Chapter 2

From the moment he met Xu Xilin, Chen Ke attempted to present himself as refined and cultured. However, at this moment, Chen Ke was not facing a mirror and thus could not see his own expression. Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin, on the other hand, clearly observed that Chen Ke's eyes were wide open, and his expression could be described as menacing. Moreover, as Chen Ke's emotions intensified, an even sharper demeanor seemed to surge forth. The previously amiable and smiling young man was now completely unrecognizable. Furthermore, as Chen Ke's emotions escalated, an even sharper demeanor seemed to surge forth. The previously amiable and smiling young man was now completely unrecognizable.

Mr. Chen Ke, you possess such ambition; how can one say you are unaware of the vastness of heaven and earth? Qiu Jin said with a smile, gently tapping the table, and passionately recited: "With the sacrifice of a hundred thousand heads, we must strive to restore the world. If there were no enlightened individuals like Mr. Chen Ke, who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the country, the future of China would inevitably remain as dark as it is now."

Chen Ke was unwilling to engage in idle chatter, so he changed the subject. "Brother Xu, regarding the military you inquired about, Europe has not only armies; what is crucial is the capitalist system. The operation of this system is vastly different from that of present-day China. The current system of the Qing Dynasty serves the interests of the Qing elite. It is about the survival of the Qing regime itself. During the Hundred Days' Reform, the Manchus said that reform was to save China, not to save the Qing. Since the Qing has such an attitude, brother, if I want to save China, the only way is to eliminate the Qing. That is why I left my home and devoted myself to the revolution." At this point, Chen Ke suddenly smiled slightly, a bit shyly, and said, "I may have spoken a bit presumptuously; I hope Brother Xu will forgive me."

"Thirty to fifty taels will suffice," Chen Ke casually remarked

Brother Bosun, you flatter me greatly. Chen Ke quickly replied, "I know that you have some connections in Shanghai. This revolution cannot succeed without funding. I wish to undertake some activities in Shanghai, and thus I have an unreasonable request: I would like to ask you to take me to Shanghai. As an outsider, if I were to go to Shanghai recklessly, I would surely find myself in a perilous situation. Without the support of a revolutionary comrade like you, everything I say and think would be mere illusions.

At this moment, Chen Ke could not help but feel fortunate that his time travel occurred right after a lavish shopping spree in the small commodity city. Especially the sudden recollection of wanting to buy a watch made Chen Ke himself feel quite peculiar. To put it simply, it was as if Chen Ke had won a few thousand yuan in the lottery, and with the attitude of "money comes quickly, and goes quickly!" he purchased several outfits, a pile of everyday office supplies, and was left with a bit of money.

Chen Ke stood up and continued, "I am currently without a penny to my name. If I cannot receive assistance from Brother Bosun within the next few days, I will have no choice but to resort to more reckless measures. Therefore, I kindly ask Brother Bosun to inform me of the truth. This way, I can decide on my next course of action."

At this point, Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin's wariness towards Chen Ke has become quite evident. Chen Ke, on the other hand, feels a sense of relief. If the two parties were to engage in pleasant conversation, Chen Ke would feel that the outcome is not substantial. Such amiable exchanges typically require a prolonged interaction. Chen Ke currently does not have the luxury of time to gradually connect with the two and slowly deepen their relationship. In this seemingly tense and confrontational situation, there are essentially two outcomes: either both parties cooperate, or they fall out with each other. Regardless, the results will emerge swiftly.

Among the three individuals, two are renowned revolutionary predecessors, and Chen Ke does not dare to underestimate them. He speaks with utmost respect, striving to provide detailed answers to their questions. Chen Ke's square face appears quite honest, and coupled with his polite manner of speaking, at least during the conversation, Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin's attitude towards Chen Ke becomes increasingly friendly. Unbeknownst to Chen Ke, he has already begun to refer to "Mr. Xu" as "Brother Xu".

Upon reflection, Chen Ke was somewhat familiar with Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin, while these two predecessors knew nothing about Chen Ke. Chen Ke was a "student returning from overseas," and their views on the European powers were likely limited, certainly adhering to the "strong ships and powerful cannons" narrative. It was entirely normal for the conversation to revolve around military matters.

