A Masterpiece That Makes You Think! A Truly Thought-provoking Masterpiece!!! 神作！能引人深思的神作！！！

1. 101 梦 Dreamcore Echoes 梦核残响 Lu Li Wenzhao陆离文昭Sci-Fi & Apocalypse339k WordsCompleted The world we live in is nothing but a dream. And the dream is about to end. At thirty-five, physicist Tan Jiukai was branded a heretic by academia for good after publishing data a decade ago that revealed a “breathing curve of physical constants.” He lost his position, his lover left him, and he now huddles in a leaky rented room, keeping watch day and night over a rusted, modified observation device as he tries to detect the anomalies lurking behind the universe. But fate was not done with him. 46Reads8.8Score—Shelves
2. 102 秽 The Hour of Unholy Awakening: Mythology Resurrected 秽醒之时：神话复苏 Lu Li Wenzhao陆离文昭Mystery1.6M WordsCompleted Private detective Lin Tan receives an anonymous package on a rainy night. The bizarre star chart and blood-seeping bronze mirror inside unveil a terrifying mystery spanning a century. A cry for help from his partner, Qu Zhe, is interspersed with inhuman panting and the warning, “Don’t look.” Then Qu Zhe vanishes without a trace, leaving behind only a blood-written message: “Huailiu Town.” Seeking the truth, Lin Tan enters the cursed town, only to become embroiled in a thousand-year feud between 36Reads8.6Score—Shelves
3. 103 刻 Rigid Justice 刻板正义 Rielgon Can't Write Books瑞尔贡不会写书Urban1.3M WordsOngoing If you were born to be humanity’s savior, destined to sacrifice yourself, would you accept your mission? [Great Calamities] are extinction-level natural disasters that occur every few years: tsunamis, meteorites, swarms of insects, collapsing stars. Only the most powerful superhuman, known as [Justice], can end them by offering up their life. Against this backdrop, humanity has developed all kinds of unique social systems, and the world’s balance of power and relations between nations have bec 698Reads8.6Score106Shelves

   Reader note

   A good book. First, the novel's world-building is based on several core variables, its foundation closely resembling the real world. This gives the story a realistic feel, making the reader wonder, "What if the world were like xxxxx?" This enriches the story and facilitates its development and refinement. Highly recommended for quick reading.

4. 104 跟 Learning Feng Shui from Third Grandpa 跟着三爷爷学风水 Ding Xingxing521丁星星521Mystery2.1M WordsCompleted Born into a family of Feng Shui practitioners, I became someone who defies fate the moment I entered the world of Yin-Yang Feng Shui. As one strange event after another unfolded, I learned to recognize fortune and misfortune, ward off disaster, and handle everything with ease. To all the brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunties passing by, please leave a book review here! Remember to comment, too! Thank you! If you like learning, remember to bring your brain along. There’s plenty of useful informa 34.8kReads8.8Score3.1kShelves

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   The complete book is for you.

5. 105 解 Dissociator: Financial Bullets 解离者：金融子弹 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery167k WordsCompleted Rick takes on a covert chain of missions spanning three continents: assassinate the key figures in charge of five ports. At the same time, he uses the hedge fund behind his client to make a killing, sending his personal wealth skyrocketing. Danger follows close behind. Britain’s MI5 and Interpol trace the clues back to Rick, reopening last year’s unsolved assassination cases and quietly closing their international dragnet around him. The unlikely alliance between assassination and capital stirs 259Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   How about American-style crime fiction?

