Shengliver’s Note: This post is a pack of lies and exaggerations. Read it just for fun.

I have got a fake “English” teacher. He is not English—he is Chinese.

The man is officially in his fifties, but do not be misled by the tag. Why? Let me explain in detail.

The first time you see him, you might believe the man is an indecent guy, for he wears dark glasses, even on a rainy day. Some even suspect him of being a pervert, because an educator in China is meant not only to be morally and politically correct but also to follow the dress code to the letter.

Nothing could be further from the truth. As the saying goes, do not judge a book by its cover.

The man in dark spectacles is in fact outstanding. With a genuine love of life, he embraces whatever it has to offer. He walks to and from work every day, instead of driving a posh car as many of his colleagues do. An explorer of the wilderness, the man must have discovered that nothing compares to the beauty of nature.

His intimacy with nature inspires me to leave the nest and step out into the hills and mountains, where it dawns on me that the great outdoors is big and humans insignificant. Rather than Conquerors of the Planet, Homo sapiens are just one of the myriad species that call Earth home. With this realisation, a sense of awe towards nature spontaneously arises.

With a clear understanding of himself, my fake “English” teacher conducts himself with neither humility nor arrogance. He breaks with the herd when it is heading in the “popularly” wrong direction. He distances himself from the mob.

His exceptional perseverance and self-discipline have impressed me. A teacher and lover of the language, he sticks to writing, reading and speaking English. Many foreigners have befriended him, interacting with him on his website. I was under the impression that he is a globetrotter, but the truth is that the teacher seldom goes on long physical trips. His peers have travelled far and wide, both at home and abroad. In contrast, the fluent English speaker rarely steps beyond the boundaries of his city, let alone his home province, Hubei. It is the power of reading plus the company he keeps, I bet, that makes the man. Meanwhile, he is responsible, boasting a strong sense of duty towards his family and great respect for his wife. He adores his daughter.

He schedules every day, as if time bends to his will. His inner world is rich, and his overall mental state strong and stable. This is the manifestation of truly loving life, with no strings attached. Upright and just, never fawning or flattering, the man dares to say no to injustice and does not tolerate the corrupt or the crooked. Thus, he is a refreshing presence, the best version of himself anytime.

His outlook and conduct, I am sure, will see his life getting better, his work sailing more smoothly, and his emotional wellbeing growing richer.