Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 69 Two Types of Braids
Ernest Renan hesitated when he saw it was Lionel, then swallowed his words and decided to wait and see.

Lionel Sorel stood up in his seat so that everyone could see him.

"Quiet! Please listen to me!" His voice wasn't loud, but because of his high position, it pierced through the noise, drawing everyone's attention to him, and for a moment everyone fell silent.

Lionel decided to go all out and climbed up the backs of each row of seats to the front row. Amidst gasps from the crowd, he jumped down and stood next to Tomson Ku.

He glanced at the young man, who was about his age, and found that although he looked Chinese, his expression and demeanor were completely European, unlike the old scholar with a braid and a melon-shaped hat that he remembered. He was somewhat lost in thought.

But he quickly recovered and turned to his seat: "Professor Renan, I wholeheartedly agree with your advocacy of reason. However, what I see here today is the light of reason obscured by the clouds of prejudice and arrogance."

Before Lenan could retaliate, Lionel turned to Chen Jitong and the young man, his gaze sincere and serious: "Gentlemen, I admire your courage and knowledge in defending your national dignity! Your love and confidence in Chinese culture are truly moving."

But gentlemen, do you realize that when you angrily proclaim that Chinese civilization is a 'precocious giant' and the West is merely a 'toddler'?

When you dismiss the achievements of Western philosophy and art with disdain, you are merely responding to arrogance with the same arrogance, using another form of 'theory of the superiority of civilization' to fight against the prejudice before your eyes.

Danger! You two Chinese gentlemen are sliding into the same abyss that the very people you criticize are in!

Remember this: never argue with an arrogant fool, because he will drag you down to his level and then defeat you with his vast experience!

Chen Jitong and Tomson Ku were stunned. At first, they thought the Frenchman was on their side, but they didn't expect to be lectured so soon.

The Sorbonne students at the scene were also stunned. They originally thought Lionel was criticizing the Chinese, but why did the last sentence sound so jarring?

Louis-Alphonse nearly jumped out of his chair: "You bastard, who are you calling an arrogant fool? I challenge you to a duel! A duel!"

Albert de Rohan, also a noble student, found Louis-Alphonse's exasperated state both amusing and unsettling.

Ernest Renan seemed to have sensed something, and sat back down silently with a dark expression.

Lionel ignored Louis Alphonse and instead swept his gaze across the room: “Sorbonne people! Look at yourselves! Look at this lecture hall today! When a scholar from a faraway land shares with sincerity the cultural treasures he is so proud of, what do you give him in return?”
It is frivolous imitation, malicious mockery, and cultural discrimination in the name of scholarship! You cling to your limited understanding and refuse to comprehend the essence of another great civilization!

Is this the 'tolerance' that Voltaire and Diderot taught us? Your arrogance stems from ignorance! Your discrimination stems from narrow-mindedness!
Mr. Chen's braid is certainly ugly, but are the ribs of our ladies, deformed by corsets, attractive? Are the rotten teeth of our gentlemen, corroded by syphilis, attractive?

Chen Jitong: "..."

Sorbonne students: "..."

Both felt as if Lionel had slapped them in the face.

Lionel paid no heed to their complex emotions: "The purpose of this lecture is to share knowledge, not to display superiority. Your arrogance stems from ignorance! Your discrimination stems from narrow-mindedness!"

The Sorbonne, today is its day of shame!

Lionel's voice was not loud, but every word was firm and resounding: "True dignity, Mr. Chen, Tomson, is not about proving yourself to be 'older' or 'superior' than others."
Rather, it lies in upholding the basic principles of civilization regardless of the prejudice and injustice faced, rather than wallowing in the cesspool with pigs!

Chen Jitong showed a hint of shame, while Tomson Ku looked indignant but did not utter a word in rebuttal.

Lionel's voice still echoed in the auditorium: "Similarly, true reason and civilization, Professor Renan, students, lie in acknowledging one's own limitations and having the most basic respect and thirst for knowledge for different civilizations!"
If the Sorbonne loses this spirit, then its proud concept of 'knowledge and reason' is nothing but empty words!

He then turned to Louis-Alphonse: "Mr. Montferrand, I heard you're also attending the 'poetry gathering' this weekend?"

Louis-Alphonse, his face still flushed with lingering anger, scoffed, "Not only will I attend, but my father will also give a speech at the 'Poetry Gathering.' Don't think you're a big shot just because you've published a novel, Lionel Sorel!"

You're just a commodity at the "poetry gathering"! Hahaha, a commodity for people to amuse themselves with, to be chosen by others!

The room fell silent, as if the air itself had stopped moving. Everyone looked at Louis-Alphonse with surprise and unease, and even Ernesto Renan showed his disgust.

