When Zhang Lin heard these words, he said nothing, keeping his head down as he continued examining his files. When Little Five heard them, he chuckled twice and said, "I'm just dumb, like a clumsy bird that flies first." Then he turned away and resumed reciting his formulas.
They're unafraid of ridicule, walking their own path, letting others say what they will.
It's not because they have thick skin, but because they understand in their hearts that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Those who start fast don't necessarily reach the finish line first; those who run steadily can make it to the end. They are like old oxen, moving slowly, but each step is grounded, moving forward step by step, through the dark and toward the light, eventually reaching where they want to go.
On the day of their doctoral defense, both of them were extremely nervous.
