The leader's mind. edited

Chapter five.

The leader's mind.

It had been a week since I arrived at Suzhou Senior High School. Although I still felt unsettled after the incident during my junior high school graduation, where I witnessed a peculiar waterfall resembling a crown and noticed my Phoenix and dragon pendant behaving strangely before disappearing, nothing out of the ordinary had occurred since then. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that this calm was merely the calm before the storm.

As I sat silently, I couldn't help but notice the vibrant atmosphere of the school and the open-mindedness of the students. It was intriguing. Time seemed to fly by in this first week, faster than the ticking of a clock. Who could truly keep pace with time? From ancient times to the present day, no one has ever been as timeless as time itself. Even the mighty dinosaurs succumbed to the relentless passage of time. Now, all we study are their bones. The thought fills me with sorrow. Time remains an enigma that eludes complete understanding. At times, it races forward, while at others, it crawls so slowly that one can count the stars before it moves on. Ultimately, it remains a frustrating mystery.

The past week at Suzhou Senior High School has been relatively uneventful, swiftly passing by before I could fully grasp it. I have been cautious in my actions, wary of stirring up any unknown forces. I promptly dismiss any thoughts or individuals that might bring trouble, including my own self—a peculiar twist of fate for someone with a rebellious nature. Regardless, a life filled with abruptness is the last thing I desire.

Jian He stood facing the blackboard in the classroom, writing the topic of his lesson: the leader's mind. This topic explored the fundamental qualities of a leader and how they interacted with their followers, whether through nurturing or punishment. Each leader had their own unique approach and pattern of leadership, which collectively formed their "leader's mind." However, it's important to note that leadership is not the only aspect of an individual's life. Before assuming a leadership role, a person was once a child and belonged to a family and other social structures. The concept of the leader's mind is situational, specific to their role as a leader. Jian He then turned around and scanned the class with a scrutinizing gaze.

The moment the class caught sight of his vacant stare, they were overcome with horror, resulting in an abrupt and profound silence. The atmosphere became laden with seriousness, affecting even the most unruly students. Sensing this, I realized it was not my place to waste time and distract myself. I promptly focused on my book, jotting down notes in a serious manner.

"In every leader, there exists a mindset," Jian He's gruff voice broke the silence, filling the classroom with gloom and sorrow. He had begun his teaching, but his delivery lacked enthusiasm, as if he were being compelled to teach against his will. His voice sounded dry and unappealing, lacking any semblance of charm. He seemed oblivious to the mood in the room, fixated solely on the monotonous subject matter. He was undoubtedly an expert in his field, yet his gloomy demeanor and lack of passion could easily dampen the excitement that even the most brilliant student might have for the subject. He had the uncanny ability to make any situation as clear as mud.

"Do you believe leaders should emerge from within their followers?" Jian He suddenly posed the question, which detonated like an atomic bomb in the classroom. If it had been merely an explosive question, it might have been bearable. However, it had a profound and far-reaching impact, causing panic to grip the students at their very core. Even the sharpest minds found themselves sinking into a state of irreversible uncertainty. It was a sight to behold.

The classroom fell into silence for thirty seconds, causing a wave of panic among everyone. If someone had intentionally instructed those disruptive students to be quiet, they would have faced severe consequences. However, this unconventional individual managed to create a perfect situation with those peculiar students.

Our prior knowledge seemed to have vanished into thin air. Honestly, most people had no existing knowledge to rely on; they were like blank slates. It was becoming evident that the teacher had an imposing demeanor, perhaps because he had used me as an exemplary model. Who would want to be deceived by his cunning trick? At this point, even someone lacking intelligence could become astute and discerning, let alone those with the brain size of a pea.

Suddenly, a student raised his hand. "I want to try," he exclaimed.

"Go on, Qing You!" Jian He responded to the eager student.

This student, Qing You, had a cute yet studious appearance. In fact, every nerd had their own peculiarities. These eccentric behaviors distinguished them from the class's Philistines, who were airheaded idol worshipers and had no regard for education itself. Their disdain for education had earned them the nickname "non-school-men," which suited them well.

The only issue was that studious individuals had a tendency to conform to rules and the established status quo set by others—they were followers by nature. This characteristic was the primary reason why most bookish individuals struggled to generate their own thoughts and educational philosophies; they were mere imitators.

Observing the student standing before us, one could see a faint stripe carved on his forehead. Although he had the appearance of a bookish person, he was distinct from the typical nerds who often wore anxious expressions and thick glasses—he exuded an air of arrogance. It was evident that Qing You enjoyed reading and quoting influential educational philosophers. What an academic scholar! Without any doubt, Qing You appeared stubborn, unlikely to admit being wrong in any situation.

