Chapter 45: Xu Shaoqian's Letter
Mrs. Ge offered to take her back to the Qiao Mansion, but Chu Wang refused. She didn't insist. After bidding farewell to Mrs. Ge and Xie Zeyi at the dock, Chu Wang called the Xu residence from a roadside phone booth. It was Xu Shaoqian who answered the call. She briefly explained that her father might take her to Europe, and expressed her desire to visit Professor Xu to seek his advice.
After listening to this, Xu Shaoqian hummed and said only, "If you have time, come to Tsuen Wan now," and then hung up the phone.
How come his usual polite demeanor is completely gone during this phone call?
Chu Wang held the beeping phone for two seconds, then turned, crossed the street and boarded the bus to Tsuen Wan District.
When they arrived at Xu's residence on Lianhua Road, Wen Ma helped Mrs. Xu open the door and led her into the house. However, she said that Xu Shaoqian had answered the phone and hurried out, leaving only a letter.
She gave half of the kelp to Wen Ma as a travel gift. After Wen Ma left, Mrs. Xu pulled her to sit down by the bed and asked, "I heard you're going to Europe, right?"
Chu Wang smiled and said, "It's precisely because I'm not sure that I came to ask Professor Xu for some advice."
"People used to think studying abroad was full of man-eating monsters. Although I've come to realize these past two years that most people are civilized, it's still not an environment I'm familiar with. But having a loving father by your side is always better than going it alone," the wife sighed. "Come to think of it, I lost my first child on a cruise ship to Europe..."
Chu Wang didn't want to touch upon her sad memories, so he just tried to comfort her by saying, "When you recover, you can have as many children as you want and let Professor Xu hold them and play with them," or "Even if you don't have any, Xu Wenjun will be as successful as Professor Xu in the future."
But Mrs. Xu was certain that she was going to Europe, and she gave her a farewell speech in a rambling manner:
"I can't read or speak English. In June after we got married, I rashly followed you, Professor Xu, onto a ship bound for Europe. We were both young and inexperienced at the time, so how could I have known I was pregnant? We were on that ship for a month, and the waves were rough. It was my first pregnancy, so the pregnancy wasn't looking good. I was seasick for a few days, and then I miscarried on board..."
"Thankfully, there were several medical students on board, and I was able to barely save my life. I was heartbroken for several days, and I just hoped I'd have another life. I felt sorry for you, Professor Xu. He was barely sixteen at the time, and he thought he was going to lose two loved ones at once. He desperately searched the ship for help. He was saved, but since the ship wouldn't dock, he stayed awake for days, watching over me. This incident forced him to go through a life-or-death situation, and he had to stand tall and proud overnight.
"But the journey was bumpy after all. When we arrived in England, the British doctors didn't encourage postpartum rest. They told us to open the windows for fresh air and drink cold water in the hospital. If we complained, they'd say, 'British women can just get out of bed and go home after giving birth,' and some even went straight to swimming in the sea," Mrs. Xu sighed. "Chinese women are always more delicate. After all, Chinese and foreign customs are different. I couldn't get pregnant, so I went to the doctor and found out there was something seriously wrong with me. I couldn't have another child."
Seeing Chu Wang's solemn expression, he comforted her, "Later, I saw Wenjun. He's smart, stubborn, and a man of integrity. He's quite a bit like your Professor Xu back then. Although he's a bit arrogant and extreme, he doesn't often praise you behind people's backs. He rarely likes anyone. If you're determined to go to Europe, please say goodbye to him before you leave."
She knew very well that Mrs. Xu was telling her about her past misfortunes, trying to scare her and make her afraid of difficulties, but in fact she wanted to keep her.
Chu Wang smiled again, nodded and said, "Sure."
After Mrs. Xu finished, she ordered the maid to fetch the letter, which had been placed on the desk with a paperweight, and bring it to Chu Wang. It was three or four pages of fresh, plain paper, written in a vigorous, uninterrupted hand, a perfect match for Mrs. Xu's words, "I wrote it hastily and left."
After saying goodbye to Mrs. Xu and getting on the bus, Chu Wang began to read the letter on the bus.
Sincerely, Lin Zhi,
I often advise Hong Kong students to study abroad: in today's colonial land, where home and country are barely even clearly defined, personal interests naturally take precedence over all else. Development is not about prioritizing success; those who achieve success are prioritized.
First there are pioneers, then there are successors, the tide continues, and generations learn from each other. The Western powers conquered the east and the west, and the country was weak, so the Western culture spread to the East. The biggest bridge to learn from the West is naturally the overseas students. After returning home, I often heard about the many hardships of the students who studied in Japan. Since the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese have been called "slaves of a conquered nation" in the eyes of the Japanese because they were "ruled by foreigners." Chinese students went to Japan, which was educated in militarism, and were often insulted by Japanese children on the streets as "China pigs" and "slaves of a conquered nation." Many students who studied in Japan could not bear the humiliation for some reason and returned home. Europe is much more civilized, although not like Japan, but I often think: "Why did I come to study in the UK?"
"Why don't you study at home, but travel across the ocean to our universities? What's the deal with your education?" This is a truly humiliating question, fortunately, one no one has ever asked. I've always believed that studying abroad is a necessary evil, and especially not something to be dignified about. On a deeper level, isn't it a national disgrace?
