201 In the Name of Decoding Words (1/2)
Chapter 201: In the Name of Decoding Words
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Before the Apprehensive Bird appeared, no one could defeat Zhang Zian in name-calling, whether it be a solo battle or gang fight. But curiously, Zhang Zian kept losing to this grey parrot, who always pulled him down to its level, and then beat him with its rich experience.
Although Zhang Zian seemed to be laughing and joking with the parrot, he was actually shocked by it.
Perhaps in the eyes of ordinary people, Richard was just a bird that liked foul language and telling all kinds of dirty jokes. But the tricks Richard had employed in its jokes were quite incredible, whether it be the different combination of Jeff Richardson and Richard Jefferson, or the homophonic rhetoric and puns it had used in arranging Chinese poetry.
In the linguistics discipline, homophonic rhetoric and puns are always the most difficult obstacles to overcome. This is why they are the ultimate sources of proof that language learners have truly mastered the language. Homophonic rhetoric and puns exist in any language, but homophonic rhetoric and puns in Chinese are the most difficult. Numerous foreigners who have been studying Chinese for years still struggle in grasping the language when they come to China. One reason is the complex tones, and another major difficulty lies in its homophonic rhetoric and puns.
This bird applied homophonic rhetoric and puns in Chinese so flexibly and so subtly that neither Fina, Old Time Tea nor Galaxy understood what Richard had done. In fact, a lot of Chinese people might not even understand Richard's tricks. That's why its pet property was, ”The apprehensive bird was never heard before simply because it was not understood”. And it was not a coincidence that Richard appeared in the Chinese class and ridiculed the lecturer.
Richard also spoke many other languages that were strange to Zhang Zian. If Richard, a bird, could speak those languages as excellent as a Chinese human being, that would be terrifyingly incredible.
Richard was not thirsty now, but he put forward a new request. ”Come on, bring some shelled melon seeds and peanuts for me to eat. Do you even know how to be a host?”
”We are out of melon seeds and peanuts now. Would you like some millet and dry corn?” said Zhang Zian.
Richard was disappointed, ”Really? How about vegetables and fruits?”
”There are apples.”
”Quack!” Richard lamented, ”All right, just bring them. It's better than nothing.”
Zhang Zian went upstairs into the kitchen and found some millet and dry corn, which had been left by his parents. Then, he took an apple downstairs, and placed the food in front of Richard.
Richard started pecking at the millet and dry corn immediately, then added, ”Go wash the apple. What if there is pesticide residue inside? I have a very delicate body! So, wash it first and then cut it into small pieces. I can't eat it like this!”
What a picky bird!
Zhang Zian washed the apple, then used a fruit knife to cut it into small, crescent-moon shaped pieces, and placed them on the plate.
”Hm…That's what I'm talking about.”
While Richard was eating, two men arrived.
”Master! Today, we are...” Wang Qian and Li Kun went into the store and noticed this eye-catching gray parrot immediately.
”Wow! A giant parrot!” exclaimed Li Kun. ”I have seen a budgerigar before at my neighbor's home, but this one is way bigger than that. Master, what kind of parrot is it?”
”An African grey parrot,” Zhang Zian said. ”It is a large parrot.”
Wang Qian leaned closer to watch it. ”It's very expensive, right? Master, can it talk?”
Richard swallowed a small slice of apple, looked up at Wang Qian and Li Kun, and yelled, ”Butt buddies!”
”No! Not butt buddies! We are just buddies!” Wang Qian and Li Kun answered simultaneously.
They were so embarrassed that they immediately began to sweat. They wondered how the Master had trained his bird? They had never seen parrots that were able to say something like ”butt buddies” before.
Zhang Zian said, ”You are early today.”
”We have no class today, and we were walking nearby, so we decided to come here to say hello,” replied Wang Qian, whose eyes were still fixated on the grey parrot.
Zhang Zian said, ”I need to go out later, so you don't need to help me with my store today. You can just head to Sun Xiaomeng's place and help her do some cleaning.”
”Okay, see you next time.” Li Kun gestured to Wang Qian, and the two left the store together.
After they had walked about twenty meters away from the store, Wang Qian asked Li Kun curiously, ”What's wrong? That's a really rare parrot, why didn't we watch it for a bit longer?”
Li Kun gestured him to lower his voice, ”Don't you think that parrot is a little bit weird?”
”Weird?” Wang Qian did not make as detailed of an observation as Li Kun did.
Li Kun smacked his lips and complained, ”Did you even see that parrot?”
”Of course.” Wang Qian grew more confused.
”Did you not see its eyes?” Li Kun made a hint.
”Eyes?” Wang Qian thought for a moment, ”I only paid attention to its feathers, and it seemed to be enjoying its meal.”
Li Kun sighed, ”Big brother, eyes are the window to the soul! Next time you see a creature, you must look at its eyes!”
”All right! Just tell me what's so special about that parrot's eyes?” Wang Qian was getting more curious.