6. 106 解 Dissociator: The Glittering Decadence of Los Angeles Eats to the Bone 解离者：洛城的浮华噬骨 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery92k WordsOngoing Behind the glittering facade of Los Angeles, a foster care agency hides behind a veneer of compassion while repeatedly preying on wealthy, vulnerable foster children. It forges guardianship papers, drains their assets, then gets rid of the victims with staged deaths from illness. 125Reads—Score—Shelves
7. 107 解 Dissolver: Incoming Missile 解离者：导弹袭来 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Urban156k WordsCompleted Rick, the hard-bitten killer from the series, returns once more. His close friend is brutally murdered, and the trail leads to a major missile trafficking case deliberately kept under wraps. To avenge his brother, Rick ventures alone into the heart of the conspiracy. As he presses forward through a perilous investigation, he finally slays his enemy with decisive force and successfully averts a missile crisis threatening the United States. 146Reads—Score—Shelves
8. 108 解 Dissociators: The Chronicles of Saint Judas Island 解离者：圣犹大岛纪事 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery203k WordsCompleted On the picturesque island of St. Judas, a series of locked-room mysteries and cunning murders unfold. The person who comes to solve them is a professional assassin. He understands killing and strategy, using a killer's instincts to unravel one impossible crime after another. Beneath the sunlit island, lies, old grudges, and conspiracies steadily rise to the surface. With classic locked-room mysteries at its heart, an immersive deserted-island atmosphere, and four linked cases, the story asks at 90Reads—Score—Shelves
9. 109 解 The Dissociator: The Canary Heist 解离者：金丝雀大劫案 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery119k WordsCompleted This series focuses on a heist of the century. What seemed like an ordinary day at Collingwood Global Investment Bank is shattered when a gang of armed robbers breaks in. They force the bank employees to follow their orders. In the aftermath, a chief inspector caught in a dilemma races against time, vowing to discover who stole the £3.9 billion and why. 75Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 110 解 The Dissociator: The Extravagant Prisoner and the Underground Howl 解离者：奢囚与地下啸 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery160k WordsCompleted New York is split between day and night, two worlds at odds. Hired by a wealthy family to rescue their kidnapped heir, hitman Rick uncovers a sprawling conspiracy. Meanwhile, Roy, a subway veteran worn down by corporate exploitation, launches a fierce rebellion in the underground tunnels. There are no crime investigations or justice here, only struggles for profit and settling scores under a code of gray rules. The victors are free to rewrite the truth. Desire and the cruelty of class are laid b 87Reads—Score—Shelves
11. 111 解 The Disintegrator: A World of Black and Gray 解离者：黑灰世界 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Urban138k WordsCompleted Rick accidentally plunges into the dark abyss of an international drug cartel's deals, confronting the tangled connections between drug crimes and gang forces and witnessing countless bloody battles. Through one man's eyes, the story depicts a gripping, dark struggle for power, steeped in money and murder. 57Reads—Score—Shelves
12. 112 解 Dissolver: Assassination 解离者：刺杀 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Urban159k WordsCompleted With the election approaching, the political landscape is shrouded in uncertainty. Acting on a secret assignment, Rick navigates official cover-ups, power struggles, and layers of deception. Following the faintest clues, he carefully pieces together the truth and hunts down the mysterious mastermind lurking behind it all. He quietly snuffs out a deadly crisis capable of changing the balance of power before it can take root. 121Reads—Score—Shelves
13. 113 解 The Dissociator: A Black Comedy of Errors 解离者：黑色幽默大事件 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery165k WordsCompleted No formulaic power fantasies! Worldbuilding-driven, realist mystery, where evidence is just the final nail needed to make things official. The second installment in the Dissociator series. This is a story about a killer! A killer and a detective, willing to get their hands dirty. Dissociation is a symptom of detachment following trauma. It is commonly associated with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or dissociative disorders. The mind breaks free from pain, the body escapes the dust of 100Reads—Score—Shelves
14. 114 复 The Revenge Concerto 复仇协奏曲 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery272k WordsCompleted No formulaic power fantasies! A worldbuilding-driven, realistic mystery where evidence is just the final nail in the procedural coffin. The first book in the Dissociator series. This is a story about a killer! A killer and a detective, willing to do the dirty work. Dissociation is a symptom of detachment following trauma. It is commonly associated with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or dissociative disorders. The mind dissociates from pain; the body breaks free from the dust. The Ame 414Reads—Score101Shelves
15. 115 麻 The Muggle Esper Squad 麻瓜御能团 Ruixiang芮香Modern Romance405k WordsCompleted Noble heirs with brains and looks, gifted elites locked in a battle of wits. Alongside the thrilling competitions, there are plenty of funny everyday moments. Beneath the twists and turns of the plot lie reflections on life. At times it's gripping, at others laugh-out-loud funny. A knowing smile will leave you with something to ponder. Ensemble cast + youthful passion + coming of age Lighthearted + no angst + a touch of romance Four main characters: two men and two women Wild imagination + no S 123Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A top-level game of wits among highly intelligent elites, with a novel plot and philosophical implications.

