Chapter 559: It’s Just Your Ignorance

How did Vesperia manage to stand out during the Industrial Age? Wasn’t it by sucking the blood of Veridia?

The endless wealth they plundered decades ago, all those traditional antiques, who knows where in history they’re now scattered to dust.

Climbing to the heavens on the backs of others, Vesperia’s industrial boom was swift. Add in the neighboring island country providing human specimens through slaughter—such cutting-edge medical science, which of it wasn’t built by stepping on others?

Moreover, even putting aside history, before Vesperia grew into the giant it is today, it suffered all kinds of industrial pollution itself. How can they have the gall to mock a developing country for draining the pond to catch fish?

Sure, that phenomenon does exist, but coming at it as someone who’s "been there, done that," isn’t that a bit too subtle—and unrealistic?

...

Hearing Cecilia’s words, Mr. Adams frowned, clearly in disagreement.

"Miss Cecilia, I admit we once went down such a flawed path of development, that’s why we made adjustments. I’m just advising you to move in a better direction—don’t make Mother Nature weep for you."

Cecilia let out a snort of laughter.

"Mr. Adams, you sound so self-righteous, but tell me—because your national flower is the rose and everyone in Vesperia is a believer, you can claim to be steadfast and courageous?"

"Of course!"

Mr. Adams nodded firmly, with conviction.

"In our Vesperian culture, roses have many thorns, which proves their steadfastness. Our nation is nothing like Veridia where hearts are scattered and everyone only chases after money. We have all kinds of believers, people who trust that the gods look down on us from the heavens, guiding what we should and shouldn’t do. We don’t sell our souls for petty gain."

Cecilia shook her head again.

"So Mr. Adams, by your reasoning, having many thorns makes a rose steadfast? Isn’t that simply a natural trait of the flower? Just like you see plum blossoms blanketing these hills: under their innate conditions, they only bloom in the biting winter. So does that mean plum blossoms are brave and unyielding?"

"But in fact, plum blossoms can’t survive under the summer sun. That’s just a natural trait granted by Heaven."

"As for religious faith, Mr. Adams, you’re being terribly narrow-minded. People certainly have the freedom to believe—and the freedom not to. The citizens of Veridia prefer to trust in themselves, to rely on their own strength. Isn’t that just as admirable? To seek common ground while preserving differences—that’s what should truly be encouraged."

...

Hearing Cecilia’s words, Mr. Adams’s face flushed, but clearly he wasn’t convinced.

"Miss Cecilia, you make sense, but aside from inherent traits, we Vesperians give cultural meaning to the rose. Just like you Veridians believe the peony symbolizes wealth and honor—that’s just a difference in cultural values."

"But when a nation’s beliefs are focused solely on money with not a glimmer of divinity, I don’t understand what’s worth promoting. At least we grant the rose some very beautiful symbolism."

"Culture is a nation’s backbone and soft power. Like Veridia, advocating for great wealth and status—doesn’t that make people crave material enjoyment and neglect their spiritual pursuits?"

...

Listening to Mr. Adams’s sanctimonious arguments, Cecilia felt her sarcasm building.

Just as she opened her mouth, a cold, deep, magnetic male voice sounded in the air.

"Mr. Adams, you claim you understand Veridia. Have you ever heard the phrases ’seeing a leopard through a narrow tube’ and ’the arrogant chief of Yelang’?"

All of these exchanges were in English—except Adrian Law delivered "管中窥豹, 夜郎自大" in Mandarin. Naturally, Mr. Adams had no clue what those idioms meant.

Many Veridian students from Stellerton University couldn’t help but burst out laughing at Adrian Law’s words.

Exactly!

This foreigner Adams goes on and on about honestly critiquing Veridia’s reality, but not a word of his sounds like sincere advice. He just enjoys mocking from atop his high horse for a cheap thrill.

...

Seeing the room erupt in laughter, Mr. Adams quickly realized those words weren’t exactly compliments.

Finding Adrian Law unwilling to explain, Mr. Adams promptly looked to Fiona Vaughn for help.

"Miss Fiona? Could you explain what those two phrases mean?"

Fiona looked awkward—she’d realized not a single student stood with her or Mr. Adams.

All she could do was neutrally paraphrase the two idioms.

"Mr. Adams... uh... Mr. Law is saying that maybe your view of Veridia is a bit narrow, too general. But honestly, I don’t think what you said was entirely wrong. I too feel people nowadays are too impatient and profit-driven—especially in Veridia..."

Before Fiona finished, a few students—already upset with her—burst out angrily.

"Fiona, whose side are you on?"

Fiona looked aggrieved.

"I wasn’t trying to help Mr. Adams insult our people, you’re misunderstanding me."

...

Whether she was misunderstood isn’t the point—now everyone looked even more displeased with Fiona Vaughn.

Is this the face Veridia’s younger generation shows the Vesperians? Isn’t that just kneeling and gazing up at them?

Now Mr. Adams was furious too.

"Mr. Law, just say it—why am I ’narrow’? Isn’t your national flower, the peony, a symbol of wealth and status?"

...

Cecilia and Adrian Law were perfectly in sync; she knew exactly what he meant.

She stepped forward with a smile, eyes sweeping over Mr. Adams’s face.

"Mr. Adams, you say you know Veridia’s national flower is the peony, but did you realize the peony doesn’t only symbolize wealth?"

"Just as you Vesperians view the rose as representing love, friendship, and courage, the peony too has a famous legend in our country. In the old days, Empress Victoria demanded all the flowers bloom for her—only the peony stood its ground, refusing to comply. So, actually, peonies have a side of courage and independence too; you simply don’t know enough, Mr. Adams."

"..."

Getting slapped in the face like that, Adams immediately looked displeased.

"Even so, it’s the majority of Veridians who see the peony as a symbol of wealth, right?"

"That’s not wrong. But in the Vesperian mind, the rose is much more about love... And seriously, what’s so bad about liking money? In our country, making money with integrity is what we advocate—earn fair and square, don’t steal or rob. What’s so shameful about wanting wealth and status? Or did you grow up eating wind and drinking dew?"

Before Cecilia’s words had even faded, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers.

"Well said! Classmate Vaughn, you’re awesome! Roast that foreign devil!"