The nation is in decline, wars are frequent, and education is languishing. The road to education is filled with countless obstacles. Studying is daunting, and studying abroad is even more challenging. It's a lonely and narrow road. If you were my child, I would assure you: one day, China will have several truly academically sound schools where you can escape the pain of seasickness and homesickness. But you are not. In name only, you and I are teacher and student, but in reality, you are a free-thinking individual, even more advanced and free, demanding even greater respect.
If I had never studied abroad, I wouldn't be able to speak so heartfeltly, much less be qualified to offer such criticism. I know I can't influence your will, so I'm just sharing my thoughts with you, hoping they'll be of some help in your decision-making.
Before I make this decision, I have a question that has troubled me for years, and I hope you'll consider it. Today, as the debate between Westernization and Sinicization, innovation and conservatism, intensifies, China desperately needs men of insight who can chart the country's course with dignity and respect. If you were to go to Europe, I'm confident you wouldn't waste your time in mediocrity. Finally, as a teacher, please allow me to ask you to understand this single question: How should a physicist serve his country?
Xu Shaoqian's pen name
On May 15th
In addition, if you decide to go to Europe, if you encounter nitpicking Frankensteins, please be wary of them as you were of me at first, and be sure to protect yourself.
Remember, remember.
——
The three pages of letter paper ended with a penned letter of recommendation from Oxford University. Although the letters were intended for British professors, each contained a line: "Wakabayashi will complete university studies in Hong Kong in just two years. If she were to travel to England with this letter to complete her studies at your feet, it would take her more than four years."
She had already weighed the contents of the recommendation letter in her mind, needless to say. However, the contents of Xu Shaoqian's letter were like a wake-up call, buzzing in her mind.
She admitted she had never seriously considered this question. Back in the 21st century, her sole reason for pursuing a doctorate was to escape work. In those peaceful times, national hatred, family feuds, and the struggle for national survival were mere vague terms. When it came to survival, personal gain naturally trumped national interests. This is why, a century later, with national research funding in short supply and outdated laboratory equipment, a large number of talented researchers were poached by foreign laboratories.
This is nothing more than a process of selecting the best. However, in the process of selecting the best, the option of "homeland" may be missing.
Since her arrival in this world, she'd only thought like a commoner, hoping to save enough capital to escape the treacherous Lin family. Perhaps one day, relying on a little foresight, she could become a landlady, spending her days idle. But no one had ever asked her: How do you think a scientist can serve the country?
She recalled the first time she applied for a student visa in her previous life. The visa officer asked her, "Why do you want to study in the UK?" At the time, she thought the officer was trying to gauge her understanding and fondness for British culture, but she didn't think any deeper.
She recalled her first day registering at school. The registration area was filled with students from many Third World countries: Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and China. For Third World countries, the study-abroad boom continues to this day. In her time, China was the most populous country exporting students abroad, with the number of students going abroad each year exceeding the total number of students exported during that "study abroad boom." On the other hand, the study-abroad boom hasn't ended until the 21st century. The reason is, as Xu Shaoqian put it: development has no order; those who achieve are prioritized. Therefore, when a country is weak, it urgently needs to export students to address its own shortcomings. Studying abroad and returning home, then, can't this also be considered saving the nation?
The bus slowly rolled along the mountain road. The view of Hong Kong from the mountain is truly remarkable: the mountains and rivers of China nestled against its backdrop, the lights ablaze at night. It's beautiful, but this is a colony. Is Hong Kong Chinese? They speak Cantonese, and mainland Chinese students coming to Hong Kong to communicate inevitably use English mixed with confusing sign language—a language that often makes Chinese students uncomfortable, often asking: "We're all descendants of Yan and Huang, we're all learning Chinese characters, so how can we not be Chinese?" Tenant farmers cultivate the land for the landlords, yet poetry celebrates the land, sculpted with the hard work and sweat of the farmers. But does the land ultimately belong to the farmers? Chu Wang felt deeply saddened.
Earl Road rang the bell and got out of the car, then hurried up the steps in front of the Qiao Mansion. It was dinner time, and Mrs. Qiao exclaimed, "Why are you back so early?"
Seeing her worried expression, Yun Yan smiled and said, "Why aren't you having fun?"
Zhenzhen raised her eyebrows: "Maybe I forgot to bring a gift and I'm too embarrassed to face him."
She casually responded, took off her coat, and handed the kelp to Zhao Ma. Just as she was about to go upstairs, Mrs. Qiao said, "Pack your things early in the next two days. After a couple of days, we'll go to Shanghai and maybe go straight to France—there's a lot of packing to do."
Chu Wang's mind was elsewhere. He hurried upstairs to change out of his shirt and white trousers. Then, suddenly, Mrs. Qiao's words came to mind. After changing into his dinner clothes and coming downstairs, she stood at the railing for a moment and said, "Then I don't need to pack my things."
"Why?" Mrs. Qiao was taken aback. "Although the things aren't very valuable, you're still away from home. It's troublesome to buy all the necessary things, and there's not much time left these days. Are you really expecting your father, with his idiotic brain, to think of little things for you girls? Or is it that after going out with Mrs. Xu, you no longer value the things in the Qiao Mansion?"
Chu Wang always thought it was cheap to bother with unimportant matters, so she didn't take Mrs. Qiao's sarcasm to heart. She just said straight to the point, "I'm not planning on going to Europe."
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