Chapter 317: Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Principal Chen was usually a highly cultured man of great breeding, but that was under one strict condition: nobody was to mention the word “bald.”
You could say he lacked education, or you could say he was just there to make up the numbers, but you could absolutely not call him bald!
This was especially true now that he felt the desertification on the crown of his head had been vastly improved, to the point where certain local regions could even be described as thriving with prosperity!
The old man’s heart puffed up with pure rage. Carrying his hands behind his back, he marched straight over to the other group’s compartment.
Wu Li, from the foreign trade section of the Chucheng Food Factory, was currently gesturing and gesticulating up a storm. He simply loved this feeling of being the center of attention.
Besides, from the bottom of his heart, he looked down on the An County Food Factory.
It was merely a small workshop. So what if a blind cat stumbled upon a dead mouse and happened to settle a foreign trade order? What was so grand about that?!
Just as his saliva was flying everywhere mid-speech, his eyes landed on Principal Chen.
Catching himself red-handed spouting gossip behind someone’s back left him feeling somewhat awkward.
He shifted his gaze away, acting as though absolutely nothing had happened.
The few people who had been listening to him talk took one look at Principal Chen’s hairstyle, then noted Wu Li’s reaction, and instantly guessed Principal Chen’s identity—the “Tang Sanzang.”
Although they hadn’t spouted any gossip themselves just now, their faces still turned somewhat sheepish. They wanted to smooth things over, yet had no idea what they should say.
Principal Chen fixed his gaze on Wu Li. “This comrade, we have never met before, and we harbor no grievances or enmity. What exactly do you mean by slandering my companions and me like this?
“Miserable old men?
“True, the four of us are a bit advanced in age, but the Canton Fair doesn’t enforce an age requirement, does it?
“True, I am the principal of a night school, but the Canton Fair doesn’t enforce a professional occupation requirement either, does it?
“We are representatives personally elected by the common folk of An County, carrying hearts of burning zeal to contribute to our motherland’s export foreign exchange earnings. Yet in your eyes, we’ve been reduced to a scripture-seeking monk and old demons?
“Our China has been a land of ritual and propriety since ancient times, where even a three-year-old toddler knows to respect the elderly and cherish the young. Yet here you are spouting grand, reckless nonsense. It truly broadens one’s horizons!”
Hearing Principal Chen’s words, quite a few people gathered around from the surroundings.
Wu Li’s face flushed a deep crimson. Gnashing his teeth, he said, “The words I spoke were indeed a bit over the line. But what exactly is a night school principal going to the Canton Fair for? Was I wrong to say you’re just making up the numbers?”
To salvage his own face, he could only double down and cling desperately to this single point.
Principal Chen said calmly, “What am I going to the Canton Fair for?
“Naturally, to contribute to exporting and earning foreign exchange!
“You feel that once I arrive at the Canton Fair, I will have no place to exert my skills?
“Heh, verbal disputes are of little use. When the time comes, the truths will naturally be revealed.
“But prior to that, you must offer an apology to me and the other three old comrades for your utter insolence.”
Wu Li stiffened his neck, remaining stubbornly silent.
Principal Chen’s expression turned thoroughly cold. “I originally felt that we shouldn’t escalate the matter, which was why I stood here exercising the patience to reason with you. But if you remain blindly obstinate, then I can only handle this in strict accordance with official procedures.
“As a member of the Jingbei Province delegation, you openly defamed our Beiliao Province delegation. What exactly are your intentions?
“Are you trying to stir up antagonism between our two delegations, or are you trying to sabotage the Canton Fair?
“I don’t have the spare time to waste words on you either. I’ll head over right now to find our Beiliao Province team leader and have him coordinate with your team leader!”
Having finished speaking, Principal Chen turned around to leave.
Wu Li panicked!
He knew perfectly well that he was in the wrong. If the matter escalated, Deputy Director Tong would bound to discipline him just to quiet things down.
Therefore, he could no longer spare any thoughts for his face, hurriedly blocking Principal Chen’s path. “Old comrade, old comrade, please wait a moment!
“I drank a couple of sips of wine during dinner, so my mind was a bit muddled, and I spouted some wretched nonsense. Please display the grand magnanimity of a superior man and don’t lower yourself to my level.”
