Epilogue

  Since the day I stepped into the Academy of Social Sciences, I had an urge to explain the seemingly "mysterious" things to outsiders.

  I remember that a few years ago, President Chirac, in his speech at the transfer of Victor Hugo's remains to the Pantheon, summed up this literary giant's achievements as "writing the history of France with his unique talent and passion".

  "Talent", "Passion".

  In simpler terms, it's "can write" versus "want to write".

  Loving is always simple, being together is too difficult, if it's not yours then don't force it. How to present the "portrait" of contemporary graduate students to readers? I don't know.

  More than a decade ago, Comrade Xiaoping's "Southern Tour Speech" had some of its content intentionally or unintentionally deleted when it was officially published. One sentence that was deleted was a warning to those in power not to waste the people's money by engaging in excessive formalism.

  Indeed, when unable to come up with suitable "connotations" to support the situation, finding some "extensional" formalized means to make do is not a bad option.

  At first glance, everyone can easily discover that this article not only intersperses a large number of argumentative and informative content, but also cites a considerable amount of footnote text, just like an academic paper (this is only reflected in formally published printed books, the online version deletes or incorporates footnotes into the main text due to page format reasons). The original intention was nothing more than trying to construct a certain "cultural atmosphere". As for what the ultimate effect of doing so will be, and whether there will be any "side effects" like adding feet to a snake, it remains to be seen.

  By the way:

  Last year, an American who had long been engaged in the study of Chinese literature came to our Academy of Social Sciences for academic exchanges. In casual conversation, he asked me more than once with a puzzled expression: "Don't young people on the mainland have many sexual partners?"

  My answer is no.

  "So is the proportion of abortions and suicides very high?"

  My answer is no.

  "Are they very desperate about their future and just enjoying themselves all day?"

  My answer is no.

  "So why do your young writers always write this kind of decadent 'dark romance'?"

  ……

  "If you don't use a dirty word, can you still write a successful piece?"

  I said I can try, but I'm afraid it won't be a big show.