Scene: A small tea shop in Shanghai. The two friends are sitting by the window, sipping green tea.
Li Wei: (grimacing) Chen Hao, I don’t know how you can just sit there so calmly with that scruffy beard on your face. Don’t you know facial hair is unlucky? It makes you look disheveled, and disheveled people attract bad fortune!
Chen Hao: (laughing) Wei, come on! It’s just hair. You really believe my beard can ruin my luck?
Li Wei: Of course! Look at the old sayings — “A man’s fortune is written on his face.” If you cover your face with hair, you’re basically inviting chaos. My cousin grew a mustache last year, and guess what happened? His scooter broke down, he lost his phone, and his girlfriend dumped him. All within a month!
Chen Hao: Maybe he was just having a bad month? Or maybe… the mustache didn’t cause his problems — it just happened to be there while life did its thing.
Li Wei: No, no, no. You don’t understand. Even at work, my boss always tells the interns to shave if they want to make a good impression. He says a smooth face shows you’re organized. When people see facial hair, they think you’re lazy. Lazy people attract bad luck.
Chen Hao: Hmm. But you know, in many countries, beards are seen as a sign of wisdom or even power. Think about all those professors and philosophers! Einstein had wild hair — you don’t see anyone calling him disorganized.
Li Wei: Einstein is the exception to everything.
Chen Hao: Fair point. (grins) But seriously, Wei, think about it: facial hair is just keratin, the same protein as the hair on your head. You don’t think the hair on your head brings bad luck, right?
Li Wei: Well… no. But the face is special. It’s where people read your fortune, your energy, your fate. My grandma always said if you hide your face, you hide your destiny.
Chen Hao: That’s a beautiful thought in its own way. But scientifically, there’s no evidence that hair affects luck. If anything, your perception shapes your mood — if you believe you’re unlucky, you’re more likely to notice setbacks. It’s called confirmation bias.
Li Wei: Confirmation bias? Is that like when I only remember the times beards went wrong and ignore the times they didn’t?
Chen Hao: Exactly! For example, remember Zhang Qiang from university? Big beard, always top of the class. Landed a great job in Beijing.
Li Wei: Hmm… okay, maybe… but still, I’d rather not take chances. Better clean-shaven, just in case.
Chen Hao: Fair enough. I’m not trying to convert you to Team Beard. But let’s agree on this — the universe probably doesn’t care about my stubble.
Li Wei: I’ll agree… that you think the universe doesn’t care. But when you trip on the sidewalk later, don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Chen Hao: (laughing) Deal. But if I don’t trip, you’re buying the next round of tea.
Li Wei: (smirking) Fine. But if you do trip, you’re shaving that thing off.
Chen Hao: Challenge accepted!
(They clink teacups, smiling, as the debate pauses — for now.)
Science Vs Superstition 
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