Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 303 Great Artists Can Always See the Truth of the World

The article "Tonight, We Are All Indians" has a very clever approach -

It first points out that the reason why Kiran Desai uses English as his writing language is not because of "native" or "non-native" factors, but because the official languages ​​of India are "English" and "Hindi".

The reason why "English" became the official language of India is that India suffered from British invasion and became a British colony for 200 years. This is a historical factor and cannot be controlled by individuals.

Therefore, Zhang Chao's use of "using the mother tongue for creation" to stimulate Kiran Desai is a kind of ignorance and disrespect for history.

[Looking back at the vicissitudes of the Chinese nation over the past century, we have also suffered from the invasion and ravages of imperialism. We should have more sympathy and understanding for India and Kiran Desai.]

[“Exposing sores” is by no means a rational and friendly attitude towards communication. Zhang Chao, as a representative of young Chinese writers, actually tore off the veil of civilization and blatantly attacked a woman in public.]

[It is not easy for a woman to become a writer in a social environment like India; and it is even more of a miracle for her to travel across the ocean and gain recognition and success in a foreign country.]

[At this moment, Kiran Desai is not a person - she is a symbol of hundreds of millions of independent women around the world; India is not a country name - it represents all the countries that have been invaded. ]

【Forgetting history is equivalent to betraying the past. 】

【Zhang Chao used his ignorant and arrogant face to smear the entire China and all Chinese people.】

If China wants to integrate into the world and become a member of the international family, it cannot allow such spokespersons of "cultural chauvinism" to be active on the public opinion stage.

[On behalf of Zhang Chao and all Chinese people, I would like to bow deeply to Kiran Desai and all Indian people and say: "I was wrong! We were wrong!"]

[Whether you recognize Kiran Desai is just a literary issue; whether you support an apology is a matter of conscience! ]

[Tonight, we are all Kiran Desai; tonight, we are all Indians! ]

……

It should be said that this article is very confusing and inflammatory. "Racial discrimination" has little market in China, but "a century of humiliation" and "imperialist aggression" can still arouse empathy among many people.

Zhang Chao’s statement “I write in my mother tongue” is incoherent and indeed makes it easy for people to think that it is an attack on the Indian female writer.

This left many of Zhang Chao's supporters unable to defend him, and they felt in their hearts - "Maybe he was wrong this time?"

In 2007, this was still a sensitive topic. After all, an influential writer like Zhang Chao was tacitly regarded as representing a certain aspect of the national image, and his every word and action would be regarded as "how the Chinese are."

Within just a few hours, calls for "Zhang Chao to apologize" were heard everywhere on the Internet, and the article "Tonight, We Are All Indians" received over a million hits.

The blog signed "World Wind" quickly overshadowed Han Han and Xu Cainv, and everyone was guessing who was behind this ID?

You have to know that in 2007, the total number of blog hits exceeding million was a big deal; if a single article received over a million hits in a few hours, it was considered a "sensation."

The key is to cut the vital point accurately. I am afraid that Zhang Chao himself will find it difficult to respond to such doubts.

"How is it? The effect is good, right?" In a hidden corner of a coffee shop in Yangcheng, southern China, a middle-aged man wearing black-framed glasses proudly said to the blond and blue-eyed "foreign friend" in front of him.

It was a weekday afternoon and there were not many people who had time to drink coffee here. Most of them took their coffee to go, and they were the only ones sitting at the table at this moment.

The foreigner gave him a thumbs up and said in an admiring tone: "I didn't expect that you could do what Teacher Fang and others couldn't do."

The middle-aged man raised his chin slightly and said, "They just don't understand. We can't rely on brute force to deal with Zhang Chao. We have to use this!" As he spoke, he pointed to his head.

The foreigner said admiringly: "Lin, you are really a genius! You have a talent for this, as you can see from the inaugural speech you 'fabricated' for President Bush a few years ago."

The middle-aged man named "Lin" took a sip of coffee and recited proudly: "...In the history of mankind for tens of millions of years, the most precious thing is not the dazzling technology, not the classic works of the vast masters, not the ornate speeches of politicians.

Rather, it is the realization of the taming of the rulers and the realization of the dream of locking them in cages, because only by taming them and locking them up can they not harm people. Only then will there be no strong bullying of the weak, and only then will the helpless old people and displaced beggars be given a warm home. I am now speaking to you from the cage. ..."

This is his masterpiece. In a speech, he pretended that this text was from the inaugural address of US President Bush Jr., which not only shocked the college students present, but also became widely circulated afterwards. At one point, it was ranked higher in search engines than the actual speech content.