Qiu Jin observed for a while and then asked, "How much is the literary youth planning to spend?"

Ah? Chen Ke is really not very clear about this. "Sister Qiu, does that mean I found the right person?"

Sister Qiu, I have heard that you once stayed in the capital, but due to the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, you had no choice but to leave the capital. Such matters...

This watch is a counterfeit mechanical watch, priced at 230 yuan each. The characteristics of counterfeit goods—shiny and complex decorations—are not lacking in this watch. In Chen Ke's view, holding it in hand is truly a form of vulgar extravagance. However, in the eyes of Qiu Jin and Xu Xilin in 1905, it exudes an air of opulence.

After reading Chen Ke's "masterpiece," the discussion surrounding the revolutionary predecessors Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin has consistently focused on how to establish a powerful army. Chen Ke responded while feeling somewhat perplexed. In contemporary China, the establishment of a strong army would undoubtedly be under the control of the Qing Dynasty. Faced with such formidable armed forces, revolutionaries would only meet with slaughter; what then is the point of revolution?

Xu Xilin was taken aback by this request for him to express his stance. Although he held great admiration for Chen Ke, they had only met for less than half a day, and he found it difficult to voice his agreement. At that moment, Qiu Jin spoke up, saying, "Wenqing, how do you plan to assist, and what approach will you take? Let me see if I can be of help to you."

"Dyeing cloth?" Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin exchanged a strange glance. "Can dyeing cloth make a lot of money?"

"I no longer like this character; it can still be changed," Qiu Jin continued.

I originally thought that the conversation would shift to lighter topics at this point, but what Qiu Jin said next took Chen Ke by surprise

At this point, Xu Xilin sat up straight and said, "Wenqing, when you visited me earlier, you mentioned that you had a request. I, being lacking in both talent and virtue, am not in a position to be of service to you. Now, I would like to ask how you wish for me to assist you."

Qiu Jin did not decline, "This is also good. I wonder if Chen Ke has any favorite phrases?"

I grew up overseas since childhood, having only a name but no meaningful characters. This... " Chen Ke said somewhat awkwardly, " um, if you two do not mind, could you help me think of one or two?

Chen Kexu pondered for a moment and replied: "How profound is the literature! I follow Zhou."

Since Chen Ke comes from the 21st century and grew up under the red flag, he would never take Chairman Mao's phrase "seeking truth from facts" lightly. In the year 1905, revolution was a matter for the wealthy. Wealthy revolutionaries made every effort to befriend the heroes of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, who were not impoverished commoners. In order to gain the recognition of these revolutionaries, Chen Ke strived for a sense of "style" in his attire. Although he had no money, his outfit was sufficient as proof, and Chen Ke also possessed items he could sell for money. To gain the recognition of these revolutionaries, Chen Ke strived for a sense of "style" in his attire. Although he had no money, his outfit was sufficient as proof, and Chen Ke also possessed items he could sell for money. He took a watch off his wrist and handed it to Qiu Jin, saying: "Sister Qiu, I ask you to help me pawn this watch."

Upon hearing Qiu Jin's words, Xu Xilin's eyes brightened, and he nodded slightly. It seems he felt the same way, but he was unable to articulate it as clearly as Qiu Jin did.

Qiu Jin nodded slightly, played with the watch for a while, and then put it on her wrist. "I will take this order. How about I give you the money tomorrow"

"Wenqing, having read your article and recalling our discussions at the banquet, I can't help but feel that your expressions are somewhat vague. Since you personally came to visit Bosun, it seems you have some knowledge of me. If what you know and have learned is merely from your schooling, I find that hard to believe. " Qiu Jin said with a smile, though there was something else beneath her smile, "I now believe that Wenqing is not a Manchu. If Wenqing were a Manchu, this article alone would be enough to make a name for oneself. However, Wenqing does not appear to be a revolutionary either." If what you know and have learned is merely from your schooling, I find that hard to believe. " Qiu Jin said with a smile, though there was something else beneath her smile, "I now believe that Wenqing is not a Manchu. If Wenqing were a Manchu, this article alone would be enough to make a name for oneself. However, Wenqing does not appear to be a revolutionary either"

Upon hearing Chen Ke's words, Qiu Jin's expression immediately darkened, yet she remained silent, merely raising her wine cup and drinking it all in one go. The three had been conversing for a while, and Chen Ke felt that Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin were becoming increasingly familiar with each other. This was not solely due to their shared drinking, but rather because Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin's thoughts and discourse were strikingly similar to those of the later "patriotic youth." Their experiences of a humiliating history had instilled in them a deep-seated hatred for the Qing court and foreign powers.

