CH 26

Chapter 26: What do you have besides a good-looking appearance?

Everyone gradually quieted down and listened carefully to Lin Beifan’s teachings. Some even took out pen and paper, dipped the brush in saliva, and prepared to take notes with a very devout look.

“Before doing anything, you need a powerful driving force! As long as you find the driving force, have direction and interest, you can accomplish things with half the effort and will not give up halfway!”

Everyone unconsciously nodded their heads.

“Your words make sense, sir!”

“With motivation, we will study seriously!”

“Please continue, sir!”

Lin Beifan smiled slightly, “So, may I ask all of you here, what was your motivation for reading back then?”

Lin Beifan looked around and pointed to a student who looked like a bookworm, “Classmate, what was your motivation for studying? Can you tell us?”

The other party was excited and said, “To succeed, to enter the officials, to benefit the people!”

Lin Beifan nodded, “Your ideal is in line with reality, good!”

He then pointed to another person, “And you? What was your motivation for studying?”

The other party was even more excited, “To contribute to the rise of Great Wu through education!”

Lin Beifan nodded, “Your ideals are very lofty, not bad!”

Then he pointed to another person, “What is your motivation?”

“Uh, to be honest, my family is poor! I study just to have a better life and not let my family go hungry!” The student felt embarrassed and lowered his head.

Lin Beifan nodded again, “Your ideals are very practical and good!”

Lin Beifan asked several more people, each with a different reason.

Some people couldn’t answer.

Finally, Lin Beifan smiled and said, “Everyone’s motivation is really unique, and no matter what the motivation is, it is worth respecting! In fact, in this era, studying is the cheapest and most rewarding investment!”

“If you can’t learn martial arts, you can study to become an official and benefit the people!”

“If your brain isn’t good, you can study to become wise!”

“If you haven’t gone out, you can study, studying can broaden your horizons and increase your knowledge!”

“If you are short on money, you can study to learn how to make money!”

Lin Beifan shook his head and sighed, “The benefits of studying are really too many, and they can satisfy most people’s needs! As long as you read seriously, you will always gain something! If you can’t find a reason or motivation to study, then don’t waste your time!”

Everyone was thoughtful. They had also wondered why they had to read, but their minds were only filled with vague concepts.

To become an official, to become rich, to benefit the people, or just to have a better life…

But what Lin Beifan said was so easy to understand, so popular.

So thought-provoking!

Looking up, they looked at Lin Beifan with admiration.

He deserved to be the new top scholar who won three awards in the imperial examination. What he said was so nutritious!

At this time, a student asked, “Mr. Lin, what was your motivation for reading?”

Everyone turned to look at him with curiosity.

“Mr. Lin, what was your motivation for studying?”

“Can you tell us?”

“We really want to know!”

Lin Beifan sighed and said, “I won’t hide it from you. My life has been miserable. I grew up under constant criticism and ridicule from others. In order to change their perception of me, I worked hard and studied diligently!” The others were shocked and filled with emotion.

“Mr. Lin was ridiculed and criticized growing up?”

“This is outrageous! Mr. Lin is such an outstanding figure, how could anyone insult him?”

“They don’t know what’s good for them!”

“Tell me who said that and I’ll take care of them!”

Lin Beifan felt touched by everyone’s concern and smiled: “Thank you for caring, but it’s all in the past now. In fact, thinking back, what they said was true! Without their constant criticism, I would not have achieved what I have today!”

“What did they say about you, Sir?”

“Can you tell us?” Everyone was curious.

What could have been said to have such a profound impact, leading Lin Beifan to become the top scholar for three consecutive years? Many took out pens and paper, preparing to jot down every word.

“I used their insults to motivate myself. They said, ‘There isn’t a good person among those who are good-looking.’ They ridiculed me, saying, ‘Do you have anything else besides your good looks?’ And they went even further, ‘With your looks, no one will believe you’re a beggar if you’re out asking for food.'” Lin Beifan became emotional and clenched his fist.

“That’s why I worked so hard – to prove them wrong! I don’t just have good looks; I have a wealth of talent too! And not only am I more talented than them, I also worked harder!”

He roared, “You are all nothing but ugly and have nothing to offer!”

The students laughed nervously, unable to comprehend his feelings. They looked at each other, some even taking out mirrors to examine themselves before looking back at Lin Beifan with a sense of shame.

“We cannot understand how you feel, Sir.”