British writer

Happy New Year’s Eve to all book friends!

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

Two days later.

London.

In the morning fog, a convoy of carriages set off from the Port of London and drove slowly towards Adelphi.

The destination of the convoy is London Economics and Political Science.

The carriage at the front,

The coachman carefully controlled the horse's reins, looking back curiously from time to time to glance at the small window that could see the situation inside the carriage.

Inside were three French people, well-dressed, elegant and calm in their manners. At first glance, they were no ordinary people.

Just as the coachman guessed,

The three people in the car are:

Henri Poincaré,

francs,

Jules Verne.

France opened the car curtains, glanced at the street scene, and joked: "I didn't expect that the British would be so confident and actually invite us to come for academic exchanges. We French people are never afraid of this kind of thing!" "

Poincaré lamented,

"They are not afraid either...Who is the UK afraid of now?"

France said: "The competition this time is about history and culture, not national strength. We will be fine."

The stars of the French-speaking world shine,

Hugo, Maupassant, Balzac, Stendhal...

Our ancestors are so rich, so there really is nothing to be afraid of.

It’s a pity that the current French literary world is far from the fairy-tale fight it was twenty years ago. Verne is getting older, while young people like Marcel Proust and Romain Rolland have not yet grown up, and they seem a bit out of touch.

Verne asked in a low voice: "Henry, our strategy remains the same?"

Poincaré nodded,

"Of course. This academic exchange can take place thanks to Sir Lu's face. We must also show our attitude."

Verne said: "Then please say your congratulations again."

He took out a red envelope from the right inner pocket of his clothes and handed it to the other party.

Poincaré could not help but mutter:

"Haven't you seen it a dozen times?"

Although he said this, he still took out the letter inside and read it carefully.

——

Dear Professor Lu Shi:

Congratulations on your election as a corresponding academician of the Collège de France. I would like to express my warmest congratulations and my highest respect to you!

Academician of the French Academy is the highest academic title and honorary title in the field of literature and history.

Winning this honor is a symbol of your brilliant achievements since you have been engaged in writing, historical research, and education for two years.

I hope you will continue to create more excellent works.

——

There is no big problem with the writing.

Poincaré pondered,

"How about blurring the time? This 'two years' always seems a bit ironic."

France couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "It's quite ironic, but the irony is not Professor Lu. I have written so many works, but I still haven't been able to get the favor of the French Academy~ Sir Lu is lucky, with his foreign status, he has reached the top in one step."

Verne said: "That's because he has strength."

French sighed helplessly,

"Okay~ okay~ I'm not strong enough."

He thought again and whispered: "Should the last sentence also be changed? 'I hope you will continue to create more excellent works' and change it to, 'I hope you will continue to create more excellent works and contribute to the French-speaking world'." "

Poincaré and Verne looked at each other,

France's proposal does make some sense.

But won’t this seem too naked?

It was as if Lu Shi would not be worthy of being a corresponding academician of the French Academy if he did not write works in French.

It’s too much like an exchange of interests!

Verne whispered: "France, we are proud French people! We do something and don't do something."

France spread his hands,

"You are right. But "The Little Prince" is a short children's literature written in French by the Chinese writer Lu Shi in 1902. The protagonist of the book is a little prince from an alien planet. The book is based on a hot air balloon operator... "

Poincaré coughed suddenly:

"Cough cough cough!"

interrupted Frances.

Then, he winked at Verne subtly: "How about changing it?"

Verne nodded,

"Then change it."

The three of them went through this process, wrote a new congratulatory message, and stuffed it back into the envelope.

For the next time, they all tacitly agreed not to talk about this topic again, until the motorcade arrived at LSE and slowly stopped.

French professors and scholars got out of the car and looked around.

I saw people crowding in front of the gate.

Most of them are students from other schools in the University of London Alliance,

There are also a few people from Oxford and Cambridge,

It's a pity that I can't enter the school.

Interestingly, in addition to students, there are even royal guards wearing red uniforms,

Their eyes were sharp, and the blades of their Gothic sabers shone coldly.

"Tsk..."

French was speechless,

"Is the King of Great Britain also here? What a huge battle!"

All the French people felt the pressure instantly.

Sure enough, the British also attach great importance to "The Little Prince".

Frankly speaking, the issue of publishing is not worth arguing about. The worst case scenario is like Lu Shi's previous works, which were authorized to be published by publishers in both countries and released at the same time.

But "The Little Prince" is different after all.

The fight for its first language, like the fight for the right to speak in the World University Rankings, can expand the influence of language.