"No problem," Chen Ke said cheerfully. Generally speaking, Qiu Jin's actions and demands were quite excessive. On one hand, Chen Ke trusted Qiu Jin; on the other hand, he did not take the watch seriously. It was a way to show his generosity and trust in others; a mere watch was nothing significant.

"One cannot earn a large fortune, but one can earn the first sum of money. To be honest with you both, when I left home, I only brought some personal belongings and not a single cent. Haha, in fact, I was driven out. " At this point, Chen Ke couldn't help but laugh, "Therefore, if one wishes to initiate a revolution, one must start from the beginning. This is why I came to Shaoxing, so presumptuously hoping that Brother Bosun would support me. What I just said was all heartfelt words. However, it is indeed extremely rude for me to speak so freely in Brother Bosun's home. Thus, I came to Shaoxing, so presumptuously hoping that Brother Bosun would support me. What I just said was all heartfelt words. However, it is indeed extremely rude for me to speak so freely in Brother Bosun's home. I hope Brother Bosun can forgive me." After saying this, Chen Ke stood up and deeply bowed to Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin.

Chen Ke smiled and said, "This is only natural"

The two people opposite fell silent for a moment, and their original impression of Chen Ke had undergone a complete transformation. Qiu Jin glanced at Chen Ke, then at Xu Xilin, and suddenly burst into laughter. At first, it was a cold chuckle, but soon it turned into uncontrollable laughter. After a long while, Qiu Jin finally managed to stop laughing. She took out a handkerchief to wipe the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes and, in that breathless voice characteristic of someone who has just laughed heartily, said: "Mr. Chen, no, 'Wenqing', 'Wenqing'. I truly did not understand at first; you look like you come from a prominent family, yet you have come to this rural area of Shaoxing to seek an audience with a local gentleman like Bo Sun. I felt there must be something amiss. After hearing what 'Wenqing' said, I truly understood. You are indeed a revolutionary. Moreover, a revolutionary like you would probably not survive a single day in the capital. After hearing what 'Wenqing' said, I truly understood. You are indeed a revolutionary. Moreover, a revolutionary like you would probably not survive a single day in the capital. Earlier, I suspected you had ulterior motives, and I apologize to you for that.

The watches at the flea market are quite decent. In addition to buying one for himself, Chen Ke also wanted to gift a few watches to his friends. Although giving watches as gifts in this day and age seems quite absurd, it is nonetheless a unique and creative present. After some haggling, he purchased four watches. Little did he expect that these watches would prove to be extremely useful for making money in 1905

However, it is a quote from the "Analects." Hmm... Autumn Jin pondered for a moment and said, "What should we call a literary youth?"

Chen Ke recently debated with a friend about whether it is better to check the time using a watch or a mobile phone. Surprisingly, Chen Ke was persuaded by his friend, who argued that in formal settings, a watch can represent a formal attitude and politeness

"There is no need for such pretentiousness; it is not necessary to be like this. Individuals of the literary youth aspire to revolution, and if I can be of assistance, it would bring me great joy." Xu Xilin stood up, speaking as he walked over to pull Chen Ke.

