1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

Administrative obstacles were completely eliminated, no one offered any private warnings or hints, the judge ruled according to the law, and the prosecutor was completely incompetent. A trial that was expected to drag on for at least a year or two was surprisingly completed in just this short time...

Everything about this situation exudes a strange feeling. Does the Nationalist government want to kill Chen Duxiu?

There is no doubt that I did.

But why was it let off so easily this time?

In Zhang Shizhao's original vision, avoiding the death penalty was a victory, and the best outcome was "imprisonment plus medical parole." However, after a trial, he was directly acquitted!

What are you doing?

Since he was innocent, why was Chen Duxiu arrested on such a ridiculous pretext? "Because he opposed the government, he was endangering the Republic of China"?

What's the fuss?

If opposing the government is equivalent to treason, then how should we characterize Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing and others who overthrew the Qing government?

They responded with just one sentence, and the Nationalist government was left speechless. Unless they wanted to completely throw away Sun Yat-sen, the last signboard.

Therefore, whether he was guilty or not was simply a matter of a word from Chiang Kai-shek. The fact that he was able to pass the test so easily this time was undoubtedly due to some changes in his state of mind or some pressure he was under.

Of course, the strangest thing is this old friend in front of me.

Throughout the entire process, except for his initial self-defense, he barely uttered a word, allowing his "extra-staff lawyer" to fully demonstrate his abilities.

Even though Zhang Shizhao slipped up and said, "Chen Duxiu has left the Communist Party and is not an enemy of the government, so why punish him?", which he later thought he shouldn't have said, Chen Duxiu just said calmly:

"Lawyer Zhang is wrong. The KMT and the CCP have already resumed cooperation. How can we talk about enemies being no enemies?"

So weird, so well behaved. This is not his character...

The crowd dispersed, and just as Zhang Shizhao was pondering, Chen Duxiu's voice rang out:

"Xingyan, thank you so much for this time." "...Ah, are you okay...Huh??" Huh?!

Something is wrong!!

Nine out of ten things are wrong! This guy actually thanked me!

Ever since the Beiyang Incident, hasn't he publicly declared that he has severed all ties with me? "You...you you you you..."

"What's wrong with me? Is it okay to say thank you for helping someone?" "No... no problem..."

Zhang Shizhao took a deep breath, suppressed his astonishment, and said in a deep voice:

"Zhongfu, although you luckily survived this trial, you should be more restrained in your public speeches and writings from now on. Stop provoking the government again and again!"

Zhang Shizhao knew that what he said would definitely make Chen Duxiu angry - this gentleman never concealed his master, but he was even more unwilling to see his old friend, who was already in poor health, being thrown into prison again.

"Nothing's wrong. Please rest assured. For the time being, the Chiang Kai-shek government can't find an excuse to arrest me, nor can they catch me."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"I'm going abroad."

3,

In early May, as Chen Duxiu looked at the Los Angeles pier getting closer and closer, a hint of confusion finally appeared in his eyes.

When Chen Duxiu first came to the United States, any discerning person could see that the country was rising and might very well become the most powerful capitalist country in the world in the future. Even though he had already made the decision, he could not help but feel uneasy.

However, compared to the fear of being arrested and tortured by the Kuomintang while hiding in Shanghai, this uneasiness came more from his personal worries about his future path. It is hard to say which is more important.

The people who followed him were not nervous at all, but excited:

"Dad! This is Los Angeles! It's so beautiful and so big!!"

Seeing his son's unstable appearance, Chen Duxiu subconsciously wanted to scold him, but then he remembered his conversation with Chuntian in prison that day, and his heart softened. He changed his words:

"Songnian, you're already 23 or 24 years old. Be careful and cautious in a foreign country."

"Ah...ah! Yes, father."

When his half-sister Chen Zimei pulled on his sleeve, the overly excited Chen Songnian finally noticed the situation and quickly calmed down, only to find that his father's eyes were more gentle than ever before:

"Well, I just want to remind you that we must be cautious now."

The brother and sister both looked at their strange father with incredible eyes, causing the latter to become a little angry and embarrassed:

"What! Isn't it enough to just remind me?!" "No...no, father."

