After the final exams, the first semester of high school came to an end. The first month of 2024 is also about to pass. The past year of 2023 was not particularly exciting—after all, “the world is but a big dream, and life has its moments of autumn chill.(世事一场大梦，人生几度秋凉)” For me personally, 2023 was a year filled with challenges and opportunities.
Code as Poetry
This phrase is something I read on the WordPress official website.
Indeed, I often view code as poetry.
In 2023, I made 16 contributions on GitHub, mainly concentrated during the summer vacation when I had more free time.
At the beginning of 2023, perhaps because I was attracted by the lightweight and efficient advantages of Typecho, I completely migrated my blog from WordPress to Typecho. Since then, I have taken root in this fertile ground, cultivating this small corner of the internet. Although a careless deletion of the database in early spring caused the loss of some data from the initial stages of the site, overall, the life of this blog continues.
I once imagined that I might be too busy with my studies to take care of the blog, so I developed a plugin called SiteMaintenance to display a site closure page. Although I eventually abandoned the idea of keeping the site “closed” for a long time, the plugin itself was still a fascinating idea, so I uploaded it to GitHub. Interestingly, this little gem with 55 lines of code has already garnered 7 stars.
Additionally, during the 2023 winter vacation, I created a game called “Gui Mao Project (癸卯工程),” which commemorates our three years at school by recreating the campus scenery. My classmates really liked this game and often played it after class. It also became more popular as we moved on to high school.
Around late November or early December last year, I learned about the underlying logic of applying for various SSL certificates. Although most major manufacturers’ control panels already support applying for free SSL certificates like Let’s Encrypt and Zerossl, some smaller manufacturers’ panels lack this feature. So, I gathered information and source code online, integrated them, and planned to create an SSL certificate issuance platform.
In 2023, I made some progress in the field of coding compared to 2022. I used some of my free time to learn coding and read many programmers’ experiences on Juejin, which left a deep impression on me. In summary, 2023 had a profound impact on my future career planning and professional choices.
The Sword Roars in the West Wind
In 2023, I read many poems and books. Looking back now, the one that touched me the most was “Six States Song (六州歌头)” by the old master He Zhu (贺铸):
In youth, chivalrous spirit, forged bonds with heroes of five capitals. Hearts laid bare, hairs bristling with zeal. In brief discourse, pledged life and death. A promise worth a thousand gold.
Championing valor, flaunting boldness. Light carriages gathered, reins flying in unison, Racing through the eastern city.
Roaring with drink in taverns, Spring hues floating on cold wine jars, Drinking like whales and rainbows.
Leisurely calling hawks and hounds, White-feathered arrows drawn from carved bows, Cunning dens emptied in moments. Joy fleeting as a sigh.
Like the Millet Dream, leaving Vermilion Phoenix Gate; Sharing the moon, drifting lone boat on waves.
Trivial official duties, anxious thoughts; Trapped in worldly cage, buried in documents.
Countless minor officers, Used for mundane tasks, While rare opportunities vanish.
Tartar horns resound, War drums of Yuyang play, Old man’s heart fills with sorrow.
Not summoned to bind the barbarian chief, The sword roars in the western wind.
Resentful of mountain climbs and riverside views, Hands strumming the seven-stringed lute, Eyes following southbound geese.
(Original in Chinese)
少年侠气，交结五都雄。肝胆洞，毛发耸。立谈中，死生同，一诺千金重。推翘勇，矜豪纵，轻盖拥，联飞鞚，斗城东。轰饮酒垆，春色浮寒瓮，吸海垂虹。闲呼鹰嗾犬，白羽摘雕弓，狡穴俄空。乐匆匆。 似黄粱梦，辞丹凤；明月共，漾孤篷。官冗从，怀倥偬，落尘笼，簿书丛。鹖弁如云众，供粗用，忽奇功。笳鼓动，渔阳弄，思悲翁。不请长缨，系取天骄种，剑吼西风。恨登山临水，手寄七弦桐，目送归鸿。
Reading this poem, I am filled with profound reflections. Over the past year, I have experienced many unpredictable events (though perhaps in a few years they will seem trivial). I vaguely remember writing a set of Chinese reading comprehension questions at the beginning of 2023. The passage described a protagonist who, after more than a decade in society, was “polished” from a “sharp-edged stone” into a “pebble.” At the time, I mocked the author after class, confidently telling my classmates that I would never become as spineless as the protagonist in the story. At most, I would be “polished” into an “equilateral triangle.”
