I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 242 Because I'm scared!
silence!

A long period of silence.

Bernard took a deep drag on his pipe, the tobacco turning to ash in the glow of the embers.

"So, what did you want to express by writing this book?"

Liu Jin lit another cigarette.

After a long pause, he said softly, “oute la sagesse humaine sera dans ces deux mots, ATTENDRE et ESPRER.”

"So, what you're trying to express is hope?"

"No, it's about never despairing... Nightmares are always fleeting, but a beautiful life lasts forever."

"That sounds beautiful!"

"But actually, it's very cruel... When Zhou Qiao, that is, Joshua, came out of the trash can and stood in the empty yard, it was actually even crueler."

"I understand!"

"But no matter how cruel life is, don't forget to smile."

This was Ah Kui's last lesson in life...

The assistant listened attentively.

My eyes suddenly welled up with tears!
She had read "Life Is Beautiful" and of course knew the meaning behind the cruelty that Liu Jin spoke of.

Bernard's hands trembled slightly.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

"So, do you want to gain gratitude from those victims through this book?"

"Repay a favor?"

Liu Jin smiled.

He took a drag of his cigarette and then exhaled a cloud of smoke.

There is an old Chinese saying: "Give a favor without expecting anything in return."

We help you not out of gratitude, but out of a kindness passed down for thousands of years, a moral bottom line, an instinct ingrained in our blood. However, sometimes you call this kindness weakness.

"Ok?"

Liu Jin smiled and didn't answer.

Bernard frowned, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

He took a sip of water and suddenly asked, "Then why did you write this book?"

Although he was reluctant, he still pressed for answers.

"You know very well that you fabricated some lies in this book."

"A lie?"

Liu Jin laughed and said, "Art comes from life but is higher than life. When did literary creation become a lie?"

If we follow your logic, then perhaps 80% of the world's most famous works are invalid.

Bernard smiled.

"From this perspective, I agree with your point of view."

But you still haven't told me why you wrote this work.

"The Germans surrendered, and President Willy Brandt knelt before the Warsaw Uprising Memorial."

He said: I suddenly realized that simply offering a wreath is far from enough...

The Germans expressed their remorse through their sincere confession! I respect them greatly; they were simply people who were manipulated by a bunch of idiots.

But for ordinary people...

Do you know how they apologized?

"not sure."

“Zero, they haven’t apologized even once. They even dug up the blood of 300,000 innocent civilians who were massacred in Nanjing and used it to cast a Guanyin statue in Xiao Ri to express their honor! You ask me why I wrote this book? I can tell you, I’m afraid!”

"Fear?"

Last year, their prime minister visited the sacred toilet, which enshrines a group of Class A war criminals, a bunch of real NCs.

I can't imagine how you would feel if the Germans worshipped people like Adolf and Heinrich.
I am terrified. I am terrified that one day they will re-establish the General Staff, and NC militarism will be revived. I am even more terrified that everyone will turn a blind eye, and twenty years from now, some people will stand on Iwo Jima, praising the bravery of American and Japanese soldiers and telling the world to thank 'the soldiers of those days for their sacrifices'! That would be a disgrace to the victory of the world's anti-fascist struggle.

Bernard couldn't help but laugh.

"How can this be?"

"Why is it impossible? Can you guarantee it?"

"I……"

"In both Chinese history and world history, there have been countless instances of distorting the truth and calling a deer a horse."

Liu Jin reached out and stubbed out his cigarette.

The bright red cigarette butt went out between his fingers; it hurt.

“Mr. Bernard, I have no intention of asking for any repayment or slandering anything.”

Facts are facts... The whole world is criticizing Germany for its NC, but turning a blind eye to the crimes of the local people.

Tell me, don't Chinese lives matter?

"certainly……"

In 1997, a female writer in America wrote "The Rape of Nanking," exposing the crimes committed by the "Little People" there. But they never apologized; instead, they denied and smeared her. The book topped the New York Times bestseller list for a long time, but then disappeared without a trace! That esteemed lady is still enduring threats, intimidation, smears, and defamation from the "Little People," but no one cares.

I still remember that woman, during her debate with the Chinese ambassador to the United States, tearfully saying: Forgetting the Nanjing Massacre is more terrible than the massacre itself...

