 Zheng had been a journalist, a modern writer, archeology and a literature scholar throughout his life.In May 1921, Zheng helped set up a drama society called "Minzhong Xiju She" (Demotic opera troupe 民眾戲劇社) with Mao Dun, Ye Shengtao, Chen Dabei, Ouyang Yuqian, Xiong Foxi and other writers.They published a monthly magazine named "Xiju" (Drama 戲劇) on 31 May in the same year.