But a year later? I think now I am neither a “pebble” nor an “equilateral triangle,” but what about the future? It’s hard to say.
I also thought of Wu Hufan’s response poem.
Rise and fall are the same, how many heroes have there been through the ages? Profound understanding, sharp edges. In the midst of trials, the same bitter heart, the wooden bell is highly valued. What divine courage, endowed by heaven. Red banners, green reins, galloping east and west. Laughing and lying down, jade cups and fragrant jars, spitting rainbows. Lamenting the barbaric wars, the strength of iron bows, gasping in the void. So hurried! Shattered dreams of rivers and mountains, the phoenix in the sky, fish and turtles together, drifting on the waves. Struggling to follow, rushing about, who is caged, scattered in the woods. Stirring emotions among the masses, for whom? Do not claim merit. The universe moves, thunder and clouds play, gradually becoming an old man. Which heavenly pride, descendants of the Yellow Emperor, looking around with a commanding presence. Longing for a thousand miles, pressing the sword and striking the jiao tong, northern swans and southern geese.
(Original in Chinese)
废兴一例，今昔几英雄。玄理洞。头角耸。劫磨中。苦心同。木铎人争重。何神勇。资天纵。朱旆拥。青丝鞚。逞西东。谈笑偃时，颓玉沈香瓮。咳唾腾虹。慨胡沙黩武，力尽铁胎弓。喘息横空。却匆匆。 破江山梦。凌霄凤。鱼鳖共。浪飘篷。拚傔从。行倥偬。孰牢笼。散林丛。激厉情和众。为谁用。莫称功。枢宇动。雷云弄。渐成翁。若个天骄，自是炎黄种。顾盼生风。更相思千里，按剑击焦桐。北燕南鸿。
I once had a mentor who, during a speech, shouted a slogan to the students: “Youth should have lofty ambitions, riding fine horses to conquer the plains.(少年应有鸿鹄志，当骑骏马踏平川)” Indeed, the most beautiful years of a person’s life are in their youth. Since entering high school, I have returned to my old school twice for errands. Each time, it was late, but I still saw some students playing and lingering on campus. Sometimes I envy them for having so much free time, and other times I regret their wasteful attitude towards youth. Perhaps the older one gets, the more one understands.
If I divide my life stages by the time I pledged to join the Communist Youth League (May 2023), I feel that my youth was quite similar to He Zhu’s. In my youth, I was also full of vigor, open-hearted, and talented.In my youthful years, I was filled with lofty ambitions, once valiant and resolute, once unwavering in the face of adversity. However, time flies, and the recklessness of youth quickly becomes a thing of the past, making one sigh at how swiftly time passes. In a new environment, I was single-mindedly pursuing progress, tasting both glory and humiliation. Despite being endowed with talent and ideals, my actions were often hasty and rushed. I have grown weary of the mundane disturbances of the world, yearning for freedom and ease. With precious gems by my side, I feel my own inadequacy. Looking back now, I realize I have always been an ordinary person, and I even doubt whether I can ever achieve the feats I once did.
The year 2023 has been dubbed the “Year of AI.” The world is still in the midst of unprecedented changes, and I have finally come to realize that I am merely one of eight billion humans. Caught in the conflict between reality and dreams, I recall the grand ambitions of my youth, comparing myself to a seed of the Kunlun Mountains, facing the vast western winds. Although I am now filled with reluctance, I wish to possess the bold spirit of Xin Qiji, who wrote, “Riding the wind, I go forth, across the endless sky, looking down upon the rivers and mountains.” I wish to ride the wind, ascend to great heights, gaze upon the vast fields of phoenix trees, and watch the returning geese in the distance, “the sword roars in the western wind.”
Words and Poetry
At first glance, the title seems no different from “The Sword Roars in the Western Wind.” But in reality, it is not so.
I might as well consider myself a literary blogger.
At the beginning of 2023, during an exam, the essay was a material-based and semi-titled essay. At that time, my academic pressure had suddenly increased, as had that of my classmates.
