Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

Chapter 83 Reactions from All Parties

November 7th, Shanghai.

The air was filled with the damp, cold air from the Huangpu River.

Zhang Taiyan's residence, located in the Continental Square on Luban Road, was a completely different world.

The charcoal brazier burned brightly, and the smoke from the calming incense rose straight up, so one could not feel the slightest bit of cold.

This renowned "revolutionary Confucian scholar" is currently reading newspapers and periodicals sent from various newspaper offices, among which are two copies of the "Beijing Dialect Daily" sent from Yenching.

He had read "The Bao Family" more than once, which had caused a stir in the field of Chinese studies.

Recently, many people have approached him, hoping he would use his influence to "judge the matter" and defend the honor of traditional Chinese culture, but he has politely declined them all.

As a veteran, he could easily see who "The Bao Family" was targeting and what its purpose was.

During the transition between the old and the new, literary feuds are commonplace, and whoever stands up to defend themselves is often severely punished.

At this point, the only way to avoid being drawn into the controversy is to remain silent.

It's not that I'm afraid of trouble, but that I'd lose face.

First, getting entangled with tabloids is too low-class.

Secondly, since his apprentice's conduct was so poor, he, as the master, had to step forward and respond publicly, inevitably leading to controversy.

Since the Xinhai Revolution, public opinion has been like a rocking horse, going up and down. It's always good to have fewer disputes.

Not to mention that with the development of the New Literature Movement, he has also been identified as a target of criticism.

Among those who attacked him were many of his personally trained disciples...

It is foreseeable that as long as the new literature maintains this momentum, future disagreements will inevitably become public.

Huang Kan was eccentric, and being scolded and reprimanded might not be a bad thing.

"Sir, there is a letter for you."

The old steward tiptoed in and presented a letter from Yanjing.

Zhang Taiyan immediately recognized the address on the envelope as being in Qian Xuantong's handwriting.

He gave a slight smirk, took the letter, and the butler quickly withdrew.

This "Southern King" under his own tutelage has become increasingly deviant since he started hanging out with Chen Zhongfu and others, and seems poised to "eliminate" even his master.

Over the years, we've always been respectful and never had anything in common. We can talk about daily life and everyday matters, but when it comes to traditional Chinese culture, arguments are inevitable.

The key is that this disciple, despite his arguments, never neglects etiquette. He keeps the argument within the academic sphere, making it difficult for his master to criticize him. He's incredibly shrewd.

"hehe!"

Zhang Taiyan gave a bitter laugh and banished the memories from his mind.

He opened the thick envelope, thinking that such a thick letter must be his apprentice's work, but it turned out to be two newspapers and a rough piece of letter paper.

He unfolded the newspaper and saw that it was the *Beijing Dialect Daily*, and it was the same two pages that published "The Bao Family." He immediately understood what his apprentice was up to—

This letter was sent on purpose so that he wouldn't miss the ugly truth about the Chinese studies circle.

Strictly speaking, it was because he was afraid he wouldn't see Huang Kan's shameful deeds...

"Oh!"

Zhang Taiyan was so angry he laughed, and picked up the letter.

The composure on his face gradually disappeared as the "reports" continued.

What appeared to be a respectful report was actually a veiled attempt to mock his words and actions under the pretense of introducing the novel!

And you, Qian Paweng, not only did you take in an even more unorthodox and treacherous disciple, but you also allowed this disciple to attack your elders, and in the end you even dared to ask me to protect my grand-disciple!

'

'

Zhang Taiyan was furious.

But then he suddenly remembered that this new disciple had also written "Rickshaw Boy".

If the rumors are true, it means that "Medicine" and "Kong Yiji" published in "New Youth" were also written by this grand-disciple.

Regardless of his stance, he certainly possesses talent in his writing.

—Sigh, they're both my flesh and blood.

Qian Xuantong's current message to him is clearly a plea for mediation, at least to prevent Huang Kan from pursuing the matter further, lest things escalate and the sect publicly break ties.

[Our master often criticized his disciples and Brother Yu Cai for being too radical. Now, looking at the works of his grandchildren, perhaps we can see that "radicalism" is also passed down?]

