A Foul on the Ice? I Become Confucius, Winning People Over with Virtue

At the short-track speed skating venue, the Pickles repeatedly break the rules, seriously injuring several Rabbit athletes. With the reserves called up, Kong Qianqiu, the direct eldest descendant of Confucius in the eightieth generation, takes the ice in an emergency. Dressed in scholar's robes and holding the Analects, he recites, "When friends come from afar, is it not a joy? A gentleman settles things with words, not fists!"

But the Little Western Eights mistake his courtesy for weakness and push their luck!

The next moment, Kong Qianqiu tears open his scholar's robes and punches one of the Little Western Eights, sending him flying twenty meters across the rink!

"When friends come from afar to challenge me and get beaten up, I'm delighted! A gentleman settles things with words, not fists, because once he starts swinging, he might kill someone!"

The whole country erupts! Even Bingbing, Yingying, and the other commentators are stunned. Is this what the Boxing Analects is all about?

In the more intense game of ice hockey, the Pickles keep breaking the rules and injuring several Rabbit players. Their online community is full of cheers, so the head coach has a sudden idea: "How about putting Kong Qianqiu on the ice?"

Kong Qianqiu takes the ice carrying a huge hockey stick engraved with the character for "virtue":

"Confucius said, 'Persuade people through virtue.'"

"Counting the reserves and coaches, there are exactly thirty of you. Confucius said, 'At thirty, one takes his stand.' Only thirty people are worthy of making me stand up and fight!"

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.