Chapter 43: The Long-Awaited Banquet

“Mr. Lin, would you be willing to join me for lunch?”

After the interview ended, Deng Huixin extended the invitation, her eyes fixed intently on Lin Ran.

Lin Ran firmly declined: “No, I still have to return to school to prepare my lectures.”

“Alright.” Deng Huixin had no choice but to seek another opportunity.

On the day the interview concluded, letters from Xiangjiang citizens flooded the Xiangjiang Radio Station like falling paper.

The most frequent request was to replay “Bi Shang Guan,” composed and lyricized by Lin Ran and performed by Gu Zhengqiu.

“Professor Lin wrote it beautifully; please play it several more times.”

Besides this, there were also lavish praises for Lin Ran:

“Professor Lin is truly talented; we hope he comes to Xiangjiang more often.”

“Could Xiangjiang University invite Professor Lin to become a permanent faculty member?”

The second most common request was for Lin Ran to remain at Xiangjiang University as a teacher.

Meanwhile, Gu Zhengqiu, who had retired from the opera stage for years and came to Xiangjiang only to accompany her husband on official business, was now wildly sought after by local theaters and opera troupes due to her performance of “Bi Shang Guan,” with high offers to secure her for performances.

Major newspapers in Xiangjiang also competed to report on the interview.

Yet newspapers with different stances presented nearly opposite accounts.

“July 18, 1960, First Page of the Ta Kung Pao:

A Child of East and West, Singing of Homeland and the Longing of an Exile

Professor Lin Ran’s Radio Talk on National Affairs Inspires Xiangjiang with a New Song

By our reporter Wen Yanzhai: Yesterday at 3 p.m., globally renowned Chinese-American mathematician Professor Lin Ran was invited to the Xiangjiang Radio interview segment to discuss the mysteries of mathematics and express his feelings for his homeland. During the program, Professor Lin introduced the concept of ‘Cultural Huaguo,’ expressing his deep attachment and sense of belonging to China’s landscapes and cultural history. He personally composed the lyric poem ‘Bi Shang Guan,’ performed by the famed actress from Taiwan, Ms. Gu Zhengqiu.

As soon as the program aired, Hong Kong was shaken; voices throughout the streets and alleys begged to hear ‘Bi Shang Guan’ again...”

The Ta Kung Pao focused entirely on the concept of ‘Cultural Huaguo’—a cultural identity that would take decades to refine, now suddenly introduced, it was a thunderclap for the Chinese world amid today’s complex political climate.

Cultural bloodlines are the most potent TZ weapon.

The Ta Kung Pao’s stance was clear; on the concept of ‘Cultural Huaguo,’ other newspapers held nearly identical views.

But English-language newspapers harshly criticized Professor Lin for holding outdated ideas, despite his outstanding scientific achievements, accusing him of clinging to ancient Chinese traditions.

This was only natural: the more people in Xiangjiang identified as ‘Cultural Huaguo,’ the harder it became for England to govern.

Smaller tabloids, having exhausted all other angles of Lin Ran’s story and seeing the major papers fixated on ‘Cultural Huaguo,’ shifted their focus to the song “Bi Shang Guan” itself to attract readers.

For instance, the newly founded Ming Pao published an article personally penned by Zha Liangyong:

“...The climax of the program was the debut of ‘Bi Shang Guan.’ The melody is rooted in Erhuang opera, fused with Western orchestration, and Ms. Gu Zhengqiu’s voice flows with divine grace. Before the song ended, our reporters interviewing residents in Tongluowan reported: when they heard the lines ‘All of Tang’s rich ink and color, in an instant, fleeting shadows and shimmering light reflect the palace halls, mistaking tonight for what year,’ seven or eight guests in the room all covered their faces.

Elder Mr. He Jitao sighed, leaning on his desk: ‘Professor Lin’s song carries three times the sorrow of Wang Guowei’s “Words of the Human World.”’”

In an instant, Lin Ran, the concept of ‘Cultural Huaguo,’ and the name “Bi Shang Guan” shook all of Hong Kong.

In the hillside villa of the Li family in Hong Kong, their wealth was sufficient to obtain a copy of the song’s recording from Xiangjiang Radio to play at home.

In Li Huiling’s room alone stood the most expensive German Grundig radio-recorder available, and Gu Zhengqiu’s voice echoed through the chamber.

Li Huiling’s pale feet dangled over the edge of the bed; across from her sat Li Shaoyuan, reluctantly dragged in—he had just gotten summer break and was eager to meet his female classmate.

“What now, Helen? Haven’t I told you countless times what kind of man Professor Lin is?

Charming, handsome, erudite, bridging East and West.” Li Shaoyuan listed only the best traits.

Li Huiling rose, grasped her brother’s hand, and swung it back and forth: “That’s not what I mean—I mean, can you go back and attend his seminar?”

Li Shaoyuan shook his head vigorously: “Impossible. Have you ever heard of someone who dropped out being allowed to re-enroll?”

Li Huiling pouted, then her eyes lit up with an idea:

“No, it’s still possible!

If you kneel outside his classroom door and beg Professor Lin to let you return, he’ll feel embarrassed and won’t want to lose face—he’ll let you go back!”

Li Shaoyuan’s face turned pale, his eyes rolling skyward: “Professor Lin won’t lose face—I’ll be the one utterly humiliated! No way! I said no, and it’s final!”

Li Huiling’s eyes held a hint of threat: “Brother, then I won’t be able to keep quiet about you juggling three girls.”

Li Shaoyuan pleaded: “You’re my sister, not my brother—just tell me what you want.”

Li Huiling turned Li Shaoyuan around and began massaging his back: “I don’t want anything—I just want you to invite Professor Lin to dinner at our home, so we can meet him.”

Li Shaoyuan shook his head again: “You know Professor Lin hasn’t set foot in any family’s door in Xiangjiang—he wrote ‘Bi Shang Guan’ to declare his stance.

Why would he want to get entangled with Xiangjiang’s families?

Every major and minor family here has ties—somehow—to England, China, Germany, or elsewhere.

Professor Lin won’t come.”

He lowered his voice further: “It’s said that Senior Superintendent Thomas personally arranged Professor Lin’s security, and all such invitations have been turned down by Thomas.

But if you really want to go, there is one way.”

Li Shaoyuan stretched out his words, waiting for his sister to beg.

Li Huiling fell for it immediately: “Brother, tell me—I know you’re the best to me!”

Li Shaoyuan finally explained: “This Saturday night, the Governor will host a banquet for Professor Lin at Government House. Father will surely receive an invitation—you can ask him to bring you along.

That’s far more likely than me inviting Professor Lin to our home.”

The Governor’s banquet for Lin Ran was delayed until July 20 because they were waiting for the British monarch’s honor to arrive from the mainland—time was needed to transport the medal from London to Xiangjiang.

The official investiture must be performed personally by the Queen in London, but the award ceremony could be conducted by the Governor on her behalf.

Lin Ran looked forward to it—he anticipated meeting Dong Haoyun, aged forty-eight, and Xu Aizhou, aged seventy-nine, at the banquet.