At this time, an old white lady with white hair appeared upstairs, wearing home clothes, holding a book, and walked down the spiral staircase in a hurry.
Seeing the two of them arguing, she said calmly: "Let the political be left to politics, and the academic be left to academic, okay?"
Of course Lin Xiaoguang agreed, but Anna was noncommittal and seemed to still have some unfinished thoughts, but at least he stopped talking about the topic and just went upstairs with the music score.
Laura looked at Ana's leaving back, shook her head and chuckled, turned to him and said: "Anna is my niece, currently studying at the University of Hong Kong, a freshman." After thinking about it, she continued: "Well, she is twenty years old this year.
, is a little older than you, and you have already graduated from Tsinghua University and are preparing to study for a master's degree."
"She feels unbalanced, please don't mind." She said with a smile.
This old lady has a kind-hearted purpose. She may have studied literature for a long time. Her personality is introverted and unpretentious. She may still have the arrogance of the Anglo-Saxon in her heart. She is very approachable and even amiable on the surface. In addition, she speaks authentic Peiping dialect.
It even made him feel kind of friendly.
"Sit down, this is the best time to have afternoon tea." Laura pulled a wicker chair and sat down.
The Filipino maid brought the tea, Lin Xiaoguang said thank you and sat down too.
"Let's chat casually." Laura squinted her eyes and looked at him, and said with a smile: "You are not the first Chinese student at the University of Hong Kong, but you are the first one who is still serving in the Chinese government and came to Hong Kong to study for a master's degree. Indeed,
Very creative.”
It's hard to say that this kind of chat is not a test. Lin Xiaoguang pondered and replied: "First of all, I want to apologize. Correction, I am not a government official, I am an overseas employee of a state-owned company, and I am studying abroad privately, not as an official.
Sending students abroad is different."
"But from a Chinese perspective, I can answer you. Our country has implemented reform and opening up, and more and more people, students, professors, and officials are going out. For students who come to study at the University of Hong Kong, I am indeed the first
, but not the last one. The University of Hong Kong is an excellent school. Although it is located in a colony, it has been cultivating talents for mainland China, such as Mr. Sun Yat-sen, and Fu Bingchang, the ambassador of the Republic of China to the Soviet Union..."
These words were soft yet firm, Laura felt a little relieved, and her understanding of him became better.
She thought that Lin Xiaoguang was as sharp as ever, but unexpectedly, his voice changed and he continued: "Hong Kong is the first of the Four Asian Tigers, and its higher education is also well-known in East Asia. The University of Hong Kong has deep research in literature and culture. I think it is worthwhile to come here to study.
of"
Chinese people are characterized by modesty, but foreigners are straightforward. Being modest is considered bad, so Lin Xiaoguang doesn't mean to be modest at all.
Laura hummed and didn’t speak for a long while, drinking black tea carelessly.
After a while, she looked at Lin Xiaoguang, with inexplicable emotions in her eyes, and said: "I still believe in the strength of Tsinghua University. The defense in March is just a fig leaf for the school board. No surprises.
If you pass the defense successfully, I will be your tutor."
"But do you know why I want to accept you as my student?"
"Probably because you have feelings for China and Chinese people."
"Indeed." Laura nodded and suddenly sighed: "After bidding farewell to Leighton Stuart, I left Yenching University and followed the professor south to Xiangjiang. At that time, I was still a young church student. In the blink of an eye, more than thirty years later, Yenching University
I disappeared into the adjustment of faculties and departments, and I am getting old, things have changed and people have changed.”
This is a man who has witnessed great times and experienced magnificent ups and downs. Every wrinkle on his face is a trace left by time.
Lin Xiaoguang suddenly discovered that the old lady had lived in China for many years, and her thinking and logic had become similar to that of the Chinese. She could not tell that she was a foreigner at all when she spoke.
"Nothing can last forever. Yanda has disappeared, but its liberal arts college exists in another form. Although the body is destroyed, the spirit will last forever. You don't have to be too persistent." He comforted,
This old lady really deserves his respect.
Laura shook her head.
"I would like to ask, you are a student of Yenching University. Later, the professors from Yenching University went south, and the Christian Church founded Chung Chi College in Hong Kong. Now the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been established. Why don't you work at the Chinese University of Hong Kong instead of coming to the University of Hong Kong?
?" Lin Xiaoguang was a little curious.
Laura smiled with a hint of sweetness and said: "It's very simple, my husband Douglas works at the University of Hong Kong."
"Okay..." This reason is indeed impeccable.
"Speaking of which, he is a big contributor to why you came to study at the University of Hong Kong." Laura smiled.
"Then when I see him another day, I need to express my gratitude to him!"
Laura shook her head, sighed, looked at him, and said meaningfully: "It doesn't matter if you don't say thank you in words. If you can understand my good intentions, this setback will not be in vain."
Seeing his confusion, Laura continued: "I am a pacifist."
"Decades of ups and downs have allowed me to see more clearly that in the future world, peace will be the mainstream and the consensus of all mankind in the world. The current international situation is full of confrontations, ranging from the United States and the Soviet Union competing for hegemony to the Arab-Israeli struggle for hegemony.
Conflicts and wars only bring harm, pain and hatred to people. On this point, I admire your Premier Zhou very much. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are indeed very good. He deserves everyone's respect."
"The past events should wake people up. I hope you can agree with peace, follow it unswervingly, and influence more and more people. This is not a request, but an expectation."
"Although it's a bit difficult, I hope you can agree." Laura looked at him expectantly.
Lin Xiaoguang thought a lot, thinking about what Deng Gong said about keeping a low profile and biding time, and thinking about peaceful development in the next few decades. There seemed to be nothing wrong with it, so he nodded after thinking about it.
"I will work hard to practice peace."
"Okay." Laura was very pleased and said with a smile: "You Chinese people attach great importance to promises. I hope you are not someone who breaks your promises."
This old lady is really shrewd.
"I think back then, when I was a young girl, I admired Premier Zhou very much. At that time, he was an idol in the hearts of many people, and his charm was unstoppable. A few years ago, I heard the news of his death.
I feel extremely sad that a great person is missing from the world." Laura was deeply touched.
At this time, she turned her head and looked at Lin Xiaoguang and said: "He is a gentle, elegant and outstanding gentleman. I hope you can become such a person."
Lin Xiaoguang was silent.
Laura looked at him and continued: "Your appearance is very good. What you lack is just the inside. You are very good. I rarely see people from the mainland who are so confident. This is rare. Oh my God, China
Are all the first batch of college students after the resumption of the college entrance examination so good? Then isn’t China going to rise rapidly?”
She exclaimed like a girl, then shrugged, stared at him, and said, "But I hope you can be better."
At this moment, an old man wearing a top hat walked into the living room, holding a civilized stick and humming in a British accent: "As far as I know, Chinese college students are all exam winners. They can only do test questions.
Moreover, China's education has fallen behind across the board, and higher education is no exception. His current level should be equivalent to that of a high school student in Xiangjiang, and there is a huge difference when conducting master's research."
He looked at Lin Xiaoguang and said: "Young man, if you are self-aware, you should first receive a Xiangjiang high school education."