Chapter 4 Letter

Karen shook her head: "I really don't need it anymore, you can keep it for as long as you want. When you are sure you no longer need it, if you are unwilling to keep it, you can return it to me as a keepsake."

The May Fourth Movement, in her memory, is a term that evokes both love and hate.

Qin Tian is truly speechless about the omission ability of foreigners, yet cannot refute anything, only nodding with a wry smile.

The feeling of being moved goes without saying. Even without having learned it yet, having this dictionary in hand seems to significantly reduce the sense of disorientation caused by the language barrier. Holding the dictionary, Qin Tian asked, "Do you really not need it anymore?"

She is unsure of her own level of endurance and hard work. Although the manager instructed her to clean the area from the first-floor restroom to the dining area, there are times when she slightly expands her "territory"... Compared to the bustling entrance and kitchen passage, her area is indeed quite easy.

Qin Tian took it and flipped through it, only to find that it was a small Polish dictionary, palm-sized, not particularly well-made, made of Bible paper. It was evident that it had passed through many hands. The explanations inside were in German, and many pages had annotations in various other languages, with a few pages even containing Chinese, clearly written by her brother.

"Tian, Tian?" Someone outside called softly, speaking in German

At this time, having gone to China, rationally speaking, one could completely consider that this person no longer exists. That chaotic era was extremely tumultuous; today's living person could be tomorrow's corpse, today's relative could be tomorrow's enemy. In 1938, the Communist Party had already concluded the Long March, the Xi'an Incident was also in the past, and the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party began, along with open and covert struggles. Small skirmishes were incessant, with bandits, local tyrants, and various righteous armies; heaven knows which faction her precious brother had joined.

Compared to many university students, she indeed has a sense of being spoiled. During her time in university, she never worked part-time and had no significant ambitions. Her parents explicitly stated that if she couldn't find a job, they would let her rely on them. She felt no psychological burden regarding this. At this moment, working as a cleaner in the library, she reflects on the predecessors who sold pork and dealt with excrement in her previous life, realizing she has nothing to complain about. With a language barrier and no relatives, the fact that someone is willing to take her in is already a tremendous stroke of luck. She felt no psychological burden regarding this. At this moment, working as a cleaner in the library, she reflects on the predecessors who sold pork and dealt with excrement in her previous life, realizing she has nothing to complain about. With a language barrier and no relatives, the fact that someone is willing to take her in is already a tremendous stroke of luck.

It is four thirty, time to get up. Since you are doing your brother's work, you should now go to the restaurant to clean up.

May your brother always wish you well

Please forgive me for leaving without waiting for you, the ship back home is about to set sail, I fear that by the time you read this letter, I will already be on the other side of the ocean, or perhaps, already on the battlefield

By the way, haven't you always called me A Rui? Why am I called Qin Jiu now? Because when my brother was born, my father named me Qin Rui. However, not long after, the Paris Peace Conference unjustly ceded Shandong, China, to Japan as a war prize. As a victorious nation, we faced such unfair treatment, leading to a protest movement primarily composed of students and the business class erupting domestically. Students went on strike, merchants closed their businesses, and workers staged strikes, with the wave of movement sweeping across the nation. China finally revealed her fierce spirit... The first day of the movement was May 4, 1919, the very year your brother was born, and nine is the sum of five and four. The domestic protest movement, primarily led by students and the business class, erupted, with students striking, merchants halting trade, and workers going on strike, as the wave of movement swept across the nation. China finally revealed her fierce spirit... The first day of the movement was May 4, 1919, the very year your brother was born, and nine is the sum of five and four. I heard from Uncle Han Chun that when this news reached France, my father immediately changed my name, and A Rui became my nickname.

Pfft. Qin Tian couldn't help but laugh.

She looked around the narrow attic, with a wire bed, a small bookshelf, a small desk, a simple washstand, and a white towel resting in the basin. The moonlight poured in through the skylight, feeling brighter than the dim light.

Qin Tian suddenly recalled Karen's gesture, which was clearly intended as a hand-kissing salute... yet she had boldly grasped it instead...

November 1, 1938

Today's students are quite conflicted. When it comes to these protests and demonstrations, they all say that the government uses students as tools, taking advantage of their passionate nature and easy-to-influence minds, as well as their ability to organize. When things escalate, it creates a significant momentum, and it is also convenient for the authorities to disperse the crowds. It resembles a professional protest army, and later, they can claim that it was a spontaneous organization by the students, with no involvement from the government.

