Chapter 108: He’s Setting You Up

Di Wei, who was standing nearby, raised an objection. “How come I don’t remember the latest issue of The Lancet containing anything about volume impedance phase-shift spectroscopy equipment?”

The Lancet was a leading comprehensive medical journal, and much of its content was so specialized that even professional doctors might not fully understand it. As a doctor—and the son of Di Shouye—Di Wei read every issue.

Yang Meng tilted his head and glanced at him. “The very first article is about it. The author is Professor Ian Wilmut of the University of Edinburgh, and the title is ‘The Theory and Efficacy of Using Volume Impedance Phase-Shift Spectroscopy Equipment to Identify Large-Vessel Occlusion.’”

Di Wei frowned. “That’s not right! The first article in the latest issue was clearly ‘A Guide to the AMPLI Modular Block Toolkit.’ It was written by Dr. Vincent Newman of MIT. I remember it very well because AMPLI modular blocks could improve the efficiency of my work and save me a lot of time.”

Yang Meng smiled. “You’re talking about the issue before that. MIT is pretty impressive in this field. There are roughly forty different blocks in total, and they developed twenty-one of them themselves, so naturally they had every right to boast a little in The Lancet. But I’m talking about the newest issue.”

Di Wei was bewildered. “The newest issue? The translated version isn’t even available yet!”

Yang Meng nodded. “Exactly. I’ve been studying English lately, which is why I read it. Why else would I read it?”

Di Wei was completely dumbfounded. The Lancet was a premier medical journal, and he himself didn’t understand many of the technical terms inside it. Yet Yang Meng was telling him that he used it to study English? Was he joking?

Lu Xin, however, was not particularly surprised. He had once watched Yang Meng read through a thick English manual right before his eyes.

Still not entirely convinced, Di Wei asked, “You’ve read the latest issue of The Lancet? Then tell me, what other articles were in it?”

Yang Meng thought for a moment. “‘Global Cancer Survival Rates Improve, but Differences Between Countries Remain Pronounced’; ‘Study Shows Obesity Has a Greater Impact on Male Life Expectancy Than on Female Life Expectancy’; ‘Pre-Pregnancy Diet and Lifestyle Affect the Health of Offspring’; ‘Epidemiological Characteristics of H5N1 Avian Influenza’; ‘Case Evidence Shows Zika Virus Can Cause Guillain–Barré Syndrome’; ‘Epidemiological Characteristics of MERS and Recommendations for Prevention and Control’; ‘The Risk of Death from H7N9 Is Lower Than That from H5N1 but Higher Than That from H1N1’; ‘Progress in Research on Enterovirus 71 Vaccines for Infants and Young Children’; ‘Patients with Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer Should Receive Combined Hormonal and Radiation Therapy’; ‘Hydroxyurea Can Alleviate Complications of Anemia in Infants and Young Children’... Oh, and the ‘Guide to the AMPLI Modular Block Toolkit’ you mentioned. Any other questions?”

Di Wei drew in a sharp breath. He also selected articles from The Lancet, focusing on those related to his own specialty, but the titles Yang Meng had listed really were from the latest issue.

“Aren’t you a food-delivery courier?” Di Wei asked in confusion. “How do you know how to read such an advanced journal?”

Yang Meng replied as if it were perfectly obvious. “What’s so strange about that? If you’re stupid, you have to read more. I can’t be like certain people who claim to work in medical equipment, yet don’t even know their own company’s products and still come out spouting nonsense, while laughing at others for having poor qualifications and little education... Say, Zhou Chun, if you took off that sales-director hat of yours, what diploma would you have? If I’m not mistaken, the two of us probably have about the same level of education. Did you even finish high school? Don’t bother explaining. That’s probably the best you can do. The title of ‘sales director’ can’t conceal the fact that you didn’t study much.”

Yang Meng had good reason to say this. People who pursued sports generally did not perform well academically, especially athletes who excelled in their events. Those who won national or world championships often had very little formal education.

After all, no one in this world could be good at everything. People were specialists in particular fields. For an athlete to achieve results, there was only one way: train, train, and train some more. Training consumed enormous amounts of time, naturally leaving little room for study. Motorcycle racing was a sport as well.

There was, however, something rather interesting about the world: once someone achieved outstanding success in a particular field, most people would hold that person in high regard—with the exception of trolls and the envious.

Many athletes returned to school for further education after establishing themselves. Some people could not understand this. They had already achieved fame, fortune, and success, so why would they still need to go back to school?

In truth, most people misunderstood the purpose of education. Roughly ninety-nine percent of what one learned in school would never be directly used in society. If one’s profession differed from one’s field of study, even less of that knowledge would prove useful. The purpose of learning was not to stockpile knowledge for future use, but to continually improve one’s ability to learn and one’s capacity for independent thought.

There were indeed some people in society who had become “stupid from studying,” but the overwhelming majority were perfectly normal. Put two people into a new job—one who had graduated from middle school and another who had earned a graduate degree—and in most cases, the latter would adapt to the job more quickly. That was the true significance of education.

Yang Meng had roughly looked into Zhou Chun’s background. After being injured, Zhou Chun had entered the medical-equipment industry directly. When had he ever gone back to school for advanced study? That was why Yang Meng had the confidence to mock his lack of qualifications—at most, Zhou Chun had only finished high school, just like him.

