British writer.

Chapter 250 One Hundred Steps Ahead
  Paris,

University of Paris.

Winter is still a poetic season for Mediterranean climates,

Although the weather is cold, there are still many sunny days, adding a unique charm to the place.

Paul Langevin is on his way to the laboratory.

He wears glasses,

The wind blew over, causing the temples to make a soft "click-click" sound.

The students passing by were in small groups.

Their steps were fast and in the same direction, seemingly heading towards the library.

There was a sound of discussion,

""Hunting"... the name doesn't sound like a science fiction work..."

"Is "Country Teacher" similar?"

"That's right. Who knows what shocking works Professor Lu can write~"

"No, my teacher has definite information. This time "Hunting" is indeed not a science fiction novel, but a serious literature. Moreover, "Hunting" was released on the same day in Britain and France, and it is more valued than "Chao Wen Dao" .”

……

Several people passed by in a hurry.

Langevin stopped and turned around.

I have been busy with my Ph.D. recently, and I didn’t even hear about Lu publishing a new book.

He really liked the fantasies in "The Country Teacher",
  To be precise, there is probably no one who doesn’t like physics.

Langevin hesitated for a moment, but finally continued walking towards the laboratory without changing direction.

During the most critical period of studying for your degree, you must not be distracted.
  Let’s not let the teacher catch the pigtails!
  Not long after, he arrived at his destination.

The teacher Pierre Curie is already waiting,
  However, he did not make any preliminary preparations for the experiment. Instead, he leaned against the window sill with his buttocks and read a book with squinted eyes.

The title of the book is "Hunting".

Langevin greeted: "Teacher?"

Pierre's eyebrows twitched,
  He looked at Langevin, just said a shallow "hmm", and continued to bury his eyes in the book, seeming to be completely uninterested in his students.

The gas heater was clearly on high, but the atmosphere in the room was extremely cold.

Langevin lowered his head,
  "Teacher, should I prepare now?"

Pierre still looked cold.
  "Ah."

The two men had a tacit understanding.

On November 1911, 11, France's "La Presse" published an article: "Love Story: Madame Curie and Professor Langevin",
  The article stated that when Pierre was alive, Langevin had a close relationship with Madame Curie.

Einstein even supported this matter, comforting in a letter to Marie Curie: "If they love each other, no one can care."

Of course, in early 1902, Langevin had not yet received his doctorate, so it was impossible for him to have any outrageous behavior with his tutor's wife.

Otherwise, I don’t need a certificate! ?

But there are some secrets that even if Pierre and his wife have a cold relationship, it is impossible not to feel it.

He knew that nothing happened to his students and his wife.
  But he was just upset.

Langevin is indeed guilty,

"Gu..."

He swallowed and concentrated on adjusting the equipment.

Other laboratories have operators, but Curie's laboratory does not. As a doctoral student, I have to do it myself, and I even have to wash the bottles and test tubes myself.

The reason is very clear to Langevin.

And even if he didn't know what was going on in his mind, he didn't dare to ask.

The two of them didn't say a word,

"..."

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere in the laboratory was extremely strange.

After an unknown amount of time, Langevin said: "Teacher, everything has been adjusted."

Pierre: "Hmm..."

This small nasal sound indicates that I heard it.

Lang Zhiwan was helpless,
  "Then I will..."

Snapped--

The sound of a book closing interrupted Langevin's request for instructions.

Pierre looked serious,
  "Your degree..."

Pause slightly.

In Langevin's heart, ten thousand grass and mud horses galloped past,

heart says,

If I want to be killed or chopped into pieces, can I say something happy about it?

What are you gasping for?

It’s too torturous!

But Pierre can still distinguish between public and private affairs.

What's more, isn't the hat still on?

He said: "Mr. Langevin, you were at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge under the guidance of Joseph. You already have a profound understanding of rays and radioactivity. You should be able to do experiments by yourself, right?"

The implication is that I am not ready to give guidance at all.

Langevin has long been used to it.
  In the early days, Pierre was quite enthusiastic;
  Until Marie Curie appeared, even if Langevin tried his best to hide it, his mood swings were inevitably noticed.

No way, men also have a sixth sense.

Langzhiwan said respectfully: "I have no problem."

Pierre nodded,
  "That you're busy."

He found a place to sit down and continued reading.

Langevin on the other side began to do the paperwork before the experiment, mainly making forms.
  In this way, the two were silent for a while.

suddenly,

"Cough cough cough..."

