Chapter 1301 The Returnee's Notes 375
The more Cao Zi spoke, the heavier his melancholy became.
Xie Ning got up, lit an incense stick, and placed it by the window. The evening breeze swirled, tearing the rising smoke into wisps. He then took out his jade flute and tried to soothe the ghost that was unconsciously sinking deeper into the abyss.
Some ghosts become manic and harm people when their consciousness breaks down, while others, like Cao Zi, become deeply mired in their own problems, just as a person lets themselves sink into a swamp.
The requiem didn't have a specific melody; Xie Ning remembered the piece the aunt had played earlier that day, so he tuned it slightly and played it as well.
It's not like the gentle flow of water, but rather like a mountain breeze.
After Cao Zi, who was in pain, slowly came back to her senses, she said, "Actually, the textbook gave the answer a long time ago."
What answer?
"The principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved into one between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development."
This is something that everyone who has gone through their student days has memorized.
A seemingly simple sentence.
Even knowing that it's just wishful thinking, Xie Ning still doesn't want anyone to experience this firsthand.
"...The rich get richer and the poor get poorer; this is the general trend."
Some people stand at the bottom, looking up at the high, seemingly endless steps. The people above are already there, and they believe they deserve it because they have worked hard enough.
Then he said that as long as you work hard, you can be just like them.
Therefore, those below, and those who stumble on one of the steps, believe that they did not work hard enough to stand at the top, thus falling into self-pity and resentment.
...This created a profound sense of division within society.
Xie Ning tried to communicate with him using comparative literature and more tactful and colloquial language.
For a long time, she studied various science and technology, which is a relatively simple field. However, at other times, she also learned other knowledge, and with her experience, she was able to see things more deeply.
If we were to directly peel back that veil, it would simply be a case of capitalist society creating a hidden "resource siege" through intergenerational transmission of education, closed social networks, and monopolistic investment channels.
This is the Matthew effect in economics, which refers to the cumulative advantage of resource endowment.
Cao Zi was in great pain because he saw not only that he was trapped in this besieged city, but also that there were many other people around him, and this world was different from the world they had learned about in books when they were young.
It's cruel, but that's reality.
As for hard work... Xie Ning suddenly laughed, "You, me, our efforts are all valuable. There's no need to listen to others saying we're not working hard enough; that's a form of violence in itself."
They attribute their current status, wealth, and power to their own efforts, a personalized narrative that completely ignores the differences in initial resources between people.
Just like wealthy people who start accumulating cultural capital from a very young age, they can have all kinds of teachers providing one-on-one guidance, and they can go anywhere to broaden their horizons and knowledge. Their efforts are built on the starting line advantage established by their predecessors.
Some people have difficulty even buying a notebook to do their homework, so does that mean they don't study hard enough?
Some people don't have the opportunity to learn or are not qualified for high-paying jobs. So, if they do manual labor and only earn fifty or sixty yuan a day, is it because they are not working hard enough?
Like you said, some of those rich kids might work very hard, while others could be wealthy just by doing nothing. But regardless of their background, we shouldn't criticize others for not working hard.
Because this is inherently a form of violence and injustice, they are disciplining the lower classes and causing them to fall into a mental dilemma of self-accountability.
"Your efforts to ensure your mother can afford medicine when she is sick are the same as my efforts to ensure more people have normal job opportunities."
No one should deny their own efforts or feel that they haven't worked hard enough.
Many people are already struggling enough; why torture themselves further?
"Moreover, the world, or rather the social environment we live in today, is actually getting better little by little. The downfall of dynasties and the transformation of society in history were ultimately because the common people could not afford to eat."
The situation is better now, but as I said at the beginning, there is a contradiction between the people's need for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development, and this contradiction has not yet been resolved...
Cao Zi stopped curling up and silently walked to the opposite side of Xie Ning.
"Master, it feels like you're giving me a lesson."
Xie Ning leaned back in the wicker chair. "So, did you find anything?"
"Hmm... So do you think the world depicted in textbooks will ever appear?"
Xie Ning nodded, her attitude one of complete affirmation.
In truth, no one can be certain about the future, but she still believes that such a world will exist, just like those people who, despite not being able to be certain of victory, remained steadfast in their beliefs.
"I believe that too, it's just that I can't see it."
Cao Zi smiled with a mixture of bitterness and relief.
After hesitating for a long time, Cao Zi said to Xie Ning, "I really enjoy writing poetry, but I have never published it or shown it to anyone. Master, could you take a look?"
It sensed that Xie Ning wouldn't think it was just making a fuss over nothing.
"good."
Seeing the dark aura fading from Cao Zi's body, Xie Ning breathed a sigh of relief. Often, she couldn't guess what obsessions these wandering souls had. Cao Zi was alright, after all, he had a strong consciousness.
It can prompt it to express the knots in its heart.
Those with a shallower level of consciousness need to consult spirits.
That would be more troublesome.
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