The Twelve Years: Song of the Unsung Friends

The disappearance of the T-shaped wooden box should have been a secret.

But the news spread like wildfire.

When the delegation arrived in Paris, there were already several versions of rumors about the loss of documents. It’s said that the Japanese spy bought out his entourage and stole the documents when he passed through Japan for a long distance. It was said that he was stolen during the middle of the cruise. It was also said that when he was in Yokohama, an imperial physician came to see him. It was the chief executive who was weak-willed and gave the documents to the Japanese... Newspaper rumors were flooding, and the Japanese were also forcing the chief executive to refute the rumors that someone wanted to deliberately influence China-Japan relations.

Rumors breed and cannot be contained.

A public opinion war kicked off before the peace conference began.

As for this file box, Fu Dongwen didn't mention it to her on the cruise ship, even when he arrived in New York. Shen Xi learned of this when he saw the newspaper in the apartment he rented in Paris.

...

And now, Shen Xi discovered that the newspaper from mid-December last year actually appeared on Fu Dongwen's desk.

Outside the window, it is early summer and June.

Shen Xi held the newspaper, his heart floating in the water.

Since I rented this apartment, newspapers, English, French, and Japanese and Chinese newspapers have been everywhere in the study. Fu Tongwen and Tan Qingxiang once told her that newspapers and periodicals are a battlefield, which can guide public opinion and win popular support.

So once they arrived in Paris, the delegation sent a telegram back to China. The first sum of money required was public opinion funds, which was used to manage the Paris and large newspapers and win more public support for China. Fu Tongwen also invested a lot of money to manage newspapers in Japan and China, so the most packages he received were newspapers.

Shen Xi removed the December one, and the next one is May, which is about the domestic student movement.

Fu Tongwen walked into the study. He was wearing a white shirt and trousers, but he wore a Chinese-style long coat on his shoulders, which was gray and white.

He never wears the old clothes. Shen Xi asked the Minister in France for the address of a Chinese tailor in private, and he was specially made to sew it. The suit is too restrictive and heavy, but the long coat is light.

Fu Dongwen was surprised when he first saw the long gown. Although he was not used to it, he also put on a warm coat as suggested by Shen Xi.

After a long time, I realized the benefits Shen Xi said.

"Just look at what the newspaper says, it's all old news," he approached, and handed a cloche with flipped brim, which is popular in Paris, to her now, "You are going to be late."

"I'll return soon."

"Don't worry," he said, "It's rare for you to meet a friend in Paris. Just don't get dark."

"Ok."

Shen Xi took the millinery and held it in her hand. She didn't want to leave him for a second if it wasn't important.

Shen Xi didn't tell him who he met, only that he was a college classmate, and Fu Tongwen never asked him.

Before she left, she confessed to Tan Qingxiang, leaving the address and phone number of the restaurant she was going to to Tan Qingxiang, and then went out with confidence.

On Avenue Saint-Michel, she found the cafe. The door was full of people.

They are all small round tables, the diameter of the table is no more than 20 centimeters, and a few cups and saucers fill it up. Instead, the rattan seats around the round table, each of which is larger than the round table. More than a dozen tables are placed casually, and the gentlemen and ladies also sit casually and enjoy afternoon coffee. Chairs against chairs are the most common and crowded afternoon party in the city.

Gentlemen can only hold the newspaper as low as possible to avoid the stranger who is rubbing the corner.

Seven or eight newspaper readers, Shen Xi did not understand French, but he could guess that half of them would be following the peace conference.

She thought of the newspapers piled up at home.

...

In the corner, there is a rare round table with only two cups of coffee and a gentleman sitting.

Shen Xi looked at the man sitting at the round table by the window, his footsteps stopped, the other party saw her shadow in the glass reflection, and turned his head to look back. The two good friends laughed in unison.

"You are still the same." Chen Linguan stood up personally, trying to open the opposite seat for her.

"There are so many people here, you don't want a fake gentleman." Shen Xi stopped him.

She put her hat on her lap and took a sip of coffee.

Chen Linguan leaned on the table with his elbow, smiling, waiting for her to drink.

