We often hear sayings like “you reap what you sow” and “hard work brings good results.” Yet life doesn’t always unfold that way. Some people study diligently, treat others kindly, and still face unlucky loss after loss. Meanwhile, others appear to move easily through life, with doors opening on every path.
This question isn’t new. Centuries ago, in Qing Dynasty China, a young scholar named Li Binru wrestled with the same bewildering experience. He had talent, ambition, and a sincere desire to succeed. But for many years, nothing went his way.
A scholar with ability, but no luck
Li was skilled in both literature and martial arts — a rare combination. His teachers admired him, believing he would one day serve the country and bring honor to his family. For more than 20 years, he took the imperial exams with confidence, convinced his moment would finally arrive.
It never did.
Time after time, he failed. Not because of laziness or poor preparation — but because of misfortune. After one local governor recognized his talent and selected him first in both literary and martial examinations, Li traveled to the capital for the national test. On that day, rain poured endlessly.
Li placed his exam paper on the table, bent down to adjust his shoes, and when he looked up — the paper was gone. In his frantic search, he accidentally stepped on it, the nails in his shoes tearing the sheet into pieces. There was no rule for replacing an exam paper. He was dismissed immediately.
Still determined, Li entered the martial exam. But he fell from his horse and injured his back before he could even begin. Those two unlucky accidents erased years of effort and ended his chances. Heartbroken and penniless, he returned home.
A promising opportunity washed away
Friends later arranged a teaching position for him in a distant mountain village. Grateful for another chance, Li packed his books and set out with hope renewed. Yet misfortune followed. The night he arrived, a sudden flash flood tore through the valley. The school, the homes — and all of Li’s belongings — were swept away. Only he survived.
Once again, his future dissolved overnight.
Seeking help in a distant land
With no other option, Li traveled across provinces to seek help from Governor Zhang Huapeng, the official who once supported him. But when Li arrived, Zhang was observing a period of mourning and was unable to offer assistance. Still, Zhang wrote a recommendation letter and encouraged Li to seek support from his son in Hangzhou.
Li set off again, clinging to hope. But before he reached him, Zhang’s son fell critically ill and passed away.
Now far from home, without resources or connections, Li finally broke down. He cried out in despair, wondering why Heaven seemed determined to block his every effort. He felt abandoned, unable to understand why misfortune followed him despite his honesty, talent, and perseverance.
A moment of awakening
Just then, a gentle, elderly man approached. Listening to Li’s pain, he offered a perspective rooted in traditional wisdom — one that sees life as a long journey, with consequences that may unfold across more than one lifetime.
He told Li that hardship does not always mean injustice. Sometimes, it reflects debts from the past — moments when ambition overshadowed kindness or cleverness was used without compassion. True fortune, he said, is not earned by talent alone, but by the goodness one cultivates.
The elderly man encouraged Li not to give in to bitterness, but to use this moment to grow: to choose kindness, to help others, and to walk through life with humility and sincerity. By doing so, he said, Li could reshape his future.
The heart that changes changes everything
Something in his words struck Li deeply. Instead of blaming fate, he turned inward. He examined his character, practiced gratitude, and tried to uplift those around him. In time, his life shifted. Opportunities returned. Li eventually passed the imperial exams, earned respect, and lived the rest of his days in peace.
His difficult years did not disappear — but they became the foundation of his transformation. Setbacks had not been a punishment, but a turning point. Through them, he discovered a simple yet powerful truth:
Success is shaped not only by skill or ambition, but by the goodness we cultivate along the way.
A quiet reminder for modern life
Li’s story speaks softly across time. For anyone who has ever wondered why effort does not always bring immediate reward, or why challenges sometimes stack one after another, this old tale offers a different lens.
Not every season of struggle means failure. Not every closed door is permanent. And sometimes, life asks us to grow in character before granting us success. As Li discovered, when we steady the heart, help others generously, and choose kindness even in discouragement, we change in ways that circumstances cannot stop.
In the end, the most lasting fortune is built not only on what we achieve — but on who we become.
Translated by Katy Liu
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