A candidate from Jiangsu scored full marks on the college entrance examination essay

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Wang Yunfei, a candidate from Jiangsu, scored full marks in the college entrance examination essay. The original text of his essay is titled \"Green Living.\" A young child drinks only cow’s milk; by the time he reaches adulthood, he still does not understand what a bull is like. The pig of cǐ eats its own droppings every day. By the time it was established, the piglets had not yet been seen. With each gnaw at the flesh, yet they remain unaware of the three burrows of the cunning rabbit (the same as ‘qiao tu’, as mentioned in Han Yu’s ‘Biography of Mao Ying’). At that moment, the expression of wonder was one that could not be seen in ordinary circumstances. 　　 　　　　Now in the north, there is persistent scorching heat; rivers and streams have dried up, and the land is cracked and broken, with the sky and sun seemingly on fire. The land is cracked and broken, with gaps wide enough for a person to pass through. In southern Xinjiang, torrential rains and raging floods swept through; during such disasters, all thatched cottages were destroyed. Unable to cover itself, it cries out noisily. 　　 　　　　All such anomalies are not the fault of heaven. 　　 　　　　Do you not see how the fir trees are cut down and the camphor trees are burned? The hills are turned into plains; beneath one’s gaze, all the mountains appear as mere ridges, and the hundred-foot-high bamboo thickets turn into ordinary bamboo plants. For those young snakes, not even an inch in length, the king serpent turns them all into delicious delicacies. The air is thick with mist; it rises to the Jade Pool in the heavens. From poor lands, merchants come to enrich their wealth. Yet in a circle of a thousand zhang, radishes do not grow; above the nine heavens, the Milky Way is unseen. 　　 　　　　Alas! Poles are set all over the hills, and nets cover the entire ground. Is this also a natural disaster? It’s also man-made! The rivers and streams are murky; polluted water continues to flow – is this a natural disaster? It’s also man-made! Cutting down trees and bamboo, filling snares to wait for beasts, so that deer cannot run, birds cannot fly, ants cannot gather in groups, and their traces are no longer visible. Is this also a natural disaster? It’s also man-made! 　　 　　　　The foul qi converges and closes, leaving a cool atmosphere all day long. The sky is no longer blue, and the water is no longer clear. No dark clouds – why is the sky so gloomy? Once the Red Crow appears, its brilliance vanishes forever. Looking at the world, birds cannot land; rare are the antelopes. At such a time, where can one offer sacrifices to the heavens? 　　 　　　　Fortunately, people are aware of it and make changes. Yet, as for the method of constructing the net above, it is unknown what the geometry below will be. 　　 　　　　Today is full of misfortunes. In the northern lands, it’s bitterly cold; the commander has returned, and he should fight alongside Kong and Zhang. The rains in the southern region, as bestowed by Dayu, could only make one sigh in frustration. People blame the drought demon rather than themselves, and blame Gonggong rather than themselves. That is not acceptable. Where crowds gather, one should not hesitate. When thinking of future generations, everyone understands this. When its effects are seen, those who hold positions of power will reflect on it; those who are worthless and useless will be discarded without hesitation, for they represent a serious threat to the country, and such people must be eliminated. 　　 　　　　What comes to mind is the banks of the river, the dense groves of poplars and locusts, the villages, and the willows and elms standing side by side. The plant grows lushly in the midst of everything; when it sees willows, people do not touch them, and when it sees grass, no one steps on it. It travels day after day in a carriage with two shafts, moving through the streets and alleys. Its eyes never blink, its nose never sniffs; birds are not startled by it, and fish swim about peacefully. 　　 　　　　Humans are created by heaven and earth. Now it returns to all things; this is the xiang. Now is not the time to be negligent and bring disaster upon future generations; instead, a long-term strategy should be devised to benefit all generations to come. 　　 　　　　