Chapter 8 The first part of talented young people rushed to England

On September 24, 1920, Xu Zhimo resolutely gave up his easy-to-get doctorate, left Columbia University, and went to England to vote for Russell, whom he admired.He is going to study for a Ph.D. at the Graduate School of Cambridge University after he gets there.However, he never imagined that the study tour in England would be a major turning point in his life, which was different from the ambition he had confessed to the world in "A Letter to Friends and Relatives on a Departure to the United States".No wonder some people say that the result is that China has one less political economist and one more poet and literati.

Xu Zhimo crossed the Atlantic, and when he arrived in London, England in early October, he faced a series of disappointments: Russell had already given lectures in China.When Xu Zhimo planned to come to the UK, Russell was indeed in London. When he arrived in London, Russell had already left the UK and embarked on a journey to China.Russell left England in August, stayed in France for more than 20 days, and went to China in October.From October 1920 to July 1921, Russell visited China for nearly ten months.During his stay in China, Russell delivered more than ten speeches. These speeches were very popular and were reprinted by major newspapers.Russell's visit to China caused great shock among Chinese intellectuals.In addition, as early as 1916 during the First World War, Russell was named by the most prestigious Trinity College of Cambridge University. First, because he advocated peace during the war and actively opposed the war; second, because he was different from the world. divorce events.

Disappointed and helpless, Xu Zhimo had no choice but to enter the School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, where he studied for a Ph.D. in Political Economics under the tutelage of the famous political scientist Professor Laski.The passionate, romantic and willful Xu Zhimo felt that fate had played a trick on him, and the impulsive he felt a little lonely and painful. He yearns for comfort and warmth, and strong thoughts of home and country well up in his heart.So two months after arriving in London, on November 26, 1920, he wrote a letter home. In a letter to his father, Xu Zhimo said that he was studying abroad, alone, and missed his relatives infinitely.The last time he received a letter from Chongqing, he was told that his family had already written a ten-thousand-word long letter, and that his loving mother had also written a lot of words, and it was said that it would be mailed soon.He was very happy when he heard the news.However, nearly four months have passed, and the letter has not yet reached him.In the past, his wife Zhang Youyi sent text messages to comfort him from time to time, but since he spontaneously sent him a trip to Europe, he has stopped writing to him.

Xu Zhimo feels that he is really pitiful, can his family understand it?Although his father had already promised him to let Zhang Youyi go abroad to reunite with him, why hasn't she been seen yet?Xu Shenru had planned to let Zhang Youyi go to London with an acquaintance.But my father's words have never been fulfilled.Xu Zhimo felt that it was extremely safe and convenient to cross the ocean in winter, so he urged his father to send Zhang Youyi, whom he was looking forward to, as soon as possible.Also, he thinks his Huan'er is almost 3 years old.But when he goes back, his Huan'er may not recognize him.He promised to send home a picture soon.

Xu Shenru was furious at his son's leaving the United States to go to England, but he couldn't do anything, so he could only silence his son, so that he could not get a piece of news from his family in England for two months.What made Xu Shenru quite gratified was that his son was studying for a Ph.D. in political economy.Xu Zhimo told his heartfelt heart, pitifully, and once again begged his parents to let Zhang Youyi go abroad to reunite with him.These kind words moved Shen Ru and his wife, so they decided to send Zhang Youyi abroad earlier.The son's filial piety also made Shen Ru and his wife infinitely gratified.Moreover, Xu Zhimo did not change his original intention, which relieved Ye Shenru and his wife. "There is one more thing that adults like to hear, that is, since my son came to London, he has suddenly felt that his spirituality has developed, his interest in studying has increased, and he has almost achieved success. Is this the case? I especially like to meet British celebrities, and I have benefited a lot. It’s really so-called wisdom that can’t be learned. After a year, I feel that the way of passing a year is not right. When I first came to the United States, I looked back on my previous education. After I arrived in New York, I looked back on the first year as if I wasted. Now I regret that I didn’t count last year. Yes, probably in the second half of the year it will be another sign of progress, which is gratifying. The weather in London is not very bad, but the material aspect is far worse than that in the United States. For example, the living room still uses gas lamps instead of electric lamps, and there are no hot water pipes and coal-burning. That's all, let's be safe."

Xu Zhimo is a lively person. When he first arrived in England, he became acquainted with Chinese students studying in Britain and Chinese scholars who came to Britain for investigation. Xu Zhimo met Chen Yuan when he first arrived in England.One day in the dining room, Xu Zhimo saw a young Chinese man with a bright smile on his face. Liu Shuhe, who left the United States and went to Britain at the same time with him, said to him, "Isn't that Xiao Chen?" The next time we meet Xu Zhimo took the initiative to say hello to Chen Yuan.Chen Yuan later published articles under the pseudonym Xiying. After returning to China, he was better known as Chen Xiying. In February 1921, Xu Zhimo got acquainted with Zhang Shizhao who came to Britain to investigate post-war European politics.