16. 116 界 Realm Capital 界都 Xiao Fei Loves Potatoes小飞爱吃土豆Urban1.0M WordsOngoing I contain all things. It all began on the first day I entered Jiangcheng Elite Academy... This is a world where Blue Star is divided in two, five hundred years after the spiritual qi revival. You'll find that everyone around me, whether ordinary or exceptional, is remarkable in their own way. The universe has ten domains, the ten domains have the Milky Way, the Milky Way has Blue Star, Blue Star has the Spirit Realm, the Spirit Realm has Huaxia, and Huaxia has Jiedu... Are you ready to embark on 355Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is divine! This is absolutely thought-provoking! I refuse to believe it can't be thought-provoking!

17. 117 这 This World Is Such a Mess! 这个世界好混乱啊！ Xiao Fei Loves Potatoes小飞爱吃土豆Sci-Fi & Apocalypse329k WordsOngoing Who am I? Where am I? Am I dreaming? Everyone in the world seems strange. What was that I heard… My heart hurts so much. At last, I picked up my knife… I died… I came back to life, but I no longer had a heart… This is a world with just one continent and a few islands, and it is on the brink of an eerie apocalypse. Can someone without a heart feel the warmth and coldness of human life? How can I hold on to my heart in a world gone mad? Why can I calmly watch the living die right before my eyes? 188Reads—Score—Shelves
18. 118 本 The Mirror of Origin 本源之镜 Ping Yi平义Sci-Fi & Apocalypse685k WordsCompleted A blend of science fiction, religion, history, culture, philosophy, and mystery adventure. It champions the integration of religions, a return to the origin of the Great Way, and a world united as one. In 2095, religious archaeologist Ping Yi witnesses a horrifying vision in Jerusalem: experts from three religions die suddenly, their bodies arranged in a honeycomb pattern, their blood forming passages from the Tao Te Ching. Their neural pathways are etched with mysterious symbols from an ancient —Reads—Score—Shelves
19. 119 人 Humanity's Awakening Day: We Deleted the Hatred Program 人类觉醒日:我们删除了仇恨程序 Ping Yi平义Sci-Fi & Apocalypse14k WordsCompleted Humanity’s Awakening Day: We Deleted the Hatred Program 20Reads—Score—Shelves
20. 120 山 Archives of Mountains and Rivers: The Medical Record of Civilization's Origins 山河档案：文明起源病历 Bad Uncle with Monolids单眼皮的坏叔叔Sci-Fi & Apocalypse187k WordsCompleted ⚠️ A warning for prospective readers: Please read this before you start! This is not a brainless power fantasy. The protagonist has no cheat abilities, and there is no alien System! An accidental excavation at Sanxingdui leaves an archaeologist suffering from a fatal radiation infection. Mysterious mask symbols, genetic traces of unknown organisms, and unidentified radiation all point to a prehistoric civilization from five thousand years ago. Beneath layer upon layer of confusion, the truth is 33Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Three parallel developments, five major technologies, seven historical sites, the origins of humankind, unsolved mysteries, and the future of civilization! Is that enough?

21. 121 意 Thoughts Sprout Everywhere 意念丛生 The Thinker of Thirty卅思者Sci-Fi & Apocalypse154k WordsCompleted I wrote this book to fulfill the childhood dream I had of becoming a great hero. Although I rushed to finish it and it has its flaws, I'm still quite happy with how it turned out. I hope you'll enjoy it too, and that reading it will make you feel as if you were the protagonist, experiencing the story firsthand and feeling truly immersed in it. The story itself isn't packed with over-the-top, fearsome descriptions. What matters more to me is writing about someone growing up, slowly coming of age 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You'll probably feel something after reading this!

22. 122 新 New Utopia 新，乌托邦 Broken Strings in the Rain雨中断弦Urban397k WordsOngoing [Political Thriller] [Montage Style] [Psychological Oppression] [Dystopian] (The story moves slowly at first, but more kinds of ghosts will appear later.) The calamity ended, and a city-state rose from the ground. People called it the New Utopia. Beneath its gleaming order, those in power were no longer human. Monsters wore human skin and occupied positions of authority. Their visions were linked, and everything was under surveillance. A colossal beast hung in the sky, while monsters roamed th 2.3kReads—Score195Shelves

    Reader note

    What is true humanity?

