Chapter 42 The Long-Awaited Banquet

"Mr. Lin, would you care to join me for lunch?"
After the interview, Deng Huixin extended the invitation proactively, her eyes fixed intently on Lin Ran.
Lin Ran refused flatly: "No, thank you. I need to head back to the university to prepare my lectures."
"Very well." Deng Huixin had no choice but to look for another opportunity.

Following the conclusion of that day's interview, letters from the citizens of Hong Kong flooded into Radio Hong Kong like a flurry of snowflakes.
Among them, the most frequent request was for a rebroadcast of "Spectator on the Wall," with lyrics and music composed by Lin Ran and performed by Gu Zhengqiu.
"Professor Lin's composition is simply magnificent. We earnestly request your station to play it a few more times."
Aside from this, the public was lavish in their praise of Lin Ran:
"Professor Lin truly lives up to his reputation as a man of great talent. We hope Professor Lin will visit Hong Kong more often."
"Can the University of Hong Kong invite Professor Lin to become a permanent professor?"
The second most popular demand was the hope that Lin Ran would remain in Hong Kong to teach.

Meanwhile, Gu Zhengqiu—who had retired from the Peking Opera stage many years ago and had only come to Hong Kong to accompany her husband on official business—was suddenly sought after by local theaters and opera troupes due to her rendition of "Spectator on the Wall." Generous sums were offered in the hope of inviting her to perform.

Major newspapers in Hong Kong scrambled to report on the exclusive interview.
However, newspapers with differing stances offered drastically contrasting reports.

"July 18, 1960, Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao, Page 1
A Patriotic Heart Verging East and West, Melodies Expressing the Sentiments of Wanderers and the Homeland
Professor Lin Ran Delivers Eloquent Speech on National Affairs on Radio and Composes a Song That Moves Hong Kong
Reported by our staff reporter, Wen Yanzhai: Yesterday at three o'clock in the afternoon, the world-renowned overseas Chinese mathematician Professor Lin Ran was invited to a special interview program on Radio Hong Kong, where he spoke freely on the mysteries of mathematics and expressed his deep patriotic sentiments. During the interview, Professor Lin pioneered the concept of 'Cultural Chinese,' articulating his lingering affection and sense of belonging toward the motherland's mountains and rivers, as well as Chinese cultural history. He further penned a verse in *ci* poetry style titled 'Spectator on the Wall,' performed by the renowned Taiwan prima donna, Ms. Gu Zhengqiu.
No sooner had the broadcast aired than the island of Hong Kong was shaken, and the streets echoed endlessly with calls to hear 'Spectator on the Wall' once more..."

*Ta Kung Pao* focused entirely on the concept of the "Cultural Chinese." This notion—a product of cultural identity constantly striving for reconciliation over the coming decades—was proposed today like a bolt from the blue for the Chinese world amidst the current complex situation.

Cultural bloodlines are interconnected, and they also serve as the most effective ideological weapon.
While *Ta Kung Pao* maintained a clear stance, newspapers on the opposite side actually shared a surprisingly similar position regarding the concept of "Cultural Chinese."
Instead, it was the English-language newspapers that launched scathing attacks on Professor Lin, arguing that despite his extraordinary scientific achievements, his mindset remained anchored in ancient Chinese traditions.
This was only natural; the more people in Hong Kong identified as Culturally Chinese, the more difficult it would become for the British administration to govern.

As various tabloids realized that Lin Ran's personal background had been thoroughly explored and that the major broadsheets were already preoccupied with the "Cultural Chinese" concept, they shifted their focus to the song "Spectator on the Wall" itself in order to attract readers.
For instance, *Ming Pao*, which had been founded only recently, published an article personally written by Cha Liangyong:
"...The climax of the broadcast was undoubtedly the premiere of 'Spectator on the Wall.' The piece is structured around the *erhuang* melodic framework, blended with Western orchestral instrumentation, while Ms. Gu Zhengqiu's divine vocals are breathtakingly subtle and lingering. Before the song even ended, our reporters spoke with citizens in Causeway Bay, who reported that upon hearing the lines, *'The dense and rich strokes of the entire Tang Dynasty, for a fleeting second, shimmering faint shadows reflect upon the imperial palaces, mistakenly asking what year this evening might be,'* seven or eight patrons in the hall covered their faces in tears.
Elderly scholar He Jitao stroked his desk and sighed with deep emotion: 'Professor Lin's composition surpasses Wang Guowei’s *Human Words in Human Life* by a good three parts in its poignant sorrow...'"

