The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

Director Hou asked, "Dalinzi, what made you decide to learn a foreign language?"

Yang Dalin replied, "Director Hou, as you know, I didn't graduate from junior high school and my education level is not high."

However, my desire to improve my cultural level through learning has never changed.

Although I'm already working, it's no longer appropriate for me to go back to school.

I think it would be quite difficult to learn other cultures on my own, especially science subjects.

So after thinking it over, I think it's a good idea to learn more foreign languages.

I just want to learn more foreign languages ​​so that I can drive for our ambassadors and staff abroad whenever I have the chance.

One way is to broaden one's horizons, and the other is to earn more money to support the family.

Director Hou didn't believe a word of Yang Dalin's nonsense.

Yang Dalin really wants to go out and have fun; he probably had a good experience after his trip to India.

However, Director Hou thought to himself, "Yang Dalin is the one who took the initiative to learn foreign languages. It would be convenient to send him abroad to carry out some mission in the future."

His abilities are naturally suited for carrying out missions abroad.

Did you handle the Indians very well last time?

There are still many states in India trying to gain independence.

The Dragon Kingdom not only reclaimed its ancient territory, but also quietly used the forces we supported to occupy the northern border of India.

This has greatly alleviated the border pressure in the southwest direction.

And that plan of the bald eagle he mentioned last time—if he knew foreign languages, he could directly write down the information he understood, and that would allow him to obtain a great deal of foreign intelligence.

We must support him in this matter.

You might actually need it someday.

So Director Hou said, "Sure, I support you. Which foreign language would you like to learn?"

Yang Dalin said, "I want to learn as much as possible, starting with Russian, then English, Korean, and later Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and so on."

"No, do you really want to learn that much?"

"You want to learn from Mr. Licheng?"

Yang Dalin really didn't know who Mr. Licheng was.

He asked, puzzled, "Who is Mr. Licheng?"

Director Hou looked at the ignorant Yang Dalin and explained in an annoyed tone: "You really need to read more books. Gu Tangsheng, also known as Gu Lao, whose given name is Tangsheng, courtesy name is Hongming, and pen name is Licheng."

He also served as a professor at Zhongguancun Applied Arts and Sciences College.

Upon hearing the name Hongming, Yang Dalin realized he knew who this person was. He had indeed heard of him in his previous life, but he didn't know that his original name was Tang Sheng and that Hongming was his courtesy name. It's just that courtesy names are no longer popular these days.

Gu Lao was known as an eccentric genius of the late Qing Dynasty. He was proficient in nine languages ​​and held thirteen doctoral degrees.

This person is incredibly talented.

Yang Dalin scratched his head: "Sorry, Director Hou, I have indeed heard of the name Hongming, but I'm not very familiar with the name Tang Sheng."

"Alright, you should read more books in the future."

He was a great talent, but sadly, he passed away in 1928.

At that time, they were preparing to send your "dog meat general" to your hometown province to build a university and become its president.

Yang Dalin vaguely remembered that this man still kept a queue after the Republic of China was established, and that he had some intention of restoring the Qing Dynasty.

However, in front of Director Hou, Yang Dalin did not want to say much about whether this person's thoughts were good or bad.

However, Yang Dalin remembered that one thing he said was true: China's cultural wealth was better than that of Western civilization.

Mr. Gu believes that the traditional culture that is being rejected by the Chinese people is precisely the remedy to save the world, and Confucianism is the essence of this culture.

He only thought the first half of the statement was correct. Yang Dalin thought the second half, which said Confucian culture was the essence, was wrong. But the Chinese people today are different from the Chinese people in the 2020s.

Because many people lack confidence and don't believe that development will be so significant decades from now.

In fact, the way Chinese people handle international issues has always been influenced by Confucian culture.

This was something that Yang Dalin, who had traveled from the 1920s, found hard to accept.

When dealing with other countries, we should learn some of the Western approaches.

There's no need to be too kind; you should prioritize your own interests.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to raise so many ungrateful people like North Korea, South Vietnam, and Albania.

This is because it is too influenced by Confucian culture.

However, international relations are indeed difficult now, and national leaders lack foresight; they can only proceed cautiously, feeling their way forward.

Yang Dalin knew this, but he didn't dare to mention it to Director Hou or the highest authorities.

Therefore, Yang Dalin did not argue with Director Hou about Mr. Gu's ideas.

Director Hou speaks highly of him, so we should just follow suit.

Yang Dalin chimed in, "That's a real shame."

"Alright, let's not get off topic. You said you want to learn so many foreign languages, but first tell me if you have the talent, if you can learn them, and if you have that much time."

Why don't you start by learning one subject and see how it goes?

Learn one skill before learning others.

How about learning Russian first?

"That's fine too. But I've already started learning Russian on my own. Director Hou, my sister Yan is a high school graduate. They majored in Russian. Although she didn't learn it very well, I learned some basics from her and can now have simple conversations."

Could you please find me another Russian teacher so I can improve my skills?

Then could you help me find a teacher who teaches both Korean and English? I'd like to learn both languages ​​at the same time.

"No, you've already started self-studying? Say a few words in Russian for me to hear?"

Yang Dalin asked in surprise, "Oh, Director Hou also knows Russian?"

Director Hou said with an air of "You just found out?", "What do you think? I went to study there back then too, okay?"

Besides, a lot of intelligence needs to be gathered from the outside. Do you think I'm ignorant and incompetent?

I not only understand Russian, but also English, German, and Japanese—I know a little bit of those too.

Yang Dalin gave a thumbs up: "Director Hou is also a great talent."

"Alright, I learned some German and English while I was studying in Russia."

I learned Japanese from the prisoners of war, you know that.

Okay, I really understand. Director Hou must have caught a lot of petty spies back then, so he must have learned a bit.

As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle."

Yang Dalin rattled off some Russian. The two teachers in the space hadn't taught him for nothing; Yang Dalin made time to study every day, so how could he not improve quickly?

Director Hou also spoke a few words with him in Russian and then said, "Not bad, kid, you have talent."

However, you're still a little unskilled. Okay, I'll help you find a Russian teacher.

By the way, I understand that you want to learn English, since many people use it. But why do you want to learn Korean?

There's no war on the Korean Peninsula anymore, and even if there is, it's just minor skirmishes.

What, you want to go over there and drive for the ambassador?

Many people over there understand our Mandarin; their highest-ranking members even studied under our Anti-Japanese United Army. They speak fluent Mandarin, with a strong Northeastern accent.

Yang Dalin had no choice but to express his thoughts: "Director Hou, I also want to make a request to you this time. I want to go to North Korea and retrace the route where my Uncle Chu, who is also my sister Yan's father, disappeared."

Search for my Uncle Chu's remains.

For this, I need Director Hou's help to find my Uncle Chu's surviving comrades.

First, find out the specifics from them.

I'll go there myself around May Day when the weather gets warmer.