23. 123 我 I Have a Double-Wood Xi 我有一个双木夕 Simple Daoist简单道人Eastern Fantasy3.1M WordsOngoing (Slow-paced) Please note! To be clear, this is a story with many elements, categorized as fantasy with an imaginative premise. It is NOT Western fantasy!!! The first volume introduces the backgrounds in which the various protagonists grew up. The story gradually unfolds from the second volume onward. This is a slow-paced book in a fast-paced era, so please be patient and read the author's first hundred chapters before you come back to flame me, okay? This story is entirely fictional. Any resembl 2.9kReads9.4Score264Shelves

    Reader note

    It's called a novel, but it's more like a work of literature!

24. 124 落 The Martial World at Sunset 落日江湖 Little Wolf S, Yang Guo's Uncle-in-Law小狼S杨过的姑父Historical445k WordsOngoing (The work should be tagged “Historical” and “Wuxia.”) One reason I chose the late Ming and early Qing as the setting for this book was that I quit my job in 2020 and went to the Northeast to focus on writing. I wanted the setting to reflect my surroundings, so I settled on that period. As it happened, a wave of interest in the Ming and Qing dynasties swept across the internet recently. I had planned to ride that wave, but found that many videos distorted historical facts and misled viewers. That 14Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is truly excellent. It begins with the story of foot binding by women in ancient times, which leads to a series of subsequent events. Set against the backdrop of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, it incorporates real historical figures and events. Most importantly, the author's thinking is clear, the logic is sound, and the values are sound. Highly recommended!