In an instant, the names of Lin Ran, the concept of the "Cultural Chinese," and the fame of "Spectator on the Wall" stirred the entire territory of Hong Kong.

At the Li family's hillside villa on Hong Kong Island, the family's standing was more than sufficient for them to obtain a copy of the cassette recording from Radio Hong Kong and play it at their leisure in their own home.
In Helen Li’s room alone sat the most expensive German Grundig radio of the day, equipped with recording functions, as Gu Zhengqiu’s voice echoed through the room.
Helen Li dangled her fair feet over the edge of the bed, sitting opposite her brother, Li Shaoyuan, who had been dragged in quite reluctantly. He was on the verge of rushing out to a date with a female classmate, especially since it was finally summer vacation.
"What is it now, Helen? Haven't I told you countless times what Professor Lin is like! Dashing and romantic, strikingly handsome, immensely learned, and well-versed in both Chinese and Western knowledge," Li Shaoyuan said, rattling off every compliment he could muster.
Helen Li got up, grabbed her brother's hand, and swung it back and forth: "That's not what I'm talking about. What I mean is, can you go back and attend his seminar?"
Li Shaoyuan shook his head repeatedly: "How is that possible? Have you ever heard of someone dropping out and then being readmitted?"
Helen Li pursed her lips, rolled her eyes, and a plan came to mind:
"No, it's still possible! If you go to the entrance of the classroom and kneel down to beg Professor Lin to let you back into class, he's bound to feel embarrassed—he won't want to lose face, so he'll let you go right back in!"
Li Shaoyuan's expression shifted drastically, and he rolled his eyes so hard he nearly looked at the ceiling: "Professor Lin won't lose face, but I'll lose all of mine, is that it? No way! I said no, and that means no."

Helen Li's eyes flashed with a hint of a threat: "Brother, if you don't, I might just not be able to keep the secret about you dating three girls at the same time!"
Li Shaoyuan pleaded: "You're my sister, I'm your brother—fine, just name it, what do you want?"
Helen Li turned Li Shaoyuan around and began pounding on his back, saying, "I don't want anything much. I just want you to help invite Professor Lin over to the house for dinner so we can get to know each other."
Li Shaoyuan shook his head persistently: "You have to realize that Professor Lin hasn't set foot in a single prominent household in Hong Kong. He literally wrote 'Spectator on the Wall' to declare his aspirations. Why on earth would he want to entangle himself with the various families of Hong Kong? Every single one of these large and small families here has ties, to a greater or lesser extent, to Britain, China, Germany, or other places abroad. Professor Lin is simply not going to come."
He lowered his voice and added, "Word has it that Senior Inspector Thomas himself is personally providing security for Professor Lin in Hong Kong, and invitations like these have all been turned away by Thomas. However, if you really want to go, there is actually one way."
Li Shaoyuan drew out his words, waiting for his younger sister to beg him.
Helen Li naturally fell for it and hurriedly pleaded, "Brother, just tell me. I know you're the best to me."
Only then did Li Shaoyuan explain in detail: "This Saturday evening, the Governor is hosting Professor Lin at Government House. Father will definitely receive an invitation; you can beg Father to take you along. That is infinitely more likely to work than me trying to invite Professor Lin to our home."

The reason the Governor's banquet for Lin Ran had to wait until July 20 was to allow time for the honorary medal from the Queen in Britain to arrive, as transporting the insignia from London to Hong Kong required days. While conferment traditionally took place in London directly from the Queen, the presentation of medals at the time could be performed by the Governor on her behalf.
Lin Ran was also looking forward to it; he anticipated meeting the 48-year-old C.H. Tung (Dong Haoyun) and the 79-year-old H.C. Yung (Xu Aizhou) at the banquet.