bayedsolid Chapter 529
Chapter 529
Britain is a well-known culinary wasteland. Xu Zhimo once joked during his studies abroad that the best British food was foreign food. A French president also quipped that British food was hard to swallow.
Italians even claim that the food here is tasteless or even poisonous.
This is inextricably linked to the country's unique history. During the Industrial Revolution, a large influx of people into cities led to a surge in food demand, and potatoes, a high-yield, easy-to-grow, and easy-to-store agricultural product, became the preferred choice at the time.
Busy workers need inexpensive, portable, and high-calorie foods, which led to the emergence of fast food such as fish and chips.
During World War II, resources were scarce, and in order to cope with the war, Britain implemented a strict food rationing system, resulting in a severe shortage of fresh vegetables and spices.
In addition, the gas supply was insufficient, so cooking food quickly and easily became the main cooking method at that time.
Therefore, the claim that traditional dishes are unpalatable is not unfounded.
Nowadays, with the integration of foreign food cultures, if you're not looking for novelty, you don't necessarily have to eat British food. It's like going to Beijing; you don't necessarily have to drink douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) or eat luzhu (stewed pork offal).
Li Shibai had also taken this into consideration, and took Lu Qingfeng to a bakery that was very popular in Cambridge.
Muffins, croissants, croissants, and toast, paired with coffee, were alright for Lu Qingfeng; his stomach could handle it.
After breakfast, the two of them went for a stroll around Trinity College.
The entire college complex is centered around a large courtyard, which extends outwards. At the very center is a Victorian-era fountain, which was once the college's main water supply.
"Do you see the clock tower over there?"
Standing on the grass in the giant courtyard, Li Shibai pointed into the distance.
Lu Qingfeng nodded.
“Trinity College still retains some very interesting traditions, such as the ‘Great Court Run’. Every year, on the day of the commencement banquet, incoming freshmen try to run a lap around the Great Court before the clock tower in the main building rings. It takes about 43 seconds.”
Has anyone ever completed this?
Lu Qingfeng circled around; the courtyard was quite large.
"Yes, but unfortunately I was just a little short back then."
Li Shibai said with a smile.
It's past eight o'clock. The weather is nice today. Standing here, you can see many students coming and going with their backpacks. Some are carrying books and walking hurriedly, while others are chatting leisurely in groups of three or five.
During this time, you can also see some Chinese people, who are international students studying here.
The influx of people has brought new life to this historically significant college.
When Lu Qingfeng came out, he was also carrying a bag. He took out paper and pen from the bag and began to write and draw.
"what are you writing?"
Li Shibai curiously leaned over and asked him.
Lu Qingfeng put down his pen and smiled.
“I’ve read a novel by the British author C.S. Lewis before, called The Chronicles of Narnia.”
The Chronicles of Narnia consists of seven stories: The Wizard's Nephew, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse and the Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, and The Last Battle.
It is a children's book written by Clive Stepples Lewis between 1950 and 1956. Since its publication, it has sold more than 100 million copies and is a classic work.
The story is simple: a group of children travel through a wardrobe door to a fantasy world called Narnia, where they experience various adventures and battles to defeat evil.
This story has also been adapted into movies and TV series, which Li Shibai, as an Englishman, naturally knew.
"This story is like Journey to the West in Britain, every child has read it."
"My first published novel was also a fairy tale about a Western boy, called Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which also had a bit of fantasy elements."
"You've also written fairy tales?"
Li Shibai found it very unbelievable.
Lu Qingfeng is best known in Europe as a violinist. As a writer, he published a mystery novel in Japan, which caused quite a stir, and this genre is also very popular in Britain.
If you're willing to learn, it's not difficult.
However, other works are not known here for the time being due to distribution issues.
"I suddenly want to read your novel."
Li Shibai wasn't flattering him when he said that; he was genuinely curious.
Because of his reputation as a violin prodigy, he considered Lu Qingfeng to be a musically accomplished artist. He had seen Lu Qingfeng's performance videos and also studied musical instruments himself.
I felt that he was the kind of person who put all his energy into the violin, which is why he had such superb skills.
Later, through social media, I learned that he not only had outstanding musical talent but had also published a detective novel. However, I didn't understand it in detail, since I wasn't a fan; I just liked Lu Qingfeng's violin skills.
It now seems that this cultural exchange student from Peking University may also have achieved remarkable success in literature.
Because the boy's expression was too calm when he spoke.
"If you have no problem reading Chinese, I can send you two books when I get back."
"It's a word."
Li Shibai extended his palm, and Lu Qingfeng gave him a high five.
"So, you suddenly had an inspiration?"
"Yes."
Lu Qingfeng looked at the Gothic building not far away.
"I was thinking, what if there are still very ancient academies hidden in places unknown to modern society, where students are taught knowledge that is completely different from science, such as magic?"
"A child is invited to join this academy without knowing anything about it, and meets some interesting people and wonderful things."
"Wow, I'm starting to look forward to your story! If it gets published, could you send me a copy?"
"It's just an idea for now; I don't know when I'll be able to write it down."
Lu Qingfeng smiled.
"Then I'll take you around a bit more; maybe it'll inspire you even more."
With that, Li Shibai led Lu Qingfeng to the Ryan Library.
This is the largest library in the entire Cambridge University, with a collection of over 300,000 books. The library's roof is adorned with four stone sculptures, each symbolizing a different discipline: theology, law, medicine, and mathematics.
Inside, the Baroque-style book gallery and stained glass windows, along with the antique bookshelves and tables and chairs, still retain their original appearance when they were built.
It contains not only books, but also ancient Egyptian mummies, St. Paul's letters and manuscripts, Milton's original manuscript of Paradise Lost, and Newton's first draft of Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy.
Then we went to the college chapel, where the foyer displays statues of six outstanding alumni of Trinity College, including Newton, Bacon, and Tennyson, symbolizing the academic pinnacle of the college.
Navel Courtyard, Byron Pool, Academician Garden.
Wherever he went, Lu Qingfeng would take notes.
What interests him most are the racing boats on the River Cam.