After this, Li Houliang started discussing going to the sports school for training the next day.
"You Ge, when is your sports meet?"
"Mid-April, about ten days from now," Zhou You calculated the time himself.
"That's enough time. Just learn the basic moves." With such a short period, that was the only feasible approach; anything more would be unrealistic.
"There's a store selling running shoes at the entrance of the sports school. We can buy them tomorrow. I'll pick you up then." Li Houliang was quite thorough in his planning.
Zhou You was delighted—one less thing to worry about. Buying a car for the training center was the right call; it made getting around much easier.
He took the chance to check on the sales office matter. When he arrived, he found they were still selling houses. So he told the sales manager to contact him if the sales office ever went up for sale.
The sales manager didn't know what to say.
Over the years, the sales office had been one of the hardest properties to sell—large area, high total price, and impossible to split.
Its uses were also limited. In the past, it was either handled internally, like by the design institute or construction company, or rented out to the property management for public use, a mere transfer from one hand to another.
Now here was someone actively asking about it.
And it was the same owner who had bought the villa—clearly someone with means.
The manager saw him all the way to the door, bowing and smiling apologetically, whispering, "Mr. Zhou, I'm really sorry. The high-rise is still being sold, so we can't sell it yet. But I'll report to the boss right away. If possible, we'll sell it to you early and handle the paperwork. In the meantime, we'll pay you rent."
You had to admit, the sales manager had a sharp mind. Damn, coming up with an idea like that—it seemed the pressure to sell the sales office was even greater than selling houses.
"Alright, discuss it among yourselves. If it's too expensive, I won't take it," Zhou You said, not wanting to be a sucker. Such a large commercial property had a low chance of selling and was hard to flip. It usually had specific uses, like for a club or something.
The villa had been renovated long ago, but Zhou You only visited occasionally and didn't stay there for long, even though all eco-friendly materials were used.
But with things like this, time was the most effective remedy.
He didn't believe in anything else.
He kept it ventilated daily, filled it with greenery—succulents, pots of pothos scattered in every room.
Lately, he needed to conserve his energy. Since he'd signed up, he couldn't embarrass himself too much.
He stopped learning Russian. Wang Fangfang was preparing for her self-study exams, so he didn't disturb her either.
It was a good time to quietly read.
Nothing to do today, so reading it was.
He picked up *The Biography of Wu Zetian*. Zhou You had been curious about this book for a long time—more accurately, curious about Wu Zetian herself.
It was hard enough for an ordinary person to become emperor, let alone a woman. And she didn't rise through rebellion, wasn't from a powerful clan, nor a frontier general. That piqued his curiosity.
Wu Zetian's greatest trait was selfishness—extreme selfishness. She killed her daughter, her sons, her subordinates, her nephews, and even her mother's reputation. Everything was for herself. In real life, facing someone like that, an ordinary opponent could never win.
Because they weren't even on the same level.
Any hint of compassion would lead to defeat.
Any moment of hesitation would get you killed.
She essentially abandoned her humanity, becoming a slave to power, fighting for it her entire life.
In her world, there was no family, no love, no parental or filial bonds.
The popular concept of a "weakness" today often refers to one's children, but Wu Zetian had none.
Everyone close to her was tragic, because the emotions you invested were only exploited, never reciprocated.
She fought heaven and earth, people and ghosts—her whole life was a struggle against others.
Did she have moments of happiness? Certainly—like when she first became empress, or when she gave birth to her first child. Did she ever regret it later? During her imprisonment, there must have been remorse, after all, she was human. But to say she regretted it deeply? Unlikely. Someone like Wu Zetian wouldn't dwell on too many negative emotions.
Looking back on her life, she probably felt proud, honored, and gratified.
"The bustling crowd chases after profit; the clamoring masses scramble for gain."
This saying profoundly captures everything in the world. Why did Wu Zetian become emperor? Because of interests and stakes—she steadily built up her own power while weakening her opponents.
First, she ruled alongside the emperor, then seized sole authority, made all decisions herself, and finally ascended the throne.
In reality, it's true. For fame and fortune, how many people rush like moths to a flame, knowing the immense risks, even the threat of death, yet still climbing for that moment of glory.
Whether it's pitiful or admirable, by the distinction of great and small figures, many are small figures, never destined to be great. But Wu Zetian gave them hope, a slim chance to change their fate.
Even if that chance came at the cost of their lives.
Explaining things through interests clarifies many incomprehensible matters. Take Empress Dowager Cixi, for example. Zhou You had always wondered why someone would go against their conscience, break laws and regulations, and risk public scorn to do certain things. Only after reading more history did he understand.
Social ethics, morals, laws, and regulations don't apply to such people. At most, they'd laugh and say:
"Are rites and laws meant for the likes of us?"
Indeed, those who make the rules can't possibly follow them. The rules they set to govern others can't bind themselves.
After finishing the book, Zhou You felt enlightened.
Selfish people are the happiest!
He recalled a saying often heard from a psychiatrist at a mental hospital: "Kind people are prone to depression and other mental illnesses; selfish people rarely get them because they don't care about others' opinions."
Kind people blame themselves for mistakes.
Selfish people blame others.
Wu Zetian's life was undoubtedly shaped by fate. Personal effort mattered, but it was the multiple coincidences that were the most crucial factor in creating the one and only female emperor in history.
If any single link in the chain had changed, history would have been different.
Reading history books, you always come across the phrase: "Shepherding the people for the Son of Heaven."
The word "shepherding" is perfectly chosen.
Just like Zhou You raising chickens, ducks, and geese.
After reading, Zhou You felt his thoughts had been elevated, his spirit purified, and his entire mindset had risen to a new level.
The competition didn't matter.
Winning an award didn't matter.
He had almost fallen into nihilism.
That wouldn't do, wouldn't do.
The world is so beautiful, yet I'm so decadent—no good, no good.
"Hey, Yina, what's up? You want to learn Chinese?" Zhou You was utterly helpless. It wasn't that he wanted to learn Russian; it was that she insisted on learning Chinese.
Not teaching her? How could that be? As a citizen of a great nation of etiquette, everyone has a duty to help international friends.
What's a little sacrifice of my time?
What's a little sacrifice of my energy?
What's a little sacrifice of my future descendants?