themselves as such, which could cause quite a stir and easily lead to chaos.

[This young man is a junior member of our sect, young and impetuous, too sharp-tongued. If his identity is revealed, he will surely become the target of everyone's criticism. We hope that Master can protect him, at least—do not expose him.]

[Master often criticized his disciples and Brother Yu Cai for being too radical. Now, seeing the work of this grandchild, perhaps we can see that "radicalism" is also passed down?]

【Ha ha!】

【Disciple Xuantong respectfully presents】

He finished writing in one go and handed the letter to his youngest son.

Qian Bingqiong's eyes lit up, and he blew on the ink with a "whoosh" sound, drying the ink stains in no time.

Qian Xuantong knew that Zhang Taiyan favored Huang Kan, and even though Huang Kan's private life was so chaotic, he still defended him by saying that he was a "celebrity and romantic".

So this letter was partly to inform Zhang Taiyan that he had a grand-disciple and to ask him to protect him.

As for your other half.....

Your master's most favored disciple has been written into a novel and ridiculed, and the author of the novel is an even younger grand-disciple. Are you going to do anything about this?

If you're going to try to manage it, how will you manage it?

The thought of this prank made Qian Xuantong very happy. He couldn't stop smiling and stuffed the letter into the envelope.

Qian Bingqiong looked up at his father, his eyes darting around: "Dad, I want to write novels too!"

"Give up on that idea as soon as possible."

"Why?!"

Qian Bingqiong was puzzled.

Qian Xuantong looked out the window, and the image of him writing furiously appeared before his eyes: "Because your senior brother is in the literary world, as long as he is around, if you pursue literature, you will forever live in his shadow and will never be able to make any waves."

"Listen to your father, just like your senior brother said. Study hard in the future, learn practical knowledge that can build machines and strengthen the country, and take the path of serving the country through science and industry."

"Of course, if you insist on studying humanities and are determined to enter the literary world, I won't stop you. But if your senior brother beats you up with a pen, don't come back crying."

He felt that the luckiest thing this year was taking on an apprentice.

Qian Bingqiong pouted, somewhat unwilling.

Seeing this, Qian Xuantong deliberately joked, "If you're really not convinced, perhaps your father can give you some advice."

"What?!"

"Your senior brother is an alcoholic. When you grow up, find a chance to lure him out, get him drunk, and then..."

In this way, the literary world will no longer have this formidable obstacle.

Qian Xuantong made a gesture of covering his mouth.

This was originally a joke between father and son.

Qian Bingqiong blinked rapidly, then dashed out of the study. When he returned, he was carrying his father's pillow and solemnly shoved it into his father's hands: "Dad, use this!"

Qian Xuantong stared in astonishment at the pillow in his hand, then at his youngest son's serious face, and finally couldn't help but laugh so hard he couldn't stand up straight: "Good...good lad! You've got guts!"

"Then invite your senior brother over today."

"He'll spank you like before, and I won't stop him."

"Let's forget about it then..."

""