Chapter 27 Excellence is people-oriented, treating others with kindness, seeking common ground while reserving differences, ...
Xu Heye continued in Hucheng dialect: "Yes, is Hucheng dialect difficult to learn?"
Wang Cai: “You——”
"Then you understood what I just said to the class representative."
Xu Heye's expression remained unchanged: "I understand. You are saying that I got first place in the class."
Wang Cai: "...Don't be so complacent. This time it was just a blind cat catching a dead mouse. You may not be able to take first place next time."
Xu Heye was a little impatient: "What does it have to do with you whether I get first place or not? If I can't get first place next time, will you be able to get first place?"
"H-how dare you talk to me like that?"
"Why wouldn't I dare? Are you some famous person?"
Wang Cai: "I am from Hucheng, you are from outside."
Xu Heye: "So?"
"Why?"
"So, you people from Hucheng, do you have supernatural powers, or do you have nobler blood than anyone else?" Xu Heye didn't understand. Sometimes it was really hard for her to understand some of the people from Hucheng. They lived a very hard life, but they were always inexplicably proud.
In her previous life, she worked in a foreign trade factory. She started out as an assembly line operator, then taught herself spoken English. With her own efforts, she switched to foreign trade customer service, specializing in connecting with foreign customers.
When business was good, she could earn tens of thousands of yuan in commission every month, but the local aunt who was in charge of sweeping the floor in her office would still look at her with inexplicable contempt.
Xu Heye continued, "If it's because of Hucheng's prosperity, then I can't understand it even more.
Hucheng only truly prospered for over a hundred years. To be precise, it began to prosper in 1843, after the failure of the Opium War, when John signed the Treaty of Nanjing with the Qing Dynasty, requiring the opening of Hucheng as a trading port.
"Before this, this was just a small county town by the sea. What is the heritage of Hucheng that makes you think so highly of yourself and look down on students from other places?"
Xu Heye's words were deafening.
Wang Cai was intimidated by her aura and subconsciously took a step back. He came to his senses, a flash of anger in his eyes, and cursed angrily, "You country bumpkin, all this is just sophistry."
"you--"
"Wang Cai." Squad leader Fang Sihe's voice was calm, but it contained a power that could not be refuted.
He looked at Xu Heye and asked, "Since you think Hucheng lacks heritage, why do you insist on coming to Hucheng? Why do you outsiders try so hard to squeeze into Hucheng?"
Although his family has no relatives from other places who have settled down here, his neighbors do. They quarrel with each other every day, and the noise is so loud that it can be heard throughout the small western-style building.
"Because this is the pain that the times have given to our older generation, and it is also the little comfort that the country has given them." Xu Heye's voice was low and his tone was heavy.
"My parents, like you, are from Hucheng. They were born and raised in Hucheng. The only difference is that more than 20 years ago, your parents were left behind, while our parents left Hucheng and moved to other places.
Whether Hucheng is good or bad, for them, it is the hometown they will never forget, the hometown they want to return to but cannot. We, the children, have returned to Hucheng, carrying the nostalgia and expectations of our parents for their hometown.
So, what makes you laugh at us? Is it just because of this pitiful geographical advantage? "
The next two classes were Chinese, and again they were about the exams. A cheerful old man walked into the classroom and handed out the papers with a smile.
"Everyone performed very well in this Chinese exam. But I want to especially praise one new student—"
New classmates?
Fang Sihe's heart skipped a beat and he subconsciously looked at Xu Heye.
Is it her?
"This time, this student was the only one who got all the basic questions and classical Chinese reading comprehension questions correct, earning full marks. Her essay was also very well written, so she only lost one point."
He got all the basic questions right, including the classical Chinese reading comprehension questions right. His foundation must be very solid!
Only one point deducted for the composition?
How is that possible?
After all, we have all been students for over a decade and are very familiar with the teachers' marking habits. They rarely give full marks to essays, and even the best essays will be deducted a point to prevent students from becoming too proud.
Deducting one point from the composition means that this article is almost equivalent to a full-score composition.
"Student Xu Heye, please stand up and explain this ancient Chinese text to everyone."
Xu Heye stood up and said slowly, "This article, 'The Journey of the Great Dao,' is excerpted from the Book of Rites. It talks about people's understanding of the world of great harmony during the pre-Qin period..."
Ni Zhuang nodded and said with satisfaction: "Sit down."
"Respect the elderly as your own, and the young as your own; provide for the widowed, the orphaned, and the lonely… Xu Heye's explanation was excellent, and I have nothing to add. However, I would like to offer a few additional comments. What policies around us, do you think, embody the ideas expressed in this ancient text?"
"Orphanages, nursing homes, preferential policies for people with disabilities... You're right, my classmates. These policies all embody the people-oriented philosophy of 'The Way of the Great Dao.' It's clear that excellent, good ideas will never become obsolete, even if they persist for a thousand years."
"In 1955, our great Premier Zhou Enlai proposed the diplomatic policy of seeking common ground while reserving differences at the Bandung Conference. Do you know where the term 'seek common ground while reserving differences' came from?
Yes, it is also "Book of Rites".
The Book of Rites, "The Book of Music," states: "Music is for unity, ritual is for difference. Unity brings closeness, difference brings respect. If music prevails, people flow; if ritual prevails, people separate." This shows that overemphasizing either unity or difference is not good. Seeking unity while reserving differences is the correct approach.
"Students, we study classical Chinese not just to answer exam questions, but more importantly to learn those excellent ideas and internalize them into our own cultural heritage."
"In this class, I want to tell you that putting people first, being kind to others, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and being harmonious yet diverse are the qualities and virtues that truly outstanding people should possess, just like Premier Zhou."
As Ni Zhuang finished speaking, the bell for the end of get out of class rang.
He put away the papers and smiled, "I know you're all anxious to go to the cafeteria for lunch, so I won't be the one to spoil your fun. Okay, get out of class is over now, let's all go eat."
Xu Heye looked at the old man's back and guessed that he must have seen the argument between her and Fang Sihe during the break.
The corners of Xu Heye's mouth curled up slightly, the old man had a good heart.
In the afternoon math and English classes, Xu Heye still got good grades. Everyone was finally convinced of this transfer student from out of town.
It is human nature to admire the strong.
The same applies to students.
Only when a person is good enough and strong enough in his professional field will others respect him.
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