Originally Written by Wang Dingding and Li Weilian
Translated from Chinese by Ma Jun
Wang:
A silvery grey squirrel was standing at the crossing of Constitution Avenue. On its left side is the building of the US Department of Justice, with an embossment of Athena bearing a sword on the marble porch. The Internal Revenue Service building is seated on the right side. It seems rather starchy and unreasonable without any adornments on its porch. At this moment, the squirrel was grabbing the last piece of coffee-cake (a kind of crisp rusk made from Chocolate, squirrels’ favorite sweetmeat) from my hand.
The Streets of Washington DC had been decorated especially beautifully on the eve of the US National Day. There were few people in the streets on the morning of July 3. I took a walk along Constitution Avenue planning to spend two hours walking from Capitol Hill to the White House. The Governer’s Hotel where I lived is located not far behind the White House. I love this hotel because it doesn’t look ostentatious like the Hilton Hotel or Holiday Inn Hotel. It still retains such styles compatible with the 18th century politician’s simplicity and solemnities. The rosewood furniture, heavy curtains pattterned with typical flowers and grasses of the South, and an old-style lamp bracket, create an austere atmosphere which matches my frame of mind very well……
Li:
An easily missed alley. A two level, half-villa-half-farmhouse building. The building is embraced by thick forests. Some branches lay on the roof casually; a squirrel with a big tail was jumping beside the chimney. We parked the rented black Nissan on the quiet path among the forests in front of “Buchanan House” at 8:58 on the morning of July 2. With the experiences of interviewing some other Nobel Laureates, Dingding looks full of confidence. George Mason University is the most famous private (I think it should be “public”----Jun Ma) university located near Washington DC and the state of Virginia . We used to think that the “Buchanan House” was named after President James Buchanan of one century ago because we knew there were many other buildings on campus named after Presidents’ names. We felt somewhat surprised when we came to know it was in fact named after the economist James M. Buchanan. It was Betty who came downstairs to greet us. Anybody who knows Professor Buchanan knows his secretary who has followed him for 37 years. She was in a black and white suit. She welcomed us with chipper laughter. A dignified and still pretty face, with gracefully curled silvery hair came into our eyes.
Wang:
Betty has already been 71 years old. Of course time leaves fine traces on her face, but they are just too trivial to mention, that’s all. We knew each other on the line during the early June. Having finished the “homework” concerning interview with Prof. Buchanan I outlined a letter and faxed it to his office. One hour later I called to check whether or not it had reached. Betty picked up the phone. Her Virginian accent remined me of the characters in Gone with the Wind immediately. Subsequently, she told us with great pride she was a Virginian girl. She looks indeed pretty, radiant with happiness. Her inborn fair skin provides hints of her youth charm. While thinking of Gone with the Wind, my tone on the phone sounded easy and tender. After some chats, Betty told me she had served Prof. Buchanan as a secretary for several decades of years. But this kindness disappeared when I asked for an interview with Prof. Buchanan on behalf of a newspaper agency. Betty said she didn’t get my fax. And also she couldn’t reply me before considering for at least one week even if my fax and questionair had arrived. It was really disappointing. I remember the chief editor Xiaoyong Gao had already warned me before this journey. He said interview was a great challenge to the intellectuals’ self-respects. You must be ready for any unintended hurts from the interviewees. Since there is nothing I can do to change this situation, waiting with patience is the best choice. I feel confident about my questions for Prof. Buchanan. Any person who loves truth will not ignore them. In my letter to him, I have already outlined these questions approximately.