Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 438 Black Humor
A Letter to Yenching

Lin Ran quoted extensively from classical texts, mainly explaining the concept of China from a cultural perspective. Finally, he touched on the main point, roughly saying that the relationship between China and America is full of challenges, but ultimately they can find common ground while reserving differences and reach a consensus.

Both sides need to take the first step.

Finally, Lin Ran included a song in the letter: "Descendants of the Dragon".

Of course, the English part has been removed from the phrase "descendants of the dragon".

The English part is a bit off.

Everything else aligns with Lin Ran's state of mind and the meaning he wanted to convey.

"Many years ago, on a quiet night, my whole family arrived in New York."

This sentence only requires changing "our whole family" to "I alone".

Lin Ran wrote the letter that very night and called Kissinger early the next morning to pick it up.

On the third day, January 3, Larry King's New Year holiday was abruptly cut short in a windowless, dry interrogation room in Washington, D.C.

At this time, he was already the director in charge of Far Eastern affairs, which was considered a minor official position.

It's not easy for Chinese Americans to get a minor official position in the federal system, and it's even harder to get one within the Bureau of Investigation system.

It is evident that his abilities and interpersonal skills are both first-rate.

Not only was his vacation cut short, but he also had to travel all the way from his home state of California to Washington, D.C.

Kissinger had been waiting here for a long time.

“Mr. Advisor, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” Larry King said. He didn’t know how long Kissinger had been waiting, but he could tell from the half-empty coffee cup.

"Larry, I've heard that you are a calm and composed person, efficient in your work, and knowledgeable about Far Eastern affairs. This report..."

Kissinger skipped the pleasantries, pointed directly to a stack of documents on the table, and said, "This letter is from the professor, and its importance is self-evident."

I am about to travel to Singapore for secret negotiations with the Chinese side, and this letter will be one of the ways to break the ice.

But you know, there are too many differences between us and China.

Even with numerous ice-breaking methods in the past, from mathematicians' conferences to table tennis teams and limited trade, none of them may be as effective as the professor's letter.

For some content, I need you to provide me with more professional analysis, from the perspective of someone who has received a complete Chinese-style education.

Kissinger's explanation is very comprehensive.

His trip to Singapore was a secret, depending on who he was with.

The subject is Larry King, so that's no secret.

After all, Larry King's work is always accompanied by secrets.

Even so, Larry King's heart was still in his throat.

He knew of White Horse's existence and had helped deliver the "MIT Radiation Lab Series," but he didn't know White Horse's true identity.

Only a very few people know the connection between Bai Ma and Lin Ran.

But Larry had worked for the FBI for many years and also provided jobs for Yanjing.

He vaguely sensed that Lin Ran was the highest-ranking mole in all of Washington.

This is the ace's intuition, and also the unspoken understanding between Larry King and Yan Jing.

To illustrate how certain Larry King was, consider this: the instructions given to Larry King by the authorities in Yanjing were that in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, he must ensure the safety of the white horse at all costs and deliver it to the Yanjing Palace.

When that moment finally arrived, Lin Ran appeared before Larry King and told him, "I am White Horse, and I need your help."

Larry King would not hesitate for a moment, even at the cost of his own life, to ensure Lin Ran's safety.

So when Lin Ran's letter appeared before him, Larry King remained outwardly calm, but his heart was already in suspense.

The subtext he gleaned from this was: it was a sign of distrust.

This made Larry King feel deeply saddened; even professors have to face such scrutiny.

Kissinger then picked up the handwritten letter with two fingers and placed it in the center of the table.

Then, he pushed over the printed copy of the lyrics to "Descendants of the Dragon".

"First, there's this letter. It's written entirely in a cultural language that we don't quite understand."

Okay, there are just too many metaphors in the Chinese language.

I hope you can help me assess the risks involved, specifically whether the wording used here might be conveying any inappropriate information to China.

Then there's this song, does it have any hidden meanings besides the literal one?

After Kissinger finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Larry King took out his glasses from his pocket, slowly put them on, glanced through the letters, and then picked up the printed lyrics.

His feelings became complicated.

No wonder you said you were a descendant of the dragon.

The Jews all regard you as their spiritual leader. Can you imagine a Jewish spiritual leader singing "Forever and ever, we are descendants of the dragon"?
If I were Kissinger, I'd also find fault.

Larry King thought so.

Larry King looked puzzled. "Excuse me, Mr. Advisor, I don't quite understand why the professor would say he is a descendant of the dragon."

This one is a bit strange.

In Chinese culture, the dragon is not a symbol of aggression; it is an ancient and sacred totem that represents auspiciousness, power, and identification with national identity.

For us overseas Chinese, it is an emotional anchor and a way to remember our ancestors.

Isn't the professor of mixed Jewish and Chinese descent?
In the past, the professor did show an appreciation for Chinese culture, but that appreciation was limited to the cultural level.

In reality, he has very little identification with his Chinese heritage.

In New York, he did not participate in Chinese community activities, did not communicate with Chinese people, did not marry a Chinese woman, and did not recruit Chinese students.

In my opinion, his emotional connection with Göttingen is much deeper than his connection with China.

His stance of remaining a bystander clearly illustrates this point; his attitude towards this country was one of complete indifference.

These words struck a chord with Kissinger.

He is of German descent.

"So?" Kissinger asked.

Larry King then pushed the lyrics in front of Kissinger, pointing to the last few lines: "Look here again, 'In the ancient East there is a group of people, they are all descendants of the dragon.'"

This song is not about politics or war; it is simply a heartfelt call from a Chinese person in a foreign land to their cultural roots.

I would interpret the professor's statement as a gesture to make your negotiation process smoother.

They created the concept of "descendants of the dragon" to bridge the gap with Yanjing (Beijing).

