Chapter 24 Slightly flawed

Liu Wendian's studies are rigorous and his works are rich, but he has always insisted on writing in classical Chinese, and he never punctuates his writing. Many people say that he is "the author does not care about readers", and even his friend Hu Shi also said that he is "lazy in punctuation, which is not enough for the law".Some people advised Liu that even if the current punctuation marks are not used, they should use punctuated sentences to make it easier for readers to read and understand, but he said, since it is impossible to read, why bother?The reason is probably to imitate Chen Yinke.Because Chen wrote articles, he only used ancient Chinese and never punctuated.

Liu Wendian liked to smoke opium. Zhou Zuoren once recalled Liu Wendian: "Shu Ya is very interesting, with a dark face, because he used to be addicted to opium and carnivorous in the past. After Peking University moved to Kunming, he was called 'Eryun Jushi'. Cloud legs and cloud soil are both famous things, suitable for what they like. I like to smoke cigarettes, and I often hold one in my mouth. Even when I talk, it sticks to my mouth. I don’t know how it can be like this. I only throw it away before entering the church. Funny sex , is good at talking and laughing, but chooses words."

During the Southwest Associated University, life was very difficult due to the soaring price of goods and Liu Wendian took opium.In order to make money, Liu Wendian went to Mohei to write the epitaph for the salt merchant's mother at the request of Zhang Mengxi, a great salt merchant.It was a long journey from Kunming to Mohei, and the risk was extremely high. For this reason, Zhang sent someone to take Liu to Mohei with a sliding pole, made proper arrangements along the way, and even sent special personnel to protect him.After arriving in Mohei, apart from writing the epitaph for Zhang's mother and occasionally lecturing on Zhuangzi and "Wenxuan" for local teachers, Liu spent most of the time lying on the opium bed and smoking, and had enough cigarette addiction.Four months later, Liu Wendian returned to Kunming.

Liu Wendian's trip was immediately criticized by colleagues in the UNGA.Moreover, Liu Wendian left school privately, which affected normal courses.At that time, there were only seven professors in the Chinese Department of Southwest Associated University. Among them, Chen Yinke was trapped in Hong Kong. Once Liu Wendian left, only Luo Changpei, Zhu Ziqing, Wen Yiduo, Qing Jiangqing, and Wang Li were left. Very angry with Liu.After Liu Wendian returned to Kunming, he continued his employment in the second year, but Wen Yiduo insisted not to issue a letter of appointment to Liu, and Liu was dismissed.After Liu Wendian knew that he was fired, he was very angry and had a fight with Wen Yiduo.Wang Yao, a Tsinghua graduate student who lived with Wen Yiduo at the time, recalled: "After Liu Wendian returned to Kunming, he was very unconvinced about his dismissal. He once went to Sijiaying Tsinghua Institute of Liberal Arts to discuss with Mr. Wen. At that time, the two People are very impulsive, Wen Yiduo was having dinner with his family, and they quarreled at the dinner table. Mr. Zhu Ziqing also lives in the Institute of Liberal Arts, and he tried his best to persuade him when he saw this situation. After all, Liu Wendian failed to return to Tsinghua University.”

Liu Wendian's student Wang Li was also teaching in the Chinese Department at the time, and tried his best to speak for Liu: "A few of our colleagues went to meet Mr. Wen and intercede for that old professor (referring to Liu Wendian). Later, he moved south with the school, and he was still patriotic. Mr. Wen said angrily, "If you don't become a traitor, you can leave your post without teaching responsibility?" He finally fired that professor." After Liu Wendian left Tsinghua University, he went to teach at Yunnan University.Wen Yiduo was extremely dissatisfied with Yunnan University's hiring of Liu.Wu Mi recorded in his diary on July 10, 1944 that Wu Junsheng, director of the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of the Kuomintang, invited the directors of Southwest Associated University, Yunnan University, and the Faculty of Arts and Law of Sino-French University to discuss the revision of the "Course List issued by the Ministry". Liu Wendian was mentioned at the meeting and said: "It is said that a certain bad professor (Dian) was fortunately excluded from the school, and Yunda, who specializes in sloppy goods and hides filth, was hired as a rare treasure", " Jiang Yinqing, who was present at Yunda University, was speechless, but Xu Jiarui rounded up his words to answer, and did not dare to argue with Wen Yiduo."

It is said that Liu Wendian became infected with opium because of the death of his eldest son Liu Chengzhang.In order to dispel his inner grief and anesthetize himself, he started smoking opium.Yunnan is rich in cloud and soil. After Liu arrived in Kunming, he felt like a fish in water and couldn't extricate himself.Qian Mu recalled: "(Liu Wendian) lost his son in his later years and was depressed and unable to liberate himself, so his family members persuaded him to smoke opium. After his physical strength improved and his love gradually calmed down, Fang Li quit smoking. Then he went south, and then Met with Mengzi. Shuya's old opium addiction relapsed, and he died. In Kunming, his opium addiction increased day by day. He once went to a chieftain's home in Mengguan to get the best variety of opium. He also wrote Shinto tablets and epitaphs for chieftains from all over the country. Inscriptions, etc., are all paid with the best opium. The old military bureaucrats from all over Yunnan are vying to be hired as flattery tombs, and they all donate opium. Shu Ya was unable to return to Beiping, and studied at Yunnan University. Go out."

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Liu Wendian took the knife for others and wrote a congratulatory form for Chiang Kai-shek's 60th birthday.Zhu Lidong, the secretary of Lu Han, then chairman of the Yunnan provincial government, approached Liu through Li Guangping, and he did not refuse.