The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

The British and French governments did not give enough recognition to the Chinese workers who aided France in World War I, and the newspapers of the two countries did not carry out due publicity reports.

So much so that after more than ten years, except for the local residents who have seen it with their own eyes, other French people do not know the existence of Chinese aid to France. However, Zhou Hexuan, the winner of the highest award for French novels, told these stories to reporters and judges at the award ceremony.

Frenchies are still cute, and the cutest part is their contempt for authority and government.

When they heard that the government had concealed such a thing, the French journalists suddenly became motivated. Hey, you hide it and don't promote it, right? I just want to write an article to report it!

In the afternoon of that day, many reporters went to the Chinese settlements in Paris, looking for insiders to interview news about the Chinese workers aiding France.

Although the parties' narration was not as vivid as Zhou Hexuan's, every word was full of tears. The reporters in charge of the interview were completely shocked by these stories, and at the same time became even more angry-the Chinese who traveled thousands of miles to help were treated as slaves by British and French military officers!

"Le Figaro" soon filled the page with a report: "In June 1916, the residents of the small town of Noyelles finished harvesting the wheat, and the British began to build the first camp... A few months later, they were surprised. I saw that the first batch of Chinese got off the train and were closely guarded by British soldiers holding thick wooden sticks. Leggings, knickerbockers, and numbered brass bracelets for identification on their hands. Their bamboo poles (shoulder poles) carried rice bags and wooden boards, swinging back and forth, and a wheelbarrow with a triangular handle on a big wheel. These outsiders looked very bad, But the discipline is strict..."

The article in "Le Figaro" was very detailed, not only describing the brutal abuse of Chinese laborers by British and French officers, but also focusing on the role of Chinese laborers in the war. In particular, the Chinese laborers used their flesh and blood to dig into the landmines planted by the German army on the front line of the war. This passage is shocking and sad to read.

...

The economic crisis from the United States has not affected France for the time being, and Paris is still bustling and lively today.

George is an ordinary company employee who has just returned from a business trip. Before boarding the train home, Georges walked into the bookstore at the station and said to the clerk, "Have the results of the Goncourt Literary Prize come out?"

"Yes, sir, this is "The Goddess." The clerk pulled out a new edition of "The Goddess" in French and said that the packaging was similar to the previous one, but there was a small line of "Goncourt Prize-winning works" printed on the cover.

Instead of picking up the novel with his hands, George asked, "Can you wrap it up?"

"Of course." The clerk smiled.

The French have an interesting tradition, because the Goncourt Literary Prize is awarded just before Christmas, so every year when Christmas comes, many people choose to give the Goncourt Literary Prize-winning works of that year as Christmas gifts to relatives and friends .

This is why some novels with sales of only 20,000 to 30,000 copies will sell 700,000 to 800,000 copies in an instant once they win the Goncourt Prize.

After the clerk wrapped the book, George said, "Two newspapers, one Le Figaro and one Le Journal de Paris."

"Okay, please put it away." The clerk took down the newspaper and said.

George put the novel in his leather bag and read it as he walked holding the newspaper. When the train started, he finally read the content of "Le Figaro" about Chinese workers, and couldn't help exclaiming: "God, it's unbelievable!"

After reading "Le Figaro" with difficulty, George quickly flipped through "Journal de Paris" and finally found relevant information on one of the pages-the winner of the Goncourt Prize, telling the history of blood and tears of Chinese laborers on the spot!

"Mr. Zhou Hexuan is obviously a maverick. He walked into the restaurant wearing a labor uniform and carrying a big shovel, and had lunch with famous people in suits and ties. Everyone, including the author, was amazed at his abnormality At this time, Mr. Zhou explained his intention to us. He wanted to tell the French a fact! During the European War just over ten years ago, 140,000 Chinese laborers from rural China worked 10-16 hours a day , holding a meager salary, being discriminated against and abused by British and French officers, making sacrifices for the war day and night..."

After George finished reading the report, he suddenly caught a glimpse of his neighbor reading the Eastern Republic. He said, "Excuse me, can we read the newspapers interchangeably?"

"Of course." The other party handed him the newspaper with a smile.

This newspaper also has relevant content, and the title is even more sensational-Son of Heaven, France must not forget them!

After reading the article carefully, George silently put the newspaper aside.

The passenger seated next to him took the initiative to talk: "Are you also shocked? If the Chinese writer hadn't mentioned it, I would not have known that there were 140,000 Chinese laborers participating in the European War."

George shrugged and said: "I am shocked by the cruel abuse of Chinese laborers by British and French military officers. Britain and France are civilized societies, but they can still commit such atrocities. They treat Chinese people as livestock and call them ' Cannibals' and 'pigs walking on two legs'. But these Chinese laborers were obviously on our side, helping us in the war, but many of them died under the whips of British and French soldiers."

"Who says no? Those Chinese laborers are so pitiful," the passenger seated next to him asked, "Have you seen Mr. Zhou's "Goddess"?"

George said, "No. But I've already bought it, and I'm going to give it to my wife as a Christmas present."

The passenger sitting next to him said: "I think you can read it. After reading "The Goddess", and then reading the reports about Chinese laborers, you will have a deeper feeling."

"Really? Then I'll give it a try." George unwrapped the wrapping paper and read it on the spot.

"The Goddess" is really poisonous. After reading a few chapters, George felt that his vest was cold and his scalp was numb. He was frightened by the indifferent and cruel world that he took for granted. At the same time, he couldn't stop immersing himself in various magical scenes.

It wasn't until the train pulled into the Paris station that George closed the book with a lot of thought.

As the passenger sitting next to him said, after reading "The Goddess", George already had an intuitive understanding of the common people at the bottom of China. When I think of the Chinese laborers in the report, I feel even more inexplicable sympathy and compassion, which makes people feel distressed.

Due to the great attention of the French to the Goncourt Prize, Zhou Hexuan's guidance of public opinion this time was extremely successful. In the next few days, major French newspapers reported one after another that "Son of Heaven" became the French term of respect for the Chinese workers who aided France.

On Christmas Day, when the French were celebrating nationwide, Zhou Hexuan suddenly published an explanation in the newspaper. He wanted to build cemeteries and monuments for Chinese laborers, solicited relevant information from all over France, and hoped that the French government and people could provide reliable information.

The enthusiasm of the Frenchmen finally showed. After Christmas, city halls all over France received countless letters from citizens every day, urging the government to help build the Chinese Labor Cemetery.

Some people even organized demonstrations, demanding severe punishment for the soldiers and officers who abused the Chinese workers. Many students studying in France also organized spontaneously to hold various mourning activities for the Chinese workers.

The embassy in France took the opportunity to promote the friendship between China and France. Li Shizeng also took advantage of this shareholder style to actively contact French scientific research institutions, hoping that the other party could reach an academic cooperation with the Peking Research Institute.

What pleased Zhou Hexuan the most was that the impression of the French towards the Chinese has changed a lot, at least not as discriminatory as before.