Setting: A cozy noodle shop in Chengdu. Two friends, Li Wei (the rational thinker) and Chen Hao (the superstitious one), are slurping spicy noodles during their usual Saturday lunch.
Chen Hao: (grimacing and pointing at a wrapped gift on the table)
Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.
Li Wei: (grinning)
What? It’s your birthday gift! I spent hours choosing it. Behold… (dramatically unwraps it) a beautiful Swiss watch!
Chen Hao: (gasps and recoils like it’s radioactive)
Are you trying to curse me?! Giving a clock or a watch as a gift? That’s basically saying, “Hao, your time is up!”
Li Wei: (laughs)
Oh come on, don’t be so dramatic. It’s just a watch. It tells time, not your fate.
Chen Hao:
You know what “song zhong” sounds like, right? Giving a clock sounds like preparing for someone’s funeral. It’s bad luck! Even my grandma would faint if she saw this.
Li Wei:
Yes, yes, I know. “送钟” sounds like “送终”—to attend a funeral. But that’s just a homophone. Should we also stop sending pears to people because “梨” sounds like “离” (to part ways)? Should we never give books before exams because “书” sounds like “输” (to lose)?
Chen Hao: (smirking)
Exactly! I don’t give books before exams either!
Li Wei:
Hao, you’re killing me. Language puns aside, nobody actually dies because they received a watch. It’s a useful, classy gift!
Chen Hao: (sighs)
Tell that to my cousin. Last year, his girlfriend gave him a fancy wall clock for Valentine’s Day. Two months later—poof—they broke up. Total disaster. He said it started ticking louder after fights.
Li Wei:
That’s called psychological projection. If a clock sounds louder after a fight, maybe your cousin just needed to apologize louder. Come on, you’re assigning causality to coincidence.
Chen Hao:
But isn’t there some wisdom in traditions? They’ve survived for centuries. There must be something behind them.
Li Wei:
Sure, traditions often come from good intentions—maybe to show respect or caution. But we should update them based on evidence. I mean, do you still believe sleeping with wet hair gives you pneumonia?
Chen Hao:
(whispers) I… don’t take chances.
Li Wei:
(laughing) You’re impossible. Okay, how about this: if I give you money and you go buy the same watch yourself, does that break the curse?
Chen Hao:
Actually… yes. That’s a workaround! It’s acceptable if the recipient “buys” it for a token amount, even just one yuan. Then it’s not a gift, it’s a transaction. No bad luck!
Li Wei:
Ah, so the curse is price-sensitive! Great! You owe me 1 yuan.
Chen Hao: (grinning, pulls out a coin)
Done. You drive a hard bargain, rationalist.
Li Wei:
And now you have a fantastic watch that’ll keep you on time and maybe even impress someone new. You’re welcome.
Chen Hao:
If I get a girlfriend and we don’t break up within three months, I’ll consider updating my belief system.
Li Wei:
Deal. And when that happens, I’m getting you a wall clock the size of a satellite dish.
Chen Hao: (laughing)
Make sure it doesn’t tick loudly—I don’t want any relationship drama.
[End Scene]
Science Vs Superstition 
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