Arty Records

Fang Sishen came out of the shower, and the owner, Wei Deli, went in to wash himself.

Seeing the juices on the table, I remembered that the last time I was a guest, I once said not to drink caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.He sat down with a cup in his hand, tossing and tossing all afternoon, and then he really had time to rest, thinking to himself that Wade Li is actually a model of a gentleman who combines east and west.All the problems he caused were, after all, not his problems.Of course, if you study carefully, regardless of right and wrong, if you really want to learn a lesson, you can reflect on a certain degree of preconception and recklessness in your attitude.

After a while, Wei Deli came out, made himself a cup of Longjing, and sat across from him.

Fang Sishen didn't often come to deliver notices, send materials or something, and if he wasn't in a hurry, he would sit down like this at the invitation of the master.He has always been passive in interpersonal communication. This relationship imposed by business was unexpectedly congenial. After so many days, a very close transnational friendship was born.

Both of them are academic researchers with hindsight, and it is only natural for them to talk about such a wonderful battle today.Xia Yu and Western Wen interspersed with classical Chinese, and the conversation gradually deepened.

"Fang, I have been here for almost three months, but there are more and more things I don't understand. Too many phenomena are completely different from what I heard and imagined before. But, just now you mentioned 'Li Beng' Happy bad', I suddenly remembered that there was a similar statement in my grandfather's diary."

Wei Deli held the glass cup in the palm of his hand, and the emerald green tea leaves floated up and down one by one, slowly rotating and stretching, and the tea water turned into a clear light blue color.

"When my grandfather passed away, I was only eight years old, but I had already learned Xiayu from him for two years. After that, it was difficult to find a suitable teacher. It was not until I was admitted to Price Oriental Research Institute in university that I was able to continue learning and finally be able to understand Those esoteric diaries he wrote back then were mixed with Xia Wen." Wei Deli smiled, "You know, most of the people who came to Xia Guo 100 years ago were adventurers, and there were very few pilgrims. It belongs to the latter. When he was young, he read many legends and travel notes about the Xia Kingdom, and he was full of yearning for the mysterious ancient oriental country and the land of etiquette, but he was disappointed after coming here."

Fang Sishen expressed deep sympathy: "Ling Zu came at a bad time."

"Grandfather was very sympathetic to this country and the people here. At the beginning, he thought that God could save them." Wei Deli sighed and studied Xia culture for many years. Now he certainly understands that this is a dead end.

"Later, he found that not many Xia people were willing to believe in God, so he decided to change direction and tried to help some bureaucrats who were willing to accept the belief of democracy, freedom and equality, hoping to establish a system as advanced as ours." Speaking of this, Wedley Bring out an unconscious sense of innate superiority.

Fang Sishen interrupted him politely: "I'm sorry, Daniel," said slowly, "I don't know what you mean by the 'advanced system', but an elder once told me that the Xia people who fled overseas during the civil war , suffered severe discrimination and unfair treatment in your country."

Perhaps he did not expect that the good-tempered Fang Sishen would make such a strong rebuttal. Wei Deli's face immediately flushed red, and he said in embarrassment: "That happened many years ago, and it is much better now, much better." Take a look The person opposite added, "I'm sorry." After thinking for a while, he said, "Fang, a good system that can provide opportunities for supervision and correction may become better and better; and a bad system is rarely , or did not provide opportunities for supervision and correction, it can only get worse and worse."

Fang Sishen thought about his words, and finally nodded: "I agree." But it suddenly occurred to him that those Xia people who fled overseas, if they stayed in the country, the discrimination and unfair treatment they might encounter would be much more cruel.

After taking a sip of Longjing tea, Wei Deli regained his energy, and continued to tell the story of his grandfather with great interest: "It was very difficult to persuade the government bureaucrats in the Xia Kingdom to change their old ideas and establish a new system. In addition, the continuous outbreak of war , always forced him to interrupt his work, and finally his grandfather could only leave here with deep regret. After he returned to China, he reviewed and reflected on his experience in the Xia Kingdom, and suddenly began to re-learn the holy scriptures. He thought that he had unfortunately met It is another period in the history of the Xia Kingdom where "rituals are broken and music is broken". To save this crisis, whether it is God or democracy, foreign civilizations are actually useless. The only way is to return to the Holy Gate thought and rebuild the benevolent government system, in order to finally realize the Datong world.”

Wei Deli spread his hands: "So, in his later years, he became a fanatical disciple of the Holy Gate, and he almost forgot about God."

Fang Sishen smiled and said: "If Ling Zu can live up to now, he will definitely be warmly welcomed and admired by those masters of Chinese studies." Returning to the Holy Gate thought, rebuilding the system of benevolent governance, and realizing the world of Datong is the current call for the great revival of the Great Xia civilization In the trend, the propositions of some senior masters of Chinese studies.

