Zheng Ming understood everything upon seeing Xia Feng.
He had been excited all night without sleep, and it turned out his haste was all because of the influential figure before him.
"Secretary Zheng, you've worked hard," Xia Feng greeted Zheng Ming.
"Not at all, it's my duty," Zheng Ming's tone immediately softened, further elevating Xia Feng's status in his eyes.
Previously, Zheng Ming had treated Xia Feng with the deference of a subordinate to a superior, but now, his respect was evident.
Xia Feng spoke with Zheng Ming for a few moments before escorting King Hughes to a pavilion in the courtyard.
Xia Feng sat on a stone bench, with King Hughes standing beside him. Xia Feng said, "Hughes, I'm very curious about something."
"Master, please speak," King Hughes bowed slightly.
"Why do you Americans always oppose us Chinese? Why do you look down on us Chinese people?" Xia Feng asked.
King Hughes was startled. This was a difficult question to answer.
If he said no, it would be a blatant lie.
If he said yes, his master was Chinese.
Both sides would be put in an awkward position. This question was truly tricky, and King Hughes stammered, unsure how to respond.
"Tell me the truth. I want to hear the honest answer," Xia Feng, seeing his difficulty, understood his predicament.
"Master, China's development over the past ten to twenty years can be described as earth-shattering. A family that couldn't afford to eat suddenly became wealthy, and those who were originally wealthy felt unbalanced. How dare a pauper want to be on equal footing with me?"
King Hughes used a metaphor to explain to Xia Feng.
"Continue," Xia Feng urged.
"China's military and economy are now infinitely close to America's, which directly affects America's international standing. Therefore, suppression is the best method. This is why America frequently causes trouble for China."
"Furthermore, there is still a gap between China's current technology, healthcare, and education compared to America, which is also why Americans look down on Chinese people. Moreover, many Chinese people are willing to be dogs in America rather than people in China. If Chinese people themselves are like this, why should Americans respect them? That's essentially the reason."
King Hughes analyzed the recent situation for Xia Feng, feeling a bit nervous, hoping that telling the truth wouldn't anger Xia Feng.
"Alas... you are right," Xia Feng sighed.
"It's true. Even our own people look down on their own, and they always want to run off to America. How can you expect Americans to respect you if you act like that?"
A subservience to foreign things has always existed, but Xia Feng believed that one day, the whole world would be proud of being Chinese.
Xia Feng didn't blame King Hughes; he was speaking the truth, even if it was unpleasant.
But the truth, though disagreeable, was the most real.
Currently, domestic entrepreneurs, celebrities, and wealthy individuals were all moving to America or other countries. Even if they didn't go themselves, their children held foreign nationalities.
What did this signify? It meant they had a greater affection for other countries. Otherwise, why would they go to such lengths to become foreigners?
"Protecting China is everyone's responsibility."
This was Xia Feng's genuine sentiment. Especially as a cultivator, he placed great importance on patriotic feelings.
"Master, let's not talk about technology for now. That requires time and effort to hone. I believe China will surpass America one day, but healthcare shouldn't be like this. Traditional Chinese Medicine has thousands of years of heritage, so why is it being suppressed by Western medicine to the point where it cannot hold its head up? In reality, Chinese people themselves do not seek treatment from Chinese medicine, which is why TCM has begun to decline."
Seeing Xia Feng remain silent, King Hughes continued.
Ordinary people might not understand the techniques of TCM, but as a cultivator, he was acutely aware of its mystique. When pushed to its limits, TCM could revive the dead, regenerate flesh from bone, bring the deceased back to life from skeletal remains, cause branches to grow on dead wood, and imbue all things with vitality.
This was the mysterious essence of Chinese Medicine. Any ailment that Western medicine could not cure, TCM could.
While Western medicine had its merits, TCM was the core, and Western medicine was merely superficial.
Western medicine was far simpler to learn than TCM. TCM required a long period of diligent practice to achieve mastery.
Therefore, in comparison, most people chose to study Western medicine and abandoned TCM. Furthermore, the true inheritance of TCM had been broken. Some ancient lineages were passed down only to their own children and not to outsiders, leading to a disconnect in TCM.
Combining all these factors, this was the reason for the current decline of TCM. China also bore significant responsibility.
Xia Feng listened as King Hughes spoke, realizing it was indeed true.
However, TCM had indeed declined, and it required someone with a strong lineage to selflessly pass down the heritage.
Only by showing the nation the uniqueness of TCM, making its methods accessible and its principles verifiable, could TCM be revived.
"You are correct."
After a long pause, Xia Feng finally uttered this sentence.
"Master, Hughes harbors no disloyalty, and I beg you not to be offended," King Hughes quickly confessed.
"It's alright," Xia Feng waved his hand.
Hughes was simply speaking the truth; how could he blame him?
Strength determined everything. For example, between himself and King Hughes, he represented China, and King Hughes represented America, yet Hughes bowed in submission. It was as simple as that.
To gain the world's recognition, one had to possess the strength to earn it.
Even if it was through force, that was still recognition.
After an hour of discussion with Elder Li in the villa, the American delegate, "Fanbian," departed.
Xia Feng didn't inquire about the specifics of their conversation, but judging by Elder Li's beaming face, America had certainly incurred a significant loss this time.
"Xia Feng, I thank you on behalf of China," Elder Li suddenly said.
"Elder Li, you're too kind. This is what every Chinese man should do," Xia Feng waved his hand dismissively.
"If every Chinese person were like you, China would have no reason not to prosper and grow strong," Elder Li sighed and shook his head.
"China has only begun its rapid development in the past twenty years, and there is still much to be done."
"Elder Li, I just asked King Hughes about the views of some Americans on Chinese people outside, and Americans generally look down on us."
Xia Feng recounted his recent conversation with King Hughes to Elder Li.
"Yes, what Hughes said is true. It is the reality," Elder Li agreed.
"It's not limited to America; the entire Western world generally looks down on Chinese people."
"The entire Western facade is like this."
"Take healthcare, for instance. China now uses Western medicine. Unfortunately, China's ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine has lost its lineage. The few surviving masters of national medicine in China guard their inherited knowledge as treasures; how could they bear to pass it on? The current state of TCM is justifiable."
Elder Li also felt helpless. After all, it was someone's personal inheritance; one couldn't forcefully compel others to pass it down.
"People are inherently selfish."