The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

   "Oh, be careful, you're clumsy. That's the master's favorite purple clay pot, don't break it."

   "This place is not bad, foreign style. Butler, I want to live on the third floor!"

   "What's the dawdling? Quickly move my suitcase up."

  “…”

  The morning of the second day after Zhou Hexuan received the important task, there was a lot of noise in the Dashuaifu—Chu Yupu’s family finally came from Shandong.

  The old housekeeper Wang Dafu was the distant cousin of Chu Yupu's mother's family. He brought the second, third and fourth aunts of the handsome man, and the main house stayed at his hometown to take care of his in-laws and children. Coupled with the more than ten maids and maids accompanying him, the empty Grand Marshal's Mansion became lively in an instant.

   After the luggage was settled, several concubines began to pester Chu Yupu. The second concubine said she was going to the theater, the third concubine wanted to play mahjong, and the fourth concubine wanted to go to the concession. The chatter didn't stop.

   Chu Yupu was dizzy due to the quarrel of several mother-in-laws.

   His troops were stationed outside the city of Tianjin, and their combat effectiveness was quite strong. After all, they defeated Feng Yuxiang's National Army head-on, but the military discipline was a bit bad. Since the occupation of Tianjin, those big-headed soldiers have never formally practiced, but instead they have come to the city every now and then to make troubles, causing misery to the common people.

   Zhou Hexuan was also upset by the noise, and locked himself in the room thinking about the escape plan. He didn't want to stay in this shabby place for a day, he didn't have the freedom to say it, and he was worried all day, for fear that something else would happen to the second-hand guy.

   "Bang bang bang!" There was a knock on the door.

   Zhou Hexuan opened the door and saw that there was a big-headed soldier standing outside, a member of the commander's guard.

  The soldier had a strong body, but with a sincere face, he said, "Mr. Zhou, my name is Li Shuanzhu."

   "What's the matter?" Zhou Hexuan asked.

   "The commander asked me to follow you in the future. By the way, this is what the commander gave you. Don't save money, it's important to complete the task." Li Shuanzhu grinned and took out an envelope from his arms.

   Zhou Hexuan opened the envelope and saw that there was 200 pounds in it, which was close to 2000 oceans. Converted according to the gold content of sterling at this time, the money is equivalent to 300,000 to 400,000 US dollars in the 21st century.

   Huge sum of money!

   It seems that Chu Yupu really made a lot of money, knowing that it is expensive to pick up girls, especially in the foreign concession.

   However, the ransom money that Chu Dashuai gave to the future fifth concubine was 2,000 oceans. This amount of money seems to be nothing, and every one of the warlords is very rich.

   Zhou Hexuan asked Li Shuanzhu: "I can leave the Grand Marshal's Mansion at will in the future?"

  Li Shuanzhu replied: "You must report to Adjutant Jia in advance. In addition, the commander also said that he asked you to compare with Master Shen, whoever completes the task first will be greatly rewarded, and whoever does not perform well will be severely punished."

   Adjutant Jia is Jia He, the messenger of the Grand Marshal's Mansion. What Zhou Hexuan didn't understand was that he should compare himself with Shen Yaorong.

   He soon knew…

   When Zhou Hexuan completed the registration and was about to go out, Shen Yaorong suddenly came over and said in a low voice, "Mr. Zhou, you are going to lose badly this time."

   "What's the situation?" Zhou Hexuan was confused.

  Shen Yaorong smiled proudly: "The commander entrusted me with the task of alienating Concubine Shu."

  Zhou Hexuan was speechless for a while, Concubine Shu Wenxiu's life was not going well, even if no one tried to provoke her, she would file for a divorce with Puyi in two years. This is more than a fart, Shen Yaorong's task is too simple.

   "Cough, let's wait and see." Zhou Hexuan originally wanted to have a good relationship with Shen Yaorong, but this master always disliked him, and seemed to be jealous that he was favored by the handsome.

  Shen Yaorong took this sentence as Zhou Hexuan's declaration of war, he sneered, and strode out with his head held high, taking the time to implement his plan.

