Zhou Kaidi and Wu Dongming burst out laughing at the same time. From this satirical essay, they could see not only Gao Yuan's incisive views, but also his humorous side, as he mercilessly spoofed the inherent flaws of English.
The essay was written with exceptional cleverness. Besides resisting academic hegemony, it also provided linguistic grounds for writing academic papers in one's native language.
Because Gao Yuan's language was vivid and easy for ordinary people to understand, the essay quickly spread beyond its usual circles. It was reposted across major forums and sparked widespread resonance throughout the country.
"Exactly! English grammar is such a pain in the ass—like taking off your pants just to fart!"
"A language destined to collapse in the future isn't worth spending so much effort on. I strongly suggest making English an elective!"
"When all's said and done, Chinese is still profound and expansive. Its linguistic design is exquisite, and its writing possesses a uniquely elegant beauty."
"Did Gao Yuan write this article? Isn't he a materials researcher? Why is he studying language too?"
"The person above clearly doesn't get it. How can geniuses be judged by ordinary standards?"
"Exactly. By your logic, Gao Yuan studied computer science too, so why is he researching materials science?"
For a time, people from all walks of life debated the matter fervently, and Gao Yuan's fame rose considerably because of it.
Of course, everything in the world had multiple sides. Where there was praise, there was also abuse.
Many students had suffered under English for a long time. Once Gao Yuan's essay came out, they treated it as a weapon against their teachers and parents. In the eyes of many parents and teachers, Gao Yuan's image plummeted, and he became a bad influence who encouraged students not to study properly.