Empty vessels certainly makes the most noise

I met my ‘big’ boss, Dr X today during work. Beforehand, I was warned by my 2 china friends/colleagues/fellow students, Jiu Fu & Jian Lei, that he is the type who will only focus on scientific results. In fact, he has no knowledge of how to operate the machines and the ongoings of the project.

I had my skepticism about how bad he can be. It vanished the moment he opened his mouth. At this moment, a saying by Mark Twain becomes deeply embedded into my mind.

“Better to keep your mouth shut and have everyone think you are a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

How true. From the moment Dr Xu started talking. The first thing he asked about is results. When the results were not to his likings, he started ordering about Jiu Fu & Jian Lei. Yet, it was obvious from his words that he knew NOTHING about the project and what JIu Fu & Jian Lei had been doing all along. Even I, who was barely on the project for long can tell. And yet he was being so, as we Singaporeans put it, dua pai. Sitting on a chair shaking his leg and waving his hands about talking while Jiu Fu & Jian Lei was standing. (~Serious, the above scene was one that I observed)

It was my first experience seeing a person like this even though I heard that they are numerous in the working world. It was really amusing watching him talk in such an overbearing manner. In my mind, I decided that when Jiu Fu and Jian Lei left to return to China, I will prank him by pretending that my Chinese is bad (no need to pretend, actually) and that I can’t really understand him.

It was really entertaining … Until he started scolding Jiu Fu & Jian Lei, not very far into his lecture.

“... How could you be so stupid?! You can’t do it this way?!...”

“... Of course it has to be done this way! Don’t you have any brains?!..."

"... I’ve eaten more salt then you’ve eaten rice!...”

... What the fuck? I kid you not. He started scolding them this way. Jiu Fu & Jian Lei are some of the smartest guys I’ve seen around. Even if they are not (They are, btw), he has no right to treat them this way either! So what if they’re students and he’s a PhD holder?

It’s official. War is coming. Here I am, thinking that I should extend my contract for the cash. Want me to respect a guy like him? No. Way. In. Hell.

And here I am, thinking Mr L was bad… Like the Chinese always say, “Yi Shan You Bi Yi Shan Gao”

Oh shit, Dr X just called my handphone… How did he get my hp # anyway?! Fan-fucking-tastic…