Regardless of religious beliefs, it is a common doctrine to outline a state of pure purity. In Christianity, the lily is used as a symbol of purity.

It is said that the name of the lily is in honor of St. Mary, who has been regarded by Christianity as the most holy, noble, and chaste symbol since ancient times. During the Middle Ages, Christians used to worship the Virgin Mary with white lilies.

And in all religious artworks of Christianity, the lily is also subjected to special religious "processing" to conform to its symbolism of chastity and immaculateness. For example, in almost all Christian paintings, the white lily in the hand of the Virgin Mary, i.e. without stamens and pistils, means that there are no sexual evil thoughts.

Presumably, in the view of Christian fundamentalism, mortal sexuality and procreation are themselves a great sin. But as with all religions, the purity that "sinful" mortals can dream of in the connotation of Christian fundamentalist belief is also an unattainable fantasy, so the atonement becomes the only motive for mortals to escape the final judgment.

If you want to live a peaceful life and get rid of the sea of suffering, you must have self-control. Only by resisting the temptation of the outside world can we permanently maintain our innocence that is not polluted. In order to express the purity and sincerity of the faith, some devout Christians maintain a lifelong tradition of never marrying, and naturally because of the superficial abstinence, there are more unknown erosions.

But at least if we look at the roster of history, it is not difficult to find that even in the great era of emancipation and geographical discovery, including the Prince of Lyon, the leader of the Age of Navigation of the Kingdom of Portugal, there are still a group of familiar characters who are fulfilling their beliefs.

Columbus's second brother, navigator and cartographer, Bartolome, never married; Columbus's third brother, a Christian monk. Diego. never married; Columbus's youngest son. Scholar, Ferdinand, never married......

……

Monday, August 18, 1625. Manchester City.

"It's amazing! That's what my voice looks like! ”

The first generation of gramophones, combined with vinyl records made of shellac as raw materials, were tried out on this epoch-making technology at Radio Manchester City, and several European female staff members involved in the real Yàn were surprised.

Although natural resin records also face many problems such as water resistance and durability. The phonograph itself is too stupid and coarse, and it will take a lot of time to perfect it for the technical verification product to finally become a practical commodity, but it has finally achieved a big step forward in the restoration project of the American technology in space-time and space.

The door was open, and in the office across the hallway, there was the joyful laughter of colleagues. Jenny sat alone in the studio break, watching this week's latest edition of Manchester City Weekly with interest.

The headline on the front page is still the same "battlefield victory", after a "decisive victory" on Butterfly Island more than half a month ago, the Caribbean natives of the East Island finally collapsed, and the Chinese and American army and navy swept through the northern part of the East Island in the following time. Hundreds of indigenous prisoners of war were captured, and the Battle of the East Island had entered its final stage.

Defense Minister Zheng Quan accompanied a number of Senate members to Butterfly Island last week. He expressed his condolences to the officers and men of the war, as well as the wounded and sick, and promised that all the combat units would be arranged to return to China for recuperation before the National Day. The Army Command said that it would completely end the Dongdao Campaign by the end of August, so that the people who had moved to Dongdao could enjoy a stable life.

Looking closely, there doesn't seem to be any special news mentioning the casualties on Butterfly Island. The thought of someone fighting on Butterfly Island all the time made Jenny feel weird all the time.

Turning to the back, the public service advertisement for orphan adoption in the Manchester City Welfare Institute has reached its third stage, and the government's support policies continue to increase, but there are still more than 700 orphans who have not yet been found. In addition, the orphan has launched a "nominal adoption" model, in which the adopter does not need to directly form a family adoption relationship with the orphan, but provides assistance to the orphan's growth in the form of counterpart financial assistance, and regularly conducts some family life with the adoptee, and the adoptee still lives in the orphanage.

When she saw this public service announcement, Jenny was very careful, and quietly cut out this layout with scissors and put it in her handbag.

……

In the office of Cheng Daxiong, who has become deputy director, several European-American instrument technicians are whispering around their desks, and a pair of "quirky" instrument drawings make them feel a little tricky. On the drawing, a three-dimensional perspective object similar to a wardrobe is lined with two rows of piano keys, one black and one white, which looks so "ugly".

"Mr. Cheng, this has to be said to be a 'wonderful' piano. But is it true that plucking the strings to striking them really makes a better sound? ”

A long-time harpsichord maker of German musical instruments looked carefully at what could only be called a "concept draft" and frowned slightly. If he hadn't been enlightened, this modern piano played by percussion would not have been made by another Italian musical genius at the beginning of the next century.

"What could be more exciting than a percussion piano with continuous strumming and free control of strong and weak notes?" Cheng Daxiong smiled disapprovingly, rolled up a few piano drawings that he had roughly drawn in a few months, and then shook them back and forth in front of the eyes of several instrument makers, "If it can be born in the hands of one of you, then the whole world will change because of someone, and God will praise and listen!" In addition, I can sponsor you to set up a professional musical instrument manufacturing company to provide the most beautiful musical notes to gentlemen and ladies all over the world. ”

"Oh! Mr. Cheng, I think this kind of instrument drawing is a miracle in itself, I think I can try it" A slightly younger instrument maker quickly stood up, his face ruddy.