Verne whispered: "Even King Edward is here. If it doesn't work, we will settle for the next best thing..."

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Franz.

"Jules, what did you just say? We are proud French people! We do something and we don't do something!"

"Ah this..."

Verne was speechless,

I didn't expect the boomerang to come so quickly.

Just then, Lu Shi arrived,

After greeting everyone, he led them into the gate and headed towards the auditorium.

Verne looked around and took out the envelope.

"Sir Lu, congratulations on being named the first foreign corresponding academician of the Collège de France."

Lu Shi:? ? ?

"Isn't it the end of the year?"

He opened the envelope, scanned the congratulatory message in a few seconds, and asked in a low voice, "Does this count as my promotion?"

Poincaré waved his hand,

"Sir, don't feel pressured. Your contribution to the French-speaking world deserves such an achievement. This is what our Institut de France should do."

When Lu Shi heard this, his head was filled with black threads.

￣□￣｜｜

What else can I say?

He collected the envelope and then led the French to the auditorium of LSE.

As expected, there were ridiculously many people;

Students even filled the aisles and the open space behind.

Discussions arose everywhere,

"Look! Is that Verne?"

"I quite like his works, especially "Toward the Tricolor". When he finally surrendered and raised the white flag, it was quite shocking. It's a pity that Verne became a lackey of the French to snatch "The Little Prince"."

"Wait... aren't you French? Is there something wrong with the word 'running dog'?"

"You actually defended him? It seems that you are also a lackey."

"I'm from England, so you don't have to ask any questions this time...get out of here!"

…

The atmosphere was lively.

Lu Shi led the French scholars forward,

As expected, Edward VII was sitting in the first row of the auditorium.

And the current Prime Minister of Great Britain——

Arthur James Balfour.

Then there are dozens of well-known British professors and scholars with numerous publications. The lineup is quite luxurious.

Lu Shi looked at Bernard Shaw,

"Old Xiao, you are the school supervisor, in charge of matters..."

Bernard Shaw waved his hand,

"Lu, I may join the debate later. Therefore, you should host this exchange meeting."

This proposal, overtly or covertly, requires Lu Shi to try not to end up in trouble.

Even if you end up trying to remain neutral,

Therefore, it can be regarded as protection for Lu Shi.

Lu Shi understood,

"clear."

He stood on the podium, clasped his hands and pressed down, raising his voice and saying: "Keep quiet!"

He has been teaching economics in London for a long time and has accumulated prestige.

The discussion at the scene disappeared instantly.

Lu Shi continued: "In today's academic exchanges, whether they are British experts or French scholars, they can come to the stage to explain their views and speak freely. Of course, people below can also ask questions or question them."

A bit like the debate between Freud and Gale at Cambridge,

It's just that there were two people that time,

This time it was two countries.

Lu Shi continued: "I think everyone has read "The Little Prince", right? Some people think it is a fable full of philosophy, while others think it is a fairy tale of love. I heard that there is even a rose party among the readers. And the Fox Party..."

Before the words fell,

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The scene erupted in laughter.

Especially Edward VII,

I don’t know if Brother Wang was thinking of some love experience, and he could hardly close his mouth with laughter.

Lu Shi continued: "It seems that everyone has indeed read it. Then this will be easy..."

He nodded to the audience,

"Everyone, academic exchanges must be conducted with moderation."

No one responded,

In an unspeakable silence, the atmosphere between the two sides was tense, and they were about to start fighting.

Lu Shi: "..."

I can only put it another way:

"Everyone, academic exchanges must be... um... please don't do anything."

After saying that, he got off the stage.

There was another extremely strange silence.

After half a minute, Proust took the lead in standing on the podium.

France sent this little-known junior who has only won one science fiction literature award on stage, which is obviously a test.

As a result, Proust took a deep breath and said something extremely powerful:

“English cannot communicate properly without French words.”

"puff!"

Lu Shi squirted,

Thought,

Aren't you here to fight? !

As expected, the crowd was in an uproar;

"What did this bastard say?"

"Come down! If you have the ability, come down for me!"

"If you want to get beaten, just say so!"

…

The British all wanted to send Proust their most sincere greetings.

Proust was very calm,

"Everyone, I'm not just talking."

Someone immediately retorted: "Since you think you are not talking nonsense, you should have evidence, right?"

Proust nodded,

"certainly."

He asked Lu Shi: "Professor Lu, I need a place where I can write on the blackboard."

Lu Shi was helpless,

"Mr. Proust, you can just say what you want, don't write on the blackboard. Besides, it's best to exercise restraint, try to be as matter-of-fact as possible, and start the discussion around "The Little Prince," okay?"