   Zhou Hexuan, on the other hand, looked unhurried, took a rickshaw to the newspaper office to find Li Shoumin, and took the manuscript of the novel he just wrote last night, with a big head soldier named Li Shuanzhu always behind his butt.

   "Brother Shoumin, I'm here to deliver the manuscript!" Zhou Hexuan blinked with a smile.

  Li Shoumin was overjoyed when he saw it, glanced at Li Shuanzhu, took Zhou Hexuan's hand and asked, "How's your brother Hexuan doing these two days?"

   Zhou Hexuan took out the manuscript and laughed at himself: "Eating well and sleeping soundly, just can't run around casually, not as comfortable as before."

   "As long as Commander Chu doesn't embarrass you." Li Shoumin always felt guilty because he leaked Zhou Hexuan's address that day. That night, he waited all night outside the Marshal's Mansion, and when he saw Zhou Hexuan came out safely, he finally left with confidence.

   Zhou Hexuan asked: "How is "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" selling now?"

   This is Zhou Hexuan's biggest concern. He must make money by writing books. When the money in his hand increases, he can gain a firm foothold in the Tianjin Concession. At least after Chu Yupu defeats the battle and is driven away, he can hide in the concession as an apartment.

  The writer of popular novels in the Republic of China was the richest. Zhang Henshui, the author of "The Family of Gold Fen," had a meal with the owner of the World Book Company. He received tens of thousands of yuan for the manuscript within ten minutes, and directly bought a palace in Peiping.

   On the contrary, it is the gang who create new literature. Except for a few great writers such as Hu Shi and Lu Xun, others generally live relatively shabby. Gong Baiyu, one of the five masters of the Northern School of martial arts novels, started out with serious literature, and was also a disciple of Lu Xun. Once he wrote more than 10,000 words for "Women's World" and only got 4 yuan for the manuscript fee. Create martial arts novels.

   Of course, popular novelists make money, but they don't have much of a reputation.

   Gong Baiyu has not dared to contact Lu Xun since he switched to writing martial arts novels. He later recalled in the article: "I was an unlucky writer. As a Lu Xun follower and became a famous martial arts novelist... I succeeded, but I was ashamed."

   Zhou Hexuan is thinking about writing an influential and serious work, popular novels to make money, serious literature invitations, only fame and fortune are king. As long as his reputation grows, even if he encounters someone with real power in the future, he has to consider the consequences if he wants to kill him.

   Hearing Zhou Hexuan ask about this, Li Shoumin said happily: "Yesterday, the chapter in which Huang Rong appeared as a daughter received very strong reactions from readers. The sales volume of the "New Tianjin Evening News" has risen to tens of thousands, all thanks to you!"

   "That's good." Zhou Hexuan was quite satisfied with this.

   "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" has now been serialized to the eighth chapter. The manuscript fee he received is more than 400 yuan. After the book is finished, he can get a considerable manuscript fee.

   By noon, the two went out to eat, shoulder to shoulder, with Li Shuanzhu, the big-headed soldier, following him step by step.

   As soon as they reached the street, they saw a dozen soldiers rushing into a shop. The man at the head was short and strong, and shouted arrogantly: "There are all Red Party members here, all of them are taken away by Lao Tzu!"

   "Master, please spare your life!"

  The shop was crying and rushing to the ground, and the customers were so frightened that they scattered. In the end, the boss raised 1,000 oceans and wrote an IOU of 2,000 yuan, and finally saved his life.

   "Hahahaha, dare to play tricks with Lao Tzu, I'm impatient!" The man led the soldiers away.

   Zhou Hexuan asked, "Who is that?"

Li Shoumin glanced at Li Shuanzhu and said in a low voice, "That's Chu Yupu's own brother, Chu Yufeng, who is a starving ghost. He took in the third concubine in less than half a month after entering the city. If he saw a beautiful girl, he would grab it. Now even the most beautiful women don't dare to go out. Chu Yupu appointed him to arrest the red elements, and this guy took the opportunity to extort money, and he will arrest anyone who dares not to pay."

   Zhou Hexuan sighed: "As expected of a mother's biological brother."