This is more of a flattery, a compliment. Even a famous figure like the professor thinks that I am just like you, a descendant of the dragon.

I believe this will have an unexpected positive effect on your trip to Singapore.

Perhaps it really can help you pry open the gates of Yanjing.

Larry King may seem to be interpreting, but he's actually helping Lin Ran explain things and speaking up for him. That's the quality of an ace.

When they strike, it's fatal.

The professor wrote this song especially for you, aren't you touched?
He is not actually of Chinese descent, nor is he a descendant of the dragon; he is actually of Jewish descent.

Kissinger's expression immediately relaxed.

Where is this letter?

"This letter is also a call for peace," Larry King said firmly. "He is looking for common ground between the US and Chinese Americans, for opportunities to negotiate, and for emotional resonance."

The professor is not only a mathematical master, but also an absolute master of Chinese culture.

Often, not allowing something is a temptation.

The more intense the suppression, the more undercurrents surge beneath the surface.

This is human nature, and has nothing to do with factions.

At least "V for Vendetta" was able to be shown in London, discussed in English tabloids, and seen by the public in open cinemas.

In Soviet Russia and Eastern Europe, that would be absolutely impossible.

The Prague Spring has only just ended.

The Kremlin is afraid that the memories that people have finally managed to forget will be rekindled.

They were afraid that the public might gain some new inspiration from V.

Therefore, "V for Vendetta" is an absolute taboo topic in countries with a strong sense of socialism.

But can this stop the overwhelming public expectations?
The answer is no.

East Germans flocked to West German cinemas to watch the film.

This was also an important reason why West Germany decided to screen the film; they wanted to show that we were different from East Germany.

After watching it, the East German people spread the word outwards from East Berlin.

The ripples spread all the way to Moscow.

In January 1970, Moscow was blanketed in an unusually heavy snowfall, turning the entire city into a silvery landscape.

On the outskirts of the city, in a five-story apartment building built during the Nikita era, Andrei sat at his rickety wooden table, laboriously peeling a potato with a dull knife.

The official radio station's loud and solemn voice came through the radio.

The radio was broadcasting a countdown to the centenary of Vladimir's birth, their most important event of the year.

But "they" here refers to the people of the Kremlin; it may not be the same for Andrei.

He had become numb to it; the voice was as rough and dull as the black bread he ate every day.

What he was more concerned about was when his mother, who suffered from lung disease, would be able to get more milk.

Just then, a soft knock sounded on the door.

Andrei knew that it wasn't the neighbor's child downstairs, but his friend, Yuri.

In Soviet Russia, the name Yuri was as common as the founding of the nation.

Yuri is a technician who works at a film studio and always manages to bring something interesting to the table.

He was carrying something wrapped in old newspapers, and he quickly closed the door as soon as he entered, as if the KGB were chasing him.

"Andrei, look at this," Yuri said in a low voice, unfolding the newspaper to reveal a plastic box inside.

Andrei recognized it; it was a Western videotape that would sell for tens of rubles on the black market.

"What is this?" Andrei asked, his heart starting to race.

“A movie,” Yuri said softly, his eyes gleaming with fervor, “a Western one, they say, that can change your worldview.”

Andrei's heart clenched immediately; he knew all too well the power of this thing.

In the past, they used electronic products from China, which were not subject to blockade and were not specially treated by the Soviet electronic industry.

Therefore, signals are frequently received from Western Europe.

This applies to both radio and television.

But ever since the release of "V for Vendetta," in order to prevent them from seeing even a clip, the Soviet Union has been coming to your door one by one to modify your Chinese products.

However, the staff claimed that this was just routine maintenance for you.

At first, everyone thought it was just maintenance, but after the maintenance was over, they realized something was wrong: they couldn't receive the programs they used to love.

Since then, the equipment sold from China has been indistinguishable from that produced in Soviet Russia, except for its quality.

From this, Andrei can see how powerful "V for Vendetta" is—so powerful that it forced the massive, heavy, and usually inflexible bureaucratic machine to run at full speed.

He blurted out instinctively, "Are you crazy?"

Yuri put a finger to his lips to signal him to be quiet: "Of course I'm not crazy, do you want to look or not?"

Yuri's voice was so soft it was as if, if it were a little louder, the KGB would leap out and tear them apart.

Andrei and Yuri, carrying the videotape, arrived at the basement deep inside the apartment building.

This is one of their few safe havens.

The room was small, and the air was thick with the smells of vodka, tobacco, and sweat.

In the very center of the room, a television set, secretly modified by Yuri, was emitting a faint light.

When the movie started, both of them held their breath.

The video was filled with snow and shaky visuals, and the sound was also full of static, but this did not dampen their anticipation at all.

When the futuristic world from the movie, that city filled with oppression and fear, appeared, Andrei's heart sank.

He saw the gloomy buildings, the ubiquitous propaganda slogans, and the tight police surveillance.

He remembered the slogans he saw on the street every day after get off work.

He felt that the world in the movie was like a magnified version of the world he lived in.

When V appears in the movie wearing a mask.

Andrei felt that the mask was a symbol, a symbol of rebellion and freedom.

When V in the film delivered his powerful speech to the nation, Andrei felt an unprecedented resonance.

When the movie ended and the screen turned to static, the entire basement fell silent.

No one speaks.

The only sound in the air was breathing; everyone was still immersed in the world of the movie.

After a long while, Andrei murmured, "No wonder they were so afraid of us seeing this; this thing is too powerful!"

Yuri said with a wry smile, "Andrei, I'm starting to regret it."

Andrei asked, "Regret what?"

　In this chapter, Crow had already written out the contents of the letter, but after thinking about it, he felt it was a bit too wordy and deleted it, so the update is a bit late, but at least it was updated!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)