Chapter subtitle: The Last Calm Before the Madness

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"July 1921 was the 'month of madness' for the British Empire, which at that time still dominated the world.

Beginning on the penultimate Saturday of July, a series of events have taken place, like the little boy in "The Emperor's New Clothes", which not only made the British royal family and government lose the face of the empire on which the sun never sets, but also exposed the glamorous but weak reality of the largest empire in history.

Since then, there has been a great wave of independence in the colonies of the British Empire, which is also directly related to the 'Moon of Madness'.

Yes, if their overlord can't even manage their own capital, their homeland, and most recently, Ireland, the oldest colony, let alone these colonies that are hundreds of miles, thousands of miles, or even thousands of miles away.

We all know by now that the central character of 'Moon of Madness' is a 27-year-old Chinese student. And according to the various historical materials we have learned now, it is not an exaggeration to say that he led it single-handedly.

Before that, everyone thought that he was a brilliant writer, a talented economist, and a bohemian wanderer.

And after that, the whole world learned his true identity.

To this day, however, opinions about him are deeply divided, with some saying that he was the originator of modern terrorism, while others saying that he was a fighter for justice and freedom.

He is Yuan Yanqi......"

"A few days ago, the British government declassified a number of historical archives that had reached the age of declassification, and one of them was a surveillance record of Scotland Yard, which aroused the interest of historians around the world. This is Scotland Yard received an order from 'Whitehall' to secretly monitor the whereabouts of Mr. Yuan Yanqian. (Author's note: Hite Hall is a street in London, England.) It connects the Houses of Parliament to Downing Street. In and around this street there are a number of British government offices such as the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office, the Home Office, and the Admiralty. Hence the use of Whitehall as a synonym for the British executive branch. ）

Although unsigned, it is speculated that the 'Whitehall' directive was most likely written by Winston Churchill, then Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs. His feud with Yuan began in November 1920 with a polemic across the Atlantic. However, because he did not have much authority at the time, he could only influence Scotland Yard instead of using MI5 forces.

What's more, at that time, it was impossible for the British high-ranking officials, including him, to know that Mr. Yuan could make such a big mess.

At the same time, even with such surveillance, Mr. Yuan still managed to organize this unprecedented operation, no wonder some people say that he is a wizard from the East.

Now, through this whereabouts report, combined with the various accounts and memories of the people around Mr. Yuan, we can roughly outline what he did during this period.

Now let me take you back:

On June 18, Yuan and his American friends arrived in Southampton from New York, where they disembarked and engaged in skirmishes with local people. As a result, he was stranded by the police, living in a villa with the Baker family.

On June 28, he took the train to London and immediately checked into the Safoy Hotel.

On July 1, he and his friends held a dance party at the Safoy Hotel. At the ball he met Mrs. Catherine Mansfield, and the two quickly became 'close friends'.

However, due to some misunderstandings, he had some unpleasant friction with his old friend Xu Zhimo, who left the table halfway.

On July 2, Yuan Yanqian visited the Legation of the Republic of China in Britain at noon and had lunch with Gu Weijun and Mrs. Wei Mingniang. In the evening, he drank a meal of flower wine with three Japanese friends, Nomura Kichizaburo, Yamamoto Isoroku, and Inoue Narumi.

On July 3, Xu Zhimo, accompanied by Chen Xiying, went to the Safoi Hotel to plead guilt to Mr. Yuan, and it is believed that the two should have reconciled. Because the stalker noticed that the atmosphere was very congenial when the three of them had lunch together.

From July 4th to 6th, Yuan Yanqian and his entourage visited London. Stalkers reported that he spent a long time in the British Library during this time, and that he had been sitting in the same seat and rubbing his feet against the floor, unaware of what he was trying to do.

Later, some people said that there were two people's footprints in the British Library, one was Marx and the other was Yuan Yanqian, but in fact, this is all nonsense. It was here that Marx wrote Capital, but he could never have sat in the same seat for decades. It is even more impossible for Mr. Yuan to rub out a pair of footprints in one day.

(Author's note: The inspirational story of Marx's footprints is not unique to Seris.) When Gorbachev visited the UK, he asked the same question to the library staff. ）

On July 7, Mr. Yuan, accompanied by Keynes and Xu Zhimo, visited the University of Cambridge and met with Arthur Pigou, a famous economist who was teaching there at the time. Pigou also presented Mr. Yuan with a copy of Welfare Economics, published in 1920, as a gift.

That evening, they went to the house of Mr. Alfred Marshall, the founder of modern economics, and had a dinner. According to Keynes and Xu Zhimo, Marshall greatly admired Mr. Yuan's "Socialism" and called him the most discerning Oriental economist he had ever met.

On July 8, Yuan Yanqi participated in a literary salon convened by Manshufeier. Almost all of the members of the cult were present.

