"Travels in China": Mr. Zhang Binglin waved his hand with a long fingernail and spoke endlessly

In March 1921, the famous Japanese writer Ryunosuke Wasagawa arrived in Shanghai from Moji Port in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, on the Chikugomaru Ferry. He later wrote a book called Travels in China.

In Mr. Zhang Binglin's study, I don't know what kind of hobby it is, and there is a huge crocodile specimen lying on the wall. This room full of books is truly cold. The specimen of the crocodile hanging on the wall is ironic. The weather of the day, if you borrow a phrase to indicate the season, is a cold and rainy day in spring. Plus in this tiled roof room, there was neither carpeting nor a stove. Only a square mahogany chair with armrests on both sides. Naturally, there are no cushions on the chair. What's more, I was wearing a thin, twill-beeping, dual-purpose shirt that day. Until now, I am very fortunate to sit in such a study without catching a cold. This can only be said to be a complete miracle.

However, Mr. Zhang Taiyan himself was wearing a black coat with thick fur on the back, and a rat gray coat on the outside. Obviously, he wouldn't feel cold. And the gentleman sat in a rattan chair with fur cushions. I was so attracted by my husband's rhetoric that I forgot to smoke. And for mr. so warm and dry dress, and leisurely stretched out his feet, it is even more admirable.

It is said that Mr. Zhang Binglin appointed himself as the master of the king. I had also heard that he once wanted to make Li Yuanhong his disciple. In this way, under the specimen of the crocodile on the wall of the crosshead of his desk, there is indeed a banner hanging. Book: "Mr. Southeast Park Xuezhang Taiyan Mr. Yuanhong". But to put it bluntly, the gentleman's face was by no means beautiful. As for the color of the skin, it is almost sallow and sallow. The beard that remained on the lips and on the cheeks was sparse and pitiful. And that abrupt and towering forehead made people think that they would grow a tumor. Only those thin eyes that were as thin as a thread—those that were always smiling coldly behind the high-end rimless glasses—gave an extraordinary feeling. Just because of these eyes, Yuan Shikai let Mr. Yuan Shikai go to jail. Because of these eyes, Mr. Yuan locked him up for a period of time, but he never dared to kill him.

From beginning to end, Sir's talk did not depart from the political and social issues of modern China. Of course, I will only say some common words such as "don't" and "wait" to send rickshaw drivers, and I won't say a word in other Chinese. Therefore, for me, the gentleman's lofty talk is incomprehensible. The reason why I can know what my husband said and ask him some arrogant questions from time to time is because of the help of Nishimoto Shozo, the chief writer of the weekly newspaper "Shanghai". Nishimoto sat in the chair next to me, with his chest held high, and sat precariously, patiently translating them for me, no matter how profound and difficult Mr. Taiyan's arguments were.

"Today's China, unfortunately, is degenerating politically. Corruption is rife. It can even be said to be even worse than the end of the Qing Dynasty. As for the academic and artistic aspects, it seems to be even more stagnant. ”

Mr. Zhang Binglin kept waving his hand with long fingernails while gushing his unique insights. And I was shivering with cold. "So what means should be used to revitalize China? Regardless of the specific approach, this problem cannot be solved by the empty theory on the table. Ancient People's Cloud: The person who knows the times is Junjie. It should not be deduced from one proposition, but from an infinite number of facts. This is the knowledge of the times. After understanding the current affairs, it is necessary to make a plan. - The so-called time-sensitive person, in the final analysis, is nothing more than this meaning. ......”

As I listened to my husband's high opinion, I looked at the crocodile lying on the wall from time to time, and a thought that was incompatible with China's problems crossed my mind: "The crocodile must be familiar with the fragrance of water lilies, the light of the sun and the warmth of the water." Therefore, I am shivering with cold now, and the crocodile should be the most understandable. Crocodile, you who have become a specimen, should be happier than me. Pity me! Poor poor and stealing me!......