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

The air conditioner in the suite blew a gentle breeze, which fluttered the sheer curtains in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Lin Jing's eye muscles twitched twice, and she put the ballpoint pen she was holding on the interview outline.

"Zhao," Lin Jing shifted her posture, resting her elbows on her knees and looking straight ahead, "I must admit that your analysis of the methods of acquiring territory offers a completely new perspective, but when discussing this part of history, we cannot bypass a widely circulated established concept."

"Many people believe that skinheads and we, within the framework of international law, have in fact taken over the territorial legacy left by the Qing Dynasty, which is also the strongest support for the so-called 'inheritance theory'."

Zhao Shuyao sat upright on the sofa, his gaze shifting from Lin Jing's notebook to her eyes, without speaking immediately.

"Editor-in-Chief Lin, you've just pinpointed the core logical trap in this argument." Zhao Shuyao interlaced his fingers and placed them on his abdomen. "With just a little analysis of the timeline and the attitudes of all parties, this trap will fall apart on its own."

Lin Jing's body unconsciously leaned forward, and the cameraman in charge of the main shot next to her also adjusted his sitting posture slightly, pointing the viewfinder at Zhao Shuyao's face.

"What is inheritance? Inheritance is based on accepting all the conditions attached to the estate." Zhao Shuyao raised his right index finger and drew a short straight line in the air. "What did the skinheads do back then? They fully acknowledged all the unequal treaties signed between the Qing Dynasty and the foreign powers."

"They reluctantly accepted those humiliating terms in exchange for the so-called legitimacy of their regime from the great powers, which can be called inheritance."

Zhao Shuyao lowered his index finger, spread his hands, and his tone suddenly rose: "But what about us? Have we ever acknowledged even one of them? Our first declaration was the complete abolition of all unequal treaties signed between the Qing Dynasty and subsequent regimes and the foreign powers! We smashed all those shackles imposed on the land of China to pieces!"

Lin Jing's lips parted slightly as she tried to say something, but she found herself unable to formulate a suitable rebuttal in a short time.

"We do not recognize those treaties. We overturned their so-called legal framework from the very beginning. Since we have completely torn it down and started over, how can we talk about inheritance?" Zhao Shuyao looked at Lin Jing, his tone changing from high-spirited to extremely deep. "Editor-in-Chief Lin, let's go and see those remote frontiers, see the roof of the world, and see the westernmost desert."

Zhao Shuyao's gaze passed through the lens and looked up at the empty space above.

"After the founding of the nation, hundreds of thousands of our predecessors went to those desolate and uninhabited areas to build roads, reclaim wasteland, lay railways, and establish a modern industrial system."

"They left their youth, sweat, and even lives on those glaciers and Gobi Desert forever. Our construction of those lands has never stopped. It is the foundation that we have rebuilt with the blood and flesh of several generations."

Zhao Shuyao looked directly into Lin Jing's eyes.

"We built a brand new building on the ruins, but someone came and told us that this building is thanks to the old landowner who sold the land to the foreign powers. How can this be called inheritance?"

Only Zhao Shuyao's calm yet oppressive voice remained in the suite. Lin Jing closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. She picked up her pen and drew a heavy line across the edge of the interview outline.

"Completely tear down and start over, build the foundation with blood and flesh." Lin Jing repeated these words, opened her eyes, and her gaze was more solemn than ever before. "Student Zhao, I have to say, I originally thought you only had unique insights into the study of Ming and Qing history, but I did not expect that your thinking on the entire modern history of the country could be so profound."

Zhao Shuyao leaned back in his sofa chair, his hands hanging naturally at his sides. He didn't accept the praise, but remained calm.

"This actually sparked my own great curiosity." Lin Jing changed the subject, smoothly shifting the interview topic from grand historical narratives back to the individual's current situation.

"Today we've discussed a lot about the pressures faced by young people, the traps of consumerism, and the information gap brought about by the internet. As young people who are also in the midst of this era, I think many of us face a common problem."

Lin Jing held the pen, a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

"That is confusion. Even I myself, when facing the transformation of the news industry and the pressure of ratings, have moments when I feel deeply confused and at a loss."

"Zhao, do you ever feel lost? When you encounter situations where you can't see the road ahead or even suffer from immense external pressure, how do you usually comfort yourself? What is the source of your strength to start anew?"

After hearing the question, Zhao Shuyao's eyes flashed with a smile, and he quickly made a judgment in his mind: Excellent, this is the best entry point to show the real flesh and blood of ordinary people.

"Editor-in-Chief Lin, of course I feel confused." Zhao Shuyao nodded frankly, his tone extremely relaxed. "I'm just an ordinary person who eats grains and vegetables. I also worry when I run out of money on my meal card at the end of the month. When I'm called in for a talk by the leaders of the institute, I also think about the consequences."

"It is perfectly normal for a normal person to feel lost and confused in this fast-paced society."

Upon hearing this, the cameraman's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. This young man, who had just been talking about dynastic changes and legal principles, revealed a very approachable side of himself.

"Since you also feel lost," Lin Jing pressed, "then where did you find that strength that allows you to bang on the table during lectures and remain calm amidst a deluge of online criticism?"

