Nature and Wildlife

Author: Ding Cong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: It's hard to tell whether it's the readers' tastes that have changed, the editors', or something else entirely. Every time I was commissioned to write, I was expected to come up with articles about the joys of life. Life is truly wonderful—as a famous host once said, with fragrant flowers, chirping birds, and bright sunshine. I really can't understand why anyone could be dissatisfied—life should be enjoyed to the fullest. Yet life is always filled with charm, and it should be reflected in the articles. But based on my experience, people are different, and their perspectives vary, so emotions and interests differ greatly. For example, singers on stage gyrate, (: shake their heads), pouring all their love into their performance, singing with all their might. Some find it highly entertaining and cheer loudly, but Mr. He Manzi considers it overly sentimental. As for things like associating with wealthy individuals, accepting red envelopes, fawning on others, and toadying, which many people find utterly vulgar, some people enjoy doing them with great enthusiasm, finding them endlessly interesting. As for "Red Chamber" (a metaphor for a luxurious lifestyle) of Lai Changxing, some find it filled with endless charm, captivating them completely, but the common people condemn it as a hub of corruption. The vast emotional distance between people is often beyond calculation. So, although I believe these short essays are about flowers, snow, moon, and stars, as well as birds, flowers, insects, and fish, about worldly wisdom, human relationships, and endless topics, I still think they lack "authenticity." Hence, I've titled them "Quasi-'Birds, Flowers, Insects, and Fish.'" Fortunately, Mr. Ding Cong's wonderful illustrations may somewhat mask the flaws in the writing. But it's bound to be considered dry and uninteresting to some, nothing more than stale and outdated topics, not worth reading. But as the saying goes, "Different strokes for different folks," so perhaps there are also those who would enjoy listening to this self-indulgent rambling.