Chapter 672 671 We live in a huge gap
The venue was quiet.
I saw the award-winning female guest, holding a beautiful letter and opening it gently. There was a hint of surprise on her face, but she quickly read loudly in Italian:
"This The winning work of this year's Strega Literary Award is "Skywalker", and the author Minghua is invited!"
"Papapapa" The venue burst into warm applause.
"Brother-in-law, your novel won an award!" Li Li next to her couldn't help but said excitedly.
Although Fang Minghua couldn't understand Italian, he finally recognized the Chinese pinyin of "Minghua".
Did you win an award?
I am a little excited.
However, this was not the first foreign award for his novel, and he was not very excited. He straightened his tie, stood up, and shook hands with James who extended his right hand behind him, accepting his offer. Congratulations, and then strode towards the podium.
Of course he wasn't alone, there was also Li Li.
Fang Minghua does not speak Italian and does not want to use English to prepare his acceptance speech in Chinese, so he naturally needs a translator.
Received the medal and certificate from the award-winning female guest, and before that, he leaned down like a gentleman and symbolically kissed the back of her finger.
Just follow the local customs.
Amidst the sound of cameras clicking, Fang Minghua said in Chinese into the microphone:
"Here I would first like to thank the members of the Strega Literary Award jury for their hard work. I would also like to thank my family far away in China for their help to me, and I would especially like to thank the beautiful lady beside me - Li Li. , a professor at San Francisco State University in the United States. Without her wonderful translation, this book would not have been able to meet the vast number of Italian readers.”
“Ten years ago, I once wrote a science fiction novel called “. "Rural Teachers" also writes about basic education in rural areas of our country. It is undeniable that our country has made great progress, but the development is very uneven and we live in a huge gap."
"In Yanjing, Children in big cities like Shanghai are now sitting in classrooms with bright and clean windows. They have already begun to have access to computers and know about the Internet. However, children in remote areas in the west really want to have a brand-new pencil case and a good-looking pen. . ”
“They all have dreams, although their dreams are different. It is the teachers who support their dreams, whether they are teachers who teach them computers, or those who write on the blackboard with a piece of chalk in a simple classroom. Teachers of the simplest Arabic numerals, they are all great, but I think the latter is greater, which is the original intention of writing this book.”
“Thank you everyone!”
There was thunderous applause from the audience.
This year's Strega Literary Award Ceremony has ended, and the guests and literature lovers dispersed one after another, waiting for next year's gathering.
The next morning, Fang Minghua and Li Li also left the city of Benevento, but they did not rush to Rome immediately to return home, but went to Venice.
Venice is in northeastern Italy. It spans the entire Apennine Peninsula from Danevento. The fastest journey is to fly to Naples, which is 80 kilometers away from Bedanevento.
But Li Li had to take the train.
"Brother-in-law, there is nothing urgent to do in the past. Let's take the train there. I like to travel by train the most in the United States."
Fang Minghua agreed, and it would be nice to enjoy the scenery of the Asian Peninsula.
The train passes through the Apennine Mountains, and the towering mountains, deep canyons, and lush trees outside the window are refreshing and refreshing.
The two of them bought premium soft sleeper tickets. They shared a room, which was very quiet.
Fang Minghua is sitting on the bed reading a book, it is because of "It's Too Late" written by the British writer James
Before leaving Benevento, Johnson specially gave Fang Minghua an English version of "It's Too Late".
When Fang Minghua left China, he did not bring his novel with him, but Li Li did bring a copy, which turned out to be "The Lost Dream of the Covered Bridge" written by Fang Minghua a long time ago.
As a return gift, Fang Minghua gave this yellowed book that Li Li had read to the other party.
Fang Minghua read the novel seriously, while Li Li, who was sitting on the bed opposite, looked at the scenery outside the window and hummed softly.
Seeing Fang Minghua like this, Li Li said: "Okay, brother-in-law, don't look at it. Wait until you return to China and watch it slowly. Now talk with me." "What did you say?"
Fang Minghua raised his head and looked at each other.
“I think what you said in your acceptance speech is great, we live in a huge gap.”
“Huh?”
“I live San Francisco has Silicon Valley and the most cutting-edge high-tech companies in the United States, but the Tenderloin district of the same city is full of drunks, drug addicts and homeless people,” Li Li said.
Fang Minghua smiled, "Actually, it's the same for every country. It's just that our country is developing too fast. It will be faster in the future, just like a roaring train. The four hundred years of history in the Western world will not take us long. Catch up.”
“But not all people and all regions can board this speeding train. Some will be abandoned midway, and some will be forgotten. This is the reality.”
< br>"Then how to make up for this gap?" Li Li asked.
I don’t know. Fang Minghua smiled: "I'm afraid no one knows." "
Li Li pondered for a moment and suddenly said: "I remember, you have read Socrates' "Utopia", right? ”
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"In "The Republic", Socrates describes a country that seems to be able to eliminate this gap."
"That is a utopia and cannot be realized. "
"Yes, it can't be achieved." After Li Li finished speaking, she held her chin in her hands and looked at the scenery outside.
Fang Minghua shook his head and looked at the book in his hand again.
The two of them took the train to the Venice train station and transferred to a local gondola boat to enter the city. It was an indescribable enjoyment to stand on the boat and admire the scenery of the Venetian buildings. The buildings on both sides of the waterway are very exquisite Gothic and Renaissance buildings.
Finally, the two checked into a hotel called Hotel Danieli, which is located in the center of Venice, overlooking the Venetian Lagoon.
The hotel shows traces of the nobility of the last century everywhere. The doors, windows, and corridors are engraved with exquisite patterns. The rich retro features and color combinations full of Italian aesthetics make the entire hotel seem to have traveled through time and space.
When you come to Venice, in addition to watching the beautiful scenery of Venice, of course, the more important thing is to participate in the Venice Film Festival.
The Cannes Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival focus on the balance between business and art, while the Berlin Film Festival hovers between politics and art. The Venice Film Festival pays more attention to art, experimentation and innovation, and appears to be particularly niche.
But this is also the favorite of Li Li and Fang Minghua.
What are you here to see? Watching commercial blockbusters?
Then I might as well go directly to Hollywood.
The Venice Film Festival is not held in the city, but on an 18-kilometer-long sandbank called Lido Island in the southeast of Venice. It requires a 15-minute vaporetto ride from Venice to reach it.
And there are only a handful of screening halls to undertake the screening tasks of the entire film festival.
Each theater is unique, and the one that caught Fang Minghua’s eye the most was the Sala Giardino theater, which appeared in bright red. Its large area of bright red color is in sharp contrast with the blue sky. At the same time, it is different from the solemn and elegant white movie palace, making it particularly lively and attractive.
Fang Minghua and Li Li depart from the hotel every morning and take the ferry to the island.
Compared to the tradition of downtown Venice, it is much more fashionable here. In the historic city center, the canals are considered roads and you cannot cycle along the alleys and paths. Here you can happily cycle away .
The two of them each rode a bicycle, starting from San Nicolo at the western end of the Lido, walking along the wide tree-lined roads and seaside towards the Maramocco Bridge, admiring the liberal and decorative arts Style villas and luxury hotels, and of course you can also watch a movie in a ticketed cinema.
While the two were visiting Venice, Song Tangtang had already arrived in Shanghai.
(End of this chapter)