"We can try it too!" Several elderly German instrument makers on the side also nodded hurriedly, for fear that they would be excluded, as for what was the mystery of this unbelievable piano, they didn't think it mattered.

"Excellent! The first grant will be given to you first, and then I will give each participant a share of the company, hoping that you can make a truly qualified piano within a year! Cheng Daxiong was also free and easy, directly took out the checkbook, and filled in the figure of $3,000 in a few clicks.

"We're here to help!" Several European-born instrument makers who had long been attached to Radio Manchester City in the form of small workshops were overjoyed at this time and stood up and bent over.

was bustling, and suddenly Cheng Daxiong found that the office door was open. His wife, Jenny, was timidly half exposed outside the door. After a few gestures. A business meeting in the office is over. Only Cheng Daxiong and Jenny are left.

"Recently, I have compiled some new songs into a book, and you can choose freely by yourself in the future." After closing the door, Cheng Daxiong smiled and hugged his wife's shoulders.

"Good ......" Jenny bowed her head slightly, her voice very soft.

From the day I met my husband. Jenny was amazed at the huge musical memory and talent that this tall young man like an aristocratic gentleman possessed, almost every piece of music was so melodious, and it also made her what she is today. Once a humble identity, she naturally held an inferiority complex and trepidation in front of this person for a long time. Even if the relationship between the two has reached the point of husband and wife, this feeling is still so strong.

"What's wrong, not happy today?" It seemed that he found his wife a little absent-minded, and Cheng Daxiong frowned slightly.

"I want to go to church...... Can you stay with me? Jenny looked up and looked carefully into her husband's eyes, but only for a few seconds, and then habitually dodged her gaze to the side, "If you're busy, forget it......"

"Anyway, it's almost time to get off work, so let's go out to eat." took out his pocket watch and looked at it, Cheng Daxiong smiled easily.

……

An hour later. Cheng and Jenny walked side by side out of a small Protestant church in the eastern part of Manchuria's southern suburbs. As the only Christian in the city, it was Cheng Daxiong who won the qualification to build a Protestant church for the European-American citizens living in the southern district.

Lunch break. The streets are clean and spacious, sparsely populated, and many of the passengers in the carriage put their heads out of the windows and took off their hats in front of the big stars. The husband and wife are talented and beautiful, dressed in high-end and dignified clothes, and whenever they appear in public, they will arouse the sighs and envy of the citizens.

Jenny's suffocating depressive expression in the church made Cheng Daxiong a little uncomfortable, and from his wife's vague muttering, Cheng Daxiong seemed to feel some clues. In the final analysis, it is still about children, but the more Jenny blames herself and panics, the more Cheng Daxiong feels irritable in his heart.

"Honey, can we adopt a little one?" Jenny's footsteps suddenly stopped, and she turned sideways, this time mustering up the courage to insist on looking at her husband's face, no longer dodging and avoiding it.

Jenny's adoption is what the government is now making public in the Manchester City Weekly newspaper. A large number of Chinese orphans are now crowded in welfare homes, waiting for citizens to volunteer for adoption. Jenny has secretly visited the orphanage many times and is already familiar with the details of the adoption process.

"You want children right now?" Cheng Daxiong was stunned, and the expression on his face was a little weird.

"I don't know...... Maybe you want to ......" Jenny lowered her head and said with difficulty, "I secretly went to the welfare home yesterday to see it, and there are a few very suitable ......"

"Let's go to dinner first, let's talk about this later!"

Cheng Daxiong looked around and talked about it, which made Jenny even more unable to raise her head. The words of the two stopped instantly, and they continued to walk silently on the street.

……

It was night, and Jenny went home early after the latest episode of the night song show, feeling unwell. Cheng Daxiong took Jenny home on the pretext of working overtime, and then went to the Phantom Bar in the South District of Manchester City to sit alone.

A few years ago, the Phantom Bar has been rebuilt into one of Manchester's premier entertainment and leisure venues in the South End, and is a favourite spot for wealthy citizens living in the South. And the people who can linger here for a long time are even more spendthrift of some people.

In the delicate and dimly lit bar hall with only candlelight, more than a dozen European citizens with high-level mechanic status are talking and laughing, while in the screen compartment in the corner, several Chinese citizens are much more low-key.

"Did you read today's newspaper? It's exhilarating that our army has easily defeated the natives! Now Butterfly Island is ours! A middle-aged European-American senior mechanic held up a wine glass and laughed.

"Our company has officially announced its investment plan for Butterfly Island, which will be published in the Manchester City weekly report next week. You know, John, maybe I'll be the head of the branch department this time! A small European employee belonging to a state-owned agriculture, forestry, fishery and animal husbandry group is also full of expectations.

In recent years, including Radio Mantra, they have spared no effort in national propaganda, setting off a burst of self-pride in the country, and immigrants who have been bullied by fate and are worse than death have gradually fallen in love with this "flamboyant" taste of life in a few years. Looking at the smug expressions of these veteran European immigrants, Cheng Daxiong showed a wry smile.

