Su Xiao Si and Christina, despite their inability to communicate verbally, found themselves with plenty in common. With the help of Chi Yi Yuan and Su Xiao Tian, their rapport grew. Soon, their conversations extended beyond merely discussing cooperation and delved into other topics, particularly concerning the garden they were currently in.
Christina held a keen interest in ancient Eastern culture, and the architectural style here was vastly different from anything she had encountered before. "I'm curious, why is this beautiful garden called Yiheyuan?" Christina asked, quite puzzled. She didn't know how to write the characters for Yiheyuan, let alone understand their meaning.
"In our Chinese characters, 'Yi' means to enjoy one's old age, and 'He' means to be calm and peaceful. Yiheyuan, as the name suggests, is a place for retired elders to live in peace and tranquility," Su Xiao Si explained, though his own understanding was limited. He was afraid Christina might be disappointed.
Christina, however, was not disappointed but grew increasingly perplexed. She already found Chinese culture difficult to grasp, and now it seemed even more complicated. Moreover, this place hardly looked like a retirement spot. What kind of person could afford to retire in such a vast garden? Wasn't this even more extravagant than what Xiao Tian had mentioned about the Empress Dowager needing several large courtyards and hundreds of people to cook for her?
With a "ask if you don't understand" mindset, Christina voiced her confusion. Su Xiao Si clearly didn't know the historical context. He could only scratch his head and look to Su Xiao Tian for help. After all, everyone in the family knew Su Xiao Tian was a walking encyclopedia, knowing almost everything.
At this moment, Chi Yi Yuan began introducing Yiheyuan in fluent German. Chi Yi Yuan's knowledge base was undeniably broader than Su Xiao Si's. "Yiheyuan was not originally called Yiheyuan; it was called Qingyiyuan. This garden was the last to be completed among the famous Three Hills and Five Gardens of the Qing Dynasty capital," he said, his voice a magnetic baritone that gained an extra layer of charm when speaking German, making it incredibly pleasant to listen to. Su Xiao Tian listened quietly, a faint smile gracing her eyes, adding a touch of serenity to the already beautiful young girl.
This time, before Christina could speak, Su Xiao Si interjected. "Yi Yuan, could you repeat that in Chinese? I'm anxious, I can't understand!" Su Xiao Tian's faint smile turned into a hearty laugh. "Brother Si, don't interrupt Brother Yi Yuan while he's explaining the history. I'll translate for you."
Hearing their exchange, Chi Yi Yuan smiled and continued to share the story with their foreign guest. "The so-called Three Hills and Five Gardens refer to the Jingyi Garden of Xiangshan, the Jingming Garden of Yuquanshan, the Qingyi Garden of Wanshoushan, the Yuanmingyuan, and the Changchun Garden."
At this point, Chi Yi Yuan hesitated, reluctant to continue. These famous gardens were destroyed by the Eight-Nation Alliance. However, he ultimately chose to recount this part of history. Christina covered her mouth in astonishment upon hearing this. Had such events truly happened? She had never heard of it, only knowing that many Chinese artifacts were housed in museums in her country. Had they been acquired through such violent means?
She suddenly felt her face flush, even feeling embarrassed to face these friendly Chinese acquaintances. She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say. An explanation? She couldn't think of how to explain such a matter, nor did she know if she should. Wouldn't any explanation at this point be sophistry? An apology? In what capacity should she apologize? Could an apology ever mend past hurts?
Just then, Chi Yi Yuan's calm voice broke the silence. "These are all things of the past. Each of us should remember this history firmly, not for future revenge, but so that everyone knows that only when a nation is prosperous and its people are strong can it stand at the pinnacle of the world! Only by diligently building up the country can we avoid being beaten."
"Brother Yi Yuan, our country will become increasingly prosperous and strong, and our people's lives will improve," Su Xiao Tian quickly added. Having witnessed times of such prosperity, she was confident her country would continue to flourish.
"Let us work together to build our nation," Su Xiao Si also said, his heart stirred by their conversation. He had always focused on making money, never considering its ultimate purpose. Today, he finally found it: national prosperity. Prosperity, indeed, strength comes from wealth! So, let's get rich first! He was determined to do more business with foreigners and earn their money to build the country.
"I'm sorry!" Christina finally uttered the apology, though she herself wasn't sure if it held any meaning. However, an apology was necessary. Her upbringing dictated that she must offer a sincere apology for this event!
"It's not your fault!" Su Xiao Tian said with a smile, comforting the girl who looked so distressed. "I didn't know my ancestors had done these things, and I didn't know they had destroyed countless treasures!" It was truly a sad story. She couldn't understand how those people could bear to lay hands on such beauty. Countless magnificent treasures were smashed and burned!
"Xiao Tian, your country is great, and I believe it will become even more powerful in the future!" Christina said with guilt, holding Su Xiao Tian's hand.
"It's okay, let's keep moving. The sun is hidden by the clouds right now." The weather was beautiful today, clear and sunny. But in the height of summer, such clear skies meant the sun would be scorching. If she were alone, she could take out a parasol, but with four people, wouldn't it attract suspicion if she inexplicably produced one? Su Xiao Tian could only endure the sun's intense rays. She felt much more comfortable when a cloud finally drifted by, blocking the sun.
"Xiao Tian, let's go eat. It's getting late, and there's a restaurant just ahead!" Chi Yi Yuan, having noticed Su Xiao Tian's discomfort from the heat, made the suggestion.
"Okay, let's go eat. I'll treat!" Su Xiao Si, uncharacteristically generous, offered to pay for the meal. Among the Su family children, Su Xiao Tian and Su Xiao Si were the wealthiest. Su Xiao Tian always suspected that although she had a lot of money, her fourth brother's fortune was likely no less than hers. However, her fourth brother, no matter how much money he earned, would always reinvest it to make more money! He was a typical example of someone who didn't know how to enjoy life, and she wondered what the point was of living solely to make money!