Later, the teacher brought in several excellent essays selected by the city’s teaching researchers. The two essays I admired the most were as follows. (The authors of these essays are still unknown, and they comply with the first and second paragraphs of Article 24 of the Copyright Law of the People’s Republic of China.)
After reading these essays, my heart was filled with emotion. Words have power; they can convey emotions and guide us forward. No matter what, they ultimately reignited my determination to “rekindle the fire and vow to the heavens.” Whenever I felt exhausted, I would read articles from those glorious years, which always gave me hope.
As the year drew to a close, I, as one of the school’s representatives, participated in a district essay competition and achieved excellent results. This was also inspired by the essays of my fellow students.
Not long after the start of the school term, during our poetry studies, the teacher assigned us the task of writing poems. I wrote several poems, one of which was an imitation of Gu Cheng’s “A Generation.” Because it was too short, it was not included in my essay notebook. However, this poem perfectly aligns with the theme of this short piece.
In the darkness, we seek light; in pain, we see hope; in failure, we draw strength. (在黑暗中我们寻求光明，在痛苦中我们看到希望，在失败中我们汲取力量。)
“The road may be long, but walking it will bring us there; the task may be difficult, but doing it will ensure success.” Whether in dark or bright days, in hopeful or painful days, in failure or success, no matter what, just do it. After all, action is the only element for national rejuvenation.
We must also always feel the echoes at the tip of our pens.
Ordinary or Great
In 2023, I noted this sentence in my knowledge base:
“No one is confined to greatness, nor does anyone settle for mediocrity.”
I used to think that I was sufficiently outstanding.However, I was unaware that the mediocrity of my junior high school and my narrow perspective were the real issues. The journey I’ve been on has been a process of self-discovery, walking alongside more and more wise individuals and being surpassed by an increasing number of peers.
It can only be said that the false advantages or excuses of the past gradually disappeared as time went on and my horizons broadened.
In my view, the new year should be less about utilitarianism and more about responsibility and hard work.
This reminds me of a popular movie from long ago, which featured a poem:
My child
If I could
I would tell you
All the mysteries of the world
Tell you about mountains, rivers, the rising and setting sun
Glory and dreams, setbacks and sorrows
Tell you
Fuel is something that ignites itself
To illuminate others
A rocket is something that abandons itself
For the sake of dreams
Life is something meant to be burned
Death is something that validates life
The universe is something that makes death seem insignificant
Tiny dust
Is the beginning of the universe
Ordinary insignificance
Is the start of greatness
And you
My child
Are the reason why an ordinary me
Wants to create a new world
As shown above, this poem was adapted into the material for the Chinese essay in the Shenzhen High School Entrance Exam Adaptation Test at the end of 2021, and it might also be one of the sources for the 2022 essay topic, “It’s You, Who Made Me Surpass My Ordinary Self.”
The new generation of Chinese youth, growing up in the context of a new era, are witnesses to the process of building the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. Times are changing, the tides of the market are shifting, and the attitudes of young people towards struggle are also evolving. Each generation faces its own challenges and has its own pursuits. We are confronted with the wave of new technologies and the environment of great transformation. We yearn for a better future and aspire to a more fulfilling life.
Indeed, no one is confined to greatness, nor is anyone content with mediocrity. Only when individuals make their ordinary lives meaningful and valuable can they possess the motivation and courage to pursue higher realms.
A New Chapter for the Site
It’s another new year, and with it comes a new theme. From the default theme to Matcha, from Mydiary to Jasmine. I once envisioned creating my own theme, though I’m not sure when I’ll complete this unfinished project.
Final Thoughts
Those who follow me may have noticed that I changed my GitHub username to “Zephyr Easton.” This is the new English name I gave myself in 2023. “Zephyr” is derived from the meaning of “sword roaring in the west wind” mentioned earlier.
In conclusion, the future is promising and full of potential. In 2023, I met classmates who are a thousand times more outstanding than myself and learned from them.In the new era, the most precious quality of Chinese youth is their willpower.
This willpower is certainly not trivial—it is reflected in the steadfastness shining in the eyes of the younger generation, forged in their determination to strive for their careers and act on their dreams, and manifested in their words, their demeanor, and their broad-mindedness…
How fortunate we are to be born in this great socialist motherland, and how fortunate we are to resonate with this new era!
Since this is the case, I have nothing more to say:
2024, Soaring Ambitions