"There is nothing sadder for the colonized than to be mentally controlled."

"I look forward to India really writing a real epic of Queen Zhangxi, South Africa producing a Zulu mythology, and Mexico writing a history of Aztec blood and tears."

Immediately afterward, the conversation turned to World War II, Germany and Judea, and so on. From Professor Caleb's conversation, Zuo Youyou captured a fleeting "Qing-Japanese War".

"Oh, it's supposed to be the Sino-Japanese War...... No, it was the War of Resistance Against Japan. Professor Caleb hastily changed his words, "Do as the locals do, and we say so, this young lady will be displeased." ”

Zuo Youyou's outstretched chopsticks froze.

She put down her chopsticks and said calmly, "It doesn't matter if I'm happy or not. The name of the war relates to the characterization of this war, which is an objective academic question. We hope you approach it with academic rigor. ”

"Objectively speaking, this is a war that took place between China and Japan, and it ended in a victory for China."

This description is not objective. This was a war of aggression initiated by Japan, and China loved peace, resisted because of Japan's aggression, and won the final victory. ”

"Ma'am." "I apologize for hurting your national feelings," Dr. Caleb said. ”

"You don't need to apologize, it's not emotional. We're having a discussion about the historical facts. Hope it helps your point. ”

"Okay. But I would like to say that I am not inconsiderate of your national feelings; I just want to look at this history from a third-party perspective, without taking a standpoint. ”

"You are not without a position; You only sympathize with the calamity in the distance, but choose to ignore the misfortune that is close at hand. I have just heard you speak out against colonization and support for India, South Africa, and Mexico, and you have shown great sympathy for the plight of the Jews during World War II, but you have taken a cold attitude towards the invaded China. ”

Dr. Caleb was silent.

"Dr. Caleb, only animals are slaves to their circumstances, and people will choose. The history of nations is made up of the choices of hundreds of millions of people; Therefore, it cannot be viewed in isolation from national feelings. ”

Dr. Caleb made a gesture: "Ma'am, let's not spoil the atmosphere here with quarrels. Coffee? Let's go over there and talk about it individually. ”

Zuo Youyou nodded and helped Dr. Caleb bring two cups of coffee. Two people sit opposite each other at the hotel's café.

Dr Caleb said: "I heard about the auction of Xinlingyu in the UK and was very sorry. ”

Zuo Youyou said: "You must know what I mean. In that special era, because of the atrocities committed by Japan in China, the Chinese would not choose to trade with the Japanese at all based on their own national feelings. Yes, I mean Mr. Bai Dajun. ”

"I am an independent researcher, ma'am," Dr. Caleb said. Academia has nothing to do with politics. ”

"It's not politics. Dr. Caleb, I thought we were talking about people themselves. Zuo Youyou said eagerly, and then put the materials he had given to Jiang Shiqin in front of Dr. Caleb.

"Doctor, you see, this is a document in which the Japanese demanded monopoly rights from the Korean government. You see, in traders, the relationship between the Japanese and Wantaihe is obviously a life-and-death competitor, how can the relationship between Mr. Bai Dajun and the Japanese be good? ”

Dr. Caleb didn't speak, he pursed his lips, and the wrinkles on his face deepened.

After a moment, he said mildly, "This is your reasoning, ma'am, and not a direct proof. ”

"Doctor!"

"I need proof."

Zuo Youyou was keenly aware of something, she thought for a moment, and decided to ask directly: "I think you are biased against China. ”

Dr. Caleb shook his head: "I only look at historical facts. ”

"You don't!" Zuo Youyou raised his voice excitedly, "You don't even want to, don't want to take a closer look at this document!" I don't even want to think about what I'm saying! You say that you and Bai Zhonghua are good friends, but you are so arrogant! ”

Dr. Caleb's blue eyes suddenly glowed with a sharp light.

The wrinkles on his face deepened, and after a while, he admitted, "Maybe I'm not objective enough." ”

He paused for a moment and said, "Because of my friend." Bai Zhonghua, what happened to me in the special ten years makes me feel heartache. ”

Zuo Youyou's heart seemed to be smashed by a heavy hammer, her throat was suddenly sour and unspeakable, and the words full of words were obviously on her lips, but she couldn't say anything.

She calmed down and stopped talking.

This is a secret about Bai Dajun and the Bai family.

She knew there was a secret in front of her, a secret that she probably shouldn't have known, but she needed to know.

Zuo Youyou wants to know the crux of the problem.

Lao Shi's vague words flashed through her mind, and he said that Bai Zhonghua was not in good health and quit his job.

Bai Zhonghua died as a result of an accident.

Old man Daishi burned all his letters.

Faintly, there seems to be a line.

Zuo Youyou took a deep breath and made up his mind: "I don't understand. ”

Dr. Caleb said, "Mr. Pak Dajun is an anachronistic person. He was rich, rebellious, free. He's obsessed with collecting and ignorant of politics, and I think in China you'd call him a 'plaything' or a 'gentleman'. He made some untimely remarks, because of these remarks, my friend Bai Zhonghua was affected in a special decade, and lost his life in the accident of the struggle. ”

Zuo Youyou holds the coffee cup in both hands.

She had to push very hard to contain the shaking of her hands.

What did Dr. Caleb mean that Old Man Daishi was the culprit who killed Bai Zhonghua?

In that special era, the old man Daishi offended people and said the wrong thing, so it caused Bai Zhonghua to die unexpectedly?

"Mr. Bai Zhonghua died in 1972?" Zuo Youyou asked. Because the old man Dai Shi died in 1972.

"In 1971." Dr. Caleb said, "It's a pity. ”

Zuo Youyou put down the cup.

That's right, the time is right.

If it was the fault of the old man Daishi that led to Bai Zhonghua's death in 1971, then it is not difficult to explain that the old man Daishi died in 1972 after burning all his letters.

He seemed disheartened when he died, and he didn't even compile his own collection.

Dr. Caleb said: "I don't think Mr. Pak has national feelings. He seemed to be an anarchist who had completely and thoroughly devoted his soul to the ancient Chinese culture. You know how many cultural relics were destroyed in the war during those turbulent times. If the Japanese could preserve the artifacts, I think he would be willing to do it. ”

Zuo Youyou looked up at Dr. Caleb's serious and gloomy face.

So, it turned out to be the opinion of the old man Dai Shi that influenced Dr. Caleb's position?