"We won't discuss whether Lu Xun understands people." Wen Desi said, "What are you going to do now?"
"There is a lot of public dissatisfaction outside, and the response in the "Public Opinion Report" is very pessimistic, and there is a strong tendency to deny all the good governance we have brought to the city." Lin Motian couldn't help but express his emotions, "It's not a pity for me to be ruined, but so many comrades are All the efforts were in vain.”
Wen Desi smiled and said nothing - this was obviously a "prelude", and the next step must be "for the sake of the overall situation."
"...I am considering whether to set up a special infectious disease cemetery in a sparsely populated area on the outskirts of Guangzhou, and bury all infected people there - of course some hygienic measures must be taken: the bodies must be disinfected first and then buried deeply to ensure that they are not It will become a new source of infection. This can not only alleviate the resistance of citizens, but also achieve the effect of isolation."
After hearing this, Wen Desi smiled and put his cigar on the ashtray: "Comrade Lin Motian, what do you think we people are doing, abandoning the superior life of the 21st century and coming to this time and space?"
Lin Motian was stunned. His idea was simple, that is, he was not willing to pass the qualifications in the hospital to become a deputy director or director. He said: "It's nothing more than seeking glory and wealth. Of course, there is also an element of realizing personal ideals."
"Prosperity and wealth are too simple for us now. If we just want this, why should we go to this dirty medieval city and risk the plague to do these things? The people of Guangzhou are dying. Does it have anything to do with whether we have a penny whether we die from the plague or from hunger?”
"..." Lin Motian didn't expect Wen Desi to say such naked words.
"When we come to this time and space, no matter what everyone's purpose is, there is only one thing to do - to build a new world!" Wen Desi waved his hand and said loudly, "No matter what our comrades are, You want to start a sect and become a scholar, a big landowner who bullies men and women, or you want to be a high-ranking official who lives in eight rooms and responds to a hundred responses, or you just want to build a maid breeding museum. Do not destroy the old world, build a new world , that won’t work.”
Lin Motian looked at Wen Desi dumbfounded - he had very few interactions with Mr. Wen, and had only heard him speak in public, never in private.
"It's precisely because we want to build a new world. So when the plague spread, we still stayed in the city, working and living in the shadow of the plague. You are still here troubled. If you ask me to say: just take Guangzhou with the people and the house Burn everything with a fire - is there any more convenient and clean purification method than this?"
Lin Motian was trembling slightly now. He realized that Wen Desi did not say it as a big talk, but had actually considered it.
"This, this is inappropriate." He whispered.
"Of course it's not appropriate. But it's also a last resort." Wen Desi said, "But having said that, we are all building a new world, and we will inevitably destroy the old one. Look forward and backward all day long, and consider the indigenous people. What do you think? This person doesn’t want to offend, and the other person wants to respect other people’s customs – so why are we here?”
Lin Motian understood what Wen Desi meant. He said: "But the people's sentiment..."
"People's hearts, yes, people's hearts must be respected." Wen Desi nodded, "You have to think about it, but when it comes to dealing with the plague, is our set of epidemic prevention measures advanced, or are traditional methods more effective?"
"That's naturally because our method is advanced."
"That's right. We clearly have advanced technologies and means, which represent the direction of development, but we have to compromise with some meaningless, even ignorant and backward traditional customs that harm them, just because these are' People's hearts' - don't you think it's strange?"
Lin Motian thought to himself, I think so too! But the fact is that it is difficult to handle. He has always believed that violence is not a panacea. The Qing Dynasty's order to shave their heads was indeed implemented with cruel and ruthless methods, but the consequence was that anti-Qing riots continued for decades.
Wen Desi did not allow him to answer, and added: "What we are promoting now is just the cremation of the corpses of the sick. It is at best a technical epidemic prevention method - not even touching the edge of the four words 'changing customs'. Give in today Now, if we implement any livelihood measures in the future and encounter public opposition, do we have to give in? Besides, today we gave in, but the family members of the body you burned yesterday have objections again - why should we be quarantined after one night? Can Lao Wang's house not be burned? Aren't all the work we have done in the past in vain? You must know that the propagandists are still preaching outside today that "only the cremation of dead bodies can cut off the source of infection." Tomorrow it will be changed to "concentrated deep burial" Okay, then what the propagandist said before is not a lie? Where is our prestige if orders are changed day after day?"
Lin Motian nodded, these words touched him.
