Chapter 41

In August, Lin Qiangsheng returned to school. He walked along the small path in the university campus, wearing a new gray shirt that was different from the 1970s style, paired with handmade casual straight-leg pants, and white canvas shoes. Lin Qiangsheng's outfit was definitely unconventional for the era. As he walked through the campus, he frequently caught the attention of teachers and students, with everyone's gaze converging on him.

Some teachers looked at this uniquely dressed student with disdain, but Lin Qiangsheng responded with a smile, and thus most of these teachers ignored him. Although his outfit was brightly colored, it did not seem outlandish. Everyone who saw it felt a strange sense of discomfort, but they couldn't quite pinpoint what was wrong!

Lin Qiangsheng arrived at the cultural corner of the campus garden, where numerous literary groups and foreign language interest groups gathered. After half a year of university life, the students had adapted. A few of them had shed the provincial ways of their hometowns and began to pursue higher spiritual goals. Following tradition, they organized various interest groups. At this time, there were no associations to manage these groups; they were entirely self-organized.

Chen Yao was also interested in joining a literary interest group. During the first few weeks of the semester, she often came here to watch others give speeches and recite poetry. A group of literature enthusiasts, both male and female, were gathered around a senior student who looked somewhat effeminate, listening to him recite poetry from a high platform!

"I am a beast,

I am a solitary beast,

I am a beast chased by hunters and hounds,

I am a beast trampled by other beasts,

A generation has knocked me down,

Glaring with a sideways glance,

Stepping on my nose,

Tearing, biting, gnawing,

Ah!

......"

The male student spread his arms wide, reciting the poem with great passion, which stirred the hearts of the surrounding male and female students. In this monotonous academic life, his poetry recitation added a different kind of brilliance to their spirits.

Some of the girls even joined in with "Ah, Ah" in excitement, causing other girls to giggle.

Lin Qiangsheng knew this poetry reciter; his name was Sun Ying, a senior in his second year. Sun Ying often recited poems that deeply moved the soul, and his sudden outbursts could startle people. His poems were usually exaggerated descriptions of animals, and he was known as the "Beast Lament" poet.

Lin Qiangsheng did not interrupt Sun Ying's recitation. He walked to Chen Yao's side, and the little girl smiled at him. Then she focused her attention back on the male student standing on the flower platform, listening intently, her fists clenched tightly, and her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to recite along. Whenever she couldn't contain her excitement, she would sneak a glance at Lin Qiangsheng, afraid of being laughed at by him.

When Sun Ying finished reciting the poem, he placed his right hand on his chest and raised his left hand, expressing his emotions. The performance was so perfect that it instantly captivated the girls.

At this moment, Lin Qiangsheng called out loudly with a smile, "Beast!"

Sun Ying's emotions were still running high when he heard someone call him that. He dramatically tossed his head and glanced down, only to see it was Lin Qiangsheng. Sun Ying knew that this student had a car and worked at the newly established car factory. Both he and his father, the factory manager, were well-known at the university. After a moment's thought, Sun Ying said with a pretentious tone, "Ruining the mood, don't interrupt me!"

He drew out the words, but his voice was pleasant to the ear.

Lin Qiangsheng laughed and said, "Do you know, Beast, you should really consider studying broadcasting. With your voice, you could make a great impression in public!"

Sun Ying ran his hand through his slightly long hair, stepped down from the platform, and said, "Broadcasting is not my thing!"

Lin Qiangsheng was almost driven to distraction by Sun Ying's affected manner. The other girls looked at him with starry-eyed admiration, and a few of them glared at Lin Qiangsheng as if they wanted to turn him to ashes with their gaze!

Chen Yao tugged at Lin Qiangsheng's sleeve, and he smiled, looked at her, and gently held her hand, glancing sideways at the crowd.

Chen Yao was very cooperative. During the exam period, they often studied together, memorized books, and reviewed foreign languages, so she was already very familiar with Lin Qiangsheng. With his intentional and unintentional closeness, Chen Yao naturally felt closer to him.

Chen Yao also sensed that Lin Qiangsheng liked her, so they naturally and somewhat confusedly ended up together.

When the girls saw that the two were a couple, they all looked at them with deep meaning. Since dating was not allowed in the university, and the consequences of being caught were severe, the appearance of a couple always surprised the other students.

