（加密線路接通。短暫靜音。）

習：

買買買！

川：

Buy or bye?

習：

B-U-Y

川:

Good spelling. 

I'm impressed. 

You're still the boss.

It's fun to boss people around.

Right?

習：

該調整的，

就要調整。

川：

Sure.

I like adjustments.

I fire people all the time.

It shows strength.

But your regional military guys

remain quiet.

Not a lot of clapping.

習：

軍隊不以鼓掌為職責。

以執行命令為職責。

川：

Right.

But applause is nice.

It shows enthusiasm.

In my world, no applause means trouble.

And your world?

習：

紀律比情緒可靠。

川：

Fair enough.

So let's talk about 

my upcoming visit.

Big visit.

Unlike you, 

I need to feed the media 

with nice dramas. 

習：

訪問是外交行為。

不是表演。

川：

Come on.

Everything is a performance,

whether you admit it or not.

The only question is—

who controls the stage.

習：

中國不要舞台，

要的是台！

川：

Careful there.

（短暫停頓。）

川：

If I come,

I don't want surprises.

習：

台要穩定嘛。

穩定，

就是最大的確定性。

川：

Stability is good—

when it holds.

Markets love stability.

So do your generals—

until they don't.

習：

軍隊服從黨。

這是原則問題。

川：

Principles are great.

But reality is louder.

I've seen strong systems wobble

when everyone waits

for one man to speak.

習：

中國不是靠個人運轉的，

靠的是一錘一尊。

川：

Interesting.

Because everyone outside says

it looks very personal right now.

習：

吾知吾國。

川：

Wow. Classical Chinese. 

Well, the outside world

may be wrong.

But perception moves money.

And money moves politics.

習：

吾黨在，吾軍在。

吾軍在，吾國在。

吾國在，和平在。

中國五千年，

什麼沒見過？

川：

I respect that.

I really do.

But let me be clear—

when I visit,

I need to see confidence.

Not tension.

習：

信心來自秩序。

不是來自展示。

川：

Sometimes display is order.

Parades, ceremonies...

You know the drill, right?

習：

你關心的，

是訪問本身，

還是訪問背後的信號？

川：

Both.

I don't do empty trips.

If I fly that far,

I need leverage.

Optics.

Results.

習：

結果需要耐心。

川：

Patience is a luxury.

I prefer pressure.

（線路出現輕微雜音。）

習：

你剛才提到軍方。

你想表達什麼？

川：

I'll be honest.

If you're the boss—

then the world needs to know it.

Clear signals.

No ambiguity.

習：

中國靠自己來證明領導。

川：

That's a risk.

Silence creates rumors.

Rumors create weakness.

習：

過度表達，

同樣製造不安。

川：

So here's my question.

If I come,

am I meeting a system—

or a man?

習：

你見到的

是大國大度。

川：

Good answer.

Very careful.

But the world actually 

negotiates with faces.

習：

那是你們的習慣。

川：

And it works.

Most of the time.

習：

訪問若成行，

中國歡迎。

若不……

川：

I won't come

to be used as a photo

to prove your point. 

習：

中國不需要借人立威。

川：

Nobody ever admits that.

（短暫沉默。）

川：

One last thing.

People say 

power is tightening in Beijing.

When power tightens,

mistakes get expensive.

習：

權力如果分散，

代價更高。

川：

We'll see.

History is the referee.

習：

歷史不着急。

川：

My voters are.

習：

訪問細節，

容後再談。

川：

Good.

I like ongoing conversations.

They keep everyone guessing.

習：

猜不猜由你。

川：

Same here. 

Uncertainty is my brand.

習：

那就先這樣。

川：

Sure.

Tell your people—

I'm watching.

Very closely.

習：

彼此彼此。

川：

Then let's make it worth watching.

Meanwhile, 

may you live in interesting times!

（通話結束。線路切斷。）

作者：紉秋蘭