Chapter 5 The first part

In the spring of 1913, Hangzhou Fuzhong was reopened and the school magazine "Yousheng" was started. Xu Zhimo returned to the school to study again.After returning to school, Yu Dafu did not come back, but went to Japan with his elder brother.Therefore, Yu Dafu and Xu Zhimo studied at the same school for only half a year.However, in the past six months, two outstanding writers in the history of modern Chinese literature forged a lifelong friendship. Soon after returning to school, Xu Zhimo published his first paper "On the Relationship between Fiction and Society" in the first issue of the school magazine "Yousheng".After the article was published, classmates rushed to circulate it, and they all praised Zhimo as a child prodigy.This article imitates Liang Qichao's "On the Relationship between Fiction and Group Governance" from the style of writing to the thought, which shows Zhimo's admiration for Liang Qichao, and also shows his mentality of improving society and strengthening the people by managing the world.

When Xu Zhimo was in middle school, he had a strong interest in chemistry and astronomy. In May 1914, he published "The History of Radium Ingots and the Earth" in the second issue of "Friendly Voice".This article introduces radium, which was discovered not long ago by foreign scientists at that time. Xu Zhimo, who is famous for his talent, unexpectedly ushered in a major turning point in his life.Just when he was showing his talents in the mansion, Zhang Jiaao, the secretary of Zhu Rui, the governor of Zhejiang, happened to visit the mansion.When he was looking at the students' composition test papers, he accidentally found an excellent test paper.The handwriting is strong and free, and the article is full of spirit.Zhang Jiaao, who has a discerning eye, is full of praise for the author of the article, Xu Zhimo.

When Zhang Jiaao found out that the talented Xu Zhimo he liked was the only son of Xu Shenru, the chairman of Xiashi Chamber of Commerce, he connected him with Zhang Youyi, his younger sister who was still in his boudoir, and took the initiative to send someone to Xu's family to ask for a marriage. The Zhang family is a famous family in Baoshan County, Jiangsu Province.Zhang Youyi's grandfather was a county magistrate in the Qing Dynasty, and her father Zhang Runzhi was a well-known doctor at that time, although his official career was not smooth.Zhang Youyi has 12 brothers and sisters, and she is the eighth.Her second brother Zhang Junmai (Jia Sen) and fourth brother Zhang Gongquan (Jia Ao) both studied in Japan. At this time, they were both celebrities in society and had influence in the academic, political and financial circles.After the Revolution of 1911, Zhang Junmai served as the chairman of the Baoshan County Council, organized the Democratic Socialist Party, and served as the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce in the Republic of China. He studied in Germany in 1913. After returning to China in 1915, he served as the director of the Zhejiang Negotiation Office, and later served as a professor at Peking University and the chairman of the Democratic Socialist Party.In 1913, Zhang Jiaao served as the secretary of Zhu Rui, governor of Zhejiang Province, and the secretary-general of the Senate. He resigned because he was dissatisfied with Yuan Shikai's rule, and became the deputy manager of the Shanghai Branch of the Bank of China.Since then, he has served as Minister of Communications and President of Bank of China.

Xu Shenru naturally wished for such a prominent Zhang family.The thriving family business of Xu's family and the future of his son all require strong social relations. Isn't it an ideal choice to marry the Zhang family, who has a scholarly family for generations and is politically and economically popular?The Zhang family didn't want to miss a talented person, so they took the initiative to come to propose marriage. The Xu family felt fortunate to be able to climb up to the Zhang family. The two families hit it off, and Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi got engaged.This year Xu Zhimo was 16 years old and Zhang Youyi was 13 years old.

The first time Zhang Youyi saw was a photo of Xu Zhimo, which showed him with a big head, a pointed chin, and gold-rimmed glasses.Her parents asked her how the person in the photo was. She knew that her life had been determined by her family, and she said she had no objection.She is going to marry the man her family has chosen for her.And when Xu Zhimo saw her photo for the first time, according to Zhang Youyi's recollection, he turned the corner of his mouth down and said in a disgusted tone: "Country bumpkin." It cannot be called the beauty of the shy moon.Moreover, she had no formal education, and she only studied in the family school with her brothers for a few days since she was a child, and then she only studied in Suzhou No. 2 Women's Normal School for about a year.Therefore, she is still an old-fashioned Chinese woman.Xu Zhimo is talented, full of romantic fantasies and expectations, and beautiful women are his ideal women.He was a little disappointed and reluctant, but under the insistence of his father and the persuasion of his grandmother and mother, he agreed to the marriage.

