In 1912, 31-year-old Zhou Shuren came to Beijing with a large suitcase and worked as a minister in the Ministry of Education, thus starting a 14-year life as a drifter in Beijing.

In 1918, Zhou Shuren used the pen name "Lu Xun" for the first time when he published "Diary of a Madman", the first vernacular short story written in modern style in the history of modern Chinese literature, in "New Youth". Since then, the word "Lu Xun" has become a banner of modern Chinese literature.

In August 1926, Lu Xun left Beijing, where he had lived for 14 years, and went to Fujian, where he was invited to serve as a professor in the Chinese Language Department of Xiamen University. Four months later, Lu Xun resigned from his post. In January 1927, Lu Xun was invited to Guangzhou, Guangdong, where he served as dean of academic affairs and director of the literature department at Sun Yat-sen University.

Lu Xun lived with Xu Guangping in Guangzhou and spent a pleasant time. Lu Xun was a gourmet. Under the leadership of Xu Guangping, Lu Xun conducted many on-the-spot "inspections" on Cantonese restaurants such as Hui Fang Yuan, Bie You Chun, and Miao Qixiang, and concluded that "it is very prosperous here, and the food is extremely convenient. Although the food is relatively expensive, it is The quality is excellent."

However, Lu Xun did not stay long in Guangzhou. In October of that year, Lu Xun and Xu Guangping both left Guangzhou and came to Shanghai.

From 1927 to 1936, Lu Xun lived in Shanghai for 9 years and spent the last time of his life. During this period, Lu Xun stayed in Shanghai except for one trip to his hometown in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province and two trips to Beijing for business.

During the Republic of China, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou were the three most prosperous metropolises in China (and they are still today). Why did Lu Xun choose Shanghai as the last stop on his life journey?

In fact, when Lu Xun first came to Shanghai, he was quite unaccustomed to life and work.

Rent in Shanghai is extremely expensive. When Lu Xun was living in Beijing, he was still able to rely on his high salary and royalties to buy two houses in Badaowan Hutong and outside Fuchengmen. But after Lu Xun arrived in Shanghai, he was troubled by the high rent, and even because the top fee (agency fee) was very high. He and Xu Guangping did not dare to change the rental house, because "a small house costs a lot of money, and it is beyond our current ability." appoint". Buying a house in Shanghai? Doesn't exist. Can't even think about it.

Lu Xun was very unaccustomed to the living environment in Shanghai. The hustle and bustle of Shanghai, the long-lasting coal smoke, and the endless sound of mahjong all made Lu Xun feel disgusted from the bottom of his heart.

In addition, Lu Xun found it incredible that the Shanghai literati spread rumors and caused trouble, harmed people and betrayed friends. The articles written by many Shanghai literati were filled with violent words of beating and killing, and they were trying to sweep the literary world and destroy everything.

Therefore, when Lu Xun came to Shanghai, he repeatedly expressed in letters to friends that he "wanted to return north or find another place to live." However, Lu Xun did not put this idea into practice.

The reason why Lu Xun continued to live in Shanghai was because Shanghai had advantages that Beijing and Guangzhou did not have.

On the one hand, Shanghai has advantages that other cities cannot compare with in terms of living security, creative security, and cultural atmosphere.

Shanghai was the largest city in China at that time and was known as "the largest city in the Far East". Not only is the economy and business prosperous here, it is also a place where education and cultural undertakings are extremely active.

In terms of education, Shanghai has well-known institutions of higher learning such as Fudan University, Jiaotong University, Tongji University, Jinan University, St. John's University, Daxia University, Zhonghua University, Guanghua University, Labor University, and Lida Academy school. In terms of culture, influenced by the Northern Expedition, a large number of cultural people came to Shanghai, making Shanghai replace Beijing and become the cultural center of China. As a cultural figure, Lu Xun was of course willing to live and work in a cultural center.

Shanghai’s developed economy enabled Lu Xun to obtain relatively generous royalties and royalties. We know that while Lu Xun was in Shanghai, he did not teach in a university, but became a freelance writer. Lu Xun relied on relatively generous royalties and royalties to live a relatively decent life in Shanghai.

As we all know, Lu Xun wrote a large number of essays when he lived in Shanghai.

These essays are known as "daggers and spears". Their attacks are powerful and combative. If they were placed elsewhere, it would be difficult to publish them; but in Shanghai, due to the large number of newspapers and periodicals, there was not much difficulty in publishing them. Even if there were difficulties, Lu Xun could reissue it by changing his pen name.

On the other hand, Shanghai can provide Lu Xun with relatively safe personal protection.

Lu Xun rented three places in Shanghai: No. 23 Jingyunli, No. 2093 Sichuan North Road, and No. 9, Lane 132, Shanyin Road. These places are all within the Hongkou area and belong to the "semi-concession".

Why is it called a semi-concession?

This is because, although this large area does not fall within the scope of the concession, it is located in the buffer area between the concession and the Chinese boundary. Not only is there a large number of Chinese people living there, but there are also many foreigners living there. Lu Xun lived here and could obtain relatively safe personal protection.