As anticipated, he commenced his explanation by citing John C. Maxwell's definition of leadership. Obviously, nobody was interested in his definition at this moment. What we needed was something different, such as whether a leader should be visible to their followers or not, accompanied by valid reasons, of course. Unfortunately, he overlooked this aspect and approached the topic from a different angle. It was no wonder that these types of clueless remarks could be predicted easily.

"Please sit down, Qing You!" Jian He's impatience was growing.

"I believe it is important for leaders to be visible to their followers," a confident voice interjected from the backseat.

"Why did you believe that, Zhen Bai?" Jian He reluctantly posed an additional question, hoping for further elaboration.

In the rear seat, there sat a student with a plain face, who wore a conceited smile. His smile seemed peculiar, as if he were detached from his surroundings, like a clueless fool. And perhaps, he was. He was flattered and surrounded by those who likely had ulterior motives for cozying up to him.

These people shamelessly gathered around him, albeit discreetly, while the unchallenged Jian He was still in class. It seemed that Jian He had no intention of dealing with these individuals today, as he remained focused on educating us. However, the young man engulfed by these deceitful companions failed to notice their changing behavior and continued to smile innocently. To put it bluntly, he was a simpleton.

"Well, it's not just my belief; I think everyone shares this viewpoint," Zhen Bai responded with a smug expression.

Why did he assume that everyone must think the same way as he does? Why are there so many arrogant fools? It felt as if we were living in an era of deliberate stupidity. Shouldn't everyone be entitled to their own thoughts? When it came to leadership concepts, humans seemed to regress into primitive beings. Otherwise, why would there still be war-torn regions? Each individual claimed that their approach to handling affairs was superior, which, ironically, misled people into perceiving their leaders as infallible beings incapable of making mistakes.

Consequently, when they called for war, everyone must unquestioningly execute their leader's plans. What may favor some would undoubtedly offend others—humans are stubbornly incompatible. Yet, Zhen Bai seemed to believe that everyone must follow the same path to destruction, as I had expected from a simpleton like him.

"Everyone has their own perspective on this matter. However, if you believe that leaders should be visible and prepared to guide their followers, could you please explain your reasoning?"

With overwhelming confidence, Zhen Bai proclaimed, "because it's the right thing to do." However, despite his self-assured demeanor, he was merely a confused fool. Even when he uttered baseless claims, he maintained unwavering belief in himself. How does his foolish mind operate? Evidently, he was feckless and cared little about the consequences, making him impervious to any repercussions. What could anyone possibly do to him? He had boldly declared that if the gods were dissatisfied, they should question him directly.

Jian He, realizing the futility of engaging with such a conceited eccentric like Zhen Bai, turned his attention to Li Min. "Well, can you assist us with this matter, Li Min?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on her.

At this point, Jian He must have recognized that it was pointless to argue with a buffoon like Zhen Bai. He felt a sense of injustice in associating himself with someone of such low caliber. Who would believe his nonsensical ramblings? Was he addressing a child? Jian He knew better. Any further words from that imbecile, and he might lose his temper. So, he turned to the next person he considered rational, having carefully made this decision using his best judgment.

In fact, even before Li Min rose to speak, many had already concluded that whatever she said would be the right thing. Each person seemed to outdo the other in their foolishness. Was there some force controlling their thought process? How could they, one by one, become so submissive to her? And even now, they eagerly anticipated her divinely inspired wisdom—fickle simpletons.

Li Min spoke with eloquence and freedom. "If a leader fails to appear before their followers, they risk becoming mythical figures, relegated to the realm of legends. While this can have certain benefits, it may also have adverse effects." She paused for three seconds, maintained her arrogant but eloquent speaking pattern and continued, "Similarly, if a leader frequently presents themselves to their followers, they might inadvertently diminish their influence." Just as Jian Hé thought she had finished speaking, she interrupted and added, "On the other hand, an attentive leader who shows up regularly can better understand the needs of the people, potentially increasing their influence."

The disparity between common-born and noble-born individuals could be effectively measured. The girl's argument was justifiable and had sufficient basis, which brought a rare smile to the typically somber face of Jian He. However, witnessing his stern countenance was already gratifying enough for me. Furthermore, it remained uncertain whether his smile was prompted by the quality of the response or the person providing it. I began to ponder why Li Min was the recipient of such goodwill. It had only been a week since I started school, yet both students and teachers showed exceptional concern for matters concerning her. Nevertheless, I did not invest much effort in comprehending this enigma.