In the Romance, Zhang Song and Pang Tong were said to be two ugly men of equal standing, but Pang Tong was not actually ugly. Only Zhang Song was truly ugly.
He was short and squat, unrestrained and heedless of propriety, and was often looked down upon by others. Had he not been born into a great clan, it would have been nearly impossible for him to hold high office.
Because of this, Zhang Song had been extremely sensitive since childhood about how others treated him.
He had already prepared himself to be disregarded by Liu Bei's subordinates because of his appearance.
Yet he had not expected Liu Bei not only to refrain from slighting him, but to attach great importance to his arrival.
Even Zhang Fei had been sent to receive him, clearly quite different from the treatment he had expected.
Thus, after disembarking, he asked Zhang Fei once more, just as he had asked Gan Ning:
"I am merely a humble Attendant Officer. How can General Who Conquers the East treat me with such ceremony?"
Zhang Fei looked down at the less-than-six-foot-tall Zhang Song, stroked his beard, and burst into laughter.
"Mr. Zhang, there is no need to belittle yourself. My brother has long heard of your reputation for talent."
"Alas, he never had the chance to meet you before. Now that you have come, he is greatly delighted, which is why he has done this."
"Since you have arrived, why not enter the city first and continue our conversation there? Tomorrow, we shall send you north."
Seeing that Zhang Fei spoke with such courtesy, Zhang Song found it all the more strange. Rumor had it that Zhang Fei was a crude boor, yet he too understood propriety so well!
If even Zhang Fei treated worthy men with