Today, I want to talk about a person. Who? Someone truly worth discussing—Bi Fujian, widely known as "Uncle Bi."
Perhaps many people see him as just an ordinary host with a sense of humor and decent hosting skills. I used to think so too, but watching "I Want to Go to the Spring Festival Gala" has broadened my horizons and taught me profound lessons.
In this episode, Bi Fujian, Cheng Fangyuan, and Wang Meng served as judges. After each performance, the judges offer commentary. While I won't dwell on the others, Bi Fujian's remarks are always startling, hilarious, or deeply philosophical.
After a magician's performance, he remarked, "You have great potential; you're even better than Liu Qian. Liu Qian has a 'plant' named Dong Qing," leaving Dong Qing to stare at him in mock indignation. When a trainer finished a routine with five puppies, Bi joked that he was less capable than the dogs—they could jump rope ten times, but he'd break after two. When the puppies barked according to numbers between 1 and 10, he quipped that after years of hosting "Star Boulevard," he only knows how to count to five. I didn't catch the joke at first, but then I realized: whenever he eliminates contestants on "Star Boulevard," he counts down: five, four, three, two, one. His sense of humor is truly impressive. He also charmed a six-year-old Tibetan boy named "Europe," noting how the boy's bitter expression turned into instant joy after a hug and a kiss from Dong Qing, even sketching a portrait for him on the spot. He encouraged the "Damaimilei" group for their innovation in using tablets instead of traditional instruments. When discussing local customs, his storytelling was both graceful and engaging.
After several rounds of commentary, I couldn't help but exclaim, "What a talent!" Regardless of the performance quality, Bi Fujian provides incisive critiques that earn the respect of the performers. One piece of advice he gave resonated deeply with me: "It is beneficial to learn many things. You don't have to master a specific field, but you never know when that knowledge might become useful." Among the three judges, Bi's commentary felt the most wise. My mother remarked, "Of course! Do you know his former profession?" Seeing my confusion, she added, "He was a journalist and once joined an expedition to Antarctica. His experiences are incredibly rich." I was stunned; so that is the source of his brilliance. It makes sense—rich knowledge and unforgettable experiences have allowed him to shine, embodying the concept of "accumulating strength for a breakthrough." No matter the era, knowledge remains the most precious asset. Yet, the wisdom we admire in him seems to stem from more than just cultural depth.
I believe wisdom is more than just knowledge, common sense, intelligence, or experience. Wisdom is the eyes that, standing upon the pillars of knowledge, common sense, intelligence, and experience, observe the world with appreciation and a constant sense of discovery. "Reality + Dreams + Humor = Wisdom"—this is the formula for wisdom proposed by the writer Lin Yutang. Dreams give the soul wings, while humor imbues life with zest and joy. Such a life is undoubtedly a life filled with wisdom.
