1985, the year of the great writer, began with Infernal Affairs!

Chapter 123 A Letter from "The Lover"

Attorney Xie has only been studying basic French for a few days, and he's really feeling dizzy and overwhelmed.

I never knew French was so difficult and so tongue-twisting.

I previously had some knowledge of European literature, especially Latin American literature.

Including "One Hundred Years of Solitude".

Many people refer to One Hundred Years of Solitude as magical realism.

In fact, they don't even have a definition for magical realism.

It was only because the descriptions were so realistic that later readers felt it was magical that the fantasy element was added.

This leads to a biased interpretation of the definition of "magical realism".

However, at this stage, Xie Lu can't concern himself with so much Latin American literature.

We can't let Zhao Wanwan's progress fall behind. She's my white moonlight from my past life, and I can't let her be idle in this life.

On the other hand, contact with An Shaokang was essential.

It's worth noting that Mo Yan, who later won the Nobel Prize, hadn't even met him yet.

Waiting for the "Ordinary World" essay contest is indeed quite difficult.

Thinking of this, Xie Lu suddenly realized something.

He wasn't fluent in French, but he could have Marguerite Duras send him the original manuscript of "The Lover."

Wouldn't that give me a reason to go find the French expert, An Shaokang?

But how to connect with Marguerite Duras? That's the question.

With this question in mind, he packed up the library materials and headed back to his dormitory.

"Busy guy, you're finally back." Chu Yunfei was leisurely reading a comic book on his bed in the dormitory.

Upon seeing Xie Lu return to the dormitory, she quickly jumped off the bed and put her arm around Xie Lu's shoulder.

Xie Lu merely glanced at it: "What's up? Need something?"

Chu Yunfei flattered, "We haven't known your whereabouts for several days, have we? We wanted to find out what secret new book project the great author is working on, so we can feast our eyes on it first?"

The Xie brothers jokingly slapped his hand away. "Get lost, stop being so glib."

Seeing this, Chu Yunfei turned around and picked up a letter from the desk next to him. "Here, it's from the dormitory supervisor."

A neat letter, with a faint fragrance.

The neat handwriting on it read "Received by Xie Lvshou".

Upon seeing this, the crowd swarmed forward and began to riot.

"Oh, oh, oh, a love letter."

"Who else could it be? My great writer is definitely Wanwan's woman."

"That's right. No problem!"

Originally, Attorney Xie did not intend to separate them.

After all, it was Zhao Wanwan's letter, and the two of them were so close, plus they kissed last time.

But I couldn't withstand the commotion from my roommates, so I had no choice.

So he opened the letter in front of everyone.

[Greetings, Xie Lu. It's been so long since I've seen you, and I've been missing you for some reason...]

No, that's not right.

It's been so long since we last met.

Let's continue reading.

To be honest, I missed you a lot after my last trip to Wuhan. I was wondering if you're free this weekend? I'd like to come visit you in Wuhan.

Signed: He Jinqiu.

No, wait a minute.

Where's Zhao Wanwan? How come it's He Jinqiu instead?

Upon seeing this, Xie Lu quickly crumpled the letter into pieces.

Awkwardly pretending nothing was wrong, he hummed a little tune and planned to walk away, trying to avoid these gossipy guys.

"You little brat!"

"I knew it! How could it be Wanwan!"

"My luck with romance is off the charts!"

Seeing this, Xie Lu's roommates pulled and tugged at each other, blocking him from leaving.

Chu Yunfei spoke up: "Brother, that's not very loyal of you. We brothers helped you collect love letters, and you think you can just run away with all that luck with women? Hurry up, buy us some late-night snacks!"

It is located on the back street of the school, near Lingbo Gate, within the Bayi Community.

Several boys were sitting in a new restaurant called Chongqing Cold Pot Fish.

Although it's a new shop, it's located in a tenement building, so it has a very lively and bustling atmosphere.

If Xie Lu is treating us to a meal, then Chu Yunfei will have no choice but to fleece us mercilessly.

This is a new restaurant. Chu Yunfei is a local from Wuhan and is quite picky about the food in Wuhan.

. . . . .

In Wuhan, the truly delicious food is mostly found in Hankou.

The school is located in Wuchang, so finding a good restaurant is extremely difficult.

The owner of this newly opened restaurant is said to be from Chongqing, and the main business is catering to students with self-service hot pot.

You can eat for free if you pay 5 yuan per person.

This buffet model is just emerging in this era.

The four of them ordered a mildly spicy hot pot and took no less than ten plates of fish slices and some vegetables from the owner's freezer.

Finally, I took a whole case of "Xingyinge" brand beer in glass bottles.

In Wuhan, the dipping sauce for hot pot has remained basically unchanged for decades: sesame paste is added to garlic, just like sesame paste is added to hot dry noodles.

Chu Yunfei prepared a sample first, and the others from other places followed suit.

As the steam rises from the wok, the meat is cooked until tender.

Everyone started drinking and chatting happily.

"Hey Xie Lu, were you the reincarnation of the God of Literature in your past life?"

Chu Yunfei downed a bottle of ice-cold beer and then stared seriously at Xie Lu, asking a question.

I even wish I could be the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

Xie Lu thought to himself, but only smiled slightly and remained silent.

"What 'God of Literature'? If you ask me, he's a great literary figure of our time!"

"If you ask me, he's the school heartthrob. Handsome, a good writer, and with women chasing after him. Unlike me."

"Hahaha, the Nobel Prize is definitely yours..."

95

Everyone opened up and talked about their past dating experiences.

Only Xie Lu occasionally responded to his buddies, and then thought that after dinner, he would write a letter in English to Marguerite Duras.

But first we need to find out where Marguerite Duras lives.

Before he transmigrated, Xie Lu enjoyed watching Hong Kong movies, so he had also seen the remake of the movie "The Lover" starring Tony Leung Ka-fai.

Going back in time, sixteen-year-old Marguerite Duras should have been with a young Chinese man named Li Yuntai.

Furthermore, this novel, "The Lover," won the Prix Goncourt in France last year, 1984.

It was first published in a magazine by Wang Daoqian in 1980.

According to the current pace of this era, Wang Daoqian should still be a minor figure.

Have it.

Find Wang Daoqian and you can change the landscape!

A hot pot meal finally gave Xie Lu a breakthrough.

Contacting Marguerite Duras now shouldn't be too difficult.

So he invited everyone to join in the boisterous feast, which ended the buffet.

After finishing his meal, Xie Lu went to pay the bill.

This meal cost a little over 20 yuan, which was quite worthwhile.

What's really troubling is why He Jinqiu suddenly wants to come looking for me?

Can't we send tea from a thousand miles away?

If I dare to cross that line, Editor-in-Chief He will probably kill me.

Take care of my second brother first; there's no rush.

Chu Yunfei was quite full and satisfied, but he noticed that Xie Lu, who was sitting opposite him, always seemed preoccupied and lost in thought.

Not long after, the group returned to their dormitory. Xie Lu quickly washed up and began writing a letter in fluent English: "Dear, Marguerite Duras..."