Very easily could have been goaded into a physical altercation, and labeled the "aggressor" and ended up in a much worse situation.
This episode was really about him maintaining his cool while allowing that jackleg the opportunity to bury himself.
And dang if it aint nice when it works how it is supposed to ( karma )
I put myself in that situation and i think, in my 30s, there would have been zero chance of me not losing it and brawling with him and his buddies. Now, in my 50s, im tucking tail.