The Office for Spring Festival's World Heritage Application

Old Liu, the director of the Spring Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage Application Office, had been losing hair a lot recently. Not because he was overworked, but because he was worried. The higher-ups had issued a strict order: the introduction for the Spring Festival's application had to be limited to 200 words.

"200 words?!" Old Liu almost jumped up at the time. "How is that possible! The Spring Festival has thousands of years of culture, proficient in eating, drinking, and having fun. What can you say in 200 words?"

But the leader said it was an international practice and had to be followed. Old Liu could only bite the bullet and work on it.

He first gathered the office's writers and held a "Spring Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage Application Introduction Streamlining Conference." At the meeting, everyone brainstormed and offered suggestions.

Xiao Wang: "How about we just write, 'Spring Festival, the most important festival for Chinese people'?"

Old Liu: "Too general! No characteristics!"

Xiao Li: "Then write, 'Spring Festival, a day for family reunion'?"

Old Liu: "Still no good! Not eye-catching enough!"

Xiao Zhang: "How about we write, 'Spring Festival, a day for eating dumplings and setting off firecrackers'?"

Old Liu: "Vulgar! Too vulgar!"

The meeting lasted the entire afternoon, but no conclusion was reached. Old Liu was so angry that he slammed the table: "What are you all doing! You write reports with brilliant prose at ordinary times, why do you fail at crucial moments?"

Everyone looked at each other, not daring to say a word.

Old Liu had no choice but to take matters into his own hands. He read a lot of materials and studied various versions of the Spring Festival introduction. Finally, he decided to start from the perspective of "long history and profound cultural heritage."

He wrote: "The Spring Festival has a history of more than four thousand years and is the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation. It contains rich cultural connotations and embodies the Chinese people's beautiful expectations for family, affection, and the future..."

Writing to this point, Old Liu looked at the word count and had used nearly 100 words. He took a deep breath, there was still so much content behind, 200 words were simply not enough!

He had to change "more than four thousand years" to "long history", "Chinese nation" to "China", and "cultural connotation" to "culture."

Changing it back and forth, it was unrecognizable, and the original flavor was completely gone.

Old Liu scratched his head in pain, feeling like a castrated eunuch, knowing what he should do, but unable to do it.

At this moment, Xiao Wang suddenly had an idea: "Director, how about we use abbreviations? For example, abbreviate 'China Central Television Spring Festival Gala' to 'CCTV Spring Festival Gala'?"

Old Liu's eyes lit up: "Good idea! Let's do it!"

So, everyone started abbreviating frantically. "Spring Festival Gala" became "SFG"; "red envelope" became "RE"; "New Year's greetings" became "NYG."

Finally, a Spring Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage Application Introduction filled with abbreviations was released.

Old Liu looked at this introduction, but couldn't be happy. This wasn't a Spring Festival introduction, it was just a bunch of garbled characters!

He handed the introduction to the leader for review. After reading it, the leader frowned and said, "What is this? I can't understand it?"

Old Liu carefully explained: "Leader, these are abbreviations to save words..."

The leader glared: "Save words? Applying for heritage is a major event, how can you treat it like a child's play? Rewrite it!"

Old Liu wanted to cry but had no tears.

He returned to the office, slumped in his chair, feeling that his life had lost its meaning.

At this moment, Xiao Li suddenly walked over and whispered to Old Liu, "Director, I have an idea, I don't know if it will work..."

"What idea? Tell me quickly!" Old Liu grabbed at it like a lifeline.

Xiao Li smiled mysteriously: "We can...omit punctuation!"

Old Liu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Wonderful! Really wonderful!"

So, everyone started deleting punctuation marks frantically. Commas, periods, ellipses, all gone!

Finally, a Spring Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage Application Introduction without punctuation marks was completed.

Old Liu handed this introduction to the leader for review. After reading it, although he felt a little awkward, he couldn't find any faults.

"Okay, use this one." The leader waved his hand, signaling Old Liu to leave.

Old Liu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like a released prisoner.

The Spring Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage Application was finally successful.

At the press conference, a reporter asked: "Excuse me, why is the introduction to the Spring Festival so short?"

Old Liu replied with a smile: "Because...the charm of the Spring Festival is beyond words!"

After speaking, Old Liu secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead. He knew that he had successfully fooled people again.

However, his heart was filled with helplessness and sadness.

This is our Spring Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage Application. A story full of absurdity and irony.