Don't be fooled by how meek he looks — when it comes to getting things done, he's sharp.
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Colloquial and a bit folksy — a fond but slightly condescending way to describe simple, honest country people, plain laborers, or guileless kids. The 老实 takes neutral tone (lǎoshi, not lǎoshí).
usage
Often carries a hint that the person is too meek to stand up for themselves — they get taken advantage of. Quoted in Zhou Libo's 《暴风骤雨》 about an old farmhand who's exactly that type.
