Republican Era: I Ran Away from My Wedding from the Start and Made Zhang Dashuai Furious

College student Zhang Xueming ran a marathon in forty-degree heat, wolfed down five Cornettos in one go, and blacked out.

When he opened his eyes again, he was in Fengtian City in the third year of Xuantong.

He had become the eldest son of Zhang Zuolin, who had just turned eighteen: Zhang Xueliang's older brother.

That year, a gunshot rang out in Wuchang, the Qing Dynasty fell, and the Republic of China was founded amid chaos. His father, Zhang Zuolin, commanded troops in the three northeastern provinces and became a regional warlord.

His family had already arranged a match for him: Yu Fengzhi, daughter of Jilin businessman Yu Wendou. A graduate of the Fengtian Women's Normal School, she was well-read, refined, and known throughout the city as a talented young woman. All he had to do was reach adulthood, marry her, take over the military command, and become the next head of the family.

Everyone in the family had their eyes on him: train the troops, marry, and inherit his position.

Who could have guessed that Zhang Xueming would declare, "I want to study literature, not play around with guns and swords," pack his bags, and cross the ocean to study in Germany?

Marshal Zhang was so furious he chased him around the courtyard three times without catching him, then sat on the doorstep in silence for ages.

Three years later, Zhang Xueming returned after completing his studies.

As soon as he entered the city, Yu Fengzhi came to call and sat upright in the main room:

"Zhang Xueming, you left without a word three years ago. Today, you owe me a straight answer."

All of Fengtian was waiting to see how the runaway groom would handle things.

But no one expected that...

He would take up his brush and write an essay that sent ripples through the capital;

He would establish newspapers and schools, bringing new knowledge to the lands east of the Shanhai Pass;

He would build railways and develop industry, making his ledgers and abacus ring louder than an artillery battalion;