Louis-Alphonse then realized he had misspoke—some facts, even if everyone knows them, are sinful to say aloud. Lionel, however, was not angry, but simply nodded calmly: "Very well, Mr. Montferrand, I originally only wanted to say that I was ashamed to be associated with you at the 'Poetry Gathering,' but you seem to have given me a more compelling reason."

Since you're involved in the "poetry gathering," and you yourself have said it's a den of iniquity—I'm sorry, I'm not a commodity, and I have no intention of letting anyone choose me."

Lionel's words exploded like thunder in the auditorium. Attending the "Poetry Gathering" was the dream of many Sorbonne students, especially those from ordinary families. How could Lionel want to withdraw?
The first thought that came to everyone's mind was: "With the support of a wealthy woman, they really have a lot more confidence!"

Then it occurred to me: "Wouldn't that free up a spot for the poetry gathering?"

Thinking of this, many students looked at Lionel with envy, support, and gratitude—no matter how harsh his previous words were, he was now on the side of the people!

Chen Jitong and Tomson Ku were filled with mixed emotions. Lionel's words struck them like a heavy hammer. They realized that, faced with such immense humiliation, their counterattack had almost fallen into a trap of mutual tearing apart.

Chen Jitong took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and faced the audience again. His voice returned to its initial calm: "Thank you for this gentleman's frankness. He made me feel the greatness of the Sorbonne."

He turned to Lionel and another young Chinese man: “Mr. Lionel Sorel? And Tomson Ku…”

Lionel nodded: "Yes, Lionel Sorel!"

Chen Jitong did not shake hands with them, but instead clasped his hands together and bowed to them, saying, "Thank you! Today is not a day of shame for the Sorbonne; it is honored because of your righteous words!"

If you two have the time, you are welcome to visit my Great Qing Legation. Both I and Lord Guo would warmly welcome you!

He then turned to Professor Latour: “This lecture began with a play and will end with a play. This was not my intention, but perhaps it is more valuable. Professor, it seems that today’s lecture must end here!”

After speaking, Chen Jitong stopped looking at anyone, straightened his back, and walked out of the auditorium accompanied by Professor Latour, just as he had come.

Ernest Renan didn't lose too much face this time; he simply tapped the floor with his cane again, turned and left; Louis-Alphonse followed behind him, his face full of shame.

As the people in the auditorium gradually dispersed, Tomson Ku remained. He extended his hand to Lionel: "You're Lionel, the author of 'The Old Guard'? In the two weeks I've been in Paris, I've heard your name and discussions about 'The Old Guard' everywhere."

Lionel shook hands with the other person and nodded: "Yes, I wrote 'The Old Guard'."

Tomson Ku was pleased to see Lionel’s amiable attitude: “I didn’t expect you to not only write novels, but also have such a sharp tongue. I haven’t met many people like you in England—well, maybe Wilde is one.”

He then sized up Lionel's physique and appearance, and couldn't help but remind him, "But he's a really strange person, you'd better not see him... uh, actually you should probably avoid letting him see you..."

Tomson Ku looked toward the exit of the auditorium again, as if Chen Jitong's figure was still there: "Chen... although I defended him, his braid was really ugly!"

If you ask me, the first thing China needs to do if it wants to become a strong nation is to cut off this damned queue!

Lionel glanced at Tomson Ku's back of the head again and said meaningfully, "Tomson, you should know that some people's braids grow on the back of their heads, while others' braids grow in their hearts."

The braid at the back of the head is easy to cut, but the braid in one's heart is hard to cut!

Tomson Ku was taken aback upon hearing this, and immediately felt that this was the most profound and insightful statement he had ever heard about China's transformation, and that it was actually said by a Frenchman.

He looked at Lionel again, his eyes filled with shock and admiration, and grasped Lionel's hand firmly: "Just for that one sentence, I'll treat you to 'Chabané' tonight, and I'll cover all the expenses!"

Albert, standing beside the two and unable to get a word in edgewise, was practically drooling with envy—"Chapane" was located in the 2nd arrondissement and was the most upscale and expensive brothel in all of Paris. Even Prince Edward of England would occasionally sneak across the sea to visit it.

It is said that there are private rooms with various styles, encompassing customs from all over the world, including beautiful women from Japan and India; and the decoration is luxurious, with hot and cold water and marble bathtubs.

Albert couldn't afford to go to "Chabané" on his meager living expenses, so his gaze towards Lionel was repeating the same sentence: "Take me with you! Take me with you! Take me with you!..."

　Gu Hongming used many English names, initially Koh Hong-beng, then Ku Hweng-Ming after returning to China, and also Kaw Hong Beng and Amoy Ku, but he is best known as Tomson.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)