the next day.
Lu Shi got up early as usual, ate something casually, and then continued to read the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
On the other hand, Natsume Soseki didn't study on "I Am a Cat" anymore.
He yawned and stretched,
"Ha~~~"
We also followed "Ha~~~".
One person and one cat move exactly the same.
Lu Shi said, "Why don't you continue writing books?"
Natsume Soseki said helplessly: "I don't know why, but since Mr. Wood read my book last time, my heart has always been uneasy: sometimes I feel that I am good and I think I can publish; sometimes I feel that I am not good and I am afraid Being laughed at.”
This mentality has been experienced by many online article authors before publishing it.
To put it simply, it’s two words——
impetuous.
Lu Shi curled his lips,
"Then go out and walk the cat. It should calm you down after a stroll."
Natsume Soseki glanced at me and said, "Forget it, I'm afraid of being scratched by it."
As he spoke, he picked up the newspaper on the side and started to read it.
"I might as well read your book reviews again. I feel like I can learn a lot of writing skills by reading them frequently."
He read the article "A Brief Discussion on Narrative Trickery and Mystery Works" no less than ten times, and the entire blank space was filled with various notes.
This is not enough, I have to use a notebook to record it.
Lu Shi said, "What? Are you interested in writing reasoning?"
Natsume Soseki writes reasoning, which is quite exciting when I think about it.
But this is not necessarily impossible.
Japan is the origin of Honkoku sect,
Matsumoto Seicho, Henggou Masashi, and Edogawa Ranpo, these three "peaks of Japanese mystery literature" will remain standing for decades after the 1920s.
Natsume Soseki waved his hand,
"Forget it, I can't write that kind of thing. It requires too much knowledge and is too complicated."
As a pure liberal arts student, I really can't handle mystery works.
However, many of the contents described in "A Brief Discussion of Narrative Conspiracy and Mystery Works" are common, and any writer can take the essence and improve their ability to conceive works.
Natsume Soseki carefully studied a few more paragraphs,
After that, he asked: "You are not afraid to write out what you have put down at the bottom of the box without any reservation... are not afraid... um..."
Lu Shi reminded: "You want to say 'teach the apprentice and starve the master to death'?"
Natsume Soseki nodded,
"Yes, it means 'teach the apprentice and starve the master to death'. This sentence should be considered a consensus in China, right?"
Lu Shi shook his head,
"It's certainly not a consensus. It only applies to certain professions."
He was silent for a moment and said: "Besides, I didn't think too much when I was writing the book review. I just wrote whatever came to my mind."
Natsume Soseki was speechless;
"You can write an article like this by 'writing whatever comes to mind'?"
Lu Shi could only repeat: "I really didn't think about it that much."
This is the truth.
As a professional translator, he has been exposed to many works.
The more you read, the more you will naturally have your own understanding. Being able to repay it can be regarded as the fulfillment of your wish in a sense.
Natsume Soseki was already used to being surprised by Riku Toki's writing ability, so he didn't ask any more questions. He put aside "A Brief Discussion on Narrative Conspiracy and Mystery Works" and picked up "The Times" instead.
As a result, he sat up straight after reading only a few pages.
"What's this!?"
Lu Shi asked, "What's wrong?"
Natsume Soseki looked stunned, and it took him a while to close his mouth.
He waved to Lu Shi,
"Look! Here is an open letter from Cambridge University!"
Lu Shi leaned over,
The two read the letter together.
——
Professor Lu Fuqi from the London School of Economics and Political Science:
I recently read "A Brief Discussion on Narrative Conspiracy and Mystery Works", and I found that the extraordinary text has the Midas touch, which is rare in the world.
As we look at it, we can’t sleep at night and have benefited a lot.
…
Lu Shi scratched his head, feeling like he had heard this "can't sleep at night and benefited a lot" somewhere, or maybe someone in heaven had sensed it somewhere.
Natsume Soseki didn’t have any special thoughts on these two words.
"Lu, look! Cambridge University invites you to give a lecture at their school! So, that bet..."
Lu Shi nodded,
"That's right, they gave up and I won."
The room couldn't help but fall into silence,
"..."
"..."
"..."
I was a little nervous by this sudden weird atmosphere, and couldn't help but let out a "meow~".
Lu Shi knelt down and touched my head.
Then I relaxed my body and lay on my back, exposing my belly.
Lu Shi said, "I didn't expect that Cambridge University would be so sincere."
