The Way of Heaven Rewards Diligence in Film and Television

Chapter 70 Just Do It

Master Ma paused for a moment upon hearing this, then said repeatedly, "Why the cow...why it is not important, what it chews is not important either. What I'm saying is, I'm sitting here to use this method to counteract my diligence, to use stillness to control movement."

"Did you understand?" Aunt Gui asked Xu Hongdou.

Xu Hongdou smiled awkwardly: "I understand the individual characters, but I don't quite understand them when they're put together."

"To put it simply, everything in the world follows the 80/20 rule. No matter how hard you work, no matter how much you dedicate yourself, in the end, it's all for nothing. Since it's all for nothing anyway, why bother? It's better to remain calm and wait for the right moment, to adapt to all changes without changing the status quo. That's true wisdom!" said Master Ma.

Aunt Gui chuckled upon hearing this: "I understand, but you've come to the wrong person. I can't order you."

"To put it bluntly, the blow from the previous failure was too great, and I haven't recovered yet. But life is about taking risks, isn't it? What's the point of a life without challenges, a life as bland as water?"

Lin Yang then said, "Isn't there a saying that the meaning of everything lies not in the result but in the process? As long as the process is exciting enough, what does the result matter? In the end, it's just death anyway."

Aunt Gui couldn't help but nod, saying, "Life is tough; we come into this world naked and crying, and we leave empty-handed and crying too. But you can't just give up on living because you're going to die anyway, can you?"

"Besides breathing fresh air being free, you get to eat, drink, use the restroom, and sleep—what else do you need? Can you still sit still? If you can't sit still, go out and get a job. Why do you insist on being a boss?"

These words left Master Ma speechless.

However, Lin Yang understood Master Ma very well. He had once been in the limelight, but had fallen from grace. Such a fall from grace was not easy to accept. No matter how down on his luck a businessman is, he would not want to work for someone else.

"On the other hand, even if you become a boss, a billionaire, and make a ton of money—so much money that you can't even fit it all in this yard, or spend it all—I have to ask you this: what if you're gone one day? Can you take all of this with you?"

Aunt Gui sighed and continued, "When people die, it's very easy to send them away. Paper replicas, cars, houses, villas, golden boys and jade girls, a heavenly bank, hundreds of billions—tell me, how much do you want? Your descendants won't spend much money to get all of that, and they'll burn it all for you, right?"

Master Ma was stunned and instinctively clapped his hands.

Xu Hongdou also fell silent, and then couldn't help but applaud.

"I hate talking about these things. I'm just saying this casually, so you can just listen casually. I'm not going to chat with you anymore. I haven't finished my work yet!" Aunt Gui said, getting up and leaving.

"Hey, don't go!" Watching Aunt Gui leave, Grandpa Ma clapped his hands in sincere admiration, saying, "Great wisdom! Classic! I've been enlightened!"

"You didn't mean anything by it, but it stung, didn't it?" Lin Yang asked with a smile.

"Don't you feel anything?" Xu Hongdou couldn't help but ask.

Lin Yang smiled noncommittally: "Because I, like Aunt Gui, possess great wisdom and have long seen through it all. In this life, whether it's hardship or happiness, whatever happens, you must be true to yourself. Live a life without regrets."

"Do what you want to do, love what you want to love. Don't hesitate, don't waver, don't be indecisive. Opportunities don't come all the time, and once you miss them, they're gone forever. Mr. Ma, get up where you fall, instead of just sitting around doing nothing. Take a break, but you still have to get up and move forward."

"You've taught me a lesson today, kid!" Master Ma shook his head and smiled. "To be honest, staying here for so long has made me think a lot. I thought I could calm my mind, but thoughts keep popping up. But getting back on your feet takes time."

"I'll give it to you! As long as there are good projects, I'll invest," Lin Yang said with a smile.

Upon hearing Lin Yang's words, Master Ma couldn't help but smile and say, "Indeed, free people are never poor!"

