The literary era since 1979

The cocktail party ended and it was already late at night.

With a swish, the bathroom door opened, filled with hot steam, and Gong Xing walked out wearing loose pajamas.

I saw Fangyan sitting at the table, the pen twirling between his fingers, his eyes fixed on the paper.

"What are you writing? Is it the script for The Intouchables?"

"There's no rush. It won't be too late to start writing after Murdoch agrees."

"So what are you writing?"

Gong Xing picked up one of the pages and saw it clearly written:

"If you use copper as a mirror, you can adjust your clothes and hat; if you use history as a mirror, you can understand the rise and fall; if you use people as a mirror, you can understand your gains and losses."

"..."

“Portugal and Spain were the first to usher in the Age of Exploration and established early colonial empires through violent plunder.”

"With the Eastern Route opened up by Vasco da Gama, Portugal monopolized the Eurasian trade for a century... Spain relied on American silver to build the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets", and at its peak it controlled 83% of the world's precious metal production..."

However, the two Iberian countries used their wealth for luxury consumption and church building instead of investing in science and technology and industrial upgrading. Eventually, after the Spanish Armada was defeated by Britain in 1588, they quickly declined. The Netherlands took its place with financial innovation and business networks, building a business empire of the "Coachman of the Sea" through the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and the East India Company.

However, its fatal flaw of lacking an industrial base led to it being surpassed by Britain after the three Anglo-Dutch Wars.

"..."

“Britain established a constitutional monarchy through the Glorious Revolution of 1688, creating the institutional conditions for the Industrial Revolution.”

"The technological revolution triggered by Watt's improved steam engine made Britain the 'world factory' and the first industrial country."

"France demonstrated its land power advantage in the Napoleonic Wars, but its Continental Blockade policy led to economic collapse, and it eventually withdrew from the race for hegemony after the Battle of Waterloo. Germany seized the opportunity of the Second Industrial Revolution and became the world's second largest economy in just 1871 years after its unification in 42."

"History shows that the rise of a great power is essentially the upgrading of civilizational forms. The colonial plunder of Portugal and Spain can no longer be replicated, the commercial capitalism of the Netherlands is unsustainable, the industrial hegemony of Britain is short-lived, and the financial capital model of the United States is also facing challenges..."

Although Gong Xing could not understand all the contents on the paper, he was deeply shocked.

"This this……"

“This is my new book.”

Fang Yan briefly explained the whole story, "I have to hurry up, I have to send it to Klina in a few days."

"Then you have to write carefully."

Gong Xing said: "Would you like something to drink? I'll ask the waiter to bring it over."

"Give me a bottle of cold cola to refresh myself."

Fangyan stretched and let out a breath.

The creation of "The Rise of Great Powers" is by no means a matter of copying a documentary.

He could only draw on the basic framework, add more content to it, and throw in his own personal opinions. He had to analyze and advise on China's future development strategy through the rise of the major powers, so that his writing would be more influential.

For example, to avoid the Thucydides Trap, a newly rising great power is bound to challenge the existing great powers, and the existing great powers are bound to respond to this threat, so war becomes inevitable, such as the Anglo-Spanish War and the Anglo-Dutch War in the 16th and 17th centuries, which were struggles for maritime hegemony.

For example, "a community with a shared future for mankind", "revitalizing the country through science and education", and "industrial revolution".

Just as Britain seized the opportunity of the first industrial revolution marked by the steam engine, the United States took the lead in the second industrial revolution marked by electricity. At the same time, in the third industrial revolution marked by information technology, the United States stood at the forefront of the industry...

It can be seen that the rapid development of science and technology is an important symbol of the rise of a great power, and the development of science and technology also includes the development of science fiction and humanities.

After going around in circles, Fangyan mentioned "science fiction literature" with a little personal opinion.

You won’t know what will happen if you don’t write “The Rise of Great Powers”. It’s much harder to write than a novel.

I worked until late at night and only finished 4 words.

The key was to avoid making political and historical mistakes, so I had to look up books and information, so I had to stay in France for some time.

So, the group of people who came to Cannes split into two groups when they left.

Fangyan stayed alone in France until he finished the opening chapter of "The Rise of Great Powers" and the French chapter.