Wedeli spoke excitedly, but he didn't notice that Fang Sishen, a native, seemed to be less passionate about this great ideal than he, an outsider.

"One of my teachers was the one who came here 20 years ago. He hated the capitalist society and was a firm utopian idealist. Therefore, after he returned from Xia Kingdom, he spared no effort to praise your struggle, unity and stability society, orderly life.” Wei Deli laughed and said, “Grandfather listened to him introduce your Republican New Deal, destroy the old and establish the new, carry out ideological reform, and cultural revolution, and he did not believe that it could rule the summer in his heart until his death. country."

Fang Sishen smiled bitterly: "Ling Zu is really a wise man."

Wei Deli put away his smile and said solemnly: "Fang, you know, I was very confused by them, so I decided to take a look for myself, what I saw and heard these days made me understand grandfather's point of view more deeply. What you said just now gave me a lot of inspiration. As you said, if "rituals and music" are defined as Wenderenzheng, then a strict order, even if it looks very stable on the surface, is actually "rituals collapse and music breaks down." Strict order is often difficult to last, and factors of riot and resistance are brewing. Once broken, it will inevitably bring chaos. At the same time, strict imprisonment also suppresses people's vitality. Once broken, there will inevitably be a blowout prosperity. I think this is why Xia Kingdom presents such a bewildering and chaotic scene of prosperity.”

Perhaps bystander Qing, a foreigner who cared about the fate of the Xia Kingdom, could give such a high-level analysis.Fang Sishen sighed secretly, and said, "Thank you for not defining it as 'prosperous chaos'."

"If you look at it in this way, since the era when my grandfather came 70 years ago, there has been no fundamental change in the situation of 'ritual collapse and music'." When Wei Deli said this, he comforted Fang Sishen sincerely, "It doesn't matter, Kong Shengren's Times were far worse."

Fang Sishen was amused by him: "Yes, the sage lived 200 years before his death and 300 years after his death. From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, "Li collapsed and music was broken" lasted for a full 500 years. Now when do you want to count? 'From the end of the period, there are still 300 years of suffering to wait!"

"That's too pessimistic, don't you have the heart?" Wei Deli actually took it seriously, looking at Fang Sishen eagerly, his eyes burning, "As the saying goes, 'there is no way in the world for a long time, the heaven will regard the master as a muduo' , isn’t this the time when saints should be born? Can no one improve the chaotic situation in front of us?”

Fang Sishen didn't speak, just lowered his head and thought silently.

Perhaps out of some kind of subconscious avoidance, he usually doesn't deliberately think about these issues.Now that it's in front of me, but I don't want to be perfunctory.After a long while, he said: "Daniel, you are more familiar with our history than many ordinary Xia people. If the sage of He Qinghaiyan came out, I don't know how many have happened. I think the vast majority of Xia people I will not admit it, because just half a century ago, the greatest sage in modern history came out to guide the direction of this country. The ancients said: "The sky is not born with Zhongni, and the ages are like a long night." So it was given to us Zhongni. However, judging from the actual results, what about after being born Zhongni?"

Wei Deli shook his head: "You are wrong, how can political leaders be compared with thinkers?"

"That's another question, what I mean is," Fang Sishen frowned slightly, "Personally, I really doubt how important the so-called saint is."

Wei Deli shook his head again and again: "No, no, Xia culture without saints is like Western culture without God, it is unimaginable."

Fang Sishen tilted his head and said while thinking: "This analogy is not appropriate. As far as I know, God is God, a belief that lives in the hearts of believers, and has never been a specific person. The saints in our culture are different. One sage comes out every 500 years, and one little sage comes out every three to five years. Even Sun Xingzhe, the monkey, dares to proclaim himself the great sage equal to heaven. We have been waiting for thousands of years for the sage to come out to save the world."

These words came out casually, without any careful consideration beforehand. When it came to this, I didn't know how to proceed. I was silent for a moment, and said slowly: "Everyone waited very hard."

Wei Deli thought for a while, then patted the table: "Fang, you are too pessimistic. I think that because saints are not gods, 'everyone can be a Yao and Shun', everyone has the possibility to become a saint, and everyone should take the responsibility. The important task of spreading the Tao. "Heaven will use the Master as Muduo", how do you know that today's "Master" is not your generation? The rise and fall of the world, everyone has a responsibility, self-restraint and restoration of rituals, the world will return to benevolence. I believe this will definitely be possible Made it!"