Seeing that Master Ma wanted to take his hand, Lin Yang couldn't help but say, "Don't be so mushy! My money didn't come from thin air. I won't just throw money into unreliable projects."

"Don't worry, it's absolutely reliable! I can't afford to fail!" Master Ma nodded seriously.

Xu Hongdou, leaning on the table, looked at Lin Yang and said, "Lin Yang, are you really only 27? Why do you sometimes seem so insightful?"

"I call it a complete enlightenment. The master said I have great wisdom, and I was almost forced to become a monk," Lin Yang laughed. "However, it's fortunate that I didn't become a monk, otherwise I wouldn't have met you. Life is worthwhile; heaven has been very kind to me."

"Lin Yang, if you want to become a monk, remember to give me all your worldly possessions!" Master Ma said repeatedly.

"Master Ma..." Xu Hongdou looked at Master Ma with a wry smile, "I think you're the one who should become a nun. If you can't let go, then don't be a fake monk here, okay? When it comes to meditation, you're not even as professional as Lin Yang!"

Master Ma gave an awkward and helpless smile: "Have some tea! Have some tea!"

That evening, Lin Yang, coming downstairs, was surprised to find Master Ma cooking in the kitchen. He walked over and said with a smile, "Master Ma, it's rare to see you cooking. Aren't you supposed to skip meals after noon?"

"Oh, Barley's here too? Is this... Kaven?" Lin Yang asked with a smile when he saw Barley in the kitchen.

"Yeah, I can't write anything," Da Mai nodded with a hint of helplessness. "How about Hong Dou?"

"She can eat, drink, and sleep well, she's doing incredibly well, but she was a bit bored, so she kept me company and we chatted for a long time," Lin Yang said with a smile. "She told me that when she was little, she actually tried to incubate eggs herself. You wouldn't believe how she did it, would you? She incubated them with her hands..."

Her sister even gave her the title of "Egg-Hatching General."

Seeing the smile on Lin Yang's face when he talked about Xu Hongdou, Ma Ye and Da Mai exchanged awkward smiles.

"Is it pink?" Master Ma asked Lin Yang, pointing to the pot.

Lin Yang nodded repeatedly: "Okay, let's try your cooking today, Master Ma."

The three sat at the dining table, each eating from a bowl of fried rice noodles. Lin Yang took a bite and smiled in surprise, "Hmm, it's alright!"

"Delicious," Barley exclaimed.

Not long after, after finishing the fried noodles, we chatted casually about the problems DaMai was facing with his writing: the vicious cycle of negative reviews and decreasing income, his inability to write, and his father's lack of support...

"Barley, to be honest! Hard work doesn't guarantee success, but without hard work, success is impossible. Don't overthink it, just do it! Only by doing it will you have a chance to succeed."

Lin Yang said, "I've made up my mind, I want to write novels too."

"Huh?" Da Mai looked at Lin Yang with a slight surprise, and even Master Ma next to him was stunned.

"I want to experience firsthand just how difficult it is to make money through writing," Lin Yang said enthusiastically. "Don't overthink it, just do it. Whether I succeed or not is another matter. What if I do succeed? What if I'm surrounded by success and can roam freely?"

"Uh... well, the idea is pretty good. Just do it! I'll support you in spirit," Master Ma laughed.

Da Mai was somewhat impressed by Lin Yang's boldness and courage, and raised his teacup, saying, "Keep it up!"

"Let's cheer each other on!" Lin Yang laughed. "How's it going? You're about to have a new colleague, are you feeling less anxious and less conflicted?"

"Thank you, Lin Yang," Da Mai said, a little touched.

Lin Yang replied, "Don't thank me yet. You really need to work hard. Otherwise, what if I, a newcomer, write better than you and earn more? Wouldn't you feel even more frustrated and defeated?"

"Alright, it's getting late. Those who need to rest should rest, and those who need to work hard should work hard. May everyone be well," Lin Yang said before leaving, leaving Da Mai and Ma Ye speechless as they exchanged a glance.

Master Ma laughed and said, "Young man, have confidence!"