Qin Tian arrived in Warsaw after midnight. She first inquired about the whereabouts of Lina's uncle, a passerby who had risen early. That kind-hearted woman directly took her to the Cynthia Hotel. After delivering the letter, she turned back and, after a day of exhausting gestures with passersby, finally found the place where her brother was temporarily staying, which turned out to be the only five-star hotel in Warsaw at present, the Eisenhower Hotel

I also want to thank you for your help with my brother. Even though we have never met, putting myself in others' shoes, Qin Tian would like to express gratitude on behalf of Qin Jiu.

The person who has influenced her soul the most since her self-transcendence is one for whom she has traveled hundreds of kilometers. She regards him as a pillar of her spirit, and she does not hesitate to come to Poland, which is on the brink of war. She uses body language to gesture for an entire day to reach this attic, where she then sits in the place where he wrote his letters to read his farewell note

He wakes up early, washes up, reads, attends class, returns, checks the mail, packs his luggage, and sets off

Clearing away the water stains left by a departing guest, Qin Tian stood aside, holding a mop like the others, feeling quite bored. Just then, a young man in a server's uniform approached and asked in German, "Are you the new Tian?"

Karen's expression was somewhat strange; he smiled and said, "Dear Tian, you seem to be unfamiliar with Western etiquette. I remember your brother mentioning that you were all born in France."

Karen nodded slightly, turned around to leave, and waved her hand, saying in a peculiar manner in Chinese: "Thank you for your kindness."

Alright," Qin Tian quickly replied. Looking at the small clock on the wall, it was indeed already 4:30. She hadn't expected to have been busy all night, nor did she anticipate that she would have to get up at 4:30 every day in the future

"How could I possibly do that?" Qin Tian flipped through the dictionary and placed it into the large pocket of her apron. "I will set a goal to return it to you as soon as possible, so that I can learn more quickly"

Only before she masters basic Polish can she no longer perform the work of a restaurant waiter that Qin Jiu previously did

Those things that are not found in books, those that have not yet been recorded in history, at this moment, the May Fourth Movement on www.hetushu.com may merely be an event passed down through word of mouth, rather than the May Fourth Movement as defined by later generations. People do not yet understand its significance; they are simply pouring their passionate blood into it. The Xi'an Incident is not yet called the Xi'an Incident, and the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party has not been clearly defined. Here, World War I is not yet called World War I, and World War II has not yet begun. Everything is brewing... Everything has its omens, yet all remains unknown to the common people... People are simply pouring their passionate blood into it. The Xi'an Incident is not yet called the Xi'an Incident, and the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party has not been clearly defined. Here, World War I is not yet called World War I, and World War II has not yet begun. Everything is brewing... Everything has its omens, yet all remains unknown to the common people...

Tian, you once complained about your father, questioning why he taught you the Chinese language, which you found difficult to express, from a young age, and why speaking French at home would result in punishment. Do you remember his response? I will never forget that year when you were only five years old. Because you spoke French at home, your father punished you by making you stand outside in the freezing cold. He shouted at home, "Remember who you are, remember what blood runs in your veins!" At that moment, you did not see that he was in tears. Your father longed for home, always longing, not for a home in France, but for a home in the countryside of southern China, and that piece of land. I will never forget that year when you were only five years old. Because you spoke French at home, your father punished you by making you stand outside in the freezing cold. He shouted at home, "Remember who you are, remember what blood runs in your veins!" At that moment, you did not see that he was in tears. Your father longed for home, always longing, not for a home in France, but for a home in the countryside of southern China, and that piece of land

Indeed, we were born in France, raised in France. Our fathers are rootless individuals, remnants of laborers from the post-war era. Our ancestors once had no way to return home, yet as they struggled to survive and establish families there, they never forgot to remind us of where our roots lie. No matter what we eat, what we use, or where we live, that cannot change our lineage, nor can it alter our black hair and yellow skin. Who are we? Where do we come from? Where should we go? When I look in the mirror, when I speak, when I pass by shop windows, I have never forgotten for a moment. As they established families there, they never forgot to remind us of where our roots lie. No matter what we eat, what we use, or where we live, that cannot change our lineage, nor can it alter our black hair and yellow skin. Who are we? Where do we come from? Where should we go? When I look in the mirror, when I speak, when I pass by shop windows, I have never forgotten for a moment

After a brief period of discomfort in the impeccably clean hotel corridor, Qin Tian no longer felt anything particularly unusual

The duty manager of the hotel happened to be the one entrusted by Qin Jiu. Although he was somewhat troubled that Qin Tian could not speak a word of Polish, it was fortunate that her German was quite good. Moreover, she was beautiful, capable, and highly educated, so he decided to keep her and took her to the attic of the staff dormitory where Qin Jiu had previously stayed.