Talkative among drinkers. A number of young European women dressed in beautiful "simple" dresses served wine and tea to the guests. All of them are generous. And reserved and polite. The people who come here may not all come for the unspoken rules, but such a high-level and eye-catching hostess will indeed make every man who arrives want to be in trouble.

"Wow, it's almost unrecognizable. I said who it was! So coincidentally, it turned out to be Brother Cheng! ”

Suddenly, a somewhat unfamiliar voice sounded in my ears, and I saw a young Chinese man in a suit and leather shoes walking in front of him with a very pretty "little Yanmar".

The person who came was Lu Shengqiang. The current member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, a young man who was laughed at in private by the crossing public as "Chang Kun's brother-in-law".

Although they are also crossers, Cheng Daxiong, who does not like politics, rarely interacts with these comrades in the Congress, even if everyone is together before the founding of the People's Republic of China, but Cheng Daxiong actually does not have many friends. Phantom Bar, Cheng Daxiong is very rare, and the number of times he has come down in a few years can be counted with a single slap.

"What? Leaving your celebrity wife at home and going out to play alone? You're a rarity here. Carol. I asked for a bottle of the best wine, and I talked to Brother Cheng alone. Seeing the expression of this crossing companion who was not very familiar with him was a little tangled. Lu Shengqiang pursed his lips, and the little Yanmar beside him walked away in a playful manner.

A short time later, a bottle of French wine priced at $20 arrived, and the two began to drink in the dim candlelight.

"It's a little hot today, so come out and sit down and relax. But you, as a member of Congress, dare to mix around here? Cheng Daxiong drank wine and said casually.

"I was so busy all day, not only to manage my own company, but also to attend the congressional meeting, and yesterday and Sunday, I was selected to go to the orphanage to promote the national image. Don't have some fun, and don't bend yourself to death? Lu Shengqiang pinched a piece of fruit, and was about to stuff it in his mouth, when he suddenly remembered something, "By the way, I saw your wife yesterday, and I talked to Li Lin and Tong Yue about adopting a child in the welfare home, why are you also going to learn from Changle and his family?" ”

"Speaking of which, these two have had a good relationship with the people in the cabinet in recent years, and they have made a lot of money, and they will naturally show off when they have more money! Do you really think that his Ren Changle and Yang Wenwen's hearts are red? Lu Shengqiang pursed his lips disdainfully and continued, slightly jealous, "If you want me to say, it is estimated that either Ren Changle has a problem, or Yang Wenwen has a problem, and Yang Wenwen's stomach has not moved yet, so ah...... Hey? Brother Cheng, what are you planning, you don't plan to have a child yet, and you still want to continue to be chic for a few years? ”

A trace of anger in his eyes was fleeting, Cheng Daxiong lowered his head and smiled awkwardly, pointing in the direction of the public welfare institute by the way, and made a small joke: "Li Lin and Tong Yue have been publicizing everywhere for more than a month, mobilizing everyone to adopt, and my wife is also curious to go over to see it, which can be regarded as supporting public welfare activities." And your news is too backward, I heard that Yang Wenwen is pregnant. ”

"Oh, that's right...... I don't think we should get involved, except for those who can't have children, it's really not necessary. Who knows what is wrong with these children, and they are not familiar with them. Now so many immigrant families, how can they be arranged, and it is a big deal to increase policy preferences. Lu Shengqiang waved his hand slightly, and then said, "Take us as our own people, even if we have illegitimate children outside, they are our own flesh and blood, aren't they?" ”

"With this attitude, aren't you afraid of being sprayed by Yan Xiaosong?" When Cheng Daxiong heard this, his brows gradually furrowed.

"It's not that they made the trouble, if those Europeans continue to do this, God knows whose ancestors will be sold to Africa! That's a good thing?! Lu Shengqiang snorted disdainfully, "I said a long time ago that someone should be sent to directly establish a stronghold along the coast of the Ming Dynasty and manage immigration affairs." It can not only control the source of immigration, but also lay out in advance. ”

"Who will go?" Cheng Daxiong showed a subtle sneer.

"That's what Qi Jianjun and they are going to deal with, we just proposed to build yì." Lu Shengqiang drank a little too much, the wine on his face was particularly conspicuous in the candlelight, and at the end, he mysteriously lowered his voice, "Brother Cheng, there were a few French girls in the Phantom Bar last month, pure, and the previous German woman and British woman are not the same taste at all......"

"Seems like our first drink today? I'll pay for it. The words were not speculative for more than half a sentence, especially when the other party was still paying attention to Jenny's going to the welfare home, Cheng Daxiong stood up tastelessly.

didn't think about how Lu Shengqiang would spend the night next, after walking out of the bar, Cheng Daxiong stood on the corner of the street for more than half an hour, and then turned around and walked towards a certain community in the north of the block. He plans to visit President Chen Yuanyuan's home and ask two veteran doctors to find answers to some of his inner doubts.

Even if it is still indifferent on the surface, the truth is that none of the time-traveling people can tolerate that they will quietly "disappear" in this historical time and space. Whether Jenny has a problem or a problem himself, this is a stone that Cheng Daxiong has deeply pressed on his heart for more than a year. (To be continued.) )