Fang Sishen looked at the international friend who sincerely loved the Great Xia civilization, and shook his head slightly.Because of the frank communication between the two parties, they also bluntly said: "Daniel, what you said is not new at all. One of my elders once talked about the experience of their generation, which is exactly 'Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world' The typical representative of the final personal fate, but almost all of them end in tragedy."

Although he has never systematically and deeply thought about the grand theme of the times and society, the fragments of those experiences and perceptions are inevitably accumulated in his mind, and at this moment he is forced to string them together and put them into words: "What you said sounds like a Very beautiful and inspiring. However, in our tradition, whenever people chanted these slogans, it was often at a critical juncture. Therefore, from the very beginning, they were deeply entangled with the concept of family and country. In the era of overthrow, they were still entangled with imperial autocracy. Those ordinary people who were responsible for the rise and fall of the world were just winners and losers, and gained corresponding positions in the process of changing dynasties. And in the era after the overthrow of imperial power—— You know it's not a long history,"

Wei Deli was listening intently, and nodded upon hearing the words: "Indeed, 100 years is nothing compared to 3000 years."

"In the past 100 years, the world has changed with each passing day, but we have been busy fighting against the outside world. People have just sacrificed their lives to save the nation and defend their families, and then they are fighting to unify the country. So, I guess...they haven't had time to deal with it. After reflection and construction of the system, it has been regulated into the established system, and finally... inevitably, it becomes a victim."

"No, Fang, I don't think so. What you say is too negative. People should be responsible for their own choices. If it is a collective choice, then everyone should be responsible."

"I know, Daniel, I know." Suddenly, Fang Sishen almost hated the foreign devil opposite.He is so self-righteous, pointing fingers, unconsciously uncovering the most painful and embarrassing scars of others.The pain that belongs to the era and the group suddenly falls on the small individual, like a torrent pouring down from a huge funnel, converging to the narrow and sharp exit, and instantly turning into a sharp weapon through the heart.

Fang Sishen drank the juice in the glass: "I just can't agree with the saying of 'sage saves the world'. When I was very young, the elders in my family warned me: no one can really save others, only you can save you. "Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world", I agree, but I don't know exactly what "everyone's responsibility" is today. There has been no way in the world for a long time, indeed. But the sages only tell us that the way What will the trip look like? As for how to make the world follow the Dao, I haven't found a convincing answer."

Stand up and smile: "I am a person without ambition. Yasheng has a saying: 'If you are successful, you can help the world, but if you are poor, you can be alone.' Even being alone, in my opinion, is a goal that is as important as Mount Tai. I'm sorry, Daniel, I made you laugh. Thank you for your help and hospitality. I've bothered you for a long time today. Goodbye." With Wei Deli's astonished expression, Fang Sishen nodded, turned and left.

Walking out of the gate, the sun has already set, and the south wind is blowing, dispelling the heat of early summer.Students in twos and threes walk through the tidy lawn and flower beds in front of the apartment. The irrigation equipment presses the water flow into a fountain and rain mist, which floats towards the green branches and green leaves. The atmosphere is peaceful and comfortable, happy and peaceful.

Fang Sishen stopped by the side of the road, thinking about Lian Guangyu for a moment, as if listening to thunder in a silent place.He himself did not expect that such a small matter and a small talk would cause such a heavy psychological burden, so he recalled a few poems from his predecessors very inappropriately:

"Great elegance has not been done for a long time, and who will tell me if I have fallen? The king's style is full of weeds, and the Warring States period is full of thorns and hazels. The dragon and the tiger eat each other, and the soldiers catch the crazy Qin. How dim is the righteous voice, and the sorrowful people..."

As soon as he returned to the dormitory, Wei Deli's call came.After the greeting, both sides apologized at the same time.Gentlemen are harmonious but different, both of them are very graceful, talk in a few words, friendship will last forever, and truth will last forever.In the next two days, Fang Sishen came to the door calmly and asked Wei Deli to wipe his back and apply medicine.Because of the heated discussion, the time stretched unconsciously. On the third day, we simply made some simple meals in the apartment and had dinner together.

Although Wedeli loves oriental culture, he is best at stir-fried macaroni with tomato sauce.Seeing that Fang Sishen was eating with a fork in his hand, he was very happy.While eating, she suddenly raised her head: "Fang, can I ask you a personal question?"

Fang Sishen swallowed the macaroni, drank his saliva, and said, "What's the problem?"

"Do you... have no girlfriend? I'm sorry, because I've never seen you mention girlfriends..."

Fang Sishen smiled: "Not yet."

"Why?" As if to explain his own question, Wei Deli hurriedly continued, "I think that if any girl becomes your girlfriend, she must be very happy. Because you are so gentle, kind, honest, and very independent." , and... very beautiful..."

