In mid-January 1949, Fu holed up at his home in Nanjing and fretted about the future. Pacing back and forth in a black mood, he recited a verse written by Tao Yuanming in the 5th century: "I planted mulberries along the Yangtse / Expecting to pick fruit after three years.
一九四九年一月中旬，傅斯年將自己關在南京家中，繞室踱步，反復吟詠、書寫陶淵明的詩句：「種桑長江邊，三年望當采。