The Lamp Before the Exam

Once upon a time, a young man went to the capital to take an imperial examination. The night before the exam, he was so nervous that he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. An old gentleman in the next room saw this, gave him a small lamp, and said with a smile: "The examination hall tomorrow will be vast, and the questions may not be easy, but you don't need to illuminate the entire path. Just focus on understanding the question right in front of you." The young man felt much more at ease after hearing this. The next day, he entered the examination hall with these words in mind. When he encountered a question he didn't know, he didn't panic; when he saw a familiar one, he didn't rush. He answered each question carefully. After the exam, he realized that what mattered most wasn't how nervous he was before the exam, but whether he could remain calm once inside the hall. Later, the young man indeed passed the exam with flying colors. He always remembered that small lamp and understood a truth: Good luck may bring opportunities, but it's diligent preparation and composure under pressure that truly seize them. 🍀