He also made the acquaintance of a number of young Chinese intellectuals, including Tian Han, Yu Dafu and Guo Moruo. In his 1924 novel Mato (“Demon City”, 1924), he portrayed the dichotomy of Shanghai – a modern, beautiful, civilized façade, hiding a darker side populated by all manner of criminals and vice.
He also formed connections with several young Chinese intellectuals, including Tian Han, Yu Dafu, and Guo Moruo. In his 1924 novel Mato (“Demon City”, 1924), he highlighted the contrast between Shanghai – a modern, beautiful, refined exterior, but beneath lay a darker reality inhabited by various criminals and vices.