The first group included Gong Xing, Chen Kaige, Zhang Yimou and others, who went to Hong Kong first. Gong Xing and Zhang Guorong served as the hosts and entertained Jiang Wen, Gong Li and others. They had a good time in Hong Kong for a few days and experienced the differences between film shooting and production in Hong Kong and the mainland.

…………

Three days later, the manuscript was successfully completed, and it was not a first draft, but a final draft after revisions and polishing.

Claire Dubois only has a basic understanding of Chinese, so she recognizes almost every word in "The Rise of Great Powers", but it is difficult to understand them when they are put together. Fortunately, she is a native French, and when she reads the "France Chapter", she can feel a sense of familiarity and a heavy sense of history.

Fangyan got her assurance that he would hand the manuscript to a professional translator as soon as he returned to Paris.

In fact, Claire Dubois did just that.

As soon as I arrived in Paris, I went straight to the University of Paris VII and found Cheng Baoyi, a Chinese citizen of France who had long-term cooperation with the TV station.

He is not only a professor at the School of Oriental Languages ​​and Cultures, but also a poet and translator. He has long been committed to the creation and research of Chinese poetics, painting, calligraphy, criticism, and translation. He has written theoretical works such as "Research on the Language of Chinese Poetry" and "Virtual and Real: Research on the Language of Chinese Painting".

His earliest creations started with poetry, and formed his own system in France. He can be regarded as the leader in the integration of Chinese and French cultures!
He was one of the advocates and organizers of the "Awakening of Chinese Literature" seminar held not long ago.

"Long time no see, Krina."

"Yeah, it's been a while since we last met."

Claire Dubois said that she was on a business trip and went to the Cannes Film Festival to do an interview.

Then they talked vividly about what they saw and heard at the Cannes Film Festival, especially mentioning that "Farewell My Concubine" won the Palme d'Or.

"I also saw this news in yesterday's Le Monde."

Cheng Baoyi was delighted from the bottom of his heart. "Although I haven't seen the movie, if it is adapted from the novel, it is indeed worthy of a Palme d'Or."

Claire Dubois said that "Farewell My Concubine" will be released in France soon.

"That's really great."

Cheng Baoyi said that he would definitely call the whole family to go to the cinema to watch the movie together.

"By the way, at this Cannes Film Festival I also met the author of Farewell My Concubine, Fang, whom you always wanted to meet!"

Claire Dubois said: "I talked to him a lot, including about the recent symposium on the 'Awakening of Chinese Literature'."

Cheng Baoyi frowned. Even though so much time had passed, he still felt a bit upset when he thought about the unpleasant things that happened at the seminar.

"I talked about the negative public opinion caused by the seminar, and then he prepared to publish an article hoping to resolve this negative impact."

Clina Dubois took out a stack of manuscripts, "But it's written in Chinese, so I need a master like you to help translate it."

Cheng Baoyi suddenly became interested. After taking the manuscript paper, he looked at it carefully and his pupils shrank instantly.

The four words "the rise of a great power" immediately shocked him and made his fingers tremble. Although he had not seen the content, he could feel the majestic momentum just by looking at the title!

………………

For an entire afternoon, Cheng Baoyi held The Rise of Great Powers in his hands and read it from beginning to end, unable to put it down.

I rushed home as soon as I got off work and stayed alone in the study, not noticing that it was turning from dusk to night.

"Dad, it's time to eat!"

Cheng Ailan shouted as she placed the knife and fork on both sides of the plate.

Micheline Benoit, the mother, then came out of the kitchen with a bowl of steaming onion soup.

"Darling?"

However, the mother and daughter's calls still failed to call Cheng Baoyi down.

Cheng Ailan understood the hint in Micheline Benoit's eyes, went straight up to the second floor, and pushed open the half-open door of the study.

Cheng Baoyi was seen concentrating fully on his work, with his hands writing on a piece of white paper without stopping.

"Dad, what ancient poetry are you translating again?"

“It’s not poetry.”

"Which one of the classics, history, and miscellaneous works is it?"

Cheng Ailan talked to herself and said that she also planned to translate "The Analects of Confucius" into French.

Although the Chinese students in her class can speak Chinese, they only have a superficial understanding of traditional Chinese culture and have almost lost it all.

But to her surprise, Cheng Baoyi was not translating ancient Chinese classics, history, and collections.