Fang Sishen laughed out loud.He knows that the word "beautiful" in Spanish is unisex, and foreigners are used to complimenting people without leaving room, so he doesn't take it seriously, and keeps saying thank you while laughing.He always answered people's questions, but this question was really hard to explain. He laughed a few times, and even ate with his heart, and just laughed away.

Wei Deli looked at him with deep meaning: "I don't have a girlfriend either."

It's a pity that Fang Sishen just lowered his head and picked up a handful of macaroni: "We have beautiful and affectionate girls in Daxia, and there are countless romantic legends, such as King Xiang of Chu met the goddess of Wushan, and Liu Ruan met the goddess of Tiantai Mountain. Maybe you can too. Met a hehe..."

Wei Deli looked at him, hesitated for a while, and finally smiled and said: "That is really a worthwhile trip."

Friday is the day for Hao Yi's dissertation defense. Fang Sishen was sent to run around by Huading Songzhi for several consecutive days: helping to fill out the forms, sorting out the procedures, receiving professors from other places, and finding sleep time to read through the senior's thesis again.I worked as a full-time secretary all day on Friday. Although the Chinese Academy sent two Boss students to help, they could only do some work of serving tea and water. I was at a loss for many professional terms and side knowledge, let alone taking notes.

Hao Yi's thesis, with the topic of the differentiation and integration of characters of various families in the Warring States Period, actually sorted out and summarized Hua Dingsong's research results in the past ten years, which is a model of stating without writing.In the way of elementary school, the first priority is inheritance, and the innovation of ideas is more important than literary theory and historical theory.It seems to follow the predecessors, but in fact it is remote and profound, and the skill is seen in the plain and boring.The eloquent 30 characters are just one aspect of the study of the variation of ancient characters.The old professors asked tricky and weird questions, and even Fang Sishen, who was taking notes, felt terrified, let alone Hao Yi, who was the first to bear the brunt, his shirt was completely soaked under the [-]-degree air conditioner.Fortunately, the final ending was satisfactory and the vote was unanimously approved.

Hua Dading showed great mercy and allowed the young disciples not to attend the thank-you banquet in the evening.Fang Sishen hurried to find Wei Deli, and had already made an appointment for this Saturday's elective course to invite him to give a lecture, introducing the overseas circulation of "Tai Shi Gong Shu".In any case, I'll have to ask for the lecture notes tonight.

As soon as he knocked on the door of the apartment, Wei Deli pulled Fang Sishen in, dancing: "Fang! My car is back! My bicycle is back!"

"How did you come back?"

"The police called me today and asked me to claim the lost bicycle! They said that not only many thieves were arrested, but also the person who sold the bicycle at the booty market!"

Fang Sishen asked in surprise, "Did you give the photo to the police?"

"No, the camera was borrowed by Hong Xinyao." Wei Deli was elated, "The police said that the old street will soon become a new street, and there will never be a stolen goods market again! Fang, let's go to dinner to celebrate Bar!"

Fang Sishen was very puzzled, but he didn't have time to think about it. He declined Wei Deli's dinner invitation, asked for a speech, and went back to the dormitory for an overnight bus.

On the second day, Teacher Yang's lecture was very popular, with a fresh face and fresh content, and the thesis was about to be completed, the students were in a relaxed mood and the atmosphere was lively.At the end of the lecture, Liang Ruogu walked to the podium, gave a speech of thanks on behalf of the students, and presented a beautiful invitation card: "Mr. Wei, it will soon be the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional festival in our country of Xia. Lecture hall'——'Qionglin Academy' will hold a special promotional activity on traditional culture next Saturday, this is an invitation card, I take the liberty to invite you to visit..."

"Thank you!" Wei Deli took it over and looked at Fang Sishen.He gradually became familiar with Xia Guo people's way of communication, thinking that it was arranged by the school in advance.

Liang Ruogu took out another one and presented it to Fang Sishen: "Teacher Fang, I implore you to come here. The students are very honored."

Fang Sishen didn't expect this to happen, and said, "Why don't you introduce yourself first."

"No problem. 'Qionglin Academy' was initiated by Mr. Bai Yiyan, a master of Chinese studies. It was presided over by the famous scholar Fan Youchang and Fan himself. With the help of many people of insight who are concerned about Chinese studies, it is committed to popularizing Chinese studies among children. Especially to promote the enlightenment education of Chinese culture. In order to let more children, parents, and people in the society understand Chinese culture, the academy plans to hold a series of special activities on traditional festivals starting from the Dragon Boat Festival this year..."

Hong Xinyao came over early, saw a few invitation cards in Liang Ruogu's pocket, and took one away: "Master, I'm going to learn more too!"