Student Question:
Hello Master Chi. I’ve been reading your shares in the community about building side hustles. Quite a few members there have been busy with neighborhood group buying and personal IP ventures for the past six months — those doing home renovation work have already landed over a dozen new projects, and the lawyers have picked up seven or eight new clients.
I’ve been envious of their progress. I only recently took action myself, following your advice. I started a neighborhood group buying side hustle while raising my child at home, making full use of my spare time. My net monthly income is now around 3,000 yuan.
First, a reader’s letter:
Dear Master Chi, I am a young person who has been following you for two years. I’m reaching out because I’ve noticed that nearly every article you write about life touches on the topic of marriage.
I can’t help but wonder — is marriage really that important for a person?
To be honest, I’m a girl from Jiangxi making my way in Shanghai, and I’m absolutely the hardworking type. Beyond my day job, I’ve taken your guidance to heart: in the evenings I work on building my personal brand and take on small interior design projects. Life feels full and satisfying.
Tonight should be a joyful night — full of vitality and anticipation.
As for everything that came with the Renyin year, let us set that aside for now — not to forget it, but because there is something more important I want to say to you.
And that is this: I have a few heartfelt blessings I’d like to offer you.
First and foremost, above all else, my very first wish is for your health. I hope your health means a body that is comfortable and free from illness — that you eat well, sleep soundly, feel full of energy, and carry a light heart.
End of year — I’d rather not write something overly complicated. Everyone’s getting ready for the New Year; who wants to strain their brain over dense, cryptic content?
But this Year of the Water Rabbit (Gui Mao, 2023) — it truly matters.
As the crossroads between breaking down and building anew after the great pandemic, it will mark a turning point in the destiny of many. Years from now, when you’ve made something of yourself, you’ll find yourself suddenly realizing: the year your fortunes turned was right here, right now — 2023, the Year of the Water Rabbit.
Student Question
Hello Master, I wanted to follow up on what you shared in the community about building a personal IP side business. Recently, by answering questions, I’ve already made 1,300 yuan. It’s not a lot, but it’s helped me discover more of my own value.
I’d like your guidance on some tactical questions:
I have an ordinary bachelor’s degree, and my English credentials are only CET-4 and CET-6 — no prestigious titles to speak of. Does this affect my ability to build a personal brand?
Student Question:
Master Chi, hello. I have a career direction question I’d like to ask your guidance on.
I’m currently working as a project lead for outside-hospital product sales at a distributor company. The products are gynecological HPV treatments — sanitization-category items and gynecological gel. We operate through the outside-hospital pharmacy channel. I’ve been running this model for half a year, but the boss keeps switching the products we represent — there’s been instability along the way, and our actual time in the market is short.
Student Question
Hello, Master. I remember when I first bought my home — I felt not only that I finally had a place of my own, but that I was absolutely certain the value would go up.
That was in 2020.
Then came the nationwide risk controls, and I felt like I’d been thrown off track.
Two years later, I relocated to a different city for personal reasons and started preparing to sell the property.
A New Year’s Message — Two Pieces of Advice
First Piece of Advice: Investment is a means, not an end. Hold off on large investments for now — whether in education or in projects.
Why? Because the economic situation is still unclear. What looks like an opportunity today can flip the moment policy shifts.
That opportunity could instantly become a trap.
You need to be able to wait. To endure.
Yesterday, the comments section received a very interesting message: “Hello Master Chi, I’ve been your reader for many years. I’m writing today with a somewhat bold request.
A few days ago, I recommended your articles to my younger cousin in a small town. She read them and was immediately blown away — and scolded me for not introducing you to her sooner.
But since she came to your articles late and missed a great deal of content, I was wondering if you might find some time to distill and recap your core insights? I’m sure many other readers feel the same way, and I want to thank you in advance.”
Tonight’s message is straightforward — I simply want to talk to you about how to fully unlock your wealth fortune (财运) in the coming year.
This isn’t a long piece, but the middle and latter sections are critically important — they’re all concrete, actionable advice.
When you’ve finished reading, next year’s version of you will be grateful to two people: one is Master Chi — and the other is the you who is sitting quietly and reading this right now.