As Chuntian said, Chen Duxiu was only focused on the revolution in his early years and ignored the feelings of his family, which led to his ex-wife Gao Junman divorcing him and eventually his death due to lack of money for medical treatment;

His eldest son Yannian and second son Qiaonian followed him into the revolution and were killed. His eldest daughter Chen Yuying and third son Chen Songnian dealt with their two brothers' funerals one after another, and both became seriously ill. His eldest daughter also died young from excessive grief.

The second daughter, Chen Zimei, met the wrong man and was deceived by a scumbag named Zhang Guoxiang. If Chuntian hadn't warned her, she probably wouldn't have known until she had several children.

The fourth son, Chen Henian, is currently studying at Peking University, but he is unwilling to acknowledge himself as his father. This time, when someone was sent to deliver a message, he didn't even reply.

What Chen Duxiu didn't know was that in the next few decades of history, his remaining sons, daughters, and grandchildren would suffer tremendously because of his existence.

Just saying "The Chairman's badge is too expensive and I can't afford it" can be labeled as a "counter-revolutionary"...

Chen Duxiu did not think that there was anything wrong with him and his family sacrificing themselves for the revolution, but after being "reprimanded" by Springfield, he did realize that he owed his family too much, so he brought them all with him on this trip to the United States.

In addition to the increasing softness that comes with age, the most important reason may be Haruta's words: "How can a communist who has no tenderness for his own family be kind to the people?"

My mental flaw...?

Because he had been absent from the role of father for a long time, Chen Duxiu himself didn't know how to get along with his own children, and the two were not familiar with their father, so the atmosphere suddenly became cold.

Fortunately, Pan Lanzhen, Chen Duxiu's third wife who was 29 years younger than him and 4 years younger than Chen Zimei, stepped forward to break the deadlock and awkwardness:

"Mr. Li...Mr. Chen, can you please find a doctor after we get off the boat? I'm not feeling well."

"Hmm? What happened?" "Maybe it was the rough sea..."

The boat gradually approached the shore, and several people walked down the dock together. Sure enough, they saw someone waiting there holding a large sign that read "Meet Mr. Li Zhijian from Shanghai":

"I'm Li Zhijian from Shanghai. This is my family. May I ask your name, sir?"

The sturdy-looking young man smiled with his big white teeth: "I dare not call you Mr., my name is Liu Changchun."

Even though he didn't pay much attention to sports, Chen Duxiu had heard of this name and said in disbelief:

"Are you the Olympic long-distance runner?" "Yes, sir."

"...It's been almost a year since the Olympics, and you haven't returned home yet?"

"I didn't get a place and have no money to return home. I'm currently staying in Los Angeles working to earn money for my trip."

In addition to being angry at the Kuomintang government's utilitarianism and ruthlessness, Chen Duxiu was of course aware that this was most likely just a polite remark.

Anyone who was arranged by Springfield to come and greet him must not be an ordinary person.

In other words, this former long-distance runner actually got in touch with an American?

"Okay, then..."

Chen Duxiu suppressed his speculation and was about to ask about the next arrangements when Chen Zimei's stomach suddenly growled loudly. Her pretty face flushed and she dug her toes into the ground in embarrassment. Liu Changchun, however, chuckled.

"Sorry, sorry, I didn't have breakfast or lunch today. I'm sorry to bother you all. I guess you're hungry too. I know a really good restaurant, Mr. Chen, what do you think?"

Although it was not a big deal, Liu Changchun's timely rescue still saved some face for Chen Zimei, who gave him a grateful look.

Chen Duxiu didn't notice this, but just sighed, thinking that maybe he shouldn't have not let his family eat breakfast on the boat to save money, and nodded:

"Okay, I'll trouble you then."

"Small things."

The five of us left the pier and soon arrived at a modern restaurant nearby...

what is this?

The first thing that catches your eye is the "T&SFC" logo and a full-length statue of an old man with a white beard.

"T&SFC" is probably the name of the store. Who is this old man with a gentle smile? Why does he look familiar?

By the way, this store is doing pretty good business, with a lot of people, so I guess the food must be pretty good.

Liu Changchun didn't care about that. He led the people into the store, found a seat for six, and handed them a piece of paper and a pencil familiarly:

"Please sit down! Mr. Li, here is the menu. Just tick what you want to eat."

Chen Duxiu never had any interest in food or drink, but he was very interested in the menu itself.

Brand new, soft paper, without any marks, looks like the kind that is used once and then thrown away. Americans are really rich.

