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.
People have never stopped to reflect on a question: when the barrier to entry for something drops so low that anyone and everyone can weigh in with an opinion — what do you think ultimately happens?
The answer: countless shallow interpretations completely bury and drown out the genuine insights — like heavy snow in the dead of winter.
And so, the vast majority of people are left with no choice but to settle for those suffocating, mediocre answers.
PS: This article is not just for women — men should read it carefully too. Because in this life, when a man makes an impulsive mistake in marriage, history has consistently shown that the price he pays far exceeds what a woman typically bears.
Strictly speaking, Master Chi shouldn’t be wasting time writing a dedicated article on “how to assess the quality of your romantic destiny.” It feels like I’ve been sharing doctoral-level insights with you, and suddenly I’m pivoting to discuss the multiplication table. But countless followers have been asking for this, and recent events — a surge of toxic relationship drama — have left everyone anxious and unsettled. So Master Chi has decided it’s worth writing today, to properly explain how to judge the quality of a romantic connection (缘品), and especially how to distinguish the toxic from the true.
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.
Over the past couple of days, as we’ve gradually returned to the rhythms of daily life, all kinds of questions have begun to surface — chief among them, a deep uncertainty about the cost of living and future prospects. This is entirely inevitable. Having come through such a significant upheaval, our recovery will naturally be lined with obstacles and setbacks. So today, this piece from Master Chi is dedicated to our middle-class friends and those still in the lower tiers. First, I want to show you how to stay grounded in circumstances like these. Second, I want to show you how to realign with the broader trend — and come out ahead.
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.
Over the past couple of days, I’ve been seeing a great deal of news about the feedback on the “laissez-faire” approach taken by various overseas governments in managing the epidemic. Spain and Italy have been the most prominent examples.
This isn’t a denial of other countries’ efforts to save their citizens. Rather, I want to lay out a complete logical framework — so you understand what strategic trade-offs you would make if you were the head of a foreign nation. A president. A prime minister. A chancellor.
Today’s content is fairly straightforward — though perhaps not immediately accessible to all readers.
This piece is written specifically for the members of Master Chi’s knowledge community. Given their standing and caliber, Master Chi has put together a few grounded, practical pieces of advice tailored for them.
Compared to content written for young people still striving, or for readers who haven’t yet achieved much, this is more philosophical than prescriptive — not a simple list of actionable tips.
Today’s article is divided into two halves. The first half is written for women — partly out of courtesy, and partly because I hope male readers will take the time to read through the women’s section as well. Of course, if you’re a female reader curious about what a “real man” looks like, please read through the second half of this article too.
A quick note: today I want to explore the weight and meaning of the word “love.” This is something that many people who consider themselves clever are profoundly lacking in. Without further preamble, let’s get into it.