Pierre coughed.

Langevin looked up,
  "teacher?"

Pierre seemed a little hesitant.
  After a while, he held up "Hunting" in his hand and said, "Have you read this book?"

Langevin replied: "I haven't seen it yet."

Pierre nodded,
  "It's normal. You may still be able to find Professor Lu's books in bookstores outside, but it's hard to find them in universities. There are too many students and teachers who like him. This is a trial version sent by Henry, and there are some misprints. and formatting issues.”

Langevin reacted for a while before realizing that he was referring to Henri Poincaré.

Pierre placed the book on the table,
  "Look at it."

Langevin:? ? ?

He looked confused, and his mind couldn't keep up with the other person's rhythm.

But Pierre was still nagging: "It is said that at the request of Professor Lu, two ancient Chinese sayings were printed on the title page of the official version, 'nature is good', 'nature is evil' and so on."

Langevin, as a Frenchman, certainly didn't understand.

He slowly picked up the book,

"Teacher, have you finished reading?"

Pierre mocked: "You still know how to think about me?"

He waved his hand,

"I read that book over and over again, for the third time just now. Now, I want you to read it."

Langevin stuttered a little and asked in confusion: "Then what do you want me to read?"

Pierre glanced at the student and said,
  "What else can I read? Of course, reading."

"oh oh."

Although he was still very confused, Langevin was sensible——

For the sake of the degree certificate, whatever the instructor says is whatever it is.

He slowly opened the book,

At first, he was cautious, raising his eyes from time to time to peek at Pierre's reaction.
  But this state of affairs did not last long.

The sense of immersion in "Hunting" is really strong!
  He read it quickly.

When I looked up again, it was already setting sun outside.
  The afterglow of the setting sun filled the entire sky, dyeing the world a golden color.

Before I knew it, I had been reading for more than four hours.

Looking at the sunshine outside, Langevin subconsciously glanced at the end of the novel again,

"

'I can't see who that person is.

He stood on a high slope.

Stand in the sun. ’

"

Langevin shook and threw the book away suddenly, feeling an indescribable and unexplained sense of oppression in his heart.

Pierre asked: "Why throw the book away? Do you think Lu's writing is not good?"

Langzhiwan smiled bitterly,
  "What's wrong with the writing? On the contrary, it's so well written! As I read this book, I felt a chill lingering on my back, as if it was about to engulf me. It was also like there were countless pairs of eyes staring at me. , it’s really scary.”

Pierre sneered,
  "You're not the 'me' in the book, why are you so scared?"

This question is highly offensive.

Where can I not hear Langevin?
  He couldn't help but retort: ​​"Teacher, you mean that you have no sympathy for Lucas at all?"

After saying that, he himself was shocked.
  If it were in the past, facing a teacher who holds the power of life and death, I would never say anything sarcastic.
  Even if I were to say it, I wouldn't use such a tone that doesn't deserve a beating.

But after watching "Hunting", I became addicted without realizing it.
  Where does the magic of this book come from?
  Pierre pondered,
  "Of course. Of course I pity Lucas. But what would you do if you were Lucas's neighbor or friend, or the parent of a student in that girls' school?"

Langevin said excitedly: "Of course we have to find out the truth! You can't just assume that Lucas is guilty without evidence, right? This is too unreasonable!"

Pierre curled his lips contemptuously,
  "Unreasonable, but reasonable."

He asked back: "You just said that you want to find out the truth. What if you can't find out the truth? Just like the situation in "The Hunt", do you have the heart to find out? Let the girls recall the scene of being bullied over and over again, and constantly think about it. Those details?”

Langevin said: "But the end result is that those vivid details were made up by them."

Pierre spread his hands,
  "The truth in the novel depends entirely on Professor Lu's thoughts. Then, if you are not reading a novel but reality, how can you predict it?"

As soon as these words came out, the two looked at each other,

The atmosphere in the entire laboratory became tense.

Langevin understood at this moment that what the tutor wanted to talk about was not the content of "Hunting" at all, but his relationship with Madame Curie.

Happened or not?
  Should we nip problems in the bud?

……

Reason told Langevin to just shut up.

But after watching "Hunting", he couldn't help but,

"I beg to differ."

Pierre waved his hand,
  "You haven't married a wife yet... Ahem... I mean, you don't have children yet, you don't understand. If by chance, you also have a daughter of Carla's age in that school, what will you do? What will you do? Can you be 'noble'?"