“This is an article in dialect.”

"dialect?"

Cheng Ailan was stunned at first, but quickly realized, "Isn't it the dialect reported in the newspaper some time ago? The author of Farewell My Concubine, which won the Palme d'Or, and the first Chinese writer to win the Nebula Award, is it that 'dialect'?"

"Who else could it be but him?"

Cheng Baoyi smiled.

"But isn't he in Cannes? How did his article end up in your hands?"

Cheng Ailan was puzzled.

"It's a long story."

Cheng Baoyi made a long story short and simply explained the whole process.

Cheng Ailan's eyes widened in astonishment, especially when she saw the eye-catching title of the article, she was completely stunned.

"This... Dad, this is too bold. The name 'The Rise of a Great Power' is too grand and arrogant!"

"I'm afraid that this publication will cause a lot of controversy. If there is any mistake in the content, there will be countless criticisms and ridicules."

"I thought so at first, but after reading the opening chapter and the 'France chapter', I completely gave up the idea."

Cheng Baoyi couldn't help but sigh.

"dad?"

Cheng Ailan rarely saw him appreciate and admire someone's work so much.

"He's the man who wrote Guns, Germs, and Steel."

Cheng Baoyi laughed at himself, "I almost forgot that he is not only a famous writer, but also a world-renowned scholar."

The more he said this, the more curious Cheng Ailan became about "The Rise of Great Powers".

Cheng Baoyi smiled knowingly and handed the manuscript over, "You can take a look at it too."

While the father and daughter were discussing "The Rise of Great Powers", Micheline Benoit was sitting alone in the restaurant.

She waited and waited, but no one came to eat. Her husband didn't come down to eat, and her daughter went upstairs to call her father to eat, but she didn't come down either.

Looking at the sumptuous dishes on the table, Micheline Benoit was full of confusion. What was going on?

So she went upstairs and looked into the study with the door open. She saw Cheng Ailan sitting there stupidly with a dazed look on her face.

Cheng Baoyi laughed, "How is it?"

Cheng Ailan came back to her senses from the shock and murmured to herself:

"Why do I feel that I, who grew up in France and studied French history, don't know as much about France as he does?"

"Yes, although the content he writes is simple and more about popular science than analysis, the views he expresses are often sharp and insightful."

Cheng Baoyi shook his head. "It's a pity that he stopped writing after Charles de Gaulle. It feels like he was left wanting more."

Cheng Ailan agreed very much, "Yes, it's not good to break it anywhere else, but it has to break it here, it's like a thorn in my throat!"

“I have to say that among all the Chinese writers I have met at the seminar, none has such insight into dialects and such an understanding of France.”

Cheng Baoyi sighed, "It would have been nice if he had been at that seminar."

"Dad, don't be sad. There are still many opportunities. Sooner or later, you and Fangyan will be able to sit down and talk about literature together."

Cheng Ailan held his hand and kept comforting him.

Cheng Baoyi said nothing, but smiled like an old father.

Just then, a cough was heard outside the house.

Micheline Benoit, who had been reluctant to interrupt the conversation between father and daughter, finally found the right moment and rushed in loudly:
"Have a meal!"

After these words were spoken, Cheng Ailan and Cheng Baoyi turned around at the same time and realized that they had not had dinner yet!

Cheng Ailan stood up suddenly and said, "Hurry up and go downstairs. Hurry up and go downstairs. If you don't go downstairs, mom will be angry."

Cheng Baoyi said "yes" repeatedly, thinking that he should hurry up and translate "The Rise of Great Powers: France".

After working day and night to translate, the two articles of "The Rise of Great Powers" were all translated into French, and they were faithful, accurate and elegant.

When Claire Dubois got the translation manuscript she had been longing for for a long time, she did not give it directly to her editor friend. Instead, she found a cafe and spent a whole afternoon reading "The Rise of Great Powers" over and over again.

One can feel the elegance and precision of Cheng Baoyi's translation, as well as the grandeur of the text written in dialect.

He immediately made many copies. In addition to sending them to editors of newspapers such as Le Monde and Le Figaro, he also took one of the copies and went straight to the TV station where he worked to show his immediate superior to see if he could get the upper hand by being close to the water!
Get the production rights for "The Rise of Great Powers" before other media do! (End of this chapter)