Before we get into today’s article, a few things I need to flag first: 1 – The US side has made its provocative posture unmistakably clear, nakedly angling to ignite a larger conflict. 2 – Chinese nationals living abroad are highly likely to become targeted during escalating tensions. Stay safe and protect yourselves. 3 – Do not overestimate American rationality, and do not underestimate Trump’s unpredictability. Nobody can guarantee he won’t use a larger conflict to fuel his own ambitions.
Today’s article is on the longer side — and admittedly a bit dry. But if you want to capture real profits in the phase ahead and actually hold onto them, building them into solid capital for your future ventures, then you absolutely must read this to the end.
Patience has always been the dividing line between those who get harvested like weeds and those who are genuinely ambitious predators. You simply cannot imagine a reckless, impulsive person — one who can’t even invest ten minutes in reading — being capable of pouring sufficient effort into anything and achieving real success. Which is exactly why they are destined to be losers: the ones who hand over their chips, roar in frustration, and are ultimately powerless — the eliminated.
Note: This piece was written three weeks ago, intended as a gift to all young people who are about to step into society or have just begun their journey. So many young people are heartbreakingly naive because their entire worldview consists of one equation: “I know how to do one thing, so I should be able to get something in return.” But the world doesn’t operate that way, and life is never that simple. This is a small yet comprehensive awakening for the road ahead. May every parent and every young person find something of value here.
A lot of you have been wondering lately whether I’ve stopped posting.
Not at all. I’ve simply been resting — barely writing, not seeing any consultation clients. Aside from answering a few questions on the community about life, investing, and decisions, I’ve spent the rest of the time in quiet recovery.
There are many reasons for this. After years of nonstop work, my body and mind simply wanted to pause. And there were enough failures and shortcomings along the way that I wanted to take this moment to reflect. The times themselves have hit a small lull, so I’ve finally settled my heart and chosen to “stop.”
Today, these two passages are Master Chi’s shares from his private community. After much deliberation, I feel it’s better to make them public.
For adults, poor decisions can sometimes still be corrected — I can offer a consultation, share my perspective, and help pull them back from the brink.
But for children, once their character is warped, their entire life is ruined. Not even the immortals could save them.
This article is a worldly primer dedicated to all young people. It is dark, dense, and thoroughly utilitarian — yet it is one of the most important pieces of wisdom you will need once you step into society.
Fair warning: this article may cause you some discomfort. Read with care.
If your life philosophy is “life should be peaceful, full of quiet little joys, and free of strife” — please exit now.
1) On the Traits of Losers Among Men
If Master Chi asked you: in your mind, what does a bottom-feeder look like?
Probably your mind conjures the image of a man who has retreated in shameful defeat from the brutal struggle of city life — his confidence completely shattered after losing round after round in fierce competition.
No money, no career? Goes without saying. That’s a given.
But if you take a moment to look closer, you’ll notice something else beyond all that: resource deprivation.
In Master Chi’s view, whenever the world buzzes with celebrity gossip and prominent marriage scandals, it is nothing more than a “low-tier women’s buffoonery showcase.” Many female acquaintances have told me privately: “Every time I watch barnyard hens debate swan etiquette, it’s both infuriating and hilarious — though thoroughly entertaining.” There are several reasons for this:
1 — Men are generally not interested in such matters. 2 — High-tier women can see through it within five seconds. 3 — Only the vast hordes of low-tier women keep chirping endlessly on certain social media platforms.
Those familiar with Master Chi know that I am personally very, very opposed to young people today who spend their days buried in so-called “self-improvement accounts” in the name of growth and progress. Granted, those platforms have their place, and the content they share occasionally has merit — but they all share one fundamental flaw: their life pattern (格局) is too small, and their vision is hopelessly narrow.
Flip through any of those accounts and you’ll find the articles are stuffed with petty calculations and small-minded scheming — how to never get shortchanged, how to fight for that little bit of extra salary or benefit. Not that such behavior is wrong. If your monthly income is ten thousand and you cleverly claw back another thousand, fair enough. But calm down, set aside your emotions, and take a clear-eyed look at the colleagues and friends around you. Once you do, you’ll understand: you could exhaust your imagination and still never connect this crowd with the words “going places.” Their ceiling — and it’s a hard ceiling — is annual income in the millions. Not bad in that circle, sure. But you already know that at the next tier up, that’s nothing more than a single day’s fluctuation in working capital.
Today’s article was inspired by a news report. Master Chi won’t go into the details of the story itself. In short: a young girl who was quietly studying at home ended up spending extra time on her phone because she needed to attend online classes. When her mother saw this, she launched into a severe and unrelenting attack of criticism and blame. The girl ultimately chose to end her life — she leaped from the building.