Chapter 242 Trip to the Library (6.8k)
University of Cambridge.
Trinity College.
On the public walkway in the hospital.
At this moment, Xiaomai was walking side by side with Xu Yun.
"Hey, Mr. Luo Feng."
When walking through a curve, Xiaomai finally couldn't bear it any longer. He bumped Xu Yun lightly with his elbow and muttered:
"Mr. Luo Feng, do you feel a little strange?"
“I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but the way my senior classmate looked at me seemed wrong.”
Xu Yun glanced at him lightly and said:
"Of course it's not an illusion, but you are wrong about one thing. They are not looking at you, but at me."
Finished.
He turned his head and looked at a boy who was looking at him.
Their eyes collided.
The boy immediately snorted and turned his head away.
See this situation.
Xu Yun smiled bitterly and shook his head, with a hint of self-deprecation at the corner of his mouth.
In fact, when he met Jones Border more than an hour ago, he saw some clues from the other person's cold attitude:
If so, that's good.
The news about him 'going through the back door' should have been spread after last night.
After all, there are not many graduate students at the University of Cambridge. Personal information will be involved in courses, accommodation and other matters, so the spread of information is inevitable.
So Xu Yun was naturally downgraded from his junior/alumni status to a white-eye generator.
As for the reason why these passers-by can recognize themselves immediately
joke.
How many Orientals are there at Cambridge University now?
Even including Indians, there may not be more than three, right?
In this case, it was too easy to recognize Xu Yun.
In fact, for the students of Cambridge University, Xu Yun was able to hand over Maverick's autographed letter to Trinity College, which was originally a very exciting and gratifying thing.
If Xu Yun's request was only a reward such as money, then almost no one would despise him, and he might even receive a lot of gratitude.
But Xu Yun’s approach was different.
In this way, he obtained a postgraduate admission place, which made many Cambridge students who were extremely proud of their identity very unhappy.
To paraphrase Qiao Feng’s famous saying:
"I, a good man named Xiao, am actually as famous as someone like you?"
This kind of thing is also very common in the author circle of later generations.
Even if some authors who rely on data to reach the top become a high-quality group or even a great group, other big guys will choose to isolate them.
Fortunately, Xu Yun had already gone through two dungeons. Before he was officially accepted by Mavericks and Lao Su, he had received many looks, and his mentality was relatively stable.
Having said that.
With such intense eye-rolling, I wonder if someone at Cambridge University will really awaken the eye-roll or sharingan in the long run?
Xu Yun then adjusted his breathing and continued to move along the southeast direction with Mavericks.
After passing through several buildings and getting a lot of blank stares, the two finally arrived outside a square building.
This building is located in an open space four to five hundred meters away from the Mathematics Bridge. It is square and unassuming, like an upside-down shoe box.
There is a raised tower on the south side of the building, which rises high like an antenna and is also the most conspicuous area of the entire building.
The height of the tower is about seven stories, and the rest of the building is three stories.
Xu Yun brought Maimai to the entrance of the building with familiarity and pushed open the heavy revolving door.
The moment he opened the door.
Jingle bell bell.
With the sound of wind chimes.
In front of Xu Yun and Mai Mai, a seven or eight meter long passage suddenly appeared.
There are more than a dozen statues of great historical figures lined up on both sides of the passage. Their eyes are either firm, gentle, or sharp looking straight ahead.
A faint fragrance of paper and rotten wood also filled the nostrils. The gorgeous Tudor chandelier overhead was crumbling, and the Gothic architectural interior style was vividly displayed.
Xu Yun and Xiaomai seemed to have entered the dark passage of history, suddenly slipping into the dusty Middle Ages.
This is the holy place of Cambridge University, Cambridge Library.
As everyone knows.
There are a total of 140 libraries in the University of Cambridge, but there is only one that can really be called the 'Cambridge University Library'.
That is the ‘University Library’ located near King’s College Chapel.
That's right.
Its real name is the University Library, which is straightforward.
This library was founded in 1424 and is one of the largest libraries in the world.