But Yang Meng himself had something to fall back on. His recent days spent immersed in the library had not been wasted. His horizons had broadened, and his store of knowledge had increased tremendously. Mocking Zhou Chun now was as easy as playing a game.

Humiliated by Yang Meng, Zhou Chun gave a cold snort. “So what if you’re good at studying, buddy? Aren’t you still delivering food and running a barbecue restaurant? I may not have studied well, but I’m now the regional director of Norton Medical! That’s the difference between us! So what if I didn’t go to school? I’m still capable enough to change my own life!”

Yang Meng smiled. “You just happened to catch a favorable period. Society is stable now, and people without knowledge have no real competitiveness. This world is punishing those who refuse to study. You’ll understand when you lose your job.”

Zhou Chun paused, then burst into laughter. “And what if I do lose my job? I have my connections. That’s the foundation I’ve relied on all these years. Even without them, I still have my riding skills. I could always become a motorcycle instructor. And if all else fails, I can put up the money to open a barbecue restaurant. For you, opening a barbecue restaurant might represent your entire fortune. For me, it would only be an investment. Hmm? That actually sounds like a good idea. Where is your barbecue restaurant? I’ll open one next door. Competition leads to progress, doesn’t it?”

Yang Meng nodded. “Sure. Mine is still being renovated. It’s in one of the storefronts on the first floor of Dragon Rhyme Fitness Club.”

“Where?” Zhou Chun was somewhat dazed when he heard the name Dragon Rhyme Fitness Club. Of course he knew the place. Wasn’t it reputed to be the most reputable fitness center in the city? How could it possibly let Yang Meng open a barbecue restaurant there?

Yang Meng smiled. “Buddy, are you having trouble hearing too? Why do I feel as though I’m dealing with a disabled person? I’m starting to feel bad about bullying you.”

Zhou Chun sneered. “You really are full of hot air. You can open a barbecue restaurant in Dragon Rhyme Fitness Club?”

Yang Meng nodded. “Oh, I get it. You think the rent there is too expensive?”

Zhou Chun’s eyes widened. “Do you think this is about money? Everyone knows that the Dragon family owns that property. Long Teng places enormous importance on it. How could he possibly let you open a barbecue restaurant there?”

Yang Meng stared at him. “You know Long Teng?”

Zhou Chun looked pleased with himself. “Of course. I’ve met him several times at banquets—the kind attended by the upper class. You’ve certainly never been to one.”

“Then go ask Long Teng to rent you a storefront for a barbecue restaurant,” Yang Meng replied. “Weren’t you planning to compete with me?”

The smile froze on Zhou Chun’s face. He had met Long Teng a few times, but they had never exchanged more than a few words. How was he supposed to ask Long Teng to rent him a storefront?

He snorted coldly. “Who knows whether you’re really opening a barbecue restaurant in Dragon Rhyme or not?”

Understanding dawned on Yang Meng’s face. “Oh, so you can’t rent a place there! You should have said so earlier. If you really want to open one, I can put you in touch with Long Teng. Even if there isn’t a vacant storefront, we can have them clear one for you. Of course, you might have to pay a little more—but you’re so wealthy that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Shouldn’t be a problem? It was a huge problem!

Zhou Chun almost wished Yang Meng were bluffing. How could a nouveau riche like him possibly know Long Teng?

But what if he really did?

The rent around Dragon Rhyme Fitness Club was no small matter. Opening a decent barbecue restaurant there would require an investment of at least two or three million. And how much would the rent alone cost? Zhou Chun was not short of money. Over the past few years, he had made ten or twenty million from the medical-equipment business. But he had spent a great deal on houses and cars, and another portion of his money was tied up in the stock market. At present, he had only three to five million in readily available funds. Was it worth investing in a barbecue restaurant merely to spite Yang Meng?

While he stood there in silence, considering the matter, Chen Jiao spoke from the side. “What are you still doing here, Zhou? Can’t you tell that no one here wants you around? Stop embarrassing yourself!”

Zhou Chun suddenly straightened his back. “Hmph. Then I’m not leaving. You nouveau riche who love to preach—anyone can talk. You still haven’t said whether you’ll race motorcycles against me. Qiao Yu said your riding skills were excellent, didn’t he? Why don’t you let us see for ourselves?”

Yang Meng sighed. “Aren’t you a national champion? Is there any point in racing an ordinary person?”

Zhou Chun became smug. “What, are you backing out? It’s fine. I can ride slowly. All motorcyclists are one family, and competition helps everyone improve. Don’t you have a Six-Eye? That thing has more horsepower and a higher top speed. How about this: if you beat me, my HP4 is yours!”

Yang Meng’s eyes lit up. “Are you serious?”

“More serious than gold!” Zhou Chun declared. “If you beat me, the bike is yours. No problem. I’ll wait for you to bring your Six-Eye!”

Yang Meng shook his head and turned to Qiao Yu. “Qiao Yu, lend me your HP4. I’ll race him on the same kind of bike.”

Unexpectedly, Qiao Yu’s eyes widened. “Mengmeng! You can’t race him! His bike has been specially tuned. It’s completely different from an ordinary HP4. He’s setting you up!”