After Lin finished reciting, he laughed disdainfully and said, "You don't know how excited those idiots were at the time. They were so easy to fool. They were college students and professors. They were all a bunch of brainless idiots."

The foreigners listened to his soulful recitation and gently applauded him, but they didn't expect to hear a string of swear words at the end. They quickly used praise to cover up their embarrassment: "Excellent! Even if President Bush heard this, he would not object to it appearing in his speech.

What are you going to do next? "

"Lin" thought for a moment and said, "The top leaders are protecting Zhang Chao very much now. Paper media and TV dare not report it now. It is only circulated on the Internet. But it doesn't matter. Zhang Chao got his start on the Internet.

Only when a strong trend of doubting Zhang Chao’s character is formed on the Internet, will his foundation be shaken.”

The foreigner said doubtfully: "It's not like no one has tried this before, but they all..."

Lin snorted contemptuously, and then said, "They are all too conservative. They always hope that Zhang Chao will make a mistake - something like ghostwriting, cheating in admissions... These can be easily disproven by Zhang Chao.

Only when things that seem to have nothing to do with Zhang Chao spread on the Internet will everyone's interest be truly aroused, and will Zhang Chao be forced to reveal flaws in his constant responses.

Just like this time, the American Indian newspaper did a great job! They forced Zhang Chao to say something wrong! "

The foreigner was immediately impressed by Lin's idea and asked, "Isn't this just... just fake news? Will ordinary people believe it?"

"Lin" showed a contemptuous expression again: "This is the big mistake you made before. What's the point of letting them believe it temporarily? Zhang Chao clarified it in a few words. So don't try to make these fools believe, but make them interested.

As soon as Zhang Chao clarified one thing, he would find five or ten more waiting for him. And each one was more bizarre than the last, which eventually made him exhausted, and his influence and credibility naturally collapsed.

Seeing that foreigners still didn't understand, "Lin" gave an example: "For example, there is a rumor on the Internet saying that 'Zhang Chao is actually a transgender person. In order to have a boy, his family performed surgery on him and changed from a girl to a boy.'

What do you think, will Zhang Chao respond or not? "

The foreigners were stunned, and Lin couldn't help but feel complacent again, and continued: "If he doesn't respond, then some people will believe this rumor, including those who once supported him.

He needs to respond, but how should he respond? Should he go to the hospital to issue a medical examination report, or hold a press conference and take off his pants on the spot? If he does this, some people will think he is a clown and start to make fun of him.

Since they are all rumors, don’t care about their authenticity, but highlight their absurdity - the more absurd, the more people like to spread them. So your previous thinking of "nine true and one false" is outdated; "nine false and one true" or even "ten false and none true" can really achieve the spread effect. "The foreigner admired: "Lin, NED needs talents like you! But if you do this in the United States, I'm afraid you will be sentenced."

Lin smiled and said, "It all depends on the technical protection you provided for the 'World Wind' account."

The foreigner praised: "In a sense, this is the land of freedom of speech. - Lin, after this is over, I will recommend you to work at the BBC in Hong Kong. There is a vacancy for the head of news for the Asia-Pacific region."

Lin’s face lit up at first, but then he turned serious and said in an almost pious tone: “To overthrow authority is the sacred mission of intellectuals.

Using rumors to force the truth out is a citizen's sacred right! Rumors are the truth deep in people's hearts, a way for groups to express their will, and a weapon for the public to fight against propaganda and lies.

It is not the fact, but it is truer than the fact; it cannot stand scrutiny, but it is more convincing than the truth; it is full of loopholes, but the public believes it without a doubt.

And I, Lin Chusheng, am exercising my mission and rights as an intellectual and citizen! The other gains are just "

Foreigner: “…” For a moment, he couldn’t tell whether Lin Chusheng was performing in front of him or really believed his words, but he admired Lin Chusheng’s amazing ability to organize language. He could even make “spreading rumors” sound so noble, which is a rare skill among American media people.

Lin Chusheng also relaxed at this time, and said with a lingering feeling: "What a pity, what a pity..."

The foreigner asked curiously, "What's a pity?"

Lin Chusheng said: "It's a pity that we were too hasty this time. The US side was unable to cooperate with our actions. It's just that he was 'racially discriminatory'... I don't think Zhang Chao would be defeated by such an attack."

The foreigner sighed and said, "Since the closure of 'Yanjing Spring', the NED has raised its requirements for funding audits. This time, I was able to get the anchor to criticize Zhang Chao's 'racial discrimination' in the news program, which was the result of my using my personal connections...

