When you can't go on, think of these three ways of survival from ancient times:

1. Pretend to be stupid — a high-level tactic
The story of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Chen, is the most interesting. Before he ascended the throne, he was regarded as a fool for over thirty years—eunuchs deliberately supported him as emperor because he was "easy to control." He endured it and played along. When others laughed at his dullness, he accepted it all; when others ignored him, he enjoyed the peace. Until the moment he sat on the throne, this "fool" suddenly changed his face overnight and cleaned up the power-hungry eunuchs thoroughly.
Lesson for ordinary people: When you're weak and underestimated, don't rush to prove yourself. Put away your ambitions, hide your skills, and even deliberately appear "not very capable." This is not giving up; it's giving yourself time to grow quietly. When your opponents are completely complacent, your opportunity will come.

2. Step back — to see the battlefield clearly
Tang Dynasty Prime Minister Li Mi was very clever. Every time several factions fought fiercely in the court, he would voluntarily resign and retreat to the mountains to read. Others laughed at his cowardice, but he just smiled silently. After a few years, the factions that fought to the point of mutual destruction collapsed, and the new emperor was the first to think of this "outsider." When he returned, he stabilized the court.
Lesson for ordinary people: When several factions in the office are fighting to the death, don't rush to pick a side. Step back proactively and let them fight it out first. Your value isn't in becoming someone's cannon fodder, but in being the only qualified person when they need a judge.

3. Difficult problems — are ladders given by heaven
During the Tang Dynasty, no one wanted to manage the canal transportation (waterway grain transport), because out of ten ships carrying grain, eight were lost along the way. Chang'an was almost out of food. Everyone was avoiding this mess, except Liu Yan, who stepped up to take on this "impossible task." He reformed the grain transportation methods, not only solving the food supply problem but also gaining control of the country's economic lifeline through managing the canal transport, becoming indispensable to the emperor.
Lesson for ordinary people: Don't hide from the messes colleagues complain about or the difficult problems leaders worry about. Take them on. Solve them, and you'll be the only one capable of handling the matter. The biggest opportunities in the workplace are often hidden in troubles no one wants to touch.

— Ultimately, in life's lows:
• When you should pretend to be stupid, do so—don't show off.
• When you should step back, do so—don't stubbornly hold on.
• When you face difficult problems, take them on—don't be afraid.

Every breath you take, every step back, and every mess you handle now is paving the way for your future self. Life is long, and we'll see how it unfolds.