"The answer to this question is actually in my backpack."

As Zhao Shuyao spoke, he bent down and reached out to unzip the black backpack that was placed next to the sofa.

Lin Jing's gaze followed Zhao Shuyao's movements closely. In her mind, she quickly listed various possible books: a thick history of Western philosophy? A top-secret historical manuscript that was extremely obscure, or a newly published monograph on macroeconomics?

Zhao Shuyao pulled his hand out of his backpack, holding a red-covered book with slightly worn edges, and placed it flat on the glass coffee table in front of him.

The light shone on the red book cover, and the gold lettering on the cover reflected a faint glow.

Selected Works of Teachers.

Lin Jing's eyes widened instantly, her pupils contracted noticeably, and the cameraman next to her let out a very short, sharp gasp.

None of them expected it to be a book like this.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Zhao Shuyao caught the subtle changes in their expressions. He smiled and shook his head, leaning back and casually resting his hands on the sofa armrests. "Editor-in-Chief Lin, are you thinking right now that if you go to any university library or bookstore these days, the slightly fashionable young people aren't holding something like 'Currency Wars'?"

"It's some kind of self-help book that teaches people how to achieve financial freedom in three months. How come someone would still carry around a book like this... how should I put it, it's a really dated book?"

Lin Jing smiled somewhat awkwardly, adjusted her breathing, and frankly expressed her feelings.

"To be honest, I was really surprised." Lin Jing's gaze remained fixed on the book on the coffee table. "In my memory and in my social circle, very few people would read this book regularly. It's not that there's anything wrong with the book, but..."

Lin Jing carefully considered the wording.

"In fact, many people perceive this book as too grand, even unattainable. They think it contains profound theories that guide a major battle or plan the future of a country, and many people may already be convinced that they won't understand it before even turning the first page."

"This is a huge misconception that everyone has." Zhao Shuyao stretched out his right hand and pushed the red book on the coffee table toward Lin Jing.

"Everyone puts it on a shelf, even thinking it can only be used as a backdrop for important occasions, but that's actually the biggest waste." Zhao Shuyao stared into Lin Jing's eyes, slowing his speech. "Editor-in-Chief Lin, you just asked me where my strength and direction come from. I can tell you clearly that all my thoughts are in this book."

Lin Jing nodded slightly, a look of embarrassment on her face: "To be honest, I'm really ashamed. As a journalist, I haven't really been able to sit down and read this book in its entirety."

"The only knowledge I have left in my mind is fragments I memorized from textbooks during my school days to pass exams. As for what content in those textbooks could guide my personal growth, I really have no idea."

Lin Jing placed her hands on her knees, displaying a strong thirst for knowledge: "Zhao, since you speak so highly of this book, could you perhaps give me, and all the viewers who will see this segment in the future, a detailed explanation of how it provides you with strength?"

The cameraman next to him also poked half his head out from behind the viewfinder, his eyes full of curiosity.

Zhao Shuyao took in everything. He knew that this was not just an interview, but a comprehensive correction of the perception of the superficiality of this era.

"Of course, it's not difficult at all." Zhao Shuyao withdrew his hands, clasped them together on his knees, and instead of opening the book on the table, he began to repeat it directly, relying on the memory deeply etched into his mind.

"I don't need to go into those complicated strategic plans. I'll just pick a random passage for you and everyone to listen to and see if it makes sense."

Zhao Shuyao looked straight ahead, his tone steady and calm, without any affected intonation, simply stating the text in the most plain and straightforward manner.

"Do not be intimidated by the enemy's aggressive momentum, do not be discouraged by difficulties that can still be endured, and do not be disheartened by temporary setbacks."

Zhao Shuyao paused for a second before continuing.

"The road is tortuous, but the future is bright. The darkness is about to pass, and the dawn is just around the corner. Favorable conditions and proactive recovery arise from the effort of persevering just a little longer."

The entire suite fell into absolute silence instantly.

Lin Jing's fingers, which were holding the pen, froze completely. She even forgot to take notes in her notebook. These few dozen words, spanning decades, directly hit her with the workplace anxiety and ratings pressure she was currently facing.

There are no fancy tricks or newly coined internet slang; it's just the most direct analysis and the most frank encouragement.

"Editor-in-Chief Lin, please take a closer look at this passage." Zhao Shuyao broke the silence, his voice regaining its usual relaxed tone, "When you are criticized by your boss at work, when you feel that the project at hand is completely stalled and you are constantly scrambling internally."

"What real help do you get from reading those books that teach you Machiavellian tactics and how to scheme and manipulate others, other than making you more jaded and anxious?"

Zhao Shuyao pointed to the red book on the table.

"But this passage tells you that you need to assess whether your current difficulties are 'endurable'. If so, don't be discouraged. It tells you that the objective law of things is that things will be tortuous. It even gives you a way to break the deadlock—to persevere a little longer."

Zhao Shuyao leaned forward.

"This is not some lofty theory at all. It is using the grandest perspective to solve the most micro-level personal dilemmas. This is the highest level of survival wisdom."

"There are so many such words in this thin booklet. The enormous wealth that our teachers left us has always been there, but many people have temporarily forgotten it in this age of information overload."