She cleared her throat uncomfortably and said, "I apologize, our family, um, has never been accustomed to Western etiquette"

Qin Tian extended her right hand to shake his without a second thought, disregarding the angle of his hand, and happily shook it while saying, "Hello, Karen, you are quite interesting"

I want to go back, Tian. Forgive me for not being able to take care of you here. Thinking of that unfamiliar hometown, thinking of the rice fields and orchards that my father has mentioned countless times being trampled upon, I cannot sit still for a moment

Oh, Tian," Karen exclaimed in surprise, "You and Eric Alexander are truly siblings; he said the same thing back then.

If this guy stays for another month, she could still offer some guidance; at this moment, she can only gaze at the letter and a bed of moonlight in vain.

This is history; it exists within history. Any notion of a golden finger knowing history is mere illusion. Survival is the only undeniable truth

Qin Tian set down the letter, wiped her face, her hands covered in saltwater

Qin Tian's sense of humor is not low, but after such a long period of tension and fatigue, encountering such a relaxed person still made her unable to help but smile slightly.

Oh, it seems you are capable of handling this job. Do not underestimate it; when there are many people around, you will greatly resent the person who assigns you tasks. The young man spoke in a relaxed tone, and after finishing, he playfully winked and glanced at the plump manager standing by the door.

In this exceedingly simple place, a young man's life unfolds: he rises early, washes up, reads, attends classes, works, returns, reads again, washes up, and falls asleep

However, when the students talk about May Fourth, they are still filled with fervor; when faced with national crises, they remain impassioned; participating in protests, they feel an unwavering sense of duty... Upon reading Qin Jiu's letter, she suddenly realizes that in a fragmented China, during an era fraught with calamities, the passion of these students, even separated by generations and oceans, remains incredibly intense, far surpassing the so-called fervor of modern times.

"What is it?" Qin Tian replied softly

How are you?

Qin Tian changed into a white uniform with red trim, typical of a janitor, and went downstairs to the kitchen. She picked up a plastic bucket and a mop, indicating that she was to serve as a cleaner

Brother: Qin Jiu. And the book.

Do you know? War has begun again. While we are here eating milk bread, our motherland is suffering from the ravages of war. The Japanese nation has invaded our territory, and now the rulers in our country remain indifferent, allowing them to act as they please. Your brother Yichang and brother Han Chun have already boarded the flight home before me, and the one I will board will be the last flight.

Spare her, for she is crying inside. In the past, she might not have even been asleep by 4:30, yet now she has to get up at 4:30!

Brother will always wait for you, time, post-war, location, wait for my letter

Karen shrugged: "I admire your adherence to your customs; however, this is a public setting, and it is certainly best to adapt to local practices when possible"

"That's right, your smile is very charming, and you should keep it up. This not only brings you joy but also makes the guests feel more at ease." The young man extended his hand, "I forgot to introduce myself, Karen Bitman, the leader of your cleaning team, specifically responsible for keeping you in line with a whip to ensure your work is done."

Qin Tian, my younger sister

"Do not be anxious, believe that you will do well." Karen paused for a moment, reached into her pocket, took out a small notebook, and handed it to Qin Tian. "This was organized by a friend of mine a long time ago; your brother has also used it. It seems there are some Chinese annotations on it. I hope it will be of some help to you in learning Polish."

So many years have passed, and the family has never mentioned it to you, so you may not know. The reason I am telling you this is to help you understand that if father were still young, he would not hesitate to take our whole family on the ship back home. Now, let brother handle the fighting; what you need to do is to study hard and pursue further education. When we drive away the invaders, you will return to revive our motherland

With Qin Jiu, with the May Fourth Movement in the letter, with Poland, with distant China, this era, these unfamiliar terms seem to instantly bridge their distance

Alright, I remember, sorry, um, thank you