"Thank you, thank you, Eric, for your... introduction."
Eric turned back and called out loudly, "I heard that many backward customs are still being passed down where you come from. Lu, why is that?"
Lu Chengwen said, "We also have ten thousand years of civilization, history, inventions, creations, writings, aesthetics, poetry, art... You should take a closer look at those."
"Just as... I would never mock you because the sparse hair on your head shines under the spotlight. I would only sincerely hold the wisdom in your heart and your extraordinary business achievements in the highest respect."
With that one sentence, everyone was stunned.
Lu Chengwen smiled happily. "Thank you, Mr. President, Vice President, thank you, Eric, and thank you to every gentleman and lady present. Thank you all. And I'd also like to thank Harry. I hope he doesn't cut his hand while chopping bamboo."
Everyone laughed.
Lu Chengwen said:
"When I received the Vice President's invitation to attend this dinner, I truly felt deeply honored. Me? A Huaxia man? Senator Smith told me that this was a harmonious place that accepted all kinds of cultures and ethnic groups. Now I think he was obviously drunk when he said that."
The audience laughed again, because everyone realized that Lu Chengwen was fighting back!
"As for cutlery, it is actually an interesting subject. Eric believes chopsticks represent backwardness, while knives and forks represent progress. But I would say that Huaxia used knives and forks thousands of years ago, and this is recorded in all kinds of historical texts. Why did we switch to chopsticks? In fact, that was progress."
"Chopsticks come in pairs. They represent yin and yang, symbolize heaven and earth, and signify men and women. Yin and yang is an advanced philosophical concept, like a more abstract version