Originally, its collection of books relied entirely on donations, and the number has never been large.
But in 1709.
After an unnamed lord proposed that all books published in Britain be required by law to be sent to the library, the library's collection increased dramatically.
Today it has a collection of more than six million books, including papers and manuscripts by many celebrities, as well as 100,000 Chinese books.
This was also Xu Yun’s favorite place to stay when he was an exchange student in Cambridge in his previous life.
In fact, for Xu Yun.
The first few visits to the university library were more like a viewing ritual than studying or borrowing books.
Walking among the narrow and dark bookshelves, the silent covers of the books will take your breath away.
You will worry about disturbing the alumni who are indulging in books, and you will even worry about disturbing the immortal souls under the floor between the pages of the book.
Xu Yun is not a very bourgeois person, but even he has to admit that walking in the corridor on a sunny afternoon is indeed a kind of enjoyment.
Perhaps the basilisk in Hogwarts was wandering around the school with this idea.
Xu Yun's favorite action is to hold a magnifying glass and observe the grooves carved on the oak desk hundreds of years ago.
He also pushed open unknown doors to look for those lonely but eternal spirits in the shadows.
But unfortunately.
Unable to find his energy, Xu Yun unexpectedly saw a young couple pursuing excitement behind the door, and then.
The filter is broken.
Since then.
The library of Cambridge University still deserves respect for him, but the pilgrimage mentality no longer exists.
Later, Xu Yun met another girlfriend, who was also an exchange student. Xu Yun's cooking skills were developed at that time.
She also likes to visit the library, and her favorite thing to do is to look for old books.
At that time, she once told Xu Yun in a very literary manner:
The books here are heavier and darker than those in other libraries, because the souls of the writers and readers live here.
Therefore, a thin book with two hundred pages is unbearably heavy when weighed in the hand.
Then Xu Yun told her seriously:
When a book is pulled out from the bookshelf, it will turn black if your fingers touch it frequently, and the dust will erode into the texture of the book cover over time.
So no matter how hard you wipe it, the dullness cannot be removed. It is not the color of the soul.
At the same time, when there is more dust, the weight will naturally be heavier. If you don’t believe it, you can shake it and see - oh, by the way, there may be mold or something.
Later, the girlfriend broke up with Xu Yun within a few months. On Children's Day, Xu Yun even saw her circle of friends celebrating the holiday for her daughter.
Ahem
Of course.
For the most part, the atmosphere in Cambridge University libraries is serious.
My eyes are returning to reality.
Although 1850 was much earlier than later generations, the six hundred years of school history and more than four hundred years of library history still left a vast legacy.
At this time, Xiaomai was like a devout believer, walking carefully in front of each statue, while constantly reciting these names:
"Henry Cavendish. Famous Scientist. Peter's College"
"Sir Edward Coke, famous jurist.Trinity College"
"Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, a well-known theologian.Jesus College"
"Oliver Cromwell famous military strategist politician Sidney Sussex College."
"John Harvard. Founder of Harvard University Emmanuel College"
Finally, Wheat’s eyes rested on a sharp-eyed young man:
"Isaac Newton, Trinity College, the greatest scientist in human history."
Suddenly.
Xiaomai suddenly thought of something, turned his head and said to Xu Yun:
"Mr. Luo Feng, do you think Mr. Thomson and Senior Sister Aveline are likely to be listed here in the future?"
Xu Yun nodded decisively. He didn’t understand Aveline, but Thomson in the original timeline was indeed among them:
"Yes, they are all very good students, I think the possibility is very high."
Then he paused and added:
"Maxwell, actually I think you can become one of them."
"Me?"
Xiaomai pointed at himself with his index finger in surprise, subconsciously wanting to deny it.
But he mumbled a few times, scratched his hair in embarrassment, and whispered:
"I hope that one day I will be content to be ranked behind Archbishop Thomas Cranmer."
Xu Yun smiled and shook his head and said no more.
Silly boy.
Never mind Thomas Cranmer.
Of all the statues at Cambridge University, only the calf is in front of you.