Then he noticed the price and was shocked. How expensive!

I knew the cost of living in the US was high before I came here, but I never thought it would be this high!

In fact, the price of Todd's Chicken was not expensive and was completely a consumer product for ordinary Americans. However, Chen Duxiu came from poor China, so the price was a little difficult to accept.

Even though he lived in Shanghai for a long time, Chen Duxiu was not a lavish spender. He had almost spent all his savings on the revolutionary cause, so apart from the antiques left by his ancestors, he was actually very poor.

Isn't it too extravagant to spend so much money on a meal, especially precious dollars?

Noticing his father's embarrassment, Chen Songnian took the initiative to speak:

"Father, I'm not hungry. Just order some food for yourself, mother, and sister."

Pan Lanzhen also followed up:

"Mr. Li, I'm not hungry either."

"

Chen Zimei didn't know whether to say she was hungry or not. She was really hungry.

Ever since her father brought her a letter exposing the secrets of her husband, whom she had been married to for only a few months, and urged her to divorce him, she hadn't slept well at night or eaten a good meal, and had lost a lot of weight.

It was not until she left Shanghai and boarded a ship to the United States to seek refuge and relax that she regained her appetite. However, the food on the ship was too expensive, and in order to save money, she had not eaten for two consecutive meals.

Liu Changchun once again spoke out to save the situation:

"Mr. Li, don't worry. I will pay for all the meals today."

"How can this be? Aren't you saving money to go back home..." "I forgot to tell you, I'm the manager of this store."

Chen Duxiu's eyes widened slightly, and he instantly understood many things, including why there were still empty seats for six people in such a busy restaurant, but he finally shook his head:

"No, I really can't trouble you. I'll pay for it myself!" "Mr. Li, this is a little gift from me. It's also what my mentor wanted." "Who is your mentor?"

"Please eat something first! Just order something. The instructor will be here soon. You'll have the energy to talk to him only if you're full, right?"

"...good."

Since it was a "task" arranged by Springfield, Chen Duxiu no longer hesitated and ordered a hamburger, a fried chicken drumstick and a serving of French fries. The others followed suit and handed the menu to the clerk behind Liu Changchun.

Just ten minutes later, all the meals were brought up by the waiters in a flash. The hungry people didn't even bother to appreciate the food and wolfed it down.

Chen Duxiu, who was eating this kind of thing for the first time, even burped in an ungraceful manner after drinking the Coke, which attracted the surprised looks of his wife and children.

Such a serious and rigid person actually has this side?

Chen Duxiu had no idea that his wife and children were secretly criticizing him. He only felt that his tense spirit suddenly relaxed, and his whole body unconsciously exuded a lazy aura.

He Bing didn't know whether it was the dopamine triggered by sweets and the satiety brought by meat that were at work, but the fatigue he had felt in recent years had indeed been alleviated a lot.

Pan Lanzhen was the first to notice the change in her husband. She lowered her head slightly and couldn't help wiping her eyes.

From the first day she was with Chen Duxiu, she could feel the pressure from this man.

At first, Pan Lanzhen thought it was because she felt guilty about working outside to support him when he was sick. After trying to persuade him several times without success, she could only treat him better.

It was not until Chen Duxiu was arrested and she learned her husband Li Zhijian's real name and past from the newspaper that she finally understood everything:

It turns out that the gentleman was a revolutionary and a big shot being hunted by the government; no wonder he was so tired.

That’s great! It seems like I made the right decision to come to the United States this time.

After a short rest, seeing Liu Changchun return to his original position after finishing his work, Chen Duxiu quickly asked:

"When will your mentor come?" "Should..."

Just as Liu Changchun was about to explain, a disgusting voice rang out: "Oh! Shit! Yellow monkey!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw a middle-aged white man holding a little girl, looking at Chen Duxiu's table with undisguised contempt.

Even if one did not understand English at all, anyone could feel that this was not a friendly attitude. Besides, Chen Duxiu's English was quite good, and he had heard the word "YM" many times in Shanghai.

Chen Duxiu and others became nervous unconsciously.

A century of humiliation has caused the vast majority of Chinese people, and even the vast majority of yellow people, to develop an indescribable fear and inferiority towards white people, which many people may not even be aware of.

Apart from shrinking back and giving in, one of the most typical manifestations is that anything Chinese is only good if it has been praised by foreigners.