Brainoid

Qi Min showed obvious interest in Anton's Bolshevik friends-or, in this low ebb of the revolution, she was very interested in supporters of various left-wing forces.

And while eating at the steakhouse, she discovered that what Nick did in New York, although it ultimately failed to proceed, was a good social practice, and other professional organizers could also learn from it. From the perspective of a comrade with a good theoretical foundation, Qi Min suggested that he systematically summarize and record these experiences. Even though it may not be of great use to his future career in Mexico, it will be of great use to other people working in developed countries. But it has greater reference significance for comrades working as workers in cities.

But Nick's problem is also obvious. The biggest problem was that he wanted to set up workers' study groups, but was unable to combine the workers' own needs with Bolshevik theory.

The purpose of organizing workers' learning is certainly to help them solve immediate problems in real life, but the study group itself cannot be limited to solving immediate problems. As a Chinese, Qi Min was often told by her parents that "if you don't worry about the long-term, you must worry about the immediate future." However, "foresight-based" is not just as simple as buying medical insurance and resisting consumerism. According to Nick's study group's study method, it can essentially only improve the masses' ability to resist risks, but it will have little effect on cultivating class consciousness.

(Note: The discussion about the vanguard theory is omitted here. If I write it down, my account will probably be lost)

When the three of them returned home from the steakhouse and sat on the sofa chatting, Qi Min sharply pointed out many problems with Nick's work in New York, and ultimately attributed it to him looking at too many Western theories. There are basically no decent successful cases in Western countries. Ignoring the experience of socialist countries and reading the works of pure theorists may not have any guiding significance for practice.

Qi Min's speech was not pleasant to begin with, but Anton felt a little gloating when he saw his brother being reviled: "Hey, I told you that you should read Selected Works of Mao first and then read the literature on the May Storm."

Although Nick was criticized, being criticized by a comrade was different from being criticized by others. He could only admit it: "OK, OK, I just thought Mao was more focused on military theory."

Regarding this, Qi Min still said sincerely: "The application of theory to practice requires a transformation process. Learn theory and practice at the same time, both aspects must be done."

"Comrade Min, since you have studied these theories and organized study groups, why don't you continue doing revolutionary work?" Nick asked.

"I can't... I discovered when I was in a study group before that I don't have the talent in this area." Qi Min picked up the Coke on the coffee table and took a sip, "You must be a top-notch person to be able to make a revolution. We ordinary people People can only do some basic or applied research and be nothing more than lackeys for undue capital.”

Nick agreed with this self-aware attitude, but Anton secretly felt that she was just lazy.

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Nick stayed here for a week, and when he left he traveled light, leaving behind most of the non-necessities.

After some discussions with Qi Min and Anton, Nick changed his original plan of continuing to organize workers' study groups and focused on social research first. And the scope of the survey is not limited to Mexico, but extended to various countries in Latin America. As a Hispanic, he also has this advantage of combining a common culture with internationalism.

But the lives of Qi Min and Anton have not fundamentally changed. After Nick left, Anton once asked Qi Min: "Min, do you think Nick can succeed?"

"That depends on the definition of 'success'." Qi Min simply replied.

“Obviously ‘success’ here does not mean establishing a proletarian regime,” Anton joked.

"To be honest, in this low ebb period..." Qi Min said with rare pessimism, "Being able to form certain new understandings and experiences is already a 'success'."

"Yes." Anton said, "Human life itself is valuable."

He was a little worried about Nick, but rather than worried, he was a little envious of Nick. Nick is doing his ideal thing, but what is his ideal?

Before the Chinese restaurant was changed hands, Anton's ideal had always been to become an excellent chef - Bolsheviks are also different, and they do not necessarily have to do things related to the labor movement. But now this seems unlikely to be accomplished. Although the salary of delivering food is not bad, it is a job that makes it difficult for him to realize the sense of value. Maybe some people like the feeling of riding through the streets, but Anton just feels tired of being exploited.

At this point, he even envied Qi Min a little. Although Qi Min is still tired even though she earns a very low salary, she is at least doing something that she feels is meaningful.

This may be the first time that Anton asked Qi Min: "Min, what do you plan to do after getting your Ph.D.?"

"Go back to China and find a job." Qi Min huddled up safely in the quilt and said casually, "Don't worry, the cost of living will be lower after returning to China, and we can survive with a makeshift living."

At this time, Anton suddenly realized that it was not that necessary for him to consider achieving self-realization through work in the future. The meaning of the proletariat is to sell one's time in installments. After all, how to sell is not the same?

"I have never been back to China." Anton turned off the bedside lamp, lay down next to her and said, "How about delivering food in China?"

"If you still want to deliver food, I advise you to forget it." Qi Min looked at his still very delicate face in the blurry moonlight and couldn't help but laugh, "Delivering food in China is not like here. .When I was an undergraduate, I interviewed delivery people around the school. They were paid on a piece-rate basis, and their work was very tiring—even more tiring than you are now.”

"Then forget it." Anton said immediately. He can still barely accept this kind of work now, but if the pressure is a little higher, he feels it is completely unnecessary.

"You must still want to be a chef." Qi Min reached out and pinched his cheek and said softly, "When you return to China and find a good job, I will help you learn to be a chef. Even when I have money, I can open a big restaurant and make you the chef."

"Forget it." Anton couldn't help but laugh, "The gap between you and 'rich' is probably enough for Nick to successfully organize ten worker study groups."

At this time, Anton would never have imagined that Qi Min would really hold one-third of the equity of the Brainoid Company in the future, which would be worth enough to open N large hotels - by that time, being a chef would no longer be a concern for him. among the list.

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