In the Tang Dynasty, a scholar named Ma Zhou looked for Yuan Tiangang, and Yuan Tiangang said: You can't live for more than a year! A year later, Ma Zhou came again, and Yuan Tiangang was shocked: You will be a very human minister, how did you do it?
Ma Zhou's parents died of illness at an early age, and he has been living on a small income and neighborhood care since he was a child. However, Ma Zhou's dream of reading a wide range of books never stopped, and he tried his best to borrow books from his neighbors and copy them day and night in order to gain knowledge.
One winter, Ma Zhou was so bored that he decided to go to a distant squire's house to borrow books. Ma Zhou wore a thin cotton coat and embarked on a journey full of hope in the cold wind.
However, when Ma Zhou asked for a loan, the housekeeper of the squire's house insulted him, saying that he was not qualified to study as a "poor ghost".
Although Ma Zhou filled in his grievances in his heart, he still maintained a humble attitude, and finally borrowed his favorite book from the housekeeper. After getting the book, Ma Zhou couldn't sleep even on a cold night, and he lit a candle and began a long journey of copying.
While Ma Zhou was engrossed in copying, the weather outside was getting colder and colder, and his fingers were already purple and red from the cold, but his thirst for knowledge made him dare not relax at all.
Finally, when Ma Zhou was about to finish copying, he was so hungry that he couldn't stand it. Ma Zhou looked at the small half bowl of cold rice left in the house, he really couldn't satisfy his hunger, so he had to starve to finish the copying.
Early the next morning, Ma Zhou got up at the first ray of sunshine and set off in the cold wind with the books on his back, wanting to return the books to the squire as soon as possible. Who knows, because of the long period of hunger and the severe cold, Ma Zhou's body is already very weak. Halfway through, he was unsteady for a while, and he passed out on the road.
When Ma Zhou woke up again, he was horrified to find that it was already late at night. Due to his tardiness, Ma Zhou was severely reprimanded by the squire.
Since then, the squire has never lent books to Ma Zhou, and has also spread rumors that Ma Zhou is not keeping his promises. Ma Zhou's reputation was completely damaged, and everyone no longer trusted him.
Ma Zhou was disheartened, he understood that it was not easy to turn over, and he had to leave here. By chance, Ma Zhou heard that the imperial court was going to take soldiers in a big way, so he mustered up the courage to decide to leave his hometown and go to the capital alone to take the exam.
In order to realize his dream, Ma Zhou embarked on a long walking journey. On the road, he survived by begging, sometimes sleeping in dilapidated temples.
However, Ma Zhou never gave up the flame of hope in his heart, he persevered for a few years, and finally came to the capital and completed the first turning point in his life.
After coming to the capital, Ma Zhou found that everything was not as simple as he imagined. He earned some money by writing letters on the streets, but was kicked out of the inn. Looking at the lively street, Ma Zhou felt unprecedented confusion and despair.
At this time, Ma Zhou saw a fortune teller named Yuan Tiangang. Ma Zhou thought that maybe this gentleman could guide him in the direction of life, so he asked Yuan Tiangang to divinate for himself. Who knows, Yuan Tiangang told Ma Zhou compassionately that he only had less than a year left.
Hearing this bad news, Ma Zhou became even more depressed and angry. He bought a large jar of wine and drank it constantly on the street, trying to use it to relieve the pain and resentment in his heart.
Just when Ma Zhou was completely desperate, fate suddenly opened another door - Ma Zhou met his childhood friend Chang He, who had already been a Zhonglang general in the capital, and also recognized Ma Zhou.
Chang He was very sympathetic to Ma Zhou's plight, so he took him back home. He found that although Ma Zhou was in rags, he was very knowledgeable and talented. Chang He decided to recommend Ma Zhou to Emperor Tang Taizong and give him a chance to turn over.
Under Chang He's recommendation, Ma Zhou was finally appreciated by Tang Taizong. He wrote an article on policy to Tang Taizong, which was deeply appreciated by Tang Taizong. Tang Taizong summoned Ma Zhou into the palace and asked him questions about scripture in the court, and Ma Zhou answered fluently and exquisitely.
Taizong deeply felt that such a talent as Ma Zhou was rare, and decided to immediately arrange for him to enter Menxia Province to serve. Under four urgings, Ma Zhou was finally able to enter the imperial court and began his career.
One day, Ma Zhou met the fortune teller Yuan Tiangang again on the street. Yuan Tiangang was shocked to find that Ma Zhou was not only alive and well, but also going to become a big official in the future.
Ma Zhou told Yuan Tiangang about this year's adventures. Yuan Tiangang sighed that Ma Zhou met a noble person to help, and Tang Taizong was also a Ming Jun, such an opportunity was precious.
Since then, under the knowledge of Tang Taizong, Ma Zhou has been promoted step by step, and finally became a highly decorated prime minister, fulfilling his dream of officialdom.
Every time he thinks of the hardships of the past, Ma Zhou will be full of emotion, the opportunities of life are really unpredictable, and only with dreams and hopes can we reach the other side of success.