Xu Zhimo did not fall in love with Zhang Youyi like the Xu family did, but under the influence of his father and brother, Zhang Youyi gradually fell in love with Xu Zhimo. Their marriage was decided by the parents of both parties who were very satisfied. The seeds were also quietly planted. In the summer of 1915, Xu Zhimo graduated from middle school with honors and was admitted to the preparatory course of Peking University. The wedding date of Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi was set on October 29, 1915.The Zhang family went to Europe to buy dowry for their ideal son-in-law, planning to hold a fashionable marriage combining Chinese and Western styles.At this time, Xu Zhimo was called back by his father to be the bridegroom not long after he entered Peking University's preparatory school.On this day of great joy, the hall of Xia Shek Chamber of Commerce was full of guests, laughing and laughing.Everyone was watching this new type of wedding: the couple did not pray to heaven and earth, and did not wear red or green. The bride in a white wedding dress and the groom in a suit and leather shoes stood side by side, accepting the witnesses to witness the marriage.

Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi are relatively harmonious after marriage.The gentle and elegant Xu Zhimo is Zhang Youyi's ideal husband. Although Zhang Youyi is not Xu Zhimo's ideal lover, he may feel a little regretful, but the young couple are like glue and love each other endlessly. The accidental marriage brought substantial changes to Xu Zhimo's life.It was with the help of the Zhang family brothers that his talent had a broader scope to display.Soon after marriage, Xu Zhimo was introduced by Zhang Junmai to Shanghai Baptist College (the predecessor of Hujiang University), where he could go home to visit his newly married wife every weekend. In the autumn of 1916, Xu Zhimo was admitted to the law preparatory course of Beiyang University in Tianjin.In the second year, because the law department of Beiyang University was merged into Peking University, he became a Peking University student.

Due to the shortage of housing at Peking University, Xu Zhimo borrowed from the home of Jiang Baili, the younger brother of his uncle Jiang Jinzhan.Jiang Baili is a well-known military scientist in China. He stayed in Japan in his early years and graduated from the Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer Academy.Xu Zhimo admired this kind, knowledgeable, and legendary village senior. He called Jiang Baili Uncle Fu on weekdays, and Jiang Baili was nicknamed Fu.Jiang Baili not only appreciates Xu Zhimo's talent, but also likes his brisk and straightforward personality.They quickly became friends.

In 1918, in just a few months, Xu Zhimo encountered two happy events one after another. In March, Zhang Youyi gave birth to a boy for Xu Zhimo, named Ji Kai and baby name A Huan.The Xu family was happy, and he was also full of the joy of being a father for the first time. The greater joy is to worship Liang Qichao, a leader in the academic circle and a celebrity in the political circle, as his teacher.Liang Qichao, who is famous all over the world, has long been admired by Xu Zhimo, who is concerned about politics. In June, Xu Zhimo, who was studying at Peking University Law School, was introduced by Jiang Baili and his brother-in-law Zhang Junmai. He officially became a teacher of Liang Qichao and became a new disciple of a generation of masters.Both Jiang Baili and Zhang Junmai were disciples of Liang Qichao.Xu Shenru knew that Liang Qichao was not an ordinary scholar. He was so famous that he spared no expense for the future of his only son.This number is very large.But his investment was worth it. Of all the investments in his life, this may have been the most rewarding one.On the day of apprenticeship ceremony, Liang Qichao liked Xu Zhimo very much when he saw Xu Zhimo's elegant eyebrows, and his intelligence revealed in the questions and answers.At that time, there was an upsurge of studying abroad in Europe and America. Liang Qichao suggested that Xu Zhimo study abroad to prepare for serving the country in the future.

Soon after he became a teacher, the ambitious Xu Zhimo went back to the south to discuss with his father about studying abroad at his own expense.Xu Shenru, who had placed high hopes on his son for many years, of course agreed.Zhang Youyi, who has been married for three years and has lived with her husband for only half a year, also has to face the fact that her husband is studying abroad.Before Xu Zhimo went to the United States, Liang Qichao wrote him a lot of encouragement.Faced with the love of his mentor, Zhimo said: "On the day of the first painting, I will hold the golden instruction, and I will tear it up in a few words, and it will be enlightening."