HCB Chapter 515 Zhang Chi: I will teach you what PUA is
Chapter 515 Zhang Chi: I will teach you what PUA is
December 1, 1944, winter.
Hergé wrote these words in his diary with a fountain pen.
"Is it winter? It should be winter? God, it's hot in here."
Thirty-six-year-old cartoonist Georges Remi, known by his pen name Hergé, felt as if he had stepped into a giant Viking sauna as he stood on the balcony of his Johann-style colonial-style hotel.
For him, who has lived in Western Europe all year round, it is a strange experience that not only does it not snow in December, but he is also exposed to a stuffy atmosphere with salty water vapor everywhere.
This is completely different from the crisp air of his hometown with a chill from the North Sea, and is even more different from the landscapes of the Republic of China, Mao Zedong, and the African continent that he has described in his works.
He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and looked out the window.
The towering, golden Shwedagon Pagoda radiates a sacred and majestic light in the afternoon sun.
Men and women wearing sarongs walked by on the streets from time to time.
There are no fewer trucks and cars on the road than on the streets of Europe, and rickshaw pullers skillfully weave their rickshaws through the traffic.
Security guards wearing the new light green uniforms of the Nanyang Security Bureau patrolled the streets and maintained order.
But more are those Chinese faces with black hair and black eyes, speaking different dialects. They are in a hurry, wearing Zhongshan suits, Ma兜兜, shorts or suits, full of energy, with a sense of pride on their faces as the real masters of this city.
"This is Nanyang..." Herge muttered to himself, feeling mixed emotions.
A few months ago, he was preparing to face a possible return of the authorities to clear his past work for the Nazis, and his future was uncertain.
Today, he has been "invited" by the mysterious Nanyang Commander-in-Chief Zhang Chi to this distant, unfamiliar and vibrant land, who has given him the highest courtesy and creative freedom.
But at the same time, the young man who was a few years younger than him also gave him a clear and grand "creative task" - to use Tintin's adventures to tell the world the history of the Chinese going to Southeast Asia.
Freedom and the luxury of living in the present moment like a vacation come at a price.
Xiao Qi, the energetic young "manuscript editor" sent by Zhang Chi, "accompanies" him almost every day, enthusiastically providing massive amounts of information.
There are also records about Zheng He's feat of sailing to the West, the struggle of Chinese immigrants in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years, the customs and folkways of various parts of Southeast Asia, myths and legends, and of course, a large number of historical archives exposing the greed and atrocities of Western colonists.
Xiaoqi's catchphrase is:
"Mr. Hergé, look at this. Wouldn't it be perfect for a new Tintin story? This proves that we Chinese have long taken root here. Those white people... well, Western colonizers were the bandits who came later."
Although the communication between the two still needed to be conducted through an interpreter, Herge had already understood that it would not work if he did not satisfy Xiaoqi or the requirements of the future "Father of Nanyang".
It’s a lot of pressure.
Herge sighed.
He loves creation and Tintin is like his child.
He longs to portray the world realistically, just as he strives to show the real Republic of China in "Blue Lotus".
But this time, the background was the completely unfamiliar Nanyang, and the theme was so strongly task-oriented... He felt his pen tip was heavier than ever before.
However, the profound history, mysterious legends and diverse culture of Nanyang itself attracted him, a natural story collector, like a magnet.
Especially when he came across the legend about Zheng He's voyage to the West in search of Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen, and Zhang Chi provided him with an outline of a suspense story called "The Da Vinci Code" for reference.
A bold and suspenseful story framework gradually took shape in Hergé's mind.
This can not only meet Zhang Chi's requirements, but also give full play to his style of adventure puzzle solving, and even incorporate the Eastern mysticism elements that Xiao Qi recently introduced to him.
Once inspiration is ignited, it grows wildly like a vine.
Hergé locked himself in his hotel room, refused most social activities, and devoted himself to his new creation.
He drew a large number of sketches: pagodas in Yangon, Bangkok, and Malacca, Chinese vendors on the streets, exotic vegetation in the rainforest, Pegu in traditional costumes, and natives of various ethnic groups including Malays...
At the same time, a story outline that combines historical suspense, code decryption and treasure hunting adventure is becoming clearer.
-----
Hergé ignited his creative passion. On the other hand, Zhang Chi, who was busy with the affairs of nation-building, also took the time to communicate with Xiao Qi again.
"The core idea of this cartoon must be clear. It must highlight the presence and contributions of the Chinese, show the harmonious coexistence of Southeast Asian culture and Chinese civilization, and expose the greed and destruction of the colonizers.
"I incorporated the eight words 'since ancient times' and 'expel the foul smell and return to the original source' in a clever and vivid way, using the form of an adventure story that Westerners love."
"But..." Xiao Qi scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "...Master Hergé said he is a creator, and creation is free and should not be interfered with."
"Tsk!" Zhang Chi was so angry that he laughed when he heard this.
Damn it, why didn't he come up with this when the Nazis forced Hergé at gunpoint to write an article in the newspaper praising the Third Reich?
"Bang!" Zhang Chi slammed the table, ready to let Hergé realize why the flowers in Southeast Asia are so red.
But after thinking about it, he decided to change his approach.
So he gave Secretary Liu a few instructions, and after a while, a synthetic agent from the Intelligence Department, who was tall and straight, wearing a suit but full of military temperament, walked in.
"Xiao Qi, this is Captain An from the Intelligence Department. He will cooperate with you in implementing the PUA plan against Hergé."
Next, Zhang Chi explained to Xiao Qi in a simple and easy-to-understand way what PUA is.
"In short, Captain An plays the bad guy, pressing Hergé with every step, and you, Xiao Qi, play the good guy, pretending to be considerate of Hergé, his artistic soulmate, and a good friend..."
Xiao Qi, who had just heard about PUA for the first time, was shocked and murmured, "Commander-in-Chief, your trick is so weird..."
Zhang Chi smiled and tapped Xiao Qi's forehead with his index finger. He didn't believe that the advanced PUA method from the 21st century couldn't take down the cartoonist Hergé:
"Who cares? As long as the trick works, that's fine."
Xiao Qi straightened his chest, his eyes flashing with eagerness: "Yes, I promise to complete the task!
I will keep a close eye on Master Hergé and have him create the stories that best serve the interests of our Southeast Asia region and promote Tintin's adventures there, a story that has been passed down through the ages. Let Western readers see who the true masters of this land are and who are the stinking bandits who come to rob us.