Langevin shrugged.

"Teacher, your statement is ridiculous. I can ask the same question. Why do you think you can't be Lucas?"

Pierre said: "You are taking Lucas's place."

Langevin replied: "Lucas didn't do anything evil anyway, so it doesn't seem to be a problem for me to be a substitute. On the other hand, I can't be a substitute for those who have really done evil and those who are judged morally without evidence."

Silence falls again,
  "..."

"..."

"..."

Pierre looked at Langevin, clenching his fists and bulging veins.

He said: "'Hunting'... this is a really good name."

Langevin didn't answer.

To be honest, he felt a little regretful.

But the atmosphere is already in place and must be resisted.

Anyway, the two of them were discussing novels, not cuckoldry.

Pierre said: "The residents of the town don't know whether Lucas harmed those girls, but since the suspicion exists, it cannot be erased. What do you think they should do?"

"Tsk..."

Langzhiwan was slightly speechless.
  "Teacher, what you said doesn't sound like a scientist at all. Instead, you sound like a sophist."

Pierre asked: "What?"

Langevin whispered: "You said, 'Since doubt already exists, it cannot be erased.' Is this an axiom? When writing a paper, can you quote this sentence directly?"

Pierre actually laughed,
  "It seems that the axioms in our hearts are different. I think that when there is a possible criminal around, the first thing to do is to stay away from him, isolate him, or even eliminate him. This is the safest way for the children."

Langzhiwan sighed,
  "Teacher, you still haven't answered my question. If you..."

Pierre waved his hand,

"If I am the possible criminal, then I admit defeat. Because I think selfishness is human nature, and it is also an excellent instinct that humans have survived for thousands of years."

Langevin was disdainful,
  He felt that Pierre was suitable to be Napoleon in "Animal Farm", so he told the donkeys and mules:
  "Don't blame others for being persecuted. If you are to blame, blame human beings' selfish nature."

The knife didn't hit my neck, so I didn't know it hurt.

Of course, both of them knew that each other's current opinions were mixed with too many unobjective factors, so there was really nothing to continue discussing.

Pierre said: "In that case, let me post a book review tomorrow."

Langevin also agrees,

"Yes, let everyone be the judge."

……

Dirty——

The train whistle sounded behind me,
  Lu Shi walked out of the gate of Paris Station.

The surrounding travelers were hurriedly passing by, dragging suitcases and carrying backpacks, with expressions of anticipation and joy on their faces, or exhaustion and anxiety.

There are many small vendors on both sides of the streets, offering snacks and drinks.
  The cries kept coming and going.

Lu Shi looked around,
  He wanted to find a bookstore and buy an official French version of "The Hunt".

At this time, Romain Rolland came running,
  "Professor Lu, you have finally arrived!"

With that said, he took the luggage from Lu Shi's hand.

Lu Shi quickly snatched it back.
  "Mr. Roland, I am younger than you, so there is no reason for you to be a 'coolie'."

Roland laughed,

"This is called the friendship of the landlord~"

That's what he said, but he was no longer polite to Lu Shi about the luggage.

He said: "Let's go, I brought the college's carriage."

The two of them got into the carriage together.

Lu Shi opened the car curtains and looked at the street scene outside, sighing in his heart,

Less than a year and a half after time travel, I have already visited France three times, which can be considered a deep connection.

Roland didn't know what Lu Shi was feeling.

"Professor Lu, are you looking for a bookstore?"

He raised his buttocks, opened the seat cushion, took out a French version of "Hunting" from the storage space inside, and said, "Here it is, I've prepared it for you."

Lu Shi thanked:

"Thank you."

Then he quickly browsed through it to see if there were any problems, and asked at the same time: "How was the sale?"

Roland said: "Mr. Hetzel hasn't contacted us yet. However, according to our own statistics, we feel that the sales volume should be excellent. Especially in major colleges, students are all looking for Lu, and they will buy your book without thinking." .”

This is the sequela left by "Chao Wen Dao",
  Because of Nicholas II's assistance, "Chao Wen Dao" was out of stock for a long time and was sold out as soon as it was put on the shelves.

Students were worried about a recurrence of the situation, so they rushed to buy.

Lu Shi put down the book,

"Sales are second, the key is evaluation."

"Hunting" is serious literature, and acclaim is given higher priority than box office success.