25. 125 劫 Martial Peace Through Tribulation and Dust 劫尘武安 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今15k WordsCompleted Wu'an Amid the Dust of Calamity 1Reads—Score—Shelves
26. 126 雨 Rain Falls on an Old Dusk 雨落旧黄昏 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今19k WordsCompleted Rain Falls on an Old Dusk 1Reads—Score—Shelves
27. 127 故 Deep Love for the Former: Ping Jun's Farewell 故剑情深：平君辞 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今18k WordsCompleted Deep Love for an Old Sword: Pingjun's Farewell 4Reads—Score—Shelves
28. 128 奇 Strange Treasures Conquer the World: The Secret Schemes of Lü Buwei 奇货驭天：吕不韦异谋传 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今27k WordsCompleted Mastering Heaven with Rare Goods: The Strange Schemes of Lü Buwei 2Reads—Score—Shelves
29. 129 金 Ashes of War: Fifty-Nine Years of the Liu Song Dynasty 金戈烬：刘宋五十九年兴亡录 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今19k WordsCompleted Ashes of the Golden Spear: A Chronicle of the Rise and Fall of Liu Song Across Fifty-Nine Years 3Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 130 我 Me, an Outer Sect Disciple, Became the Immortal World's Ancestor by Keeping a Low Profile 我，外门弟子，苟成仙界老祖 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今28k WordsCompleted I, an Outer Sect Disciple, Cautiously Became the Immortal Realm's Ancestor 1Reads—Score—Shelves
31. 131 苍 Nine Transformations of the Azure and Yellow: Li Si’s Cauldron 苍黄九变：李斯鼎 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今19k WordsCompleted Nine Transformations of Heaven and Earth: Li Si Ding 5Reads—Score—Shelves
32. 132 神 Divine Numerology: The Secret Scroll of the Supreme Principle 神数衍天：皇极秘卷 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今23k WordsCompleted Divine Numerology Reveals Heaven: The Secret Scroll of the Emperor's Pole 4Reads—Score—Shelves
33. 133 陶 Tao Zhu’s Mystic Strategy: Mastermind of Heaven’s Secrets 陶朱玄略：天机谋主 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今22k WordsCompleted The Tao Zhu Strategy: Mastermind of Heaven's Secrets 5Reads—Score—Shelves
34. 134 万 All Realms Return to the Stars 万境归辰 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今25k WordsCompleted All Realms Return to the Stars 5Reads—Score—Shelves
35. 135 寒 The Poor-Born Female Chancellor: Your Majesty, I Won’t Marry 寒门女相：陛下，臣不嫁人 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今29k WordsCompleted The Common-Born Female Chancellor: Your Majesty, I Will Not Marry —Reads—Score—Shelves
36. 136 长 The Rhapsody of Changmen: Ashes of the Golden Moon 长门赋·金月烬 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今Ancient Romance18k WordsCompleted Ode to the Gate of Longmen: The Golden Moon Burns to Ashes —Reads—Score—Shelves
37. 137 庆 The Invisible Grain of Qingli 庆历无影粮 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今9k WordsCompleted The Shadowless Grain of Qingli —Reads—Score—Shelves
38. 138 玄 The Black-Armored Strategist: Cui Hao’s Chronicle 玄甲定天：崔浩谋世录 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今25k WordsCompleted The Black-Armored Strategist Who Settled the Realm: The Chronicles of Cui Hao —Reads—Score—Shelves
39. 139 天 The Heavenly Secrets: The Life of Guan Lu 天机箓之管辂传 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今13k WordsCompleted The Records of Heaven’s Secrets: The Biography of Guan Lu 2Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 140 太 The Marquis of Liu Through the Ages 太玄留侯 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今23k WordsCompleted The Great Mystery and the Marquis of Liu —Reads—Score—Shelves
41. 141 残 The Tang Dynasty in Turmoil: Reforged in the Year of the Fire Horse 残唐鼎沸：丙午再造 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今26k WordsCompleted The Tumultuous Late Tang: Rebuilding in the Year of the Fire Horse —Reads—Score—Shelves
42. 142 浩 Venerable Lord of the Vastness Sword: Mencius Descends to Earth, His Aura Reaches the Ninth Heaven 浩然剑尊：孟子临凡，气贯九天 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今28k WordsCompleted Sage of the Righteous Sword: Mencius Descends to the Mortal Realm, His Spirit Piercing the Nine Heavens —Reads—Score—Shelves
43. 143 剑 Zhuangzi, the Sword Immortal: Roaming the Ninth Heaven 剑仙庄子：逍遥九天 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今15k WordsCompleted Sword Immortal Zhuangzi: Carefree Across the Nine Heavens —Reads—Score—Shelves
44. 144 大 Winter Solstice Sacrifice at the Suburban Altar, Year Eighteen of Jinghe, Great Yong 大雍景和十八年·冬至郊天 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今8k WordsCompleted Winter Solstice Sacrifice to Heaven in the Suburbs, Year Eighteen of Jinghe in the Great Yong Dynasty —Reads—Score—Shelves
45. 145 恒 The Constant Register of Parables 恒籍寓鉴 Xuanyuan Badao轩辕霸道Modern Romance1.2M WordsOngoing Synopsis of The Book of Constant Records: Tales to Awaken the Mind and Discern the Truth With “drawing wisdom from the classics to illuminate the questions of today” as its guiding principle, this book selects over a hundred classic fables and anecdotes from the various schools of philosophy, historical biographies and notes, and folk tradition. These include “The Frog at the Bottom of the Well” from Zhuangzi, “Making Up the Numbers” from Han Feizi, and “The Man from Qi Who Worried the Sky Would 8Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Nanshan Mo Weng: Unburdened by worldly affairs, cultivating his mind and following nature. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, at the foot of Nanshan Mountain lived an old man named Mo Weng. Originally a painter in the capital, he was sought after by princes and nobles in his youth for his excellent brushwork. However, when he was fifty years old, he suddenly declined all invitations, took a load of brushes and ink and half a bag of seeds, and secluded himself deep in Nanshan Mountain. He built a thatched hut, cultivated a half-acre vegetable garden in front of the door, and planted miscellaneous trees behind the house. The villagers at the foot of the mountain were puzzled, especially the young man A Shi from the neighboring village, who always pestered Mo Weng with questions. That day, A-Shi came running again, carrying a pot of rice wine. As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Master Mo, the other day Lord Li from the city sent his steward to invite you, saying he wanted you to paint a 'Goddess of the Luo River' for his newly acquired concubine. He offered a hundred taels of gold! And that concubine, I heard, is as beautiful as a fairy, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. So many people want to join in the fun but don't have the chance. Why did you refuse so easily?" Master Mo was sitting in front of his thatched hut grinding ink. Hearing this, he just smiled faintly and pointed to the flower bed in front of the door: "A-Shi, look at the orchids in my bed." A-Shi peeked out and saw that the orchids in the flower bed were growing sparsely, with a few still wilting. On the other hand, the willows by the embankment, which had not been deliberately planted, were lush and green, with branches full of tender green leaves. "Why are your orchids growing so poorly? Last winter you carried water to water them every day and even dug up humus from the mountains to bury them, didn't you?" "Yes," the old man put down his ink stick, "I hoped they would bloom beautifully, I wanted to watch over them every day, but they just wouldn't cooperate. On the other hand, this willow tree, I just casually stuck a few branches on the bank when I was gathering firewood last spring, and didn't care about it at all, yet it's growing so well." A-Shi scratched his head: "That's strange, the more you care about something, the worse it gets, while the ones you don't pay attention to thrive." "It's like the saying goes, 'You may plant flowers with care, but they may not bloom; you may plant willows without intention, and they may thrive.'" The old man picked up a willow leaf. "Once a person has the thought of 'must obtain' something, it becomes an obsession. Lord Li asked me to paint to please the beauty. If I went, I would have fallen into his trap—he wanted exquisite paintings, the beauty wanted fame, and I was just a tool for them to amuse themselves. If I coveted the hundred taels of gold or admired the beauty's talent, I would have desire in my heart. Once desire arises, the brush and ink lose their true essence, and the painting loses its soul." He paused, then continued, "When I was young, I also pursued such things. Back then, there was a lady named Su in the capital, beautiful and talented, who wanted me to paint a 'Playing the Qin Under the Moon' for her, promising me a high-ranking official position and a generous salary. I was so eager at the time, single-mindedly focused on making the painting perfect, staying up all night to ponder the composition, repeatedly revising the draft, afraid that something might not suit her taste. But the more anxious I was, the more mistakes I made. She rejected all three of my paintings, saying they lacked 'natural charm.' The last time, I was so angry that I threw down my brush and went to sit by the river outside the city all night. Watching the river flow gently and the wild grass growing freely on the bank, I suddenly understood: the more I wanted to 'gain' her approval, the less I could let go of my inhibitions. The bitterness of wanting but not getting was all self-inflicted." "And then?" A-Shi listened intently. "Later, I stopped painting that picture and instead resigned from my job in the city, returning to Nanshan," the old man chuckled. "With no desires in my heart, I feel truly at ease. Look at me now, I paint when I want to, I plant when I want to, my brushstrokes are full of the spirit of mountains and rivers, and I can even harvest some fruits and vegetables from my garden. Isn't that better than having to deal with people in the city? This is what 'being without desires makes one invincible' means—having no thoughts of climbing the social ladder, like the pines and cypresses on the mountain, they cannot bend no matter how strong the wind." Days passed, and summer arrived in the blink of an eye. Nanshan suffered a severe drought. The old man's vegetable garden was so cracked that you could stuff your fingers inside, the seedlings were wilted, and many leaves had fallen from the miscellaneous trees behind the house. Ashi ran over and stamped his feet in panic: "Old man, what can we do? If it doesn't rain soon, there will be no harvest this year!" The old man remained calm, only carrying two buckets of water every morning, prioritizing the seedlings that still seemed to be alive, and then ignoring the rest. Ashi asked in bewilderment, "Why aren't you worried? This is your food supply for the rest of the year!" "What's the use of being worried?" Mo Weng sat in front of his thatched hut, holding a jade pendant with a crack in his hand. "Look at this jade. I got it from an old jade craftsman when I was young. He said that this jade is of excellent quality, but unfortunately it has a crack. If you try to polish it to make the crack 'perfect,' you will only ruin the whole piece of jade. Life is like this piece of jade. Nothing is perfect. Nine-tenths is already the peak. This drought is ordained by heaven. I will do my best to save what I can. As for the outcome, I will let nature take its course." He pointed to the willow trees by the embankment: "Look at these willows, their leaves are turning yellow, but their roots are deep. Even if there's a drought, they can survive. That's how things