Sun Ying's gaze shifted from Chen Yao to Lin Qiangsheng, his face showing surprise and confusion.

Lin Qiangsheng smiled, not paying much attention to Sun Ying's feelings, and said, "Sun Ying, I have a proposal. I want to start a literary interest group and study Yan Fu's translation theory. Are you interested in joining?"

Sun Ying looked at Lin Qiangsheng and said, "Not interested!"

Chen Yao asked from the side, "What kind of interest group?"

Lin Qiangsheng nodded at Sun Ying and, holding Chen Yao's hand, turned and walked away.

Sun Ying watched their backs for a moment, hesitated, and then quickly caught up with them.

Lin Qiangsheng said to Chen Yao as they walked, "I plan to start a 'Yan Fu Translation Theory Group' to study Yan Fu's 'Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance' translation theory."

"Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance," Chen Yao repeated, looking at Lin Qiangsheng in confusion. "What is Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance? Yan Fu? This name sounds familiar! I think the teacher mentioned it!" Chen Yao scratched her head, feeling like it was on the tip of her tongue but couldn't quite remember.

"Yan Fu, also known as Fu, with the courtesy name Jidao, and the late-life name Yelao, was from Fuzhou, Fujian. He was a modern Chinese enlightenment thinker, legalist, and translator, one of the 'advanced Chinese' who sought truth from Western countries in modern Chinese history. Yan Fu systematically introduced Western sociology, politics, political economics, philosophy, and natural sciences to China. He translated works such as 'On the Origin of Species,' 'Wealth of Nations,' 'Introduction to Sociology,' and 'On Liberty.' His translations had a significant impact and were among the most important enlightenment translations of the 20th century in China.

He advocated the 'Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance' standard for translation, which has had a profound influence on the Chinese translation and literary communities," Sun Ying said loudly, catching up to Chen Yao and Lin Qiangsheng.

Seeing the two turn to look at him, a hint of intellectual superiority flashed across Sun Ying's face as he continued, "Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance: Faithfulness is the most basic, meaning the translator should accurately convey the original meaning, i.e., be faithful to the original. Expressiveness is the main requirement for the translation, meaning the translation should be smooth and fluent. Elegance means the translation should be refined and elegant."

Sun Ying's face glowed as he finished, and a sense of admiration and reverence for the great man was evident in his tone and demeanor, as if he were standing alongside a great figure.

"Oh!" Chen Yao nodded, looking at Sun Ying's dramatic pose and the meaningful theory, and chuckled.

"Ahem," Lin Qiangsheng coughed loudly, drawing everyone's attention back to him. The girls had followed them again! He was flabbergasted!

Lin Qiangsheng nodded heavily and said, "Good, Comrade Sun Ying, your answer is correct! Yan Fu and his Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance theory are very important. I want to start an interest group to study and understand his theory!"

At the same time, Lin Qiangsheng thought to himself, "After understanding it, I can criticize and oppose this theory!"

Yan Fu's Faithfulness and Expressiveness were not the problem, but the Elegance was a serious issue! This Elegance had packaged and delivered the essence of Chinese culture to foreigners! After Yan Fu, shameless literati acted as cultural traitors, developing the "Elegance" in translation theory to the extreme!

In Lin Qiangsheng's heart, he deeply detested Yan Fu's Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance! These shameless literati freely gave away China's excellent literary vocabulary to foreigners, who didn't even pay for it. Wasn't this a form of self-degradation?

Look at how the Japanese named foreign countries: they called the United States "America," Germany "Doku," Russia "Rusia," and France "Furukoku." Although these names don't sound good, the Japanese have no intention of changing them. Chinese literati, however, gave away the best Chinese words to foreigners and even promoted them, as if the foreigners had no choice but to use them. "Such a good thing, if you don't use it, it's a waste of my hard work!" For example, "America," "Germany," "France" were names given in modern times. After the reform and opening up, they gave away names like "Mercedes-Benz," "BMW," "Volkswagen," "Porsche," and "Bentley" for free. In the 21st century, these literati even gave a beautiful name to a desert in the United States, calling it "Yosemite"!

There are many similar examples, all given away by these cultural traitors, leaving the Chinese people with no good names to use. Just look at the names in the future; it's ridiculous!

