Lu stretched lazily.
"In any case, using a typewriter definitely improves efficiency compared to handwriting and is better for the spine and neck," he said.
The two Brits looked at him differently, and the atmosphere became strange.
After a while, Scott finally spoke up, "Uh... should we continue with the main topic?"
Lu nodded, "Of course."
Scott pondered for a moment and said, "Mr. Lu, you should know about the layout of our Manchester Guardian, in addition to news editorials, we also have literary reviews and book recommendations. Next Thursday, we plan to focus on 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.'"
The Scottish People's Supplement is published on Wednesday, and the Manchester Guardian's book reviews are the next day, so it's obviously a strong alliance between two left-wing newspapers. A great combination.
Lu didn't immediately agree. He lowered his head for a moment and asked, "What do you need me to do?"
Scott and Cooper exchanged glances, slightly excited.
Scott said, "Mr. Lu, as the author of 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,' you may need a full page for the interview. At that time, the photographer will take your picture, so we will prepare a more formal set of clothes, and also..."
He looked embarrassed and uncomfortable, his gaze briefly lingering on Lu's braid.
It was self-explanatory.
Lu knew what was going on. "Cut my braid?" he asked.
Scott scratched his nose. "Sorry."
Lu waved his hand, "It's okay. It's just cutting off a braid, not a big deal. Mr. Scott, you can rest assured."
Chinese students studying abroad who didn't speak the language, wore braids, and wore robes were a stark contrast to foreigners in suits. Walking on the street, they were like a "beautiful scenery," attracting foreigners to stop and stare, and their classmates who attended classes with them, already looking down on them, would further ostracize them because of their strange attire. To fit in, many had their braids cut.
Scott seemed relieved. "Forcing others to change customs is not what a gentleman would do, but for the sake of taking photos... sigh..."
This was followed by a series of apologies, as if possessed by Natsume Soseki.
Lu said indifferently, "Alright, alright, Mr. Scott, if there's nothing else, we'll be leaving."
He nodded to Natsume Soseki beside him, who understood and left his seat.
Cooper and Scott personally escorted them to the office door, and handed the payment to Lu in an envelope, then bid them farewell, standing on the stairs watching them leave until the two oriental students got on the carriage. Their figures remained motionless, like two sentinels, until the carriage left.
Natsume Soseki couldn't help but shiver. "Hiss..."
Lu laughed heartily, "What's wrong?"
Natsume Soseki looked puzzled, "I don't know, I just feel like they... they..."
He seemed to have difficulty finding the right words for a moment.
Lu helped him out, "Went overboard?"
Natsume Soseki nodded solemnly.
Indeed, for the Scottish People's Supplement, Lu was the key to boosting sales. Cooper's hospitality was normal, but what about Scott?
According to the trend, as a rising star, the Manchester Guardian was already threatening the positions of The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Why was the editor of such a national newspaper so interested in a new writer?
It was incomprehensible...
But Lu had no doubts. "Normal. Scott wants to use my status."
Natsume Soseki was surprised.
What kind of status?
As a writer?
As a student studying abroad?
As a Chinese?
...
He became increasingly puzzled.
Lu continued to explain, "Why do you think Scott wants me to cut my braid?"
Natsume Soseki said, "To fit into London society, right?"
Lu nodded, "Right. To put it nicely, it's called 'fitting in,' but to put it bluntly, it's 'looking like a normal person.' As a Chinese person, a person from a country ravaged by the Eight-Nation Alliance, 'looking like a normal person'."
Suddenly, Natsume Soseki's eyes widened.
He understood now.
At this moment, there were several earth-shattering events in British politics:
Women's suffrage,
Protectionist policies,
Military expansion,
The Anglo-Boer War,
...
On these battlefields, Conservative and Liberal MPs were fighting fiercely, with The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and the Manchester Guardian also exchanging fire from afar.
And now, Lu appeared out of nowhere,
A Chinese,
A student studying abroad,
A mystery novelist,
His appearance seemed to declare loudly, "Even in a invaded country, the people are still normal."
Moreover,
"The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" had several modifications, all related to the Boer War, directly pointing out the barbaric behavior of the British in the war.
This was a full stack of buffs!
For the Manchester Guardian, which leaned towards the Liberal Party, was there a better person to use than Lu?
Furthermore,
"The Eight-Nation Alliance is probably rampaging in the capital, right? Maybe it won't be long before the 'good news' arrives."
Lu's eyes flickered.
In fact, according to the time, the Forbidden City should have fallen,
But due to the communication level at the beginning of the 20th century, influenced by channel pollution and weak radio wave intensity, many news had to be transmitted manually. It was normal for news to be delayed by a week, so there was no news from London yet.
Looking at Lu, Natsume Soseki suddenly spoke with a tone of disgust and contempt, "The British are really arrogant... Hmph... looking like a normal person... a normal person..."
Normal and abnormal,
Civilized and barbaric,
Why should the British define?
What was the essential difference between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party?
Ridiculously, one of the principles of the Manchester Guardian's newspaper was: absolute independence, not influenced by any party.
Natsume Soseki muttered to himself, "Nonsense!"
Lu patted his shoulder and said, "Wolves, tigers, leopards, eagles, lions, snakes, and scorpions, even if they wear human skin, they cannot hide their greed in their hearts. I'll say it again, 'Ideologies on the lips, but business in the heart,' they are only thinking about fame and fortune."
"..."
"..."
"..."
For a while, the two fell silent.
After a while, Natsume Soseki spoke again, "本当に申し訳ありません!(I'm really sorry!) "
He knelt down in the cramped space of the carriage.
For the third time in recent days.
Lu couldn't help but feel helpless and said, "Alright, it's not your fault."
Natsume Soseki shook his head, "No, I must apologize for my country. And you should know, if it weren't for those two hundred million taels of silver, the Ministry of Education wouldn't have had the financial resources to expand Japan's overseas study program, and I might not have been able to come."
Two hundred million taels of silver,
This was the amount of compensation in the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
Because the Eight-Nation Alliance had been mentioned just now, Japan was also involved, so Natsume Soseki apologized.
Lu pulled him up, "Your apology won't change anything, and I can't accept your apology on behalf of China. Besides, you..."
He hesitated.
In fact, Natsume Soseki had always been a staunch critic of the Meiji government, often speaking out against it.
But all that happened after Natsume Soseki returned to Japan, so Lu couldn't say anything.
He changed the subject, "As fellow students studying abroad, we should unite."
Natsume Soseki nodded frantically.
The future literary giant watched as he was being duped.