Shen Xi left New York for Paris in December last year and sent him a telegram on the cruise ship, but unfortunately, Chen Linguan just set off for New York for academic exchange activities. The two were at sea and missed each other.

It wasn't until Chen Linguan returned to Paris a few days ago that this meeting was considered to be facilitated.

When Shen Xi left New York, there was no time to say goodbye to him. Although they resumed communication over the years, they have never met.

Really face to face, seeing the other person's face, and communication is a different feeling. Chen Linguan couldn't help remembering that he was studying in New York, and you chased me after the two of them.

Shen Xi is a person he admires from the bottom of his heart, and he is also his best friend.

"Why did you choose to come to the Peace Conference?" Chen Linguan asked with a smile, "In the letter he still pretended to be mysterious and refused to tell me?"

Shen Xi pursed his lips and smiled. It is not convenient to answer.

Fortunately, Chen Linguan knew the severity, and when he saw her smile, he consciously stopped asking.

"There is a sentence I have held in my heart for many years, do you regret it?" Chen Linguan asked abruptly.

regret? She was surprised: "What do you mean?"

"What you are most interested in in New York is heart surgery, and you have the talent to become the best cardiologist. Do you regret it? Suddenly returning to China ruined your future?"

After the two resumed contact, Chen Linguan spared no effort to persuade her to study in Europe. When he heard that she had given up the opportunity to go to the UK, he ruthlessly accused her of being shortsighted and wasteful in his heart.

He has always been upset about her giving up cardiology in the past, and he can't let go. This is still the case today.

Shen Xi shook his head: "I don't regret it."

"You are trying hard."

"It's sincere. In the past few years I have been in China, and I have saved thousands of people alone. The number of patients treated has long been counted, and—" She laughed, "I will return it to General Cai The army sent money. You see, I have done a lot."

"You could have had higher accomplishments."

Perhaps. She gave up arguing and drank coffee carelessly.

Shen Xi put the cup: "I want you to do something for me."

"I just said, you are a utilitarian," Chen Linguan said happily, as if he had seen her through. "There is always something to find me, not just for reminiscence."

Shen Xi did not refute again.

When the two of you were studying, it was your way of talking, and no one was willing to show weakness. Two consecutive silences made Chen Linguan very uncomfortable: "I was joking with you. Without your support, I would not be able to walk today. As long as I can help, just say it. And don't use'please 'This word."

"I want to... let you recommend a cardiology doctor for me."

Chen Linguan suddenly said, "Are you looking for my professor? For your friend?"

She stopped the meeting before saying: "It's for Fu Dongwen. I want to find an attending doctor for Fu Dongwen. He has a bad heart. Over the past six months, because of the setbacks of the peace conference...the situation..."

The smile disappeared in Chen Linguan's eyes.

"I have consulted many people and classmates, and they all said that your professor is the best doctor in the clinic, and the most suitable doctor for him."

Shen Xi stared at him, "I want to beg you..."

Chen Linguan shook his head and expressed rejection in the most gentle way.

When he grew up outside his New York apartment, an emotionally charged teenager has learned to control his emotions and respect his friends, but that doesn't mean he can forget how his family fell.

"Sorry." Shen Xi said softly.

"Don't be sorry," Chen Linguan said, "Dou Wanfeng told me that he is your husband's brother."

"He is my husband now."

Chen Linguan was startled.

He heard the good news of Shen Xi's marriage from his classmates, and telegraphed her to blame her, thinking she forgot to share the good news.

The truth is revealed today.

Shen Xi wanted to speak.

"I know what you are going to say. When you were in New York, you kept asking me to remember the kindness of the sponsor," Chen Lin watched her, "Do you want me to pay it back now?"

"No, what I said at the time was that I wanted you to keep in mind the original intention of studying medicine and save a lot of people, so as not to waste the expenses Fu Tongwen gave us. It is not to ask you to pay him back."

"He is a great philanthropist, a patriotic businessman, who has sponsored many people," Chen Linguan said back to her, "But Shen Xi, he is good to others, but not to me. I am an ordinary person, not a saint, if you want to If you want my professor to save him, you don’t have to come to me.

