58: Chapter 58 Lust, Caution

"Secretary, I don't understand it; I'm just a layman," Lu Waner said, even as her feet were already moving toward him.

As she drew closer, she saw a piece of calligraphy that had just been finished. Although it was written in traditional characters, she recognized it because Cui Liming had copied it many times during his lifetime.

She cried out in surprise, "Emperor Huizong of Song's 'Nongfang Poem'?"

Zhang Huaijing turned his head to look at her. "And you said you didn't understand? To recognize this means you're an expert."

"No, no, I..." She wanted to say she had learned it from Cui Liming, but she stopped herself.

Zhang Huaijing hung up the brush and, while using a paperweight to gently press down the rice paper, said, "'Nongfang Poem' is Emperor Huizong of Song's representative work and a classic example of Slender Gold Script—elegant and vigorous. Chen Bangyan of the Southern Song Dynasty wrote in the colophon: 'This scroll uses painting techniques for calligraphy, breaking away from traditional brushwork; the lines are like secluded orchids and bamboo thickets, sounding like the clear patter of wind and rain.' It is an extremely concise and accurate description."

Lu Waner felt a pang in her heart; Cui Liming had said those exact words before.

Zhang Huaijing didn't notice the change in her expression and continued, "Unfortunately, the original is currently kept in the Taipei National Palace Museum. Back in '02, I went to Taiwan Province with some leaders and managed to catch a quick glimpse of it."

"Then can't it be returned to the mainland?"

"There's no need; it's all on Huaxia's territory. Besides, keeping it in the Taipei National Palace Museum allows it to better serve its cultural value and play a role in the United Front."

Zhang Huaijing said, "Back then, when Old Chiang retreated to Taiwan, he didn't just ship away millions of ounces of gold, but also over three thousand eight hundred crates of national treasures. Among them were thirteen original pieces of Slender Gold Script by Emperor Huizong of Song, as well as several hundred crates of treasures returned by Japan after their defeat. They all stayed in Taiwan.

Currently, the Taipei National Palace Museum has over 600,000 precious artifacts. Of those, 92% were shipped from the mainland, and most of those were part of the collection moved south from the Beijing Palace Museum. Over half of the Central Plains Museum's collection was also taken, and all of them were the finest pieces. Otherwise, the Central Plains Museum would have more items and a richer collection than the Shaanxi History Museum."

"Secretary, you're truly amazing. You've researched history and artifacts so thoroughly," Lu Waner praised.

Zhang Huaijing chuckled. He turned around and looked her up and down, secretly amazed. How did this girl keep getting more stylish and beautiful?

"Oh, what did you come to see me for?" he said as he walked back to his desk and reached out his hand.

Lu Waner stuck out her tongue and handed over a folder. "Please review and sign this. It's the request for the renovation of the Veteran Cadre Center."

What was so confidential about this? It was all within the budgeted expenses, and it wasn't much—just over 800,000.

Zhang Huaijing felt like laughing. He flipped through the document and picked up his pen to sign his preliminary approval. Since it exceeded 500,000, it still required the signatures of the Mayor and the Secretary.

After the document was signed, Lu Waner showed no intention of leaving. She looked back at the door and lowered her voice. "Secretary, has there been any response regarding Cui Liming's matter?"

"I was about to ask you. If there were a response, you should have known even sooner."

Lu Waner shook her head with a bit of disappointment. "After I mailed the file that day, there was no follow-up. Of course, I sent it anonymously and didn't leave any contact information." After a pause, she asked again, "Could it have vanished without a trace? They're all part of the public security system; what if they're just protecting their own?"

"They won't. I had you mail it to Director Qi. That mail goes directly to the Secretary's hands first. When the Secretary sees it's sealed, they won't dare open it privately and will ask Director Qi for instructions. There's a high probability Director Qi will open it himself. So, no one else will know. If the Provincial Department is going to investigate, it will be done secretly. They need time, don't they?"

"Mhm, hearing you say that makes me feel much better."

"Yes, justice will definitely be served."

"Thank you, Secretary. I wish you a happy National Day. I'm heading out." She stood on her tiptoes and gave a happy little hop, looking cute and beautiful.

In a daze, Zhang Huaijing seemed to see her as she was when she was dating Cui Liming, and a warm current flowed through his heart.

Just as she turned to leave, Zhang Huaijing suddenly raised his hand to stop her. "What are your plans for National Day?"

When Lu Waner turned back, a blush had already spread across her face. She shyly tucked her hair behind her ear, thought for a moment, and said, "No real plans. I'll just accompany my parents for a walk nearby, then maybe read some books or something."

"Go spend some time with Cui Liming's parents."

Lu Waner's eyes reddened, and she nodded heavily. "Mhm, I will." Fearing she might cry, she changed the subject. "What about you, Secretary?"

"Me? I'm all alone. I might take a day or two to go back to my old home in Weidu, and spend the rest of the time staying in at my place in the provincial capital," Zhang Huaijing said with a self-deprecating smile.

Lu Waner gave a gentle smile. "You're so multi-talented and have such broad interests, Secretary. I'm sure you'll have a great time."

"No matter how multi-talented I am, I'm still just one person."

Lu Waner knew he was divorced and that his wife had emigrated to the United States. She rolled her eyes as she seriously tried to come up with ideas for him. Suddenly thinking of something, she said in a clear, soft voice, "Oh right, Secretary, you could watch a movie. There are quite a few good ones coming out for the National Day holiday. For example, Jiang Wen's 'The Sun Also Rises', Donnie Yen's 'Flash Point', Johnnie To's 'Triangle', and Ang Lee's 'lust, caution'. But... but..."

"But what?"

"I heard the content is a bit... you know..." Lu Waner stuck out her tongue, her face turning even redder.

Zhang Huaijing smiled and said, "Since you put it that way, I'll make a point to see 'lust, caution'."

"Secretary, I... I'm sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about? If Tony Leung and Tang Wei can act in it, why can't we watch it? Besides, the original author is Eileen Chang, and it's based on her own experiences. She gave her first love and first marriage to that traitor named Hu Lancheng, following him everywhere and living a displaced life. The key is, Hu Lancheng was married to other women at the same time."

Zhang Huaijing said, "There was a sixteen-year age gap between them. Eileen Chang was only twenty-two at the time, beautiful as a flower, and already famous as a rising star in the Shanghai literary world. Even Lu Xun thought very highly of her. It's a pity she met the wrong man."

"Yeah, Eileen Chang was deceived by that scumbag," Lu Waner agreed with a sigh.

Zhang Huaijing said, "Eileen Chang must have hated Hu Lancheng quite a bit. He consumed her reputation, love, and youth, ultimately leaving her covered in scars. She couldn't step out from the shadow of that twisted romance for many years.

Eileen Chang fled to the United States and married a white man thirty years older than her. After he passed away, she was all alone, making a living by translating manuscripts. It wasn't until a week after she died in 1995 that her neighbors discovered her. If her love life and marriage had been smoother, she might have left behind more works in her later years than just 'Little Reunion'. What a pity! I really loved her novels during my university days."

Lu Waner listened with wide eyes and exclaimed, "Secretary, how do you know everything? You're so knowledgeable, and your insights are so unique."

"I've just read a few more books than you and lived eleven years longer."

"No, you're really amazing." Lu Waner admired him from the bottom of her heart.

"But that said, 'lust, caution' isn't suitable for you. You shouldn't go see the movie. The novella is fine, though. Eileen Chang's writing is very clean and has a strong foundation in classical literature—that was Mr. Lu Xun's evaluation as well."

"Mhm, I'll listen to you."