After saying a few words to Song Wei, Hao Yun had already choked twice, and quite severely.
He was truly at a loss for words and couldn’t continue the conversation with Song Wei. He clasped his hands together, "I hope brother will enlighten ."
Song Wei took a sip of tea and smiled faintly, "Did you hear what those people outside were saying about you just now?"
Talking about that, Hao Yun slowly lowered his head.
Even though he had a bit of alcohol, he wasn’t so drunk as to be unaware. How could he not know? Those people were mocking him for his unrealistic ambitions.
Who wouldn’t say the sa?
He had faced separation from his wife, an empty house, and barely achieved the status of a child student with financial struggles for purchasing books and ink every ti he returned ho, leaving his elderly mother worried.
When confronted with the disdain from so many villagers, he had thought of giving up the examinations and returning ho to farm. But seeing those of lesser character than him succeed in gaining official positions, he felt unwilling to accept defeat. He always wanted to give it another try, hoping that one day he could appear on the golden list and change his fate. However, the heavens seed blind and led him to continuous failure.
Thinking of this, resentnt rose in Hao Yun’s heart.
"I understand," he said, firmly clenching his fist. "Brother, like them, you consider useless, unworthy of being at the examination hall. I mistakenly believed you were different, a kindred spirit. But in the end, you too have those critical eyes. I’ve disturbed you, farewell!"
He finished speaking and promptly stood up to leave.
When one foot stepped across the threshold, he heard Song Wei speak again, "You’re not entirely worthless; at least your self-assessnt is accurate now."
Hao Yun stopped in his tracks, clenched his fist tighter, turned around with glaring red eyes filled with resentnt, "We rely encountered by chance. I called you ’brother’ out of respect, but I am a man of integrity and cannot allow such humiliation from you!"
Song Wei shook his head with a sigh. If he had lived with Hao Yun’s mindset until the age of twenty-eight, he might have beco a re waste, possibly even failing to live to this day.
No one has more experience with mockery, insults, disdain, slander, and criticism than him.
Especially when he was also accompanied by over twenty years of bad luck.
Since he could rember until now, a lot of trouble inexplicably landed on him, countless injuries, and there were instances where he nearly lost his life.
If he had always blad others or resented the heavens for injustice, he wouldn’t be present today in the Prefecture preparing for the exam as Song Wei.
"I invited you to sit not to argue but to ask you one question."
Song Wei did not turn around; his words were transmitted to Hao Yun’s ears, every word genuine and clear.
Perhaps his voice was so persuasive that, inexplicably, Hao Yun’s expression softened, "What question?"
"Since you can muster the courage to enter the exam after failing for so many years, why can’t you gather the courage to block out all external opinions and eyes? Is the exam more important, or are other people’s opinions of you more important?"
Upon hearing this, Hao Yun was stunned, unable to react for a while.
Song Wei’s words were like a sharp axe splitting his distorted ntality, bringing him sudden realization and enlightennt.
The resentnt he harbored against Song Wei imdiately dissipated. Hao Yun turned back and this ti, with deep admiration, he clasped his hands and bowed, "May I ask your honorable na, brother?"
"I am just Song, with the single na Wei."
Song... Song Wei?!
"You are the one who..." Hao Yun almost blurted out.
Song Wei’s face showed no sign of being offended, remaining calm with a slight smile, "That’s right, the one who failed to enter the examination hall for ten years and ultimately caused the death of his brother and sister-in-law, facing people’s curses from Pingjiang County."
Hao Yun stood there stunned, the shock within him was palpable.
His own difficulties were nothing more than poor family conditions, but this person before him was truly born unlucky!
Despite such hardships, he managed to shine and beco top at the county exams, while he wasted precious ti on competing with those who looked down on him.
Those who have suffered more can strive so hard; what right does he have to complain and bla the heavens?
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