"I tried to contact your professor, but..."

Chen Linguan naturally knew the difficulties she encountered: "Of course, my professor is already seriously ill and thanked the guests behind closed doors."

"That's why I found you because I knew you were his most proud disciple."

"Don't make my mind, and don't talk to me about the kindness of the doctor. I am a very selfish person."

After a long period of silence, Shen Xi said again: "Sorry."

She expected the result, but still wanted to give it a try.

If this road fails, I have to prepare and go to England to meet Tan Qingxiang's past professor. Cardiac surgery is a field that even surgeons have to avoid. There are few doctors specializing in this area, and even fewer people with rich clinical experience... She is afraid that it will not help in the UK.

Shen Xi and Chen Linguan broke up unhappily.

She walked along the cobblestone **** toward the apartment, surrounded by small cafes and taverns. She saw Paris for the first time in a set of colorful photos that Fu Dongwen gave to herself. At that time, her impression of this European city was that the houses on the street were like neatly arranged foreign fire boxes, and the colorful walls were tightly connected. Stick to each other.

Fu Dongwen later mentioned that set of photos, saying that he had first arrived in Paris and asked a reporter to buy it at a high price. He never hesitated to praise any Western country for its open minded and industrialized achievements.

Under praise, it is a good expectation that China can have such a splendid day in the world.

Several children gathered around the ice cream cart and took the desserts and sodas they wanted.

Shen Xi saw that there were popcorn sellers, she bought a pack, and the old man who sold it reminded him and pointed to her handbag. Paris is prosperous, yes, but stealing is also famous. The old man saw that she was an Asian with black hair and black eyes, walking aimlessly, a little like touring, and speculated that she was a girl who had just arrived in Paris, and kindly reminded her.

After thanking him in French with Fu Tong literature, Shen Xi took the paper bag.

When she returned to the apartment, she looked at the time of the grandfather clock, and Fu Tongwen was still taking a nap, so she put popcorn on the short table at the door. The person who came to pick Peide sat in the living room, saw Shen Xi, stood up and called her: "Young lady."

She looked at the cloth suitcase at the door: "Where is Mr. Tan?"

"Farewell to Miss Peide, in the kitchen."

Shen Xi went to the kitchen door and coughed.

"No need to come in, let's go out."

Tan Qingxiang said, leading Peide out of the kitchen.

He brought Peide to France this time to personally send her to Europe, and then to the German consulate in France. Within a few days, the peace conference was over. Knowing that he could no longer delay, he contacted the German consulate last week and decided to send her there this week. Peide did not dispute this decision, but she was able to overcome all the difficulties, except that she could not surpass a sky-Tan Qingxiang did not love her. Seeing that Germany was about to be sanctioned, Peide also had to worry about his grandparents at home. He thought and thought that there was no other way to agree to leave.

Peide holds a food box in her hand, which is Chinese food she begged Tan Qingxiang to cook, ready to be eaten on the road.

Shen Xi and Tan Qingxiang escorted her outside the door of the apartment.

"Don't write to this address, this apartment will be handed over to the landlord after the meeting, and we will return to China." Tan Qingxiang explained.

"Where do you live after you return to China?" Peide's gray-blue eyes contained tears that could not be hidden.

"No way." Tan Qingxiang said.

Peide lowered his head and spoke for a long time in German that only the two of them could understand.

From the tone and tone of voice, Shen Xi guessed that this was the final confession.

After all, Tan Qingxiang is a fellow of Fu Dongwen, and he has experienced a lot. He always smiles so that Peide is not too embarrassed. Finally, he gave the little girl a sincere hug, whispered, and said a few words in German.

Peide blinked, tears running down his cheeks and into the collar.

"Goodbye, Miss Shen. Say goodbye to Sanye for me, too." Peide softly said goodbye to Shen Xi, turned around, and got into the car.

The car disappeared at the turn of the street.

Tan Qingxiang exhaled softly.

"What did she say?" Shen Xi asked in a low voice.

"What will you do if I don't tell you?" He laughed.

