Jiapingguan Chronicle

"A person who isn't envied is mediocre; it's always been that way since ancient times." Qi Zhifeng said helplessly, spreading his hands towards everyone. "It seems there are some people who quite enjoy being envied, aren't there?"

“That’s true.” Jin Miaomiao nodded. “There are those who love to show off, as if they’re afraid they’re not good enough for that level.”

"I don't know how these people's brains work. Normal people would rather this happen than see it happen, but they're the ones who are eager to have it happen."

"Hey!" Jin Miaomiao waved her hand. "Little brother, you're wrong about that. It's people like that who don't know anything."

“Most of them,” Xiao Fengqi sneered. “People like us are the monsters in their eyes.”

"Just like Master Qingsong, right?" Seeing everyone nod, Qi Zhifeng's expression became even more helpless. He said, "Why bother? Whether you're smart or not isn't something you can show off, is it? Master Qingsong is someone who has proven to be very smart since childhood, excelling in all aspects of his studies—the kind of child everyone admires. He doesn't need to show off; others will see it. Those who try every means to show off their intelligence and excellence—aren't they just a joke in other people's eyes?"

"It's not entirely true." Chu Han waved his hand. "Some will become clowns, while others will be supported. It all depends on a person's background."

“That’s true.” Qi Zhifeng sighed again and said, “But is it a mistake for someone like Master Qingsong not to show off? Although I’ve never met him, his intelligence is definitely far superior to most people, but that’s not his fault. Why should he have to bear the unpleasantness of being bullied by those stupid and foolish people?”

"Hey!" Xiao Fengqi slapped him. "Don't talk nonsense. Those bullies aren't necessarily stupid or dumb, it's just..."

"He's not very bright; he wants too much."

"To be precise, it's just that I can't accept the existence of people who are smarter, more outstanding, and more capable than myself." Xia Jiu stretched and said slowly, "When Uncle Shen was alive, he once told us that a person's abilities are actually very limited. Not everyone can do well in every aspect. If someone is outstanding in one area, they might not be so good at another. For example, someone might be really good at taking exams and pass all the tests to become the top scholar, but that doesn't mean they have the ability to be an official, right?"

“Yes.” Qi Zhifeng nodded, agreeing with Xia Jiu’s statement. “We also started the imperial examination system about seventy or eighty years ago, so we have some experience. I especially agree with what Brother Xia said. Those who did exceptionally well in the exams, those who had particularly smooth sailing, really…”

"That won't work, will it?"

“Yes.” Qi Zhifeng gave Xia Jiu a high five. “They seem to only know how to read books. They are completely ignorant about things like people’s livelihood. My father once tutored several people who had passed the imperial examinations and achieved the highest rank. They were the kind of people who knew nothing at all. Sometimes when I listened to them, I felt anxious for them. For example, my father would ask them what the local specialties were, what the local people’s tastes were, and so on. Logically speaking, as native people, these should be the most basic things, right? But they didn’t know anything.”

"Huh?" Jin Miaomiao was taken aback. "You don't know anything?"

“Yes!” Qi Zhifeng sighed helplessly and said, “They said that from the time they started studying until they became the top scholar, their lives were very simple. Every day they went from home to the academy and back again. During festivals, they would have a family reunion dinner, and the rest of the time they would still be studying.” He spread his hands in front of everyone, “What can you expect from people like that? They don’t understand a single thing about people’s lives. They’re completely clueless.”

“That’s right.” Xia Jiu nodded. “But those who understand the people’s livelihood and are good at being officials may not necessarily do well in exams, nor may they necessarily become the top scholar. Some people may only be able to pass the imperial examinations.”

"Some people are pragmatists, and some are theorists; both are good."

“Everyone should do their job and make the best use of their abilities,” Qi Zhifeng said, taking a sip of tea. “And then there are those who are terrible at exams but are geniuses at business, born to be entrepreneurs, right?” He looked at everyone and said, “Let everyone do what they’re good at, right? There’s no need to compare your weaknesses with others’ strengths.” “That’s right,” Shen Jiu said slowly after eating and drinking for a while. “People who always compare like that are just stupid.”

"It's not that they're stupid, but rather that they're trapped in their own obsession and can't break free," Xia Jiu sighed. "I once heard a saying..."

"God may close a door for you, but He may open a window. In any case, He will leave you a glimmer of hope." Qi Zhifeng spread his hands. "But most people don't understand that."

“That’s right!” Xia Jiu smiled and pinched Qi Zhifeng’s hand. “Wow, I didn’t expect you to know these things. That’s great!”

"Of course, who do you think you are?" Qi Zhifeng smugly hummed twice, shook his head, and said, "I know a lot!"

"Then keep it up."

Chu Han looked at the two children, smiled, and continued, "What you said is correct. The principle is indeed true. Doing better than others does not mean that you should be hurt by them. Jealousy is acceptable; everyone has jealousy. But you should turn it into motivation to change yourself, instead of hurting others."

“Uncle is right!” Shen Cha nodded to Chu Han. “We cannot satisfy our filthy desires by hurting people who are better than us.”

"Unfortunately, not many people can do that," Xiao Fengqi sighed softly. "Most people want to see others suffer, right?"

"Yes!" Third Master sighed and said, "They only know how to use despicable means to pull down those who are more outstanding than themselves." He took the hot tea that Xue Mu handed him, blew on it to cool it down, took a sip, and continued, "When you mentioned the imperial examination, I remembered something that happened when my senior brother and I were very young."

"When you were very young?" Jin Miaomiao looked at Third Grandfather with curiosity. "When was that?"

“In the second year after I became a disciple, I went back to my master’s hometown with my senior brother.” The third master thought for a moment. “At that time, he was already a famous medical expert. He could decide for himself who to treat and what kind of illness to treat. Moreover,” he looked at Chu Han, “he had already met you, right?”

"Hmm," Chu Han thought for a moment, "I think I know what you're talking about. You ran into them. They can't be called down on their luck, but they're not doing well, right?"

"Yes, Master told you?"

"I did mention it," Chu Han nodded. "It was just a side note. He mainly wanted to brag to me about how he'd taken on a great new apprentice in the past year. He's quite young, but when he saw someone bullying him, he rushed over to fight them." He smiled at the Third Grandfather. "It was you, wasn't it?"

"Master, why are you bringing this up? It's so embarrassing!"

"What's there to be embarrassed about? Protecting Master and preventing him from getting hurt may seem like a small, obvious act, but few people can actually do it." Chu Han smiled. "Your Master praised you to the skies back then; compared to you, your senior brother is nothing." (End of Chapter)