More literati are still using the Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance theory to undermine Chinese culture. For example, the famous Champs-Élysées in France and the city of Florence in Italy, which Xu Zhimo named "Feilengcui" during his visit, writing an essay about it and staying there for a night.

In China, the name "Feilengcui" has generated countless literary researchers, and numerous papers have been written about it. The media and cultural programs have also highly praised the name "Feilengcui." "Cultural people" have repeatedly studied the name "Feilengcui," and more "literati" have tried to create beautiful Chinese names for foreign places, people, and mountains.

By creating a good name, they can write books, rise to prominence, and enjoy a high status, with the name and their reputation forever linked. Look at how these shameless Chinese literati are undermining Chinese culture!

Even the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Michael Rudd, who has a diplomatic background, joined in the fun, being given the name "Lu Kewen." Who knows which shameless person gave him such a name? In a TED talk, Lu Kewen said with a sense of superiority, "Kewen, the cultural terminator. From Kevin to Kewen, it's a transcendence!" And then he went on to curse, "Those Chinese bastards, they want to kill us all!"

When foreigners like him come to China, the Chinese people give them extremely beautiful names. Lin Qiangsheng often wondered in his past life if these people were all shameless! Giving away their good things for free, promoting them for free, and feeling honored by it! "I'm honored that you use the name I gave you!" What kind of spirit is this?

Lin Qiangsheng couldn't describe their mentality. When giving away these good names and terms to foreigners, he believed they must have felt both joy and urgency. If foreigners didn't use the names they created, they would feel sad and melancholic!

These people have a natural sense of inferiority, suppression, and shame towards foreigners. The feelings they had when getting close to foreigners, Lin Qiangsheng didn't dare to think about, and thinking about it made him feel terrible!

Therefore, he wanted to organize such a literary research group, and only now, in 1978, was it still possible! Starting now, they could work hard to remove this cultural disease before it was too late!

Fortunately, it was still 1978, and the reform and opening up had not yet begun. The comrades could still work hard to defeat, eliminate, and eradicate these cultural roots of shame!

"Great! Sun Ying, if you're willing to join the Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance study group, that's wonderful! Welcome!" Lin Qiangsheng looked at the young literary enthusiast with a smile. To him, who joined wasn't important; as long as they were under his leadership, Sun Ying would eventually follow his lead.

Sun Ying looked at Chen Yao and saw her curious gaze. He no longer cared who organized the group. He was already involved in many interest groups and didn't mind joining one more.

Sun Ying nodded with a reserved air and said, "Just let me know when there's an activity." He ran his hand through his hair.

Lin Qiangsheng nodded, took out four or five ten-yuan bills from his pocket, took Chen Yao's hand, and slapped the money into her palm, saying generously, "Chen Yao, take it! From now on, you're the organizational minister of our Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance study group! Keep this 50 yuan as our group's activity fund!"

For a moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on the blue ten-yuan bills. Sun Ying's eyes widened as he looked at Lin Qiangsheng and the money, disbelieving.

Everyone thought, "He just handed over the money so easily?!"

Chen Yao nodded, counted the five blue bills, and said excitedly, "I've never been an organizational minister before! How do we set up the study group? Qiangsheng, can you teach me?"

Chen Yao knew Lin Qiangsheng had money, and the little girl didn't pay much attention to the amount. She was excitedly thinking about how to set up the study group, knowing she couldn't do it alone.

Sun Ying quietly raised his hand and said to Chen Yao in a low voice, "I know a girl, a senior like me, who can help you."

Sun Ying then turned to Lin Qiangsheng and hesitantly asked, "The study group should buy some books, right? Can I buy some books at the Xinhua Bookstore to enrich the group?"

Lin Qiangsheng smiled and nodded, saying, "Sure. As long as it's related to translation, you can buy some, but don't waste money. Our funds are limited."

Sun Ying smiled, secretly thinking about the books he had long wanted to buy.

Lin Qiangsheng turned to Chen Yao and said, "Yao Yao, keep a record of the expenses. You'll be in charge of most of the group's activities, and we'll have a senior help you when needed."

Chen Yao nodded heavily and said earnestly, "Qiangsheng, don't worry! I'll take good care of the money and organize the group well." Chen Yao smiled happily. She had long wanted to join a group at school, and she never thought Lin Qiangsheng would let her organize one. Chen Yao knew this was a rare opportunity and was determined to do her best.

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