In the winter of 1917, the world seemed to be covered by a layer of cold gauze, and the white snow fluttered down, dyeing everything in the world with a solemn white. The cold wind carried fine snow particles, swirling on the eaves of the Xie family's old house.
Xie Yun stood in the corridor, the white breath he exhaled condensed into tiny ice crystals on the edge of the collar of his military uniform. He looked straight at the withered plum tree in the courtyard that was already covered with snow, and stood there motionless, as if he had merged into this world of ice and snow, from the dawn to the dusk.
"Yumin..." Grandma knocked on the bluestone slab with her cane, the sound was lighter than the falling snow. Her hand, which was full of traces of time, gently covered Xie Yun's arm, and her voice was full of deep heartache, "Don't stand for too long, it's very cold in the snow, be careful not to get cold."
Xie Yun didn't move, just hummed softly.
He had been in mourning for a month, but the emptiness in his heart could never be filled. His father was gone, taking away his last concern. He had endured the grief of losing his mother since he was a child. His father was his only support in this complicated world, and he was also the one who forced him to join the army.
He looked at the snowflakes swaying on the plum branch, and suddenly remembered that last winter, his father had used this plum branch to hit him on the back and forced him to accept the commission from the Baoding Military Academy. Although the plum branch was still there, the man holding the stick had become a tablet in the ancestral hall.
His father was gone, and he suddenly didn't know why he was still wearing this military uniform.
"Young Marshal," the adjutant whispered behind him, "Another telegram came from the Tianjin Governor's Office, urging you to report on your duties."
Xie Yun remained silent, like a silent iceberg, without any response.
Ye Pingzhou, the governor of Tianjin, was a capable old subordinate of his father and a well-known minister of the founding of the country. He was firmly seated in Tianjin and held great power.
After his mourning period was over, Ye Pingzhou sent people to invite him again and again, with sincere words and a firm attitude. In the end, he simply issued a military order, requiring him to take up the post immediately without any delay.
Xie Yun knew that this was the care and protection from his elders, but it was also a restraint.
"Go," the grandmother sighed softly, her sigh full of pity and helplessness for him, "If your father were still alive, he would definitely not want to see you so depressed and decadent."
Xie Yun closed his eyes and finally nodded.
After Xie Yun took office, Ye Pingzhou did not immediately grant him substantive power, but only arranged for him to lead troops to patrol schools and be responsible for banning the so-called "dangerous ideas."
This job was extremely boring. Every day, Xie Yun wore a neat military uniform and a low-knotted military cap, and led the soldiers to various colleges and universities.
He was in a gloomy mood, and with the brim of his hat covering his face, he looked cold and distant.
On this day, they were ordered to go to Mingya Girls' School. The carved iron gate of Mingya Girls' School was covered with a thin layer of snow, and it shone coldly under the sunlight. Xie Yun raised his hand to straighten his military cap, and the shadow cast by the brim of the cap just covered his dark eye sockets.
The principal of the girls' school had heard the news long ago and had been waiting at the door trembling with fear. When she saw Xie Yun and his companions, she hurried over with a smile on her face, which showed annoyance and uneasiness, "Sir Xie, the students are all attending class peacefully, and there is absolutely no violation of the rules..."
Xie Yun raised his hand impatiently to interrupt the principal, his voice cold and concise: "Routine inspection."
The soldiers quickly dispersed like well-trained hunting dogs and searched each classroom carefully.
Xie Yun stood alone at the end of the corridor, gazing absentmindedly at the flying snowflakes outside the window.
Suddenly, a deliberately low female voice came faintly from the next classroom.
"The article "On Literary Revolution" in "New Youth" is absolutely right! Classical Chinese should have been abolished long ago, and vernacular Chinese is the future!"
Xie Yun's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he tilted his head to look. Through the half-open door, he saw several female students gathered together, and the girl in the middle, wearing a light blue jacket and skirt, was pointing at the pages of a book and talking.
Her skin was as white as snow, standing out against the gray winter tones.
As she spoke, her almond-shaped eyes were as bright as twinkling stars, revealing an eager desire for new knowledge and a firm belief in her. She was as lively as if a branch of beautiful spring apricot suddenly caught her eye in the midst of ice and snow, bringing a different kind of vitality and energy to this dull winter day.
Xie Yun's gaze unconsciously lingered on her for a moment longer.
At this moment, a female student rushed into the classroom in a panic, her voice filled with fear and haste: "No! The officers are here to check the banned books!"
The classroom was in chaos. The classmate next to the girl in the blue skirt was holding a copy of New Youth. When he heard the news, he was so frightened that his hands trembled violently and the book almost fell to the ground.
The girl in the blue skirt reacted very quickly, snatched the book quickly, and quickly stuffed it into the hem of her skirt. However, because she was too hasty, the corner of the book was obviously protruding from under the fabric, and this abrupt shape was particularly glaring at this time. Anyone who paid a little attention could see the clue at a glance.
Xie Yun looked at this scene, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his face, but in this smile, there was a bit of imperceptible doting.
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