【Ha ha!】

Zhang Taiyan could imagine that when Qian Xuantong was writing, his expression must have been mocking and smug, deliberately showing off his disciple.

He held the letter in his hand, his expression unreadable.

"The Bao Family" depicts a world he knows intimately, and few people understand its ills better than he does.

The author who wrote "The Bao Family" without any mercy was actually the grand-disciple of this leading figure in Chinese classical studies.

A grandchild who is younger than Qian Xuantong and Zhou Shuren, yet whose writing is more ruthless and vicious.

He put down the letter, sank into the wicker chair, and closed his eyes.

Powerless, absurd, damn it...

His most prized disciple, who also accompanied him during his years of imprisonment, became the subject of intense ridicule in the writings of others.

Another disciple, Qian Xuantong, had long since "betrayed" traditional Chinese learning, championing vernacular Chinese and the New Culture Movement, and is now stirring up trouble from across the strait.

And Zhou Shuren (Lu Xun)...

Now, another reckless grand-disciple has emerged, dissecting certain aspects of his master's elders and peers, exposing their bloody secrets to the public eye.

What exactly is this?

Has the student surpassed the master? Has he deviated from the norm? Is this a misfortune for the sect?

Or is it that in this era of tremendous change, fortresses often break down from within?

No one could answer this question for Zhang Taiyan, and he fell into deep self-doubt.

"Is it possible that 'radicalism' can also be passed down?"

He muttered to himself, unsure whether to scold or praise.

How can it not be considered a legacy? He was a revolutionary once upon a time!

Students imitate teachers, and when teachers stop halfway through their reforms, the students are unwilling to stop. Who can be blamed for that?

Everything is simply because it is stagnant yet not dead; this is true of the world, and it is also true of traditional Chinese culture.

He composed himself, ground the ink, picked up his brush, and wanted to write something.

Was he rebuking Qian Xuantong? Or was he admonishing Huang Kan?

He was unaware of the cause and effect, but letting the two sides continue to quarrel would only double the satirical effect of the novel. When the truth comes out in the future, the disciples of the Zhang family will attack each other, and the grand-disciple will write a novel to mock his master's scandal, which will become a complete laughing stock.

The tip of the brush hovered over the paper for a long time before the ink droplet "plop" fell onto the paper, spreading and staining. This finally brought him back to his senses, and he managed to finish a line:

[Ji Gang, let this matter rest. Do not delve further into it, and refrain from further public debate.]

Meanwhile, at Yongguang Temple Street, Xuanwumen, Yanjing.

Lin Qinnan, now in his seventies, has his residence filled with calligraphy and paintings, which are the foundation of his livelihood after resigning from Yenching University.

The winter was cold, and the charcoal fire burned brightly, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in his heart, all because of the two newspapers neatly arranged on his desk.

One is "The Bao Family" published some time ago; the other is "Reply to Wang Jingxuan" published in "New Youth" a few months ago.

The latter's naming of him made Lin Qinnan feel extremely humiliated; the former's simple mention of him also chilled him to the bone.

What terrified him was that the writing style of "The Bao Family" far surpassed the straightforward attacks in "Reply to Wang Jingxuan". The contempt and sarcasm between the lines were like a huge net, enveloping all the scholarship and integrity he cherished.

This kind of penetrating writing style is more powerful than direct insults because it can penetrate into the reader's mind and make the reader develop doubts on their own.

"They're undermining the very foundation of our Chinese nation!"

Lin Qinnan took off her reading glasses and leaned back in her chair, her chest heaving violently.

"Reply to Wang Jingxuan" humiliated him, while "The Bao Family" exposed the true nature of the traditional Chinese learning circle, leaving it to the light of day so that even the most ignorant and foolish commoners could point fingers and sneer, "So these so-called scholars are nothing more than this!"

Although Yanjingke's work was not as popular as Xiangzi's Biography, its negative influence made it impossible for him to tolerate.

That group of ungrateful traitors is spouting nonsense, not only trying to overthrow classical Chinese, but also trying to humiliate everyone who upholds classical Chinese and traditional morality. We can no longer stand idly by!

A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Lin Qin'nan's cloudy eyes as she pulled out the business card of an editor from the *Xin Shen Bao* newspaper: "You can write novels to insult people, so why can't I?"