His eyes stopped at the signature of the open letter,
There is not "Cambridge University", but a series of names,
Spencer Cavendish,
Montague Rhodes James,
John William Strutt,
…
From the school supervisor to the vice president, to the dean of the college, and finally to the professors of each college, there are a total of more than 20 signatures.
In other words, this is a joint letter.
Lu Shi couldn't help but swallowed when he looked at the names.
"Gu..."
Natsume Soseki asked: "What?"
Lu Shi said, "Do you know who these people are?"
Natsume Soseki didn't answer.
However, from the look on his face, he didn't look like he knew.
Lu Shi continued: "Let's just say that Strutt can be said to be a leading figure in the world of physics."
Natsume Soseki was shocked,
"You even know this?"
Lu Shi was impressed by Strutt because he would win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1904.
As for other science experts, unless they have appeared in some popular science works, he is only somewhat familiar with their names, and he does not even know which field of research they are engaged in.
Natsume Soseki said: "How are you going to deal with it?"
Lu Shi pondered,
a long time,
"I think we should go."
This is a rational decision.
The two parties made a bet privately in the dark room. Cambridge University was willing to admit defeat generously and fulfill the bet. It was magnanimous enough.
And Lu Shi had nothing to lose, so of course he could borrow Poxia's donkey.
Natsume Soseki frowned and asked, "Isn't the pressure a bit too much?"
Lu Shi nodded,
"There must be a lot of pressure. Students at Cambridge University, no matter which college they are from, must be top academics. If I talk back and forth during the speech, I will definitely show my cowardice."
Natsume Soseki shook his head repeatedly.
"I'm not talking about giving a speech. You must have no problem giving a speech."
As he spoke, he raised the newspaper in his hand,
"That's what I'm talking about."
Lu Shi understood,
Roommate refers to the pressure of public opinion,
An open invitation to appear in a newspaper can indeed cause this kind of confusion.
Lu Shi said: "I don't think the University of Cambridge is exerting pressure. Look at the wording of this article, it is very sincere and sincere."
Natsume Soseki also agrees with this point.
After reading this public joint invitation letter, I feel that the British are a bit like gentlemen.
But the problem is,
"Pressure is pressure."
Natsume Soseki was still worried.
Lu Shi smiled and said,
"The pressure from the University of Cambridge is greater than mine. They have kept such a low profile. If I really refuse, where will the faces of these people who signed it go? Moreover, this kind of open letter is also a kind of protection for me."
Lu Shi said this because he knew some examples.
For example, Cai Yuanpei fled Peking University due to persecution by the Beiyang government.
Teachers and students at Peking University published an open letter in the newspaper, sincerely wanting to invite President Cai back.
Because of the newspaper publication, the matter became a big deal, and Cai Yuanpei was given a "golden body".
(In the end, he did not go back because in the eyes of the Beiyang government, obstructing public opinion was never a problem.)
Natsume Soseki asked: "Have you thought about it?"
Lu Shi said "hmm",
"It's better to resolve enemies than to end them. The question now is, how should I respond?"
Everyone carries the sedan chair,
Since Cambridge University had given enough face, Lu Shi would naturally respond.
Natsume Soseki said, "How about you also reply with a letter?"
This is indeed a solution.
Lu Shi picked up his pen and immersed himself in writing. At the same time, he muttered: "I read your school's open letter today. I can't sleep at night and I have benefited a lot..."
Natsume Soseki was confused.
"What's 'a sleepless night and a lot of benefits'?"
Lu Shi was stunned, and while crossing out the line of words, he said: "I don't know what happened, it's like someone cast a spell on me, I can't help but write this sentence."
He shook his head to clear the strange thoughts from his mind and continued writing his reply.
…
Palace of Westminster,
Inside Wodehouse's office.
The scent of smoke lingers,
Churchill and Wodehouse sat across the desk from each other.
The two big smoking pipes each held a cigar between them, with their legs crossed, enjoying the time after the parliamentary session.
Wodehouse said: "Winston, why don't you read the newspaper?"
"Huh~"
Churchill exhaled,
He said: "We just finished the meeting, can't you let me take a break?"
Wodehouse complained: "Take a break with my cigar..."
He put an emphasis on the word "my."
Churchill chuckled, pursed his lips, held the cigar firmly in his mouth, then picked up a copy of The Times, lay back in the armchair, and quickly browsed today's headlines.
As a result, after two minutes,
With a soft "click" sound, the cigar in Churchill's mouth fell to the ground.
Wodehouse complained: "My carpet!"
Churchill was still reading the newspaper, as if he hadn't heard.
