Chapter 50: Class Begins

During this time of crossing over, Lu Shi also came into contact with many historical figures:

Darwin,

Natsume Soseki,

Bernard Shaw,

...

Lu Shi deeply understood that they were not just cold words in textbooks or on web pages; these were living people, with both sincere and deceitful aspects. Just like the figure of Churchill before him.

Lu Shi said, "Mr. Churchill, about the opinion poll... no, let me rephrase that."

He lowered his head in thought. Churchill sat up straight, waiting quietly.

After half a minute, Lu Shi finally spoke up, "If you were to conduct an opinion poll, what topic would you be most concerned about? The Anglo-Boer War?"

This question was very direct. Churchill subconsciously glanced towards the door to confirm it was closed before turning back to stare at Lu Shi. Lu Shi, on the other hand, met his gaze fearlessly.

"You haven't answered my question yet," Lu Shi reminded him.

Churchill smiled. "The topic I would be most concerned about is undoubtedly tariffs and trade protection."

Lu Shi inwardly marveled. Just as he suspected, all the talk about opposing war and military expansion was just a facade. During World War II, Churchill staunchly opposed appeasement policies, indicating his relatively neutral attitude towards war. He wasn't enthusiastic or averse to it, he simply believed that war must maximize benefits.

What Churchill truly cared about was trade, or more precisely, money. Very capitalist indeed.

Churchill took out a cigar from his pocket and offered it to Lu Shi, who declined. Churchill didn't insist. He expertly trimmed the tip of the cigar with a special cutter and lit it with a match.

From his fluid movements, it was clear he was a seasoned cigar smoker.

"Ah," Churchill exhaled a puff of smoke, "Do these large cigars have a name in China?"

Lu Shi replied in Chinese, "Cigars."

Churchill was curious, "It sounds quite similar to 'Cigar'. Is it a transliteration?"

Lu Shi explained, "It's not just a transliteration. The ash of a Cigar is as white as snow, and the tobacco roll of a Cigar resembles a '茄' (a term for a lotus stem in ancient times), hence '雪' ('snow') '茄' ('lotus stem')."

Churchill nodded. "Great Chinese characters! Ha ha, after your explanation just now, the original meaning and form of the name Cigar have been combined. You have a profound understanding. No wonder you are so skilled in English writing. It turns out you have a deep foundation."

This compliment was half sincere, half flattery.

Lu Shi didn't respond. He knew Churchill's mention of cigars wasn't just casual conversation.

Churchill cleared his throat. "This is good stuff. A cabinet made of mahogany, five feet tall, intricately divided into six compartments, each containing four small wooden boxes, a total of 2400 top-quality goods..."

Churchill gestured with his left hand, as if the cabinet were right in front of him.

"From Indonesia," Churchill continued, "trade."

Lu Shi made a disapproving sound. "Trade... if only it were that simple."

"What do you mean?" Churchill asked.

Lu Shi smiled faintly. "In Asia, the British Empire took over Burma; in West Africa, they conquered Nigeria, occupied Kenya, entered Uganda; in South Africa, they occupied Rhodesia; in Fashoda, they forced France to give up its dominance over the Nile River..."

Churchill's expression turned serious. He now regarded Lu Shi with even more respect.

"A Chinese person who knows the history of British colonization so well," Churchill thought, "Indeed, someone who can write editorials for both The Manchester Guardian and The Daily Telegraph cannot be a simple person."

Churchill said cautiously, "These are all the Prime Minister's actions."

Robert Cecil-Gascoyne, the current Prime Minister, was an imperialist who believed that the progress of backward races must pass through a stage of European, especially British, rule, and he believed that this stage must be maintained by force. He firmly believed that his mission was to expand and defend the British Empire.

With such a person as Prime Minister, it was no wonder the two parties argued over military expansion every day.

"Not every Briton is so barbaric," Churchill said.

First enjoy the benefits of barbarism, then put on a suit and pretend to be civilized...

Lies!

Lu Shi couldn't be bothered to respond.

Churchill changed the subject. "Do you know about the Boston Tea Party?"

Lu Shi answered briefly, "The Tea Act."

Tea has always been a lucrative industry, and at that time, in order to monopolize it, Britain imposed heavy taxes on tea from the US under the Tea Act, causing tea merchants to go bankrupt, leading to the Boston Tea Party.

Churchill nodded. "When studying this part of history, I always had a question. Why did the workers in the Boston Tea Party pour the tea into the sea instead of taking it home to drink?"

Lu Shi replied, "Actions represent positions. The workers in Boston were protesting against colonial oppression. If they took the tea home to drink, they would be seen as petty thieves, not heroes resisting tyranny."

Churchill couldn't help but laugh. "Your answer is almost identical to the teacher's."

Implicitly, he did not agree with this orthodox answer.

Lu Shi nodded. "Indeed, without someone to lead, how could the workers act with such high consciousness? Most likely, it was the American tea merchants behind the scenes who put in the effort."

"Uh..."

Churchill choked on his words.

He had mentioned cigars and the Boston Tea Party in an attempt to teach Lu Shi a lesson about "economics is the basis of politics, and politics is the concentrated expression of economics."

But unexpectedly, Lu Shi had turned the tables and taught him a lesson instead.

Churchill felt a pang of internal injury.

Seeing Churchill's annoyed expression, Lu Shi couldn't help but smile.

"Mr. Churchill, you don't need to say things like 'colonialism is not sustainable, trade is fundamental,' and you don't need to wrap your demands in historical stories. Just be straightforward, say what you have to say."

With that, the probing was over.

Churchill became more cautious. "I must reiterate, these are not my demands, they are Lord Wardhouse's demands. However..."

Lu Shi didn't rush him, waiting for the rest of his sentence.

Churchill sighed. "With Mr. Lu's intelligence, Lord Wardhouse is afraid he won't get much from you. After all, no writer wants their pen to be controlled by others."

Lu Shi immediately understood Churchill's implication.

He smiled faintly. "Interesting. Speaking of writing, I've been brainstorming a play lately."

Churchill's eyes flickered. "Is that so..."

Lu Shi extended an invitation. "If there's a chance for a performance, I'll definitely invite Mr. Churchill and Lord Wardhouse to watch it live."

Churchill nodded and stood up. "In that case, I'll pass the message on to Lord Wardhouse."

With that, he gripped the door handle with his right hand. But instead of rushing out, he stood there like an old monk in meditation, as if contemplating something.

After a while, he spoke in a deep voice, "Mr. Lu, I look forward to your play."