Honestly, I — Master Chi — had originally planned to take a break from writing for a couple of weeks. Use the time to read, and sort through some business and investment matters.
But as it turned out, on the very first day I set down my pen, I woke up to three consecutive reports of horrific social tragedies — each one unfolding in places we pass through in our ordinary daily lives.
The frequency of it left me with a quiet, creeping unease.
Beyond the heartbreak, I felt compelled to say a few extra words to you all. Think of it as a caring reminder from someone who genuinely looks out for you.
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There’s really no need to spell it out bluntly — you already know why so many people carry such a crushing weight of hostility these days.
And hostility is a terrifying thing, because it spreads in an instant. So for the past couple of years, regardless of how your career is going or what your daily life looks like, there is one thing I want you to remember: when you’re out in the world, yield wherever you can. Never let someone else’s collapsing rage detonate on top of you.
Speaking from my own experience — I’ve had a lifelong love of sports and have trained in boxing and judo for many years. My physical condition is more than adequate for a confrontation.
And yet, whenever I encounter friction out in the world, I will always, instinctively, choose to step back — rather than use my size and strength to force the point.
Because what is there to win in a daily-life squabble? At best, you both walk away holding your own version of events while the tension escalates. If you’re lucky, it ends with harsh words. But if you’re not? What if the other person tips over the edge?
So I keep a personal motto: I’m sorry — my life is comfortable and good, which means I never argue with people whose lives are not.
Yielding is my grace. And my wisdom.
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Let me add something more substantial — a piece of life experience worth sharing.
Those of you who know me well are aware that my family built its foundation in real estate development and financial derivatives. The years when we were finding our footing ran from 1997 to 2008 — a chaotic era, a real mixed bag of people and power.
Through that world, I got to know many influential figures across the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region who operated by their own rules. Back then, a powerful, prime-age operator could settle problems in some rather unconventional ways. The result was that many of these men grew deeply arrogant and domineering.
Then, after 2013, almost all of them faded out. Partly because of anti-corruption and organized crime crackdowns — but also because of something else: the principle that heaven’s cycles turn (天道好轮回, “what goes around, comes around”) kept playing out, again and again. Some were taken in. Some were taken out. Others quietly disappeared and changed their names.
Here’s the fascinating, almost mystical thing about karma (因果): it can go absent. It can run seriously late. But if you’re arrogant enough, reckless enough, contemptuous enough — the moment you cross its threshold, it will arrive. Without fail.
That’s why I never bother engaging with the bad actors I encounter in life. The most I’ll do, years later when I hear about their miserable ending, is say quietly: Oh. That outcome was written for them all along. Just a matter of when.
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Finally, a few very practical suggestions. Take them to heart and build them into daily life — they’re genuinely useful. They could save your life.
First: the average person has no real need to learn “self-defense techniques.” Especially now, when the complexity of sudden incidents far exceeds what fists and footwork can handle.
The best response when things go wrong is always: run first, then call the police.
With that in mind, roughly every six months, I run practice drills with my wife and children: “What do we do if we encounter a dangerous, unreasonable person?” I’ll play the role of an aggressive, menacing threat and walk them through how to retreat and go through the steps of calling for help.
Don’t underestimate this. In a serious conflict, 99% of ordinary people find that the sudden adrenaline surge makes their mind go dull, their hands and feet go cold, their reactions slow, and their emotions spike. This is how situations spiral into something far worse.
You need to become familiar with conflict. You need to adapt to it. Only then can you defuse it.
Beyond that: keep reminding yourself, every single day — some people are living inside their despair right now. They are pitiable, and they are volatile. Stay away from them.
Make a habit of greeting people with a smile. Make a practice of using polite, respectful language to express gratitude and acknowledgment.
And if a real conflict does arise, hold firmly to this principle: address the situation, never attack the person. The moment emotions take over and you start going after someone’s character, you’ve lost the plot entirely.
That’s all I wanted to say. And from the bottom of my heart, I hope every one of you — brothers and sisters — gets to live these next couple of years in peace, in safety, and with joy.
Everything else? We take it one step at a time. Life will get better, bit by bit.