Even Mr. Thomson, whom you admire, can only be seven positions away, looking at you, a Scottish genius who has slept with him several times, from a distance.
Xu Yun then called to Mai to continue forward, passed through the passage, and entered another door.
This door connects to the south wing lobby of the library, which is the seventh-floor tower.
As soon as I walked in the door.
Xu Yun and Xiaomai saw a middle-aged man in a tuxedo with a solemn expression.
This person's appearance is somewhat similar to James in Conan, with a Chinese character face, bangs on the right forehead, and a thick figure-eight beard.
Seeing the two people appear, this person stopped them resolutely but politely:
"Two gentlemen, please stay."
In 1850, Cambridge University was not free to visit like later generations, so while the administrators did not have the "function" of taking photos and group photos, they also had to bear the responsibility of verifying identities:
"Two gentlemen, the library is only open to on-campus students. Do you have your student ID card?"
Mai Mai and Xu Yun nodded at the same time.
They took out the student ID cards that Aveline had given them yesterday and handed them over.
The middle-aged man first took Xu Yun's student ID card and looked at it for a few times, then read the name a little stiffly:
"luoluo naked seam?"
Xu Yun’s mouth twitched:
"Sir, it's Luo Feng"
"Sorry."
The middle-aged man apologized and was about to return his student ID card to Xu Yun when he suddenly made a move:
"Wait, Luo Feng? Are you the Oriental who returned Mr. Newton's autographed letter?"
After saying that, he thought of something else and quickly took over Maid's student ID card:
"James Clerk Maxwell."
Xu Yunjian said and shrugged at Xiaomai. It seemed that the Harry Potter drama was about to happen again.
Sure enough.
When the middle-aged man saw this, his expression straightened, he shook his collar gracefully, stretched out his hand to Xiaomai and said:
"Classmate Maxwell, classmate Luo Feng, welcome you two to the Cambridge University Library. I am the librarian Alessia Seaforth."
Xu Yun raised his eyebrows slightly.
Take a look.
As expected of a librarian, this situation is different.
This was the second person besides Wheat to greet him today.
In addition, the surname Seaforth is not very common, combined with this person’s professional judgment
If your guess is correct, he is probably the founder of Highforth Bookstore in Cambridge Town?
Xu Yun was impressed by Seaforth Bookstore because it is one of the oldest bookstores in Cambridge and has a great reputation.
Shao Xunmei also had sex with Xu Zhimo and Xu Beihong in this bookstore, calling it the ‘Haifa Bookstore’.
Second coming.
It's because of an article.
That's right.
It's time to whip up "Yi Lin" again.
It was still when Xu Yun was in high school, he once read an article in "Yilin".
It's called "The Bookstall in Cambridge."
Said in the book.
From the end of the 19th century to the 1940s, that is, between 1900 and 1940.
On the bookstall of Cambridge University, one can always see a man with a cigar in his mouth, a mustache and a smile on his face.
He is Tai Wei, the owner of the bookstall.
Mr. Taiwei's bookstall has been in Cambridge for more than 40 years. Because of its cheap prices and rich book samples, many professors and students have visited this bookstall.
The most commendable among them is Keynes, the master of economics. He is a close friend of Taiwei and even helped Taiwei deliver goods live during his lectures.
During Taiwei's lifetime, his school even held a grand luncheon for him, and the teachers and students treated him as a guest of honor.
Thank Him for “eternal and great knowledge.”
The article concludes with a sigh.
Only a nation that knows how to respect little people can have outstanding big people emerge, followed by a series of self-reflections.
But Xu Yun only found out after arriving in Cambridge.
Although Tawei is not a completely fictional character like Alex Dawuti before him, the real reason is completely different from what the article said.
This so-called Mr. Taiwei's real name is actually Gustav David, which is David. It can be said that he is David.
The word "Taiwei" has a strong color of early translation - yes, the first person to mention him was the above-mentioned Shao Xunmei.
But Shao Xunmei only mentioned this person's name, and the rest of the content was all plot added by the author of the article "Book Stalls in Cambridge".
