“Isn’t it? You, Chinese people , are just paupers! If there’s anything that can surpass us os just your population , you country bumpkins have no knowledge at all !” Anthony’s voice was dripped with contempt, and his face a sneer of disdain.
All the Chinese man present has there eyes burning with fury, and they clenched there fists so tightly that there knuckles turned white. They trembled with suppressed rage.
Xu Ying, witnessing this, felt a surge of indignation. Yes, her country might be weak now, but they were striving, working tirelessly to grow stronger! Whose journey to greatness was ever smooth? Whose progress didn’t take time? What right did these foreigners have to be so arrogant? If not for the larger picture, she would have slapped the man senseless.
“Anthony, is it?” Xu Ying’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tense air. “Are all foreigners as uneducated as you? What do you think our country has? We possess education. Our nation has always been a land of etiquette, where we know to respect the virtuous and the wise. For guests like you, who have come from afar, we treat you with sincerity and courtesy. I never imagined that your country would lack such integrity and shame. This truly is an eye-opener for us Chinese people.”
She continued, her voice gaining power, “If you are so dissatisfied with us Chinese, and so disdainful of our creations, then why do you even come to our country? Business is built on mutual interest. Since you find us so ‘miserable,’ what are you still doing here? Don’t make money from us while continuously pretending otherwise; it’s a profound loss of conscience.”
The Chinese passengers in the carriage looked at Xu Ying, their faces etched with admiration. Anthony, caught completely off guard by Xu Ying’s fierce rebuttal, found his face turning a deep crimson with embarrassment. He was accustomed to scolding Chinese people without consequence, expecting them to endure his insults in silence. He never anticipated such a spirited, direct confrontation.
After delivering her scathing retort, Xu Ying’s expression softened into a radiant smile. “I believe your country has merely one ‘rat droppings in a pot of porridge.’ Others, I’m sure, are still aware of etiquette. Alyssa, I like you very much. You are beautiful and very polite. We in Yu County are very willing to discuss business with you, and also with the rest of your people who are polite. We in China appreciate courtesy, and we will naturally treat you with the respect due to a nation of etiquette.”
She concluded, her voice imbued with quiet dignity, “We Chinese people do have some shortcomings compared to your country, but everyone has their own strengths. We are also working hard. I believe that one day, we will surely impress you.”
The Chinese men who had been fuming moments before felt his grim expression lighten, replaced by a profound sense of relief and pride. Anthony truly was too much. The Chinese treated him with kindness and care, yet he still dared to hurl insults. But this young girl… she was beautiful, spoke fluent English, and her words were like music. She was truly remarkable!
“Anthony, you are speaking too much,” an older man interjected, his voice firm. He then turned to Xu Ying, a gentle smile on his face. “Beautiful girl, what is your name? We all like you very much.”
“My name is Xu Ying,” she replied, seizing the opportunity. “I am the director of the R&D department of Yu County Food Factory and the designer of the textile factory. Our Yu County is very famous for its braised duck and fried food. Would you like to try some?”
Xu Ying knew that associating with this foreign woman would lead to encounters with many distinguished guests, so she had already discreetly prepared fresh braised duck and fried goods from her personal stash. As she tore open the packaging, the unique, savory aroma of braised duck and fried delicacies wafted through the carriage.
Many of the foreigners, captivated by the scent, unconsciously swallowed. Alyssa, being closest to Xu Ying, couldn’t help but peer into the bag. “Oh, Xu Ying, what are these? Why do they smell so good?”
“Try the braised duck or the fried items,” Xu Ying offered, extending the bag.
Alyssa, initially repulsed by the appearance of the duck feet and intestines, cautiously selected a small piece of the fried goods. It was a fried mushroom. With just one bite, she was utterly captivated by the flavor. “This is so delicious!” she exclaimed.
Xu Ying smiled with satisfaction. “Alyssa, actually, the braised duck products are even more delicious than these fried ones. While they might not look as appealing, the taste is superior.” Alyssa, however, still seemed hesitant about the duck products, especially the duck head, which she found particularly unappetizing. She shook her head, a hint of disgust in her eyes.
Understanding her hesitation, Xu Ying found a duck wing and offered it to Alyssa. As Xu Ying watched, Alyssa took a cautious bite. Her eyes widened, surprise spreading across her face. “Oh my god, this is so delicious! Xu Ying, you truly didn’t lie to me.”
With a triumphant smile, Xu Ying began offering the braised duck and fried goods to the other foreigners.
“Xu Ying, your braised duck is so delicious! It’s such a pity that such wonderful food didn’t appear in the Diplomatic Hall this year. Fortunately, a few of us who love Chinese culture stayed here for a few days. Otherwise, we would have missed out on such a remarkable dish.”
“Oh my God, I can’t believe something as unappetizing as this duck’s claw tastes so good!” another exclaimed. “It’s soft, yet incredibly chewy, sweet with a hint of spiciness, making it utterly addictive.”
“It’s delicious. Unfortunately, I’m not in the food business, but I can certainly recommend you to my friend who is.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Ying’s eyes gleamed with interest. She immediately showered the gentleman with praise. “This handsome gentleman, you are truly a fascinating person; you can actually discern the true essence of our food! I am immensely grateful to you. You are so kind. Thank you for recommending customers to me. May I have your contact information? If I develop new products in the future, I can send them to you for free.”
The young foreigner, initially casual, puffed out his chest with pride at Xu Ying’s lavish compliments. “Xu Ying, don’t worry, I will introduce your duck products to him when I get back. My address and phone number are…”
“Thank you, handsome gentleman, you are so talented…” Xu Ying continued, her words of appreciation flowing freely.
The middle-aged Chinese man who had argued with Anthony earlier, a slight twitch at the corner of his lips, began chatting with Xu Ying in Chinese. “You girl, you truly are a clever one!”
Xu Ying shook her head modestly. “I’m just a little cautious. I’m still far behind our Chinese seniors.” She thought of those who dedicated their lives to bringing peace to their nation. Even if the motherland was somewhat weak now, it would continue to grow, and patriotic Chinese like herself were working diligently to strengthen it. At that moment, Xu Ying’s patriotism soared. If she earned enough money in the future, she resolved to donate it wherever the country needed it most, to truly contribute.
The middle-aged man smiled. That was true. But was this girl’s braised duck really that good? Xu Ying was also a good person. Anyone in the foreign guest carriage surely held some diplomatic significance.
She smiled and produced more of her braised duck. “Uncle, would you like to try our braised duck and fried products? These are specialties of our Yu County, newly produced and absolutely delicious. Someone just placed a few large orders with our factory!”
“Really or not?” The middle-aged man’s eyes widened with excitement. He was one of the managers responsible for the annual diplomatic transactions between these foreigners and major domestic manufacturers. This year, like previous years, he had been subjected to the foreigners’ condescending remarks. The news of orders, especially large ones, was music to his ears.