In the salon, Mr. Yuan recited one of his old poems in public, "Mount Tai", which was highly praised by everyone. (See Chapters 265 and 6 of Volume I)

Later, the great Imagist poet Ezra Pound, who was far away in Paris, also admired this poem after reading it, saying that it was an Imagist poem that could be compared with his own "Subway Station". (note 1)

July 9th. Mr. Yuan Yanqian went to Xu Zhimo's residence in Shaston, and he was a ...... alone" (Author's note: Saston, a small town a few miles from Cambridge, was borrowed by Xu Zhimo and Zhang Youyi at that time, and they lived in a rented house called Princehouse, which was mainly loaned to Cambridge students. ）

——Excerpt from "Master Peerless - British Chaos"

"Tuk, tuk, tuk."

“Just a minute。”

"Excuse me, ...... you are?"

The door opened, revealing a face that was not at all pretty, and she wore an apron, which looked like a hired maid rather than the mistress of the place.

Of course, our Master Yuan also knew that the person he visited this time could not be as beautiful as Liu Ruoying, and he had also seen her photos beforehand.

But when he saw the real Zhang Youyi, he was indeed a little disappointed in his heart. No wonder "my friend Xu Zhimo" can't look down on it, this wealthy daughter looks very blessed, but it's a bit "rustic" for poets (Yan) people (control).

Then again, the parents are rustic, and they take care of Xu Zhimo meticulously, buying, sorting, and cooking lunch and dinner for the two like a real mother, and are also responsible for cleaning the house and washing the clothes.

Moreover, these tasks are actually easier than in her hometown in China, where her daughter-in-law has to "settle the province in the morning and dusk".

He took off his straw top hat he wore in the summer, smiled at the hostess, and said in Shanghainese, "Good nong, brother and sister." (Author's note: The conversation between these two people from the Demon Capital must be in Shanghainese, but the meaning in the text is fine.) ）

"Nong is ......" Zhang Youyi's eyes lit up, and she was overjoyed, "Nong is Mr. Hongji?!" ”

There are more and more people who are familiar with Master Yuan's FACE, especially in the British and American overseas Chinese circles, and his old man is a legend. What's more, Zhang Youyi is still his fan.

Yuan Yanqian said enthusiastically: "Brother and sister, Mr. Hongjian or something, will you see the outside?" I've been friends with Tsuki Sen for many years, so it's good if you call me Brother Yuan. ”

"Well, Brother Yuan." Zhang Youyi nodded, then frowned and said, "But my grandson is not at home......"

"I know. I'm here for you. Master Yuan said, "It was Maki Sen who asked me to come to you." ”

Leaning against the door, Zhang Youyi said suspiciously: "He asked you to come to me......"

Yuan Yanqian took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat on her head and said, "Brother and sister, don't you invite me in?" ”

In fact, it was only about 30 degrees Celsius at this time, but in order to be a high-class Chinese, our Master Yuan couldn't wear shorts and T-shirts, so he had to reluctantly wear a linen suit, which was naturally a little hot.

"Oh, Brother Yuan, please come in, please come in." Zhang Youyi was a little flustered and opened the door.

Our Master Yuan sighed in his heart, this old Zhang family doesn't know how to teach their own children. is obviously the daughter of a wealthy family with a prominent family, but she looks like the daughter of a poor family who has never seen the world.

No wonder people say that poor sons and rich daughters.

In fact, his old man forgot his charm at 17 o'clock, and women are always a little "flustered" when they see it.

"Brother Yuan, please take a seat. What do you want to drink? ”

"Soda is fine...... Thank you. Yuan Yanqian took the soda, pointed to a chair next to him and said, "Brother and sister, please sit down too." ”

Zhang Youyi took off her apron and put it aside, sat down cautiously, and asked, "Brother Yuan, my grandson invited you here to ......"

Our Master Yuan took a sip of the iced soda and said lightly, "Oh, he's here for me to tell you that he's going to divorce you." ”

"He's going to ...... me"

"Bang dang!"

Taken aback, Zhang Youyi almost jumped up, knocked down the chair she was sitting on, and made a loud noise.

"No, no, no way." She shook her head and said, "There's no way he's going to divorce me!" ”

Zhang Youyi raised her head and said very firmly: "I didn't forbid him to take a concubine, and I didn't commit any of the seven rules." So there's no reason for him to divorce me! ”

Feudal thinking is really deadly.

Sure enough, as in historical data, Xu Zhimo seemed very wrong before filing for divorce, and Zhang Youyi also realized that her husband was having an affair, but as a traditional woman, she had persuaded herself to accept this matter.

After all, she is the original wife that Ming Media is marrying, and the later ones are all little wives.

And when it came time for their marriage to change, this traditional woman also used the "seven outs" to compare herself, and none of them had anything to do with her.

If before the Republic of China, Xu Zhimo really had no reason to divorce her.