Roland hesitated.

"Forehead……"

He seemed to be thinking about how to phrase his words.

After a while, he said: "There were a lot of discussions. Many opinions were diametrically opposed to each other, and the contradictions were extremely sharp. Some people said that you see the problem thoroughly and avoid future mistakes for society; some people said that you confuse people with your lies and create for the sake of creation. And create.”

Lu Shi had already expected this,
  "The Hunt" was indeed too advanced when placed at the beginning of the 20th century.

He said: "Tell me more about it."

Roland opened the book and pointed to the title page,

"First of all this."

There are two sentences written on the title page:
  First, "The goodness of human nature is like water that flows down. There is nothing bad about people, and there is nothing that water cannot fail to flow down."

This sentence comes from "Mencius Gaozi [-]",
  To put it simply, "human beings are inherently good by nature";
  Second, "Human nature is evil, and the good ones are fake."

This sentence comes from "Xunzi: Evil Nature", which is translated as "Human nature is evil, and their good behaviors are man-made".
  This is the origin of the theory of evil nature.

Evil nature or good nature?

This philosophical question has been discussed from ancient times to the present, from east to west.

Lu Shi chuckled,

"As far as I know, in Europe, which believes in capital, the inherent evil of human nature is an objective description, not an assumption."

Roland couldn't help but feel embarrassed,
  “We are not ‘faith capital’.”

Lu Shi nodded clearly,

"Okay, it's not true if you say it's not true. But am I right? Here, everyone agrees that sex is evil."

Roland couldn't refute this,

Of course, there is no need to refute.

He whispered: "Professor Lu, if "Hunting" wasn't so well written, how could it have caused such a big discussion? It's not difficult to make everyone accept that human nature is inherently evil, but you just wrote about a child..."

Lu Shi couldn't help but laugh,
  "Isn't it the same with M. Zola's Nana?"

Roland rolled his eyes,

heart says,

Can that be the same?

Nana really started going down a bad path when she was fifteen years old;

And Kara was a complete brat when she falsely accused Lucas, the kind that didn't even have any hair.

The impact of the two books on readers is not at the same level!
  Those people who wanted to smear Zola must have had their CPUs burned on the spot when they saw Lu Shi's article.

Lu Shi smiled,
  "On the one hand, I firmly believe that human nature is inherently evil; on the other hand, I believe that children are angels and cannot lie. Isn't this hypocritical?"

Roland raised his hands in French military salute,
  "Professor Lu, I can't help you. But there's no need for you to tell me this. It's not me who's causing trouble."

Lu Shi patted the other party's shoulder and said nothing.

Roland continued: "Besides that, the loudest people are the legal professionals. Their entire circle has also been divided, and they are discussing whether they should pay too much attention to the protection of children."

Lu Shi said "Humph!"
  He felt like he was being used as a weapon.

It is impossible for those legal practitioners who have had real contact with practice not to know that at the beginning of the 20th century, even the problem of child labor was not solved. How can we talk about "over-protection"?
  Without "protection", where does "excess" come from?
  Purely full.

Lu Shi said: "Now is not the time to discuss this. It will take at least [-] years."

Roland curled his lips,
  "Being half a step ahead is called a genius, being one step ahead is called a madman. Professor Lu, if you are a hundred steps ahead, do you know what your name is?"

Lu Shi was puzzled,

"What should it be called?"

Roland replied: "Call him a great man."

A great man.

Lu Shi's head was full of black lines,

￣□￣｜｜

He complained: "If you want to kill me in France, just say so."

Roland couldn't help but smile,
  "Professor Lu, for triggering such a large-scale discussion, "The Hunt" is definitely a classic work. After attending Mr. Zola's funeral, I think you should go to the University of Paris and give a brief talk for an hour."

Lu Shi said, "I can only cheat if I go."

This is true.

Roland also nodded in agreement,

"I think so too. Even if you give answers to the questions raised by "Hunting", it will be difficult to convince an opponent. But I think you should still go."

Lu Shi asked, "Why?"

Roland said: "The University of Paris is the largest university in France with the strongest scientific research. It is unreasonable for a famous scholar like you to have been to Paris three times and never come back. Be careful if they say you are regionally discriminatory."

I didn't expect this to be the reason.

Lu Shi almost burst out laughing,
  "Are you saying that I, a yellow man, am engaging in discrimination? Okay, okay, I'll go."

(End of this chapter)