David's Bookstore has indeed contributed a lot of books to Cambridge. About a thousand books in the Cambridge Library in 2022 were originally purchased from David's Bookstore, but this boss is not a small figure at all.
Gustave David was a bookseller who moved to Cambridge from France. He was born in 1860, so the time is correct.
However, he did not grow a beard, and he did not smoke cigars because of consumption. The photo can be seen as soon as you enter David's Bookstore, a bit like Dirac with a shaved beard.
So this is different from the article in terms of character design.
Actually.
Gustave David was a descendant of a French nobleman. When he first arrived in Cambridge, he immediately donated 5,000 pounds to Christ's College.
According to the purchasing power conversion mentioned earlier, it is probably around 4 million now.
In addition, the price of "The Complete Works of Shakespeare" bought by Shao Xunmei was 3.5 pounds, which was 20% more expensive than the public price at that time, and the price was not cheap at all.
His first business was as a broker, selling translated works published in Gaul and the Netherlands through his family channels.
At a time when Internet shopping had not yet appeared, this solved the reading needs of many Cambridge students, and only then did a bunch of Cambridge students patronize his store.
At the same time, he also specialized in selling manuscripts written by graduate students at Cambridge University. Each copy was signed by the author, which brought a lot of extra money to those collaborators.
That's why students hold banquets to "respect him as a distinguished guest" and "thank him for providing eternal and great knowledge."
As for his connection with Keynes, it is because the bookstore is located diagonally opposite the main gate of Keynes College.
In addition, Keynes also complained about the premium at David's Bookstore in "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money".
Because Keynes relied on mathematics and classical literature scholarships to continue his university studies. When he was a student, he was as poor as an Internet writer. Naturally, he was extremely disgusted with this kind of premium booksellers.
It turned out to be a good thing in the end. Keynes and David actually became sworn friends.
Such a businessman with extremely high standards is now equivalent to a tycoon with assets of several hundred million, and he is a proper upper class person.
In some people's mouths, he actually becomes a respected little person.
At the end of the day, we have to reflect on our own, so where can you find excuses for this?
It is precisely because of this that Xu Yun still remembers the other Seaforth bookstore mentioned by Shao Xunmei. (Note: Recently, due to some well-known reasons, some new friends have directly subscribed to the latest chapters. I wonder if you can accept this kind of rumor-refuting science? Welcome to leave a message, I will refer to it and adjust it as appropriate.)
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Xu Yun and Xiaomai then declined Seaforth's idea of leading the way and walked along the aisle to the borrowing area.
Xiaomai had not yet come into contact with electromagnetism at this time, so what he planned to borrow was his own professional book, which was a mathematics book.
After bringing wheat to the mathematics area.
Xu Yun parted ways temporarily and turned to another direction.
Crunch——
Arriving at the edge of the area, Xu Yun pushed open a wooden door with ease and walked toward the upper floors while holding on to the cold iron ladder railing.
There are not many students in Cambridge University today, and the empty corridors look very quiet.
The sound of shoes touching the iron stairs is therefore more harsh, giving a vague sense of adventure.
There was no one on the upper floor, and light filtered through the densely packed bookshelves, carrying a strong musty smell of paper.
Xu Yun followed the signs and looked at them, hoping to find the area he wanted.
In this era when there are no bibliographic codes to search for, finding books is not an easy task.
More than ten minutes later.
Xu Yun stopped under a sign.
He leaned down and started searching carefully on the bookshelf:
"From Ordinary to Greatness: William Gilbert."
""Abandoned Son to King: Baahubali"."
""Rebirth of Hooker: The Gravity Formula at the Beginning"
""Millennium Celebrities: A Complete Book of Nordic Figures"."
"Can the book title be without a colon: A history of the development of European literature."
""Two or Three Things Between Sir Newton and My Mother"."
A few minutes passed.
Xu Yun's eyes suddenly lit up.
He reached out and took out a well-maintained book from the bookshelf:
"1650-1830: Two Centenary Leap in the History of Science." (End of chapter)