As I write these words, what comes to mind is the plum tree growing by the side; its branches bend over the water. Once again, I will take a small boat and pick the falling plums, then throw them into the basket. Sitting under the ginkgo tree, I watch children playing beneath it, stretching out to the brick pathways; I shake my wrist, regretting that there are no water caltrops or lotus plants planted there. In the scorching heat, one can pick water caltrops and boil them to make porridge, which is then offered to one’s parents. A newborn baby knows only how to drink cow’s milk; by the age of twenty, it doesn’t even know what a cow looks like. Plump pigs, whose meat is eaten every day; once they reach adulthood, it’s impossible to tell whether they are male or female. Often gnawing on rabbit elbows, yet in the end never knowing what a whole rabbit looks like. At that time, expressions of astonishment were not something one could see in the markets. 　　 Currently, the north is suffering from a prolonged drought; springs have dried up and wells are empty, with dust swirling around and covering the sky and blocking out the sun. The land is cracked, with gaps wide enough to hold a person. Heavy rains have poured in southern Xinjiang, causing floods to ravage the area. In such floods, even thatched huts are washed away. It wants to be repaired but cannot; it can only chirp sadly. Any such vision is not a sin of heaven. 　　 Don’t you see how the felling of trees and the burning of forests turn lush mountains into deserts? Looking into the distance, all the mountains are bare. Bamboos that are a hundred feet tall were used to make bamboo paper. For those small snakes, less than an inch in thickness, even the most venomous snake kings become delicious delicacies on the plate. Chasing the murderous intent, straight up to the Jade Pool. Poor lands attract merchants to increase their wealth. Yet within several miles, radishes cannot grow; above the nine heavens, the galaxies cannot be seen. 　　 Ah! A vast network of traps has been set all over the mountains and fields. Is this a natural disaster? It’s man-made! The rivers and seas appear dull and lifeless, with turbulent waves still raging – is this a natural disaster? It’s man-made! Cutting down trees and bamboo, drawing bows to hunt beasts, so that deer cannot escape, birds cannot fly, ants cannot settle, … they cannot be seen. Is this a natural disaster? It’s man-made! Impure energies are released and float around all day long. The sky is no longer blue, and the water is no longer clear. If there are no dark clouds, why is the sky gloomy? The sunrise rises, shining on the lightless. Looking at the world below, birds dare not land, and wild beasts are rarely seen running about; in such a situation, where is the blue sky? 　　Fortunately, people are aware of this disaster and can change such situations. However, **once a decree is issued, it’s unclear whether the people will abide by it. 　　And these days, the world is full of disasters. In the northern lands where the wells have dried up, even if the commander returns, there is nothing but to commit suicide along with Kong and Zhang; in the southern regions hit by floods, even if Dayu were still alive, he could only sigh in despair. People blame the drought rather than themselves, and blame the gods rather than themselves. You can’t do this! Strolling in the market should not be done carefreely; one must think of future generations, as both others and oneself are aware of the serious consequences. However, it is those in power who need to consider taking action to bring about change. A hesitant wretch can be discarded without regret; **a worm that causes damage must be pursued and held accountable. 　　 What I dream of is rivers that are clear, poplars and locust trees that are green, picturesque countryside, and willows and elms that provide lush shade. Flowering trees grow in profusion, along with lush weeds. Willow branches are seen, yet no one breaks them; lawns are visible, but no one steps on them. Every day, riding in a carriage through the streets and alleys, my eyes are no longer blurred, my nose is no longer blocked; birds are not afraid of humans, and fish swim peacefully. 　　Humans are born of heaven and earth. Now it instead destroys all living things; it is like a beast that is born to eat its mother. It’s too late to repent now; this will bring disaster to future generations. It should be considered a long-term plan to bring benefits for generations to come. 　　As I write here today, I dream of a peach tree growing by the house; its branches should hang over the water’s edge. I should take a small boat again to pick up the peaches that fall from it and put them in my hat. Sitting under the ginkgo tree, watching children play beneath it,…, I lament that no lotus plants have been planted in the water. On hot days, one can pick water caltrops and lotus flowers, cook lotus porridge, and serve it to one’s loved ones.