The streets of Xi'an are filled with a bookish atmosphere, and candidates from all over the world flock to this ancient city with dreams or determination to overcome difficulties. Li Bai, who had a dream, sat on the side of the road, his eyes flashed with a strange brilliance, looking at the groups of candidates at the city gate. 
The scene brought back memories of his past. 
Although the young Li Bai is talented and intelligent, he is despised because of his family background and businessman, and he feels the urgency of changing his fate through reading. That year, he drifted from his hometown with great longing, wanting to serve the country by virtue of the imperial examination in Xi'an. 
But when he actually walked into Xi'an City, he was shocked by the overwhelming power and money transactions and the pervasive atmosphere of decay.
It turned out that Li Bai heard a few scholar-looking scholars discussing how to bribe ** in exchange for the qualification of Jinshi in a tea shop on the street, and saw that those mediocre children would only spend money. He was shocked and saddened that they were about to rule over the people on behalf of the country. 
Li Bai couldn't help but think, if there is no real talent and real learning, what is the use of just having a family and money? If these people rule the country, what will happen to the people?
Li Bai understood that the imperial examination had deteriorated, and if he wanted to join the government to serve the service, he had to give up his ideals. He wandered through the streets, looking at the solemn or frivolous faces of the candidates, and fell into deep thought. Do you want to continue to fight for the exam, or do you choose another path? His heart was full of contradictions. 
In the end, Li Bai plucked up the courage and gave up taking the exam. He understood that his straightforward personality could hardly cope with the power-for-money trading and corruption in the imperial examination room. He could not bear to be a part of this system, only to be assimilated and changed by it.
Li Bai decided to find another way, expressing his heart through poetry, awakening the wisdom of the people, and influencing the world with his literary talents. He looked outside the city of Xi'an, and there was a world in the distance waiting for him to open up. Although he can't change reality for a while, he believes that as long as he has poetry and distance in his heart, he will eventually find his own path in life. 
When Li Bai left Xi'an, he did not have the slightest nostalgia. He believes that the meaning of life lies not in whether or not you have the will, but whether you can achieve your true self. He wants to use poetry to break through life, even if the road ahead is bumpy, he will never back down. Because of the support of ideals, he will glow with a spiritual brilliance that he has never had before.
Years later, when Li Bai heard that the imperial examination was becoming more and more corrupt, he did not have the slightest regret. On the contrary, seeing that he now received widespread praise and freedom, he firmly chose to give up the imperial examination at a young age. Because he has found his own path in life, and has walked it openly and without fear of difficulties.
Now, Li Bai stared at the busy figure in the ancient city and smiled with satisfaction. He knows that the value of life is not in a certain exam, but in whether or not you live your true colors. He believes that even if there is no end to a long life, as long as you keep poetry and distance in your heart, you will not lose your way. This is also what he wants to say to everyone who fights for his ideals.