Proust thought for a moment and replied: "Okay!"

Later, he told the audience: "Without French words, "The Little Prince" would not be written in English."

grass!

Ten thousand grass and mud horses galloped past Lu Shi's heart.

He's already determined,

France is here to fight!

However, the British and the French can fight if they want.

Anyway, it’s not like I haven’t fought before.

He even fought for a hundred years.

Proust said:

"

Let’s talk about the original text of “The Little Prince”.

He learns ‘language’, the English word ‘language’, which corresponds to the French word ‘langage’;

He likes ‘forest’, the English word ‘forest’, which corresponds to the French word ‘forêt’;

He swims around the ‘lake’, the English word ‘lake’, which corresponds to the French word ‘lac’;

…

"

The faces of everyone on the British side became darker and darker.

Proust stopped, took a break, and then said to Lu Shi: "Professor Lu, you are a writer and translator proficient in many languages. You should know that those situations I said are very common."

Of course Lu Shi knew,

In his previous life, he took countless language exams.

Among the most commonly tested words in English, more than 50% have the same or extremely close word form to French and are very easy to recognize.

some of,

Only a very small amount is French borrowing from English;

The vast majority of English is derived from French or Latin.

Therefore, although Proust’s statement is exaggerated, it is not completely untenable.

Not using French words has a huge impact on English communication.

Of course, it was impossible for Lu Shi to express his position.

He remained silent.

William Butler Yeats, who was next to him, spoke first: "Mr. Proust, what you mentioned is just an example."

Proust asked rhetorically: "A massive number of cases?"

Yeats's face suddenly turned red,

I was complaining like crazy in my heart,

Why did France send such a stupid young man?

No respect for seniors at all!

Yeats calmed down his breathing and said: "Okay, okay! Then you can continue to give examples! I want to see what kind of 'mass' means 'mass'!"

Proust mused,

"Let me think about it...well...by the way, everyone knows that British food has few dishes and simple cooking techniques."

These words once again broke the defenses of all British people.

The terrible thing is that they can't refute it.

Because British food is really terrible.

Yeats said: "Mr. Proust, aren't we talking about language?"

Proust spread his hands,

"First of all, I'm not digressing. We really need to talk about language later. Secondly, cooking is also a part of culture."

Just point your nose in and scold Britain for being uneducated.

Fortunately, he did not expand on the issue of cooking and instead said: "In English, almost all words related to cooking are derived from French."

There was silence,

"..."

"..."

"..."

The British are indistinguishable.

At this time, Edward VII raised his chubby little hand,

"I have a question."

Proust was a little confused;

Who would have expected that the British would send the king to kill him personally?

But you can’t pretend not to see it,

He could only bite the bullet and said: "Your Majesty, please speak."

Edward VII mused,

“Speaking of which, isn’t the most commonly used word for cooking in English ‘cook’? Doesn’t it come from French?”

The great nobles in Europe generally master French.

His Majesty the King was right.

But other British scholars vomited blood and even wanted to cover their king's mouth.

the reason is:

The word "Cook" is indeed not a French word, but comes from a French ancestor -

Vulgar Latin.

The grandson looks like his father and his grandfather at the same time, of course there is no problem.

Balfour whispered into His Majesty's ear.

Edward VII looked surprised,

"Is that so?"

He stood up and said to Proust: "Mr. Proust, please ignore what I just said. I said nothing. No 'cook', no French, no Latin."

This sentence immediately silenced everyone.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The scene was so quiet that it made my heart tremble.

"Gu..."

Lu Shi swallowed, stood up quickly and said, "His Majesty didn't really express his opinion. He just saw that the atmosphere was tense, so he wanted to ease the atmosphere."

He made a random excuse.

So Belfort immediately applauded in a very stupid way.

The scene was drowned in warm applause.

King Edward VII looked around, pressed his hands down to calm down the applause, and then said: "I just said what came to my mind, nothing like that..."

Before the words fell,

"good!"

Belfort applauded again,

"Applause to His Majesty for his outspokenness!"

Another warm applause swept across.

King Edward VII scratched his head;

Thought,

Could it be that I really have a talent for humor and can lighten the mood casually?

He couldn't figure it out either.

But since everyone says so, it must be so.

He nodded to the surroundings,

"Thank you, thank you everyone for your affirmation."

After saying that, he sat down.

On the other side, Verne's face was as dark as ink, and he whispered: "King Edward is a sinister man. His behavior just now seemed extremely stupid, but in fact it interrupted Marcel's offensive rhythm! These cunning British! Damn it! It’s so abominable!”