He fiercely criticized the Manchu scholar clique and the twelve emperors of the Qing Dynasty.

Lin Jing stopped the pen tip from sliding across the paper.

She looked up, her gaze lingering on Zhao Shuyao's face, trying to find a trace of memorization in his calm expression, but there was none.

The young man in front of me sat casually, breathing steadily. His remarks about consumption and responsibility flowed naturally from his life experiences.

Two cameras were running continuously, and red indicator lights flashed alternately in the quiet suite.

"A very unique perspective." Lin Jing nodded, following Zhao Shuyao's logic, "You just mentioned that young people nowadays can buy brand-name clothes online and enjoy home delivery."

"This is indeed a benefit brought about by technological development, but now it is 2016, smartphones and 4G networks are widely used, and mobile Internet is in a period of explosive growth."

Lin Jing turned to a page of the interview outline and raised a new topic.

"While enjoying the convenience, we have also seen another phenomenon: the display of a refined lifestyle on major social media platforms. This has led to a competitive mentality and extremely serious consumer anxiety among many young people. According to your previous logic, consumption is a responsibility."

"Does that mean young people should pursue these high-consumption items without any scruples? Or do you think it's reasonable and correct for them to overspend and consume excessively for these items?"

This is a series of traps. Once you slide into the trap of "hedonism" by following the topic of "consumption," the stable persona you've built up will collapse instantly.

After hearing this, Zhao Shuyao waved his hand repeatedly without any hesitation.

"Reporter Lin, you've really dug a hole for me." Zhao Shuyao's lips curled up, his tone relaxed. "What I just said about consumption being a responsibility is that the money is earned by yourself. I'm not encouraging anyone to overspend, much less to pursue material things that don't match their worth."

He sat up straight, placed his hands flat on his knees, and his attitude became very proper.

"The core of what I said was to help everyone see where they came from, understand their place in the gears of society, and to put it more bluntly, I wanted everyone to recognize the limits of their own abilities."

"We should do what we are capable of and consume according to the level of our abilities. If we earn 3,000 a month, we should eat a bowl of spicy hot pot at the night market. That's our duty. If we earn 30,000 a month, we should eat a Western meal at a high-end restaurant. That's enjoyment."

"But if you earn 3,000 yuan a month, and you insist on being brainwashed by online articles, taking out a loan to buy a 20,000 yuan bag, or even forcing your parents to empty their retirement savings to satisfy your vanity..."

Zhao Shuyao paused for a second, then looked directly at the camera.

"That's not consumption, that's robbery."

Lin Jing tightened her grip on the pen slightly; the word was used with extreme precision and restraint.

Zhao Shuyao did not stop outputting; he needed to thoroughly analyze the duality of the mobile internet and sever the profit chain of toxic motivational quotes that were trying to spread online.

"Reporter Lin, we cannot deny that the rise of mobile internet has indeed amplified people's material desires and created anxiety to some extent. But we cannot only look at the dark side." Zhao Shuyao raised his right index finger.

"Information has broken down geographical barriers. For ordinary people, it brings not only anxiety, but also an unprecedented driving force for struggle."

"Power?" Lin Jing asked at the right moment, a look of curiosity flashing in her eyes.

"Yes, it's about power." Zhao Shuyao answered affirmatively. "In the past, information was scarce, and ordinary people had no idea where to make money. Now it's different. The rise of a new industry will directly reshape the original distribution of benefits."

"At this point in 2016, self-media, short videos, and content e-commerce were all blue oceans, providing a low-cost entrepreneurial path for many ordinary people without background or initial capital."

Zhao Shuyao spread his hands.

"When people see others living a good life through hard work online, as long as the source of that wealth is legal and compliant, it's not creating anxiety, it's providing a model."

"It will make many people realize that I can also change my social class by creating content, selling local specialties, and doing live streaming. It will create a large number of new-era millionaires and revitalize countless low-income families."

"Therefore, I believe that everything brought about by the mobile internet is not a bad thing. The key lies in the mindset with which we use this tool."

Only Zhao Shuyao's steady voice remained in the suite.

The cameraman next to him even forgot to adjust the focus, completely captivated by this logically sound argument.

Lin Jing looked at the student in front of her with disbelief. The student's keen sense of business opportunities and macro-level understanding of the information age demonstrated in his words were something that a history student who buried himself in old books all day could not possibly possess.

"Zhao, please." Lin Jing closed the interview outline, adopting a completely relaxed communication posture. "I really didn't expect you to give such an answer. I always thought you were just a scholar who specialized in history and documents. I didn't expect you to have such a profound understanding of economics and the development of the Internet industry."

Lin Jing leaned forward and pressed, "Are you truly convinced that mobile internet will provide ordinary people at the bottom of society with opportunities to directly change their fate in the next few years? Can ordinary people really create different kinds of wealth online?"

Zhao Shuyao nodded.

"Of course, this is the objective law of historical development. Technological equality brings about wealth redistribution. I have always believed this, and I am now a beneficiary of this era."

He pointed to himself, facing the reality of monetizing traffic with equanimity, refusing to be hypocritical.

"But I still want to take this opportunity, through your cameras, to give a sincere piece of advice to all my peers who are preparing to jump into this trend." Zhao Shuyao's smile faded, and his tone became serious.

"If you really make money in this booming industry, you must stick to your principles and not think that the money came easily so that you can engage in any borderline, fraudulent, or trust-harvesting activities."

Zhao Shuyao emphasized his words.

"As everyone knows, things on the Internet are updated and iterated too quickly. The cycle may only be a few months or even a few days. The current model makes money, but it may not make money next month if the platform algorithm changes."