"Hey......" Yuan Yanqian sighed, stood up and picked up the chair and said, "Brother and sister, sit down and talk." ”

"No, I don't sit." Zhang Youyi shook her head, and instead said, "Yuan Da...... Sir, if you're kidding, it's not funny at all. So I'm sorry I'm going to ask you to leave......"

Master Yuan looked her in the eye and interrupted, "Brother and sister, do you really think this is a joke?" ”

"I, I, I ......" Zhang Youyi actually got rid of his "eyes of nothingness", shook her head and muttered, "Impossible, impossible, impossible ......"

Yuan Yanqian looked at the dejected young woman in front of her, and sighed again in her heart.

Even a well-educated woman like Zhang Youyi who was born in a wealthy family was poisoned by feudal ideology like this, not to mention thousands of women compatriots at this time.

As soon as the People's Republic of China was founded, the first law issued was the "Marriage Law", which is really not unreasonable.

In fact, if she is really a feminist, and this feminist really reads a little history, then this person should understand that the party that will be formed this month is really the great benefactor of the women of Seris.

Moreover, the political movements since the founding of the People's Republic of China may have destroyed some "traditional culture", but they have undeniably swept away many feudal residues that should go into the dustbin of history.

It can be said that they have violated the law of historical development and elevated the status of women to the point of "half the sky".

Therefore, when the development of history returned to "normal", some half of the sky not only was grateful, but also spit on them who allowed them to go out of their homes and enjoy freedom, and finally even entered the 21st century and some people opened "female Durban" with great fanfare

This is not called reversing history, what is it called reversing history?!

You know, power and duty are equal.

If they want to be a traditional woman like Zhang Youyi, who is married and taught children at home, then they must accept the dominance of men in the family, they must also endure the fact that their husbands can fly colorful flags outside, and they must also experience the resurgence of a patriarchal patriarchal society.

Yuan Yanqian doesn't know if these women can be "beautiful like flowers", but he knows that their husbands who "make money to support their families" can make their faces bloom!

Our Master Yuan is also ready to let Zhang Youyi have a "full face"...... No, it's "beautiful as a flower".

"Brother and sister! Siblings!! Siblings!!! ”

Zhang Youyi, who was finally awakened by him, wiped the corners of her eyes and said sneeringly: "Well, Yuan, Yuan, Brother Yuan." ”

"Brother and sister, I'm here today to bring such a sentence to Maki Sen, but it's ......"

He smiled and said, "But when we meet for the first time, how can I, the eldest brother, not give you a meeting gift?" ”

"Da!"

Zhang Youyi's eyes flickered, and she saw the handsome man snap his fingers, and a beautifully decorated book suddenly appeared in his hand.

"A small gift is not a tribute."

Zhang Youyi took it and took a look, and saw that the title of the cover was - "The Makeup Technique of the Four Evil Arts".

"Is this ......," she asked, looking up.

"Brother and sister, whether you divorce or not, learning the content of this book will be of great benefit to you."

"This ......"

"Trust me!" In the end, he used the "Eye of Nothingness" to shoot a hypnotic spell for the other party.

"Knock ......"

Yuan Yan drank the bottle of soda in one gulp and said, "Brother and sister, thank you for the soda, I quit." ”

"Boom!"

Without waiting for Zhang Youyi to send him off, he walked straight out of Prince's House, and then lit a cigar under the pergola at the entrance.

This kind of historical lace can be mixed a little, and after its own mixing, it must be very important to listen to.

Lao Tzu has seen it with his own eyes, Zhang Youyi's foundation is not bad, if she can learn the Japanese makeup technique of the four major evil arts in Asia, she will not have Lin Huiyin's no makeup.

At the moment, the most important thing is the shocking news that you want to do......

Well, this chick is in good shape.

Master Yuan, who was fierce and fierce, saw a brown-haired chick with a bulge and a backward twist into the pergola, but unfortunately she was still wearing a wide-brimmed hat that covered her face.

When she wanted to enter the building, she naturally had to put away the little parasol she was holding.

But I don't know if it's because she's weak or if there's something wrong with the parasol, and she can't put it away no matter how she collects it.

Colors and Hearts ...... Together Yuan Yanqi, who was kind-hearted, immediately threw away the cigar in his hand, leaned over and asked gracefully, "Miss, may I?"

"Thank you." The brunette chick breathed a sigh of relief and handed over the umbrella.

Just when the umbrella was blocking the two of them, the chick said softly: "Mr. Yuan, we meet again......"

"You ......"

When he finally recalled this woman's voice, our Master Yuan couldn't help but be shocked and blurted out, "It's you!" ”

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Note 1: "At the subway station" is one of the great poet's most famous works. There are only two lines in the poem:

The apparition of these faces in the crod;

These faces in the crowd appeared ghostly;

Petals on a et， black bough.

Petals on wet black branches.