The Xu Xilin family home is quite large. Their residence is located in Sunjialao, Dongpu Town, Shaoxing City, and is a structure from the Qing Dynasty. It was purchased by Xu Xilin's grandfather, Tongxuan, from a family with the surname Zhu, and was later renovated and expanded. The building faces south, covering an area of 1,100 square meters, with a construction area of 575 square meters. The overall layout consists of three bays and three courtyards, comprising the entrance hall, main hall, side building, and library, as well as the Tongying Study. It features a brick and wood structure, with plastered walls and dark tiles, and has a closed exterior, making it a very typical example of a Qing Dynasty residence in the Jiangnan region

I do not hate the Qing Dynasty at all; at least, I no longer hate them now. The Qing Dynasty and the system it represents have lost all hope. In today's world, it is completely impossible for China to close its doors. We must now view the world from a global perspective and consider China in that context. Why is China being oppressed and beaten by those insignificant European countries? Because China is not strong. Why are the citizens of those European countries looking down on China? Because China has not made any contributions to the world. China has not been able to lead the trends of the world forward. My revolution is to abolish the old systems of China, to make China strong, and to lead the entire world towards a better future. At this point, Chen Ke's voice became sharp, almost as if he were about to roar.

Upon reflecting on this, Chen Ke could not help but lower his gaze. After a moment of silence at the table, Qiu Jin suddenly asked, "Mr. Chen, do you have a courtesy name? Addressing each other as 'Mr.' feels rather too formal."

Perhaps sensing his own loss of composure, Chen Kezhang exhaled, calmed his emotions, and lowered his voice somewhat. "The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every individual. There is a saying abroad: when a country is in decline, we are all despicable people. China has stood at the forefront of the world for over two thousand years. Today, we blame heaven and others, attributing responsibility to the Qing Dynasty, yet we were not born in that era. Whether China is strong or weak has nothing to do with us. However, today we exist in this world, not striving for progress, but merely resenting our predecessors for delaying China; that is a true insult to the word 'revolution.' Since we claim to seek revolution, we must explore diligently and exhaust our efforts. If we are to explore diligently, we must first cast aside our prejudices. Why has China weakened to this extent? What exactly went wrong? Is it the Qing Dynasty that is at fault? Or is it the system of China that is problematic?" At this point, Chen Ke poured himself a glass of wine, saying, "Today we gather here to drink and celebrate. Outside this room, China is not yet at the level of desolation. This we must acknowledge. However, in my view, it will not be long before this old system can no longer be sustained. The era of desolation is about to descend. I ask both of you, who exactly is our enemy?" After saying this, Chen Ke fixed his gaze on Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin.

I see. Xu Xilin said, "I wonder what Wenqing plans to do upon arriving in Shanghai"

The twenty-first century in which Chen Ke finds himself is an era of China's rejuvenation and reassertion on the world stage. Encountering setbacks does not equate to losing sovereignty or national dignity; nevertheless, the youth remain dissatisfied and angry. In 1905, the anger of patriotic youth stemmed from the tangible invasion, plunder, and humiliation of "the great China." Such anger was purer and more intolerable. Chen Ke can likely comprehend this humiliation and anger, as he felt a profound reluctance to open the pages of modern Chinese history. The anger of the patriotic youth in 1905 was indeed a direct response to the invasion, plunder, and humiliation of "the great China," making their outrage even more pure and unbearable. Chen Ke can probably understand this sense of humiliation and anger, as he experienced a genuine reluctance to delve into modern Chinese history. This sense of humiliation and anger is so profound that even a youth like Chen Ke, a century later, feels deep sorrow, while those who personally experienced this era endure a pain that far exceeds that of Chen Ke.

"Sit down, let us continue drinking," Qiu Jin replied with a smile

A table was set up in the back hall with a genuine Jiangsu and Zhejiang style banquet, featuring simple dishes. There were ham, West Lake vinegar fish, bean curd skin, osmanthus sugar taro, and a few green vegetables. Xu Xilin enthusiastically served Chen Kebai dishes and poured wine. The Shaoxing yellow wine, warm in the wine pot, had a strong aftertaste; after just two cups, Chen Ke felt a bit tipsy.

"You are clearly trying to shortchange me with this price," Qiu Jin said with a smile. "This watch is new, and there are no signs of wear or scratches anywhere. With the diamonds on the dial, it could easily be worth thirty to fifty taels. Haha, three to five hundred taels would be effortless."

