Chinese Traditional Story: Changing His Heart Changed His Fate

A scholar named Li Sheng lived during the Qing Dynasty. Because he excelled at writing, and was a martial arts master, he was renowned in his county. The local magistrate valued his knowledge and his skills, and recommended him to take the liberal arts college entrance examination. Li Sheng came in first. Then, the magistrate recommended that Li Sheng take the martial arts college entrance examination; and Li Sheng again came in first and was regarded as a martial arts champion. Since Li Sheng had such high achievements, everyone thought it would be easy for him to take the Imperial Examination. Encouraged, Li Sheng travelled to the capital to take it. When he entered the room, he looked for the seat assigned to him. It was raining that day, so he wore a pair of boots which had cleats. When he put his exam paper on the table and bent over to tie his boots, his paper fell to the floor. After he finished tying his boots, he could not find his paper.