are; things reach their extremes and then reverse, adversity turns to prosperity. It looks like a dead end now, but who knows, maybe it will rain in a few days? Even if it doesn't rain, we can pick some wild fruits and dig some wild vegetables in the fall, and we can survive. A dead end is never the end, but rather an opportunity to change your way of life." Sure enough, after about ten days, a timely rain fell, lasting for three days and three nights. The seedlings in the vegetable garden slowly recovered, the miscellaneous trees behind the house sprouted new buds, and the willow trees by the embankment became even greener and more vibrant. At harvest time, although the old man's vegetable garden didn't yield much grain, he unexpectedly discovered a patch of wild millet behind the house. It turned out to be seeds that had been blown in by the wind earlier, and they were growing very well under the nourishment of the rain. Ashi brought a basket of sweet potatoes he had grown himself to express his gratitude, smiling as he said, "Master Mo, you're absolutely right! I was almost in tears those few days, but the rain really came, and we even harvested wild millet. Now I understand why you always say 'everything happens for a reason.'" Master Mo nodded, picked up his paintbrush, and painted a picture titled "Autumn Scenery of Nanshan" on the paper. The painting wasn't heavily colored; the vegetable seedlings in the garden were of uneven heights, and the willow branches were somewhat crooked, yet it looked exceptionally pleasing to the eye. He pointed to the painting and said, "Look at this painting. If every vegetable were painted the same height, and every branch were drawn perfectly straight, it wouldn't look realistic. Life is the same way; patching up imperfections is the norm. When I was young, I always wanted to paint something 'perfect,' but later I realized that those seemingly 'imperfections' are precisely the charm of life. Just like my thatched hut, it's leaked when it rained and had broken windows, but even with repairs, it's still comfortable to live in." "Then what do you mean by 'each wave is stronger than the last'?" A-Shi pressed. The old man put down his brush and looked down at the river below: "Look at that river, wave after wave, each wave higher than the last. Life is like that too. The setbacks you experience in your youth are like the first wave, fierce but helping you shed your impetuousness; the difficulties you encounter later are like the second wave, pushing you to grow. When I was young, I couldn't paint well, that was a setback; later, I quit my job and went into seclusion, that was a choice; this drought is a test. Each experience has made me understand life better and calmer than the last. This is what 'each wave is stronger than the last' means—it doesn't mean you have to be better than others, but that your heart has to be more resilient and insightful than before." Later, Ashi followed the old man's example, putting aside his eagerness for quick success and diligently farming and learning a craft. Someone offered him a high-paying job as a shop assistant in a large shop in the city, but he politely declined, saying, "I'm fine as I am now. I feel at peace, and that's better than anything else." Meanwhile, the old man of Nanshan continued to grind ink, paint, grow vegetables, and water flowers every day. Someone asked him if he didn't feel it was a waste to spend his whole life in the mountains. He would always smile and point to the willow in front of his door and the orchid behind his house: "Not chasing after worldly affairs brings peace of mind; cultivating the mind and following the Way is perfection. Every blade of grass and every tree in Nanshan is my teacher, teaching me to accept imperfection and to follow nature. Life is a journey of self-cultivation; if the heart is at peace, everywhere is paradise." Years later, the old man's paintings reached the city, and everyone praised them for "having the soul of mountains and rivers, and the rhythm of heaven and earth," vying to buy them at high prices. But the old man remained in Nanshan, unmoved. He often told visitors, "The true essence of painting lies not in how exquisite the brushstrokes are, but in whether you have let go of your attachments. Just like being a person, it's not about how much you possess, but whether you understand: when you can't get what you want, let go; when you face a desperate situation, be reborn; when you are imperfect, accept it. Only in this way can you walk your own path of self-cultivation amidst the ups and downs of life."

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    Reader note

    This is a profound masterpiece of realism!

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    Reader note

    High-quality novels are ready and waiting for discerning readers to discover their talent!

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    Reader note

    "The King of Hell in the Coffin" is being serialized. It features romance in the Republican era, Buddhist secrets, anti-opium investigations, the search for national treasures, and sacrifices of flesh and blood to protect the dragon vein of China. Even in death, there is no regret!

49. 149 灵 The Hidden Treasures of the Spirit Pivot 灵枢天藏 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今28k WordsCompleted The Celestial Treasury of the Spirit Pivot 8Reads—Score—Shelves
50. 150 玄 Li Mi, the Mystic Chancellor: Divining the Cosmos and Aiding Four Dynasties as an Immortal 玄相李泌：易数定乾坤，仙踪辅四朝 Leisurely Through Past and Present闲中古今20k WordsCompleted Li Mi, the Mystic Chancellor: Divination Sets the World in Order, an Immortal Aids Four Reigns 3Reads—Score—Shelves

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