All this preliminary chitchat is necessary, I'm afraid.While you still deal with words I must work with words, strung one before the other.Most unfortunate.

这些前期的闲聊恐怕都是必要的。当你还在和文字打交道的时候，我必须用文字 工作，一前一后地串起来。太不幸了。

The word " string, " in addition to meaning a thin rope, can also mean a series of things, one after the other.

“弦” 字，除了表示一根细绳，还可以表示一连串的东西， 一个接一个。