If we wait until the process is completed and the funds are allocated, I am afraid Zhang Chao will have returned to China.”

Lin Chusheng was stunned when he heard this, smacked his lips, and his eyes suddenly became hesitant.

The foreigner saw his expression and immediately understood what he was thinking. He patted his shoulder affectionately and said, "Don't worry, there will be funding. Just do me a favor this time."

Lin Chusheng's expression changed twice before he said, "I hope my efforts will not be in vain. - But you should not expect to achieve success in one fell swoop. This turmoil may not be able to shake Zhang Chao's foundation.

There are still many actions to be taken to truly make Zhang Chao stink and fall.”

The foreigner nodded and said, "When the time comes, we will still need you to take charge of the situation."

Lin Chusheng looked at his watch, stood up and said, "Okay, I've been down long enough. I have to go upstairs to take care of some work first. Mr. Morgan, I'm very happy to communicate with you this time. I hope our cooperation will always be so pleasant."

Morgan, a foreigner, raised his coffee to greet him: "Of course. I'll have to sit for a while longer, you go up first."

After that, he watched Lin Chusheng walk into the slightly old building. Then, a chill slowly climbed up Morgan's spine to the back of his head, causing him to shiver.

Even after working on the "front line" for more than 30 years, Morgan has rarely seen someone like Lin Chusheng - someone who can switch between various identities at any time.

Intellectuals, citizens, gangsters, media professionals, traitors, conspirators... they all hold a pivotal position in the media circles in southern China and are extremely adept at content operations.

If it wasn't for work, Morgan didn't want to have even a second of contact with him - Lin Chusheng's eyes hidden behind his glasses always reminded him of a snake's tongue...

After thinking for a while, Morgan raised his coffee cup and drank it all, then walked out of the small cafe.

Zhang Chao, who was far away in the United States, had no idea what was happening in the motherland thousands of miles away. He had just woken up from a sound sleep, yawned, washed up, went to the restaurant to have breakfast, and then leisurely went to the observation car to enjoy the beautiful scenery outside the window.

It is 7: in the morning, and the train has just left Ottumwa, Iowa, and continues to travel west through the vast farmland of Iowa and the typical Midwestern scenery. The windows pass by large fields of corn and soybeans, dotted with the leisurely scenery of small towns and villages from time to time.

At one point during the journey, the train ran parallel to the Mississippi River. The wide river surface was sparkling, as if telling of its own glory in the past.

"How come you still have the leisure to enjoy the scenery here?" Xu Ruya's voice sounded behind her.

Zhang Chao turned around and saw that both she and Susan had sad faces. He couldn't help but feel touched and amused, and said, "What else can we do? Can we just stay in the box and sigh?"

Xu Ruiya was speechless for a moment, then asked: "What are you thinking about? Have you thought about what to say at the press conference this afternoon?"

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "I'm thinking about Mark Twain."

"Huh?" This answer made both of them confused. It was already this late, and they still had the leisure to think about a foreign writer.

Zhang Chao pointed at the scenery outside the window and said, "The Mississippi River! This is the Mississippi River! Aren't you two both literary people? Don't you have any feelings about this?"

Xu Ruya and Susan: “…” We shouldn’t have come.

Zhang Chao continued: "This is the Mississippi River where The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were born; this is also the Mississippi River in The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying...

Mark Twain and William Faulkner made this river what it is; this river also made them what they are. It can be said that my first impression of American literature is this river.

Do you think I can be excited?"

Xu Ruiya and Susan: “…” Boss, you are suffering from a literary youth syndrome and you don’t know the time, place or occasion.

Seeing that they were still confused and had an expression of "this child is incorrigible", Zhang Chao continued, "Mark Twain, didn't you think of anything?"

Xu Ruiya uttered a few words from between her teeth: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer...didn't you say that?"

Zhang Chao shook his head and said, "Not this one. In fact, in China, his most famous work is not these two novels, but an inconspicuous satirical sketch called "Running for Governor." Have you read it?"

Xu Ruiya and Susan, one nodded and the other shook their heads. After all, "Running for Governor" is not really Mark Twain's masterpiece. In China, it was elevated for special reasons and included in the Chinese textbook, so it is a household name in the hearts of generations.

Zhang Chao looked out the window at the Mississippi River and said, "Great artists can always see the truth of the world. I wonder, if I were the one running for mayor and a few kids hugged my thighs and called me dad, what would I do?"

Then he turned around and smiled at the two of them: "Don't worry, I know what to do."

(End of this chapter)