Wodehouse raised his voice and said: "Hey! Winston! Why don't you pick up the cigar quickly? I don't want a hole in the carpet!"
Churchill finally came to his senses,
"Sir, come and read this article... no, this open letter."
Wodehouse didn't understand why the other party was panicking.
He first walked around the desk and picked up the cigar that fell on the floor, and then turned his attention to the newspaper.
did not expect,
Bada——×2
Both cigars fell from his hands.
Wodehouse said incoherently: "What is this... this... um... it... exactly..."
He seemed unable to take his eyes off the Cambridge open letter,
Because it was too shocking, I couldn't formulate effective words for the time being.
Churchill had returned to normal. He bent down and picked up the two cigars, extinguished one of them, put it into a small wooden box that he carried with him, and held the other in his mouth.
He said: "I don't know what happened."
Wodehouse asked: "Aren't you familiar with those people in Cambridge?"
Churchill smiled and spread his hands,
"Excuse me, I studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and my father is an Oxford graduate."
Wodehouse glared at Churchill angrily.
Today, Churchill is still a conservative and is very close to the current Prime Minister Cecil and his political successor Balfour.
Both of them were from Cambridge,
Not to mention that Cavendish, the chancellor of Cambridge, is a Conservative Party leader.
Wodehouse asked: "You really haven't heard anything?"
Churchill nodded solemnly,
"No."
"Well……"
Wodehouse was lost in thought.
Churchill took time to adjust his clothes and said at the same time: "Of course, it may be because I am too close to you and I have been excluded from the inner circle by my colleagues in the Conservative Party."
These words made Wodehouse couldn't help but roll his eyes again.
"You think I believe it?"
Churchill was a "social butterfly", so he should not be able to find out about such a big thing.
Wodehouse glanced at the signatures of the open letter and found that except for Cavendish, almost all of them had academic backgrounds and no political backgrounds.
He said solemnly: "Could it be that this letter is really just a simple invitation?"
This seems to be a question, but it is actually talking to myself.
Politicians are like this, they like to think in complicated directions.
Churchill took over the conversation: "I think so. When the Duke of Devonshire invited people to co-sign, he should have deliberately avoided graduates with political backgrounds."
As he spoke, he pulled out a copy of the Manchester Guardian,
"Remembering that Professor James publicly criticized Professor Lu's "Roman Holiday" before, and Professor Lu also fought back, I have reason to believe that there was some kind of commitment or even a bet between Professor Lu and the University of Cambridge."
This speculation is very reasonable.
Wodehouse was shocked;
"You mean Cambridge has given up?"
Churchill just smiled,
Although there is no positive answer, this attitude is equivalent to acquiescence.
Wodehouse didn't know how to describe his mood at this time, except for one word:
"Fxxk!"
He couldn't understand how there could be such an awesome person.
What’s special is that he is Chinese.
Then, he thought of another question:
"Fxxk! Isn't this equivalent of Cambridge poaching our London University Alliance? Is Cavendish looking for trouble?"
Churchill shook his head,
"Even poaching won't succeed. Professor Lu has a polling project at LSE, and you invested in it. They took your money and took away the working students from LSE. As long as there is any professional ethics, , it is impossible for them to abandon you."
Wodehouse was relieved now.
There is no doubt that Lu Shi is a moral person.
But Churchill’s next words made Wodehouse’s heart hang in the air again.
Churchill said: "However, the internal management chaos of your University of London Union has not been in chaos for a day or two. For example, the London School of Economics and Political Science, where Professor Lu is a guest, has not yet issued a serious undergraduate degree. People may want to 'select the best tree'. nest'."
Wodehouse wondered: "What does 'good birds choose trees to build their nests' mean?"
Churchill said: "The Chinese proverb I just learned recently seems to make sense."
Wodehouse always found this proverb strange.
But since he didn’t understand Chinese, he couldn’t ask further questions, so he changed the subject and asked, “Do you really think Professor Lu will go to Cambridge?”
Churchill shrugged,
"Who knows?"
Wodehouse quickly asked for advice: "What can you do?"
Churchill thought for a while and said: "Professor Lu seems to be a person who values friendship. You can ask the students to stay for a while. For example, on the day of the speech, you can drag a train of students over to support him. I think this is a good idea."
Wodehouse clapped his hands,
"Okay! It's settled! Charter a train to go to Cambridge to listen to the lecture!"
Churchill: "..."
He just said it casually, but he didn't expect the other party to actually believe it.
If students from the University of London Union go to Cambridge University to listen to lectures, won't they be considered a nuisance?
(End of chapter)