"These things happen all the time. No one can stay on top forever. So, my understanding is that you should always maintain a sense of awe for the unknown and you must keep learning. Use knowledge to protect your luck and use your bottom line to protect your foundation."

Lin Jing listened attentively, nodding frequently.

She could feel the weight in those words. They weren't just motivational platitudes from self-help gurus on stage, but rather the clearest understanding of the rules from a young person who had just gained entry into this era.

"Okay, these words are very valuable." Lin Jing picked up her pen again, a gentle smile on her face. "I think these personal suggestions for people of the same age will definitely resonate with many people after the program airs."

Lin Jing changed the subject, refocusing her gaze on Zhao Shuyao. She wanted to move on to the part of today's interview that she was most curious about.

"Zhao, whether it's your deconstruction of history or your judgment on economic development and internet trends, you demonstrate an extremely mature, stable, and confident value system." Lin Jing slowly organized her thoughts.

"I'm very curious, in your life experience of over twenty years, who has had the greatest influence on you? What kind of person, or what kind of educational experience, gave you the confidence to firmly believe in the direction of national policies and never follow the crowd?"

Lin Jing paused briefly.

"I think not only me, but many viewers in front of the TV and online, especially parents who are raising children, must also be very curious about this issue."

The topic gradually shifted from grand social issues to personal growth stories.

Zhao Shuyao did not speak immediately. His gaze lingered in the void for two seconds, as if he were searching for important images deep in his memory.

The suite fell silent.

A gentle smile appeared on Zhao Shuyao's lips. The sharp edge he had shown when discussing the internet boom had vanished, replaced by a unique softness.

"Reporter Lin, when I say this, those of you here, including many viewers of the program, may not believe it," Zhao Shuyao said, spreading his hands calmly, "but it is indeed the truth."

"Which of your high school teachers, or the professors who guided you in university?" Lin Jing offered a guess based on conventional logic.

"Neither," Zhao Shuyao shook his head. "It was my father who educated me."

Lin Jing made no attempt to hide the surprise in her eyes. She knew the Zhao family's situation clearly from her background check.

"Your father?" Lin Jing asked to confirm.

"Yes, my father." Zhao Shuyao's tone was very firm. "His influence on me has continued from the time I can remember until today. No matter how many history books I have read or how good a university I have been admitted to, the words he used to say to me and the things he did are still the most basic methodology for me to conduct myself in the world."

Zhao Shuyao glanced at the pen in Lin Jing's hand and then threw out a piece of information that was in stark contrast to what he had just received.

"Did you know that my father only completed the third grade of elementary school?"

Lin Jing abruptly stopped recording. She looked up, her eyes filled with astonishment. The cameraman next to her, who had been intently watching the monitor, couldn't help but glance up at Zhao Shuyao.

How could a migrant worker with only a third-grade education, who was tying steel bars on a construction site in the south, raise a million-follower influencer who can use detailed historical materials to publicly infuriate academic giants at the highest university and eloquently dissect the country's macroeconomics?

"This... is indeed unexpected." Lin Jing quickly adjusted her state, her professional sensitivity allowing her to seize upon this topic that could definitely become a ratings hit. "Zhao, I'm really intrigued now."

"How exactly did your father, who only has a third-grade education, instill these lifelong values ​​in you? Could you elaborate on how he typically educated you?"

Lin Jing made further requests.

"Let's talk about some specific things, so that everyone can feel the family atmosphere more intuitively."

Zhao Shuyao leaned back on the sofa, adjusting to a more comfortable position. He needed to analyze this extremely personal yet highly representative childhood memory in a way that would resonate with the public.

"I can talk about specific things," Zhao Shuyao said with a smile. "But before I talk about my father, I need to set the stage for the broader context. You should understand what it's like for someone my age, especially someone like me who grew up in the countryside, right, Reporter Lin?"

Lin Jing nodded, indicating that she was listening.

"Our generation of rural children should actually be considered as being uniformly 'beaten' in batches." Zhao Shuyao used very humorous words, completely breaking away from the serious and dull atmosphere of traditional interviews.

"In rural towns in the early 2000s, many parents had very simple educational philosophies. If their child caused trouble at school or had terrible grades, the parents would never talk to them or offer any psychological counseling."

Zhao Shuyao gestured with his hands in mid-air.

"The basic operation is: slippers, broom handles, or Seven Wolves leather belts, grab whatever is convenient and use it, and this operation is not limited by time or place."

"I don't know what it's like in the city, but at least in our village, many of my peers, even those who are in junior high or even high school, will still have their parents follow this ancient tradition of physical punishment if they misbehave."

This vivid description made everyone in the suite burst into laughter; it was a collective memory with a strong Chinese rural flavor, without any affectation.

"Indeed," Lin Jing agreed with a smile. "Back then, parents generally believed that 'spare the rod and spoil the child.' They thought that as long as the child wasn't physically abused, this was the only way to discipline them. So, your father was also one of those parents? Did he also use such harsh methods to control your studies?"

Lin Jing's questions followed Zhao Shuyao's line of thought perfectly.

Zhao Shuyao looked at Lin Jing, a sly glint in his eyes.

"This is the difference I wanted to point out." Zhao Shuyao put his hands on his knees and leaned forward slightly. "When other elders in our village beat children, it's called venting their emotions. The reasons for hitting them are very random, and they don't know how much force they're using."

"But my father is different. As someone who only has a third-grade education, his use of force against me only lasted until before the third grade of elementary school. After that, he never laid a hand on me again."