"Can you sleeplessly?" Shen Xi joked with him, "It's like watching a song and dance at the Moulin Rouge, but only left before the curtain ends. I don't know how it will end. It's not good."

"She said... the same name is Peide, the same is a transnational relationship, and the same is falling in love with a Chinese man, why she can't get good results. She said that the love between President Lu and his wife is a'hint of fate', but I But ignore it."

Girls are all connected in love.

They all like to catch a little bit of clues, persuade themselves, and imply a good result.

"how about you?"

"Me? What did you ask me to say?"

"Ok."

"I said," Tan Qingxiang said with a smile, "Little girl, I don't love you."

It was almost the same as she thought.

Shen Xi and Tan Qingxiang explained the results of the afternoon.

Seeing about Chen Linguan, Fu Tongwen didn't know, but Tan Qingxiang knew. Since May, he and Shen Xi have been discussing whether to stay in France or go to England.

Afraid of being heard by Fu Dongwen, they were in the kitchen, talking softly.

People are getting older and love to remember. Tan Qingxiang said while talking, and mentioned what he had done on the cruise ship that year: "It was also in Shandong at that time, and Dong Wen also said that he really can’t do it anymore, he tied explosives|drugs on him , And die with the Japanese."

Shen Xi can still carry the shelf outside, facing Tan Qingxiang, the shelf is completely scattered, and his heart is in a mess.

After a while, I just said softly: "When I thought, we were fidgeting in Yokohama, lest we missed the time to go to the United States, lest Wilson doubt our sincerity in cooperation... I thought..." It was too ridiculous.

These words, she couldn't talk to Fu Dongwen, so she had to talk casually here.

"In the end, the United States chose Japan. It's ridiculous we." Tan Qingxiang answered.

Suddenly, there was the sound of opera upstairs, and they looked at each other.

He woke up from a nap.

"I'm going up," she said, "you contact your professor as soon as possible. As soon as the meeting closes, we will set off immediately."

"It's settled." Tan Qingxiang smiled and calmed her.

But both of them knew that if they missed Chen Linguan, what they missed...

She took the pack of popcorn, looked for the sound, and came to the study.

Fu Dongwen was still wearing the same gray and white gown, sunken deep in the black velvet sofa, with soft leather slippers under his feet. There was no fire in the fireplace, and the light passed through the glass and most of the study, and fell on his feet, on the trouser legs.

His lower body was bathed in sunlight, his facial features were in the darkness of the room, his eyes were closed, with a slight smile, his fingers were tapping with the tune.

The daylight is too short to reach his face.

Shen Xi knew well that her sorrow and sadness for the failure of the Paris party was far less than one ten thousandth of his. He took the path of the Reformation. The Reformation failed. He supported the revolution. Yuan Shikai became the emperor. He was busy for half of his life, as if all was tossing about. In the end, nothing was achieved here in Shandong. It was destined to be disappointed...

And the people around me went one after another, died one after another, and there were countless old friends on Huangquan Road.

She stood for a long time, watching him quietly, her heart hurting.

Fu Dongwen leaned forward and adjusted his sitting posture, opened his eyes and saw her.

He smiled: "I am an idler, waiting for you to come home with me again."

"When I left, you said that it is rare for me to see a friend in Paris," Shen Xi stepped forward, squatting in front of him, holding paper bags in both hands, "I owe you popcorn for many years. Remember?"

He took the paper bag, opened it, pinched one and threw it in his mouth: "Cinderella."

They saw the premiere in New York.

Fu Tongwen also fed her one and said softly: "When the third brother returns to China, he will open a hundred theaters for Yangyang, which is as lively as a theater. Cinderella will be shown on the first screening day."

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I'm actually very excited, but Star Fortune tells me...this week you have to be cautious about your words and actions...

Therefore, I am calm to say: I have written an essay for more than seven years, and finally, I have an article with more than 30W words! (Serious face)

In addition, the story ends, I hope you will be more enthusiastic, so I can finish writing quickly and happily. There is not much time to get together for this article. All the divers come out to make a bubble. We will all say goodbye to each other and cherish each other.

The next update is tomorrow. (Serious face)