Anonymous User: Commander, Commander — if war breaks out, how should ordinary people like us protect our assets? How should we allocate them?
Personal situation: I work in a management role at a private company. Honestly, I have no truly practical survival skills. Through luck, I’ve managed to fully pay off 2 properties in a second-tier city, currently worth around 6 million RMB, along with 300k in savings and 100k in a pension annuity. I’m a woman in my late thirties, currently single — relaxed about marriage and having children. I just want to live out my later years in comfort, not end up destitute in old age. How should I allocate what I have?
I sincerely recommend that every reader — health permitting — find an opportunity to participate in an amateur half-marathon.
Not for victory. Not for rankings. But for the experience.
Because a marathon is truly, deeply similar to life.
At the start, you think you’re running against your opponents. You feel anxious when someone overtakes you, and proud when you leave someone behind.
But gradually, you’ll discover that the ripples caused in your heart by everyone else’s every little move are entirely meaningless.
Night Watch Commander
Everyone understands the theory, but in practice, most people find it nearly impossible to stay rational when push comes to shove. Instead, they get led around by the nose and are easily controlled by the weaker party. Why does this happen? It comes down to one core issue: what truly gives someone power over you isn’t their tactics — it’s the fear inside you. So the real key to refusing to be manipulated is to identify your inner fears and cut them off at the root.
Even when dealt a terrible hand, play it with everything you have — stay optimistic and positive, take responsibility, resist wishful thinking, and never give up on yourself.
No matter what comes, face reality with calm acceptance, draw your lessons, and keep moving forward.
When I was young, my father taught me chess by starting with endgames. He told me: “By the time you sit down at the board, it’s already an endgame. You can only play the endgame well — win through wisdom and courage. And if you can’t win, fight for a draw. That way, you get to play another game.”
Student Question (rosaline, 15:27): Hello, Master! I have a newly renovated apartment that was handed over more than three months ago. Most of the furniture has already been moved in, and it’s been airing out for over two months. After the New Year, just a few small pieces remain to be brought in. Since I have a toddler under two years old at home, I’m thinking of choosing an auspicious day to move in around April or May next year. Do you have any good dates to recommend?
Let me start with the girls who surprised me most — the way they changed their own destinies was remarkably simple and direct. She became the owner of a beauty and gift shop, earning hundreds of thousands a year. Every year she would come find me to review her annual fortune cycle (流年). But smart girls are probably all the same at heart — she was restless inside.
Nothing in this world is impossible if you’re truly determined. As long as you put your heart into anything, your noble benefactor (Gui Ren) fortune will come. And this girl truly seized hers.
Student Question: Hello, Master! I wanted to ask about the renewal notifications that have been coming through on the community platform recently. Does renewing require direct payment, or do I need to wait for my membership to expire before rejoining? (I’m on Android.)
Master Chi’s Response: Both direct payment and rejoining work fine. Android handles this conveniently — iOS, I believe, can only rejoin after expiration, but it still comes with a discount. 😄