"Have you read "Peter the Great"? Haven't you? Let me read a passage to you. I was deeply impressed when I first read it." Wen Desi thought for a moment and recited: "The most important thing is People, people, people! Drag people out of the swamps of the ages, open their eyes, squeeze their ribs...beat them, twist them, teach them, make them talented...thousands of miles away Walking through the snow, trudging through the mud... destroying, building... looking back, he was a little creepy: 'Hey, what kind of mountain was that that hasn't been moved yet?'"
He smiled meaningfully: "In front of us, there is such a big mountain."
"I understand." Lin Motian had already made up his mind at this time, "The epidemic prevention measures that have been announced cannot be changed!"
Wen Desi picked up the cigar, took a deep breath, and asked: "Who do you think are the citizens in Guangzhou who are opposed to the cremation of the bodies of the deceased?"
Lin Motian was stunned for a moment and said: "Citizens should all object. I read the public opinion report and there are objections everywhere. The city chamber of commerce also came to persuade..."
"In my opinion, those who are really strongly opposed to cremation are those who can afford decent cemeteries and coffins. As for most citizens, they work all day and only get three meals a day. They don't have enough food to stay at home... What do you think? Will they be so sensitive about their own deaths?"
"This..." Lin Motian hesitated, "Although this is the case, the concept that the body's hair and skin are inherited from the parents and should not be damaged is generally recognized by the people..."
"This only shows that we do not have the right to speak." Wen Desi said, "I think we have to start with the lower class people who are obviously illiterate but still have the heart of a Confucian scholar."
"How to do it?" Lin Motian was in a hurry and sought medical treatment. President Wen's words certainly broke his hesitation and strengthened his determination to continue to strictly implement various quarantine and epidemic prevention measures, but the problem he faced remained the same. Not solved. He still faces the possibility of conflict arising from his insistence on cremating the bodies of the dead.
"How are the ashes of the dead bodies disposed of after they are cremated?"
"Unowned corpses are buried deep on the spot. Those with relatives can collect the ashes with the body collection slip and dispose of them as they wish. It is not prohibited to buy land for burial if you want." Lin Motian said, "In fact, it can be regarded as being laid to rest, but many People don’t come to collect the ashes at all – in the end, they are treated as ownerless corpses.”
"Among those who died of illness, the majority should be poor."
"Yes, bubonic plague is mainly spread by fleas, and the flea infection rate among the lower classes is almost 100%." Lin Motian said, "If there were sufficient public bathhouses, the situation would be much better..."
"You see, the lower class people died a lot. There is no place to bury these sick people after they are cremated - even if there is, they are buried in the cemetery. I have visited the cemetery in Guangzhou, and most of them are corpses. The pit couldn't be dug deep at all. Not to mention that the bones were washed out directly when the rain was heavy. Maybe they were dug out by wild dogs on the night of the burial. In fact, it was no different from the exposed corpses in the wilderness. It was just a kind of self-comfort. We will be there for them Make a fuss about things behind your back."
"so……"
"Don't you want to build a cemetery for the deceased? This is a good plan - you still have to build it, choose a place with good feng shui, and pay more attention to the architecture and greening. In short, it is no less than the average cemetery of a wealthy family. Anyhow The ashes of the deceased who are unable to bury themselves, whether with relatives or without owners, can be buried in the cemetery. Of course, wealthy people must accept their original intention. Everyone has a tombstone, and the cemetery has a memorial hall for the deceased. Public sacrifices at the four seasons - how can ordinary people receive this kind of treatment? Although the body was cremated, at least it was laid to rest in a geomantic treasure land, and there were sacrifices at the four seasons."
"This way we occupy the moral high ground!" Lin Motian said loudly.
"That's right," Wen Desi said, "the common people's idea is actually very simple; that is, they want to 'benefit' - even a little benefit can comfort many people. After all, what qualifications do the urban poor in this time and space have? What about posthumous matters? The meeting of dogs in the cemetery is their final destination. The so-called 'body, hair and skin cannot be damaged' is just a nonsense. We give them a real benefit, and when they see it, they will naturally miss us. It’s good—not to mention that providing a cemetery site has been a good deed since ancient times, and those rotten scholars can’t find fault with it.”
"Mr. Wen, you are right!" Lin Motian suddenly felt enlightened and nodded excitedly, "I think it can be made more grand, such as asking Mayor Liu to come out for a public sacrifice, and asking Taoist Cui to perform several rituals. A transcendence meeting..."
"In addition to New Taoism, Buddhism and Catholicism can all come in. All living beings are equal, and all religions must be equal." Wen Desi smiled: "I believe there are many ways to come up with it. Since we can't do it, If you use fire to burn down the old world and rebuild the new world, you must at least move forward with twists and turns." If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest power. Mobile phone users please go and read.