I believe you can find the video of her speech and address; please listen to it carefully.

Less than sixty years have passed since the global victory against fascism, and people in our daily lives are already starting to revive my idiocy!

Liu Jin really hates one word: "little life" (a derogatory term implying a carefree, trivial lifestyle).

That's bullshit.

That's NC!

Europeans won't care about JGZY.

But if you can bring up NC (Necromancer), then they might empathize with you to some extent. Bernard fell silent!

A moment later, he turned to his assistant and said, "Make a note of this book, and also help me find the video recording of that lady."

"I will."

……

The Garonne River flows swiftly and powerfully.

The sun was still shining brightly.

But both Liu Jin and Bernard suddenly lost the strength to speak.

The two sat on the grass, looking at the Garonne River, and silently lit cigarettes.

……

They remained silent for about half an hour.

Liu Jin and Bernard gradually calmed down.

The two got up and walked back the way they came.

After chatting about a few more topics, the suffocating dullness from before was finally dispelled.

Liu Jin took Bernard to the market to buy some ingredients.

Bernard suddenly had a whim to try some Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste).

This has really put Liu Jin in a difficult position!

He was from Zhongzhou, not the capital.

The fried sauce noodles in Zhongzhou are very different from those in the capital, especially the sauce. Liu Jin really doesn't know how to make it well...

After discussing it, Liu Jin chose the Zhongzhou-style fried sauce noodles recipe.

"Is there any other way to make Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)?"

"Different regions have different tastes, and therefore different cooking methods."

Liu Jin explained with a smile.

It was getting late when I got home.

Liu Jin first showed Bernard around the house.

Bernard was very interested in Liu Jin's study.

We've been living here for six months and have added two more bookshelves.

I thought that would be enough, but... those books were stacked up and filled the bookshelf to the brim.

There was also a pile of printed materials there, which Liu Jin had bound together, and there were covers with the categories of the materials written on them.

"Wow, I feel the power of knowledge."

He said with a smile, "Immersing myself in this world of books every day must be incredibly blissful."

"Happiness is not necessarily the case, but every time I walk in, I am reminded that there are many stories that I haven't written yet, and I feel pressured."

"Haha, I think I understand why you're so prolific now."

"I'll cook, please make yourself at home."

"Then I'll wait in the living room."

As Bernard spoke, he was about to walk out when he saw a pile of drawing papers on the table.

"Amos, you can draw?"

"That's a comic book. I use it to adjust my state and pass the time... I've published comic books before, two of them have already been published by the Dargaud Group. This one is currently being serialized in the Spirut newspaper, Death Note."

"Oh my god, Death Note? Is that the Chinese Grim Reaper?"

"you saw it?"

"Ha, I'm going to keep chasing it, I'm almost obsessed!"

"Here are some drafts; you can enjoy them at your leisure."

The camera panned across the drawings on the table, but only briefly, without lingering.

The assistant ran over excitedly, grabbed the sketches, and headed out.

“Pete, you didn’t tell me he was also a cartoonist…”

"Um, you asked me to collect his literary works, but I don't have any... I thought you weren't interested in comics."

Pete is the nickname for the assistant.

Her full name is Juliette Pelleti.

It was clear that Bernard doted on her; after giving her a fierce glare, he followed Liu Jin downstairs.

The camera is still working.

Liu Jin was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner.

If Bernard wants to eat noodles with soybean paste, then we have to make hand-pulled noodles.

Fortunately, we had flour at home, although it was the kind specifically for making cakes and bread, but it would do for now.

The assistant is looking at the comic book draft.

Bernard was a little bored and was about to go to the kitchen to observe when he unexpectedly saw a printed book on the coffee table.

"Amos, is this printed book on the coffee table, 'Million Dollar Baby,' your new work?"

"Yes, it's not finished yet... I was planning to give Abel... my boxing coach some pointers."

"Boxing works?"

Bernard became interested and said loudly, "If you don't mind, may I take a look?"

"Of course I don't mind, you see!"

Bernard immediately picked up the printed book, sat down on the sofa, changed his glasses, and began to read.

……

(End of this chapter)