Principal Chen thought to himself: So you do know how to speak human words after all!
Little Su was absolutely correct—some people are just asking to be straightened out!
Principal Chen hadn’t intended to blow the matter out of proportion anyway. It was merely a few casual remarks of gossip. This was just what he happened to overhear; who knew how many more remarks were being made where he couldn’t hear!
Therefore, he waved his hand. “Forget it. Since you’ve recognized your mistake, I won’t pursue it further. I hope you will take this as a warning blow to be prudent in your speech and actions, lest you lose the face of our China before foreign guests.”
While Wu Li was cursing and swearing in his heart, his face could only squeeze out a apologetic smile. “Yes, yes, your lecture is absolutely correct. I will definitely never commit this fault again in the future.”
Only then did Principal Chen walk back with measured, stately strides. The old man kept his face neutral, but in his heart, he felt he had fought this battle beautifully!
From Su He’s person, he had learned a vital point: when fighting a battle of words, one must always occupy the absolute moral high ground. Only then could one emerge victorious in a hundred battles!
The old man was halfway back before he remembered his business with using the restroom, running over in a great, frantic hurry.
By the time he returned to the sleeper compartment, Su He had already come back.
Principal Chen recounted the sequence of events in a completely straightforward narrative.
Director Tian rolled his eyes. “In reality, the way that man described you isn’t wrong either. Aren’t you exactly a Tang Sanzang—nagging about this and chattering about that every single day, exactly like reciting scriptures?!”
Principal Chen: “…”
Director Tian continued, “In my view, out of Old Hu, Old Feng, and myself, I must be the character of Sun Wukong. After all, compared to you two, my mind is the most active and flexible.
“Old Hu, although you possess a lot of strategic thoughts, you’re still considered simple and honest, so you are Sha Wujing.”
Having reached this point, he stopped speaking further, standing right there while chuckling merrily at Director Feng.
Director Feng: “…”
After all that talk, I’m Zhu Bajie, am I?!
Tian the Miser, you are truly venomous!
Terrified that Director Feng and Director Tian would break into another brawl, Su He said with a beaming smile, “Director Tian, then who do you say I am?”
Director Tian rolled his eyes, thinking to himself: You are naturally the White Dragon Horse!
Kicking up your heels whenever there’s nothing happening!
However, he didn’t dare to voice that aloud, stating instead, “You? You are naturally Wu Cheng’en, the author who wrote the book! Whichever path you draw for us is the exact way we will walk. Whether we walk a grand avenue to heaven or a narrow, winding footpath depends entirely within a single thought of yours.”
Principal Chen and the other three: “…”
He can actually trace it to that?!
When it comes to flattery, it still has to be you, Tian the Miser!
Su He was also struck dumb for a moment. She had assumed Director Tian would fashion her into a Guanyin Bodhisattva or something similar; it turned out she had been narrow-minded.
Sure enough, once a person’s macro vision opened up, their train of thought opened up as well.
She said with a beaming smile, “Director Tian, stop elevating me so heavily. Wanting to fetch the true scriptures requires our joint efforts. As long as we are of one heart and one mind, we will bound to reap a massive harvest at this Canton Fair!”
While things were completely joyful and harmonious on this end, the atmosphere in the adjacent sleeper carriage was far from pleasant.
The moment Tong Zhen caught wind of Wu Li’s business, he called him over and gave him a severe dressing down, further specially escorting him over to offer an apology to Principal Chen and the others.
Even if he desperately wanted to compete with Beiliao Province in his heart, on the surface, things had to pass properly.
Wu Li felt thoroughly stifled with frustration in his heart!
He thought to himself: I overheard everything when you were talking with our Section Chief Jin earlier. Didn’t your words also subtly disparage Beiliao Province?
A grander official rank truly crushes a person to death!
Luo Dongchuan had also rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Beholding Tong Zhen looking exactly like a mute swallowing a bitter melon, he felt an absolute wave of refreshing comfort in his heart!
Tsk-tsk, not only is Little Su’s tongue exceptionally formidable, but the eloquence of these old comrades like Principal Chen is quite excellent as well!
Could this be the so-called ‘birds of a feather flock together, and closeness to vermilion makes one red’?