"Oh, Mr. Chen, you are too polite," Xu Xilin said with a smile

I believe that the two of you harbor an intense hatred for Empress Dowager Cixi, wishing to devour her flesh and skin. From my perspective, this only indicates that you have hope for her. If the Eight-Nation Alliance had not invaded Beijing to pillage and burn, but instead had been decisively defeated by the Qing army, and those foreign devils were paraded through the streets, with foreign powers forced to pay reparations to various regions in China, I suspect you would be shouting long live the Empress Dowager, wouldn't you?" Chen Ke's words were already quite sharp, and upon hearing this, Xu Xilin's expression immediately turned grim. I suspect you would be shouting long live the Empress Dowager, wouldn't you?" Chen Ke's words were already quite sharp, and upon hearing this, Xu Xilin's expression immediately turned grim.

Chen Ke raised the wine glass before him and drank it all in one go. After putting down the glass, Chen Ke said: "I see that the current revolutionaries aim primarily to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. The better ones come up with some vague plans, generally stating what kind of country they want to establish. From the books I have read and the little I know, their plans for the new country are nothing but a pile of nonsense. What is revolution? It is to change the mandate of heaven. No matter how you put it, the Qing Dynasty has usurped China, with a human face but a beast's heart. Their plans for the new country are nothing but a pile of nonsense. What is revolution? It is to change the mandate of heaven. No matter how you put it, the Qing Dynasty has usurped China, with a human face but a beast's heart. Or something like that, but the Qing Dynasty has lasted for 260 years, and it relies on more than just brute force. There is a complete set of systems supporting its existence. My revolution aims to change the fate of this system. If you overthrow the Qing Dynasty but the system remains, do you think you can defeat the great powers?"

Chen Ke nearly laughed out loud upon hearing this word. He suppressed his laughter and nodded, saying, "I think it is acceptable."

However, for me, it is entirely different. Since the system of the Qing Dynasty is absolutely no match for European countries, no matter who is in power, China cannot possibly prevail. You reap what you sow; if you plant beans, can you expect to harvest watermelons? It is absurd to see Europe harvesting watermelons and then complain that the bean-sowing Qing Dynasty did not produce watermelons. Isn't that ridiculous?" At this point, Chen Ke couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

I think it is very good. Thank you very much," Chen Ke quickly said

Sister Qiu, this is your generosity. If it weren't for meeting you, as an outsider, do you think it would be possible for me to exchange a watch for three to five hundred taels?

"Dyeing fabric," Chen Ke replied

The conversation had reached this point, and it was unlikely to delve deeper. After casually having a few drinks, the banquet was concluded. The three of them talked for a while in the living room, and they agreed to meet at Xu Xilin's place the next morning. Chen Ke knew that Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin must have things to discuss, so he took the initiative to take his leave. Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin did not insist on keeping him, and when they saw Chen Ke to the door, Qiu Jin repeatedly urged him to bring as many other manuscripts as possible when he came the next day.

Haha, haha. Upon hearing Chen Ke's words, Qiu Jin couldn't help but laugh again, "Literary youth, do you know that my family runs a pawnshop?"

After listening to Qiu Jin's words, Xu Xilin nodded and said, "Initially, after reading the great work of the literary youth, I found it somewhat incomprehensible. Now I realize the mindset with which the literary youth wrote that great work. In terms of understanding, I am greatly inferior to the literary youth." At this point, Xu Xilin let out a deep sigh, "The revolutionary youth of today truly are exceptional talents. Having read the great works of Chen Tianhua and Zou Rong, I am astonished that such remarkable individuals exist in their twenties. It is a pity that Zou Rong unfortunately passed away in prison in Shanghai a month ago. If I could have heard the literary youth and Zou Rong discuss revolution together, I would truly have no regrets in death."

Three people exited the gate and were saying their goodbyes, but Xu Xilin looked into the distance and immediately frowned. Chen Ke turned his head out of curiosity and saw several individuals approaching from the street corner. The leader was robust in stature, appearing strong and powerful, yet his features were quite delicate. The few individuals behind him looked somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be the ruffians encountered yesterday.

Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin had actually noticed the watch that Chen Ke was wearing for some time, but since they were not well acquainted, it was naturally inappropriate to mention it. When Chen Ke took off the watch, both of them were taken aback. In this era, those who could afford a watch were either wealthy or of high status. The vast majority of people carried pocket watches. Qiu Jin had traveled extensively and had seen watches before, but this was Xu Xilin's first encounter with one