Chapter 22: Precarious Times
Li Feng traveled further and further along the path of reform, and his influence gradually expanded. However, the shifting winds of the era and the turbulence of both domestic and international environments meant that every step he took was fraught with unknowns and challenges.
One day, Li Feng heard discussions on the street suggesting that Westerners were sending students to China to learn advanced technology and management experience. This news left him deep in thought. He knew that this was a significant step toward China's modernization, but it also meant that China would be drawn even more deeply into the global vortex.
Li Feng decided to investigate the situation of these students himself. He arrived at a school established by Westerners and saw many young students dressed in Western suits, speaking fluent English, and discussing various advanced ideologies. Li Feng spoke with them and found that many possessed a strong sense of patriotism and a deep yearning for social change.
However, Li Feng also noted some issues. Among these students, some had been influenced by the Westerners and were beginning to harbor doubts about traditional culture; some even advocated for total Westernization. Li Feng believed this attitude was undesirable. He held the conviction that Chinese traditional culture possessed unique value and should be preserved and passed down.
Li Feng decided to take action; he hoped to organize a group of like-minded individuals to promote a movement for China's cultural self-strengthening. He hoped that through his own efforts, more people would recognize the value of Chinese traditional culture while simultaneously absorbing advanced foreign culture to achieve cultural integration and development.
He began writing articles and delivering speeches, calling on people to attach importance to the protection and development of traditional culture. His voice gradually drew the attention of many, and he began receiving letters from all over the country—some people supported him, some questioned him, and some even threatened him.
Yet, Li Feng was not swayed by these voices. He firmly believed his principles were correct and decided to persist. He began collaborating with like-minded individuals to establish an organization for cultural self-strengthening, and they started working on a series of cultural preservation activities.
They held lectures, published books, and promoted Chinese traditional culture. They hoped that through their efforts, more people would come to understand and love the traditions of China. Their endeavors gradually yielded results, and more and more people began to pay attention to the protection and development of traditional culture.
However, Li Feng and his group faced immense pressure. Some conservative forces believed their actions were shaking the foundations of China and moved to suppress them. Some radical forces, conversely, felt their actions were hindering social progress and launched attacks against them.
Li Feng endured many setbacks and difficulties throughout this process, but he did not give up. He knew that the path of reform was never smooth, and he determined to stay the course. He believed that as long as one persisted, one would surely see results.
In this process, Li Feng also gradually realized an important truth: reform cannot be achieved overnight; it requires taking things one step at a time, and it demands patience and perseverance. He decided to slow his pace and focus more on practical results rather than momentary momentum.
Li Feng's story tells us that the path of reform is arduous, but as long as one persists, one will surely see results. He was a pioneer of reform, and his efforts and perseverance have set an example for us all.