名句 The Line
三十年河东，三十年河西，莫欺少年穷。
Sānshí nián hédōng, sānshí nián héxī, mò qī shàonián qióng.
“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west — never mock a youth for being poor.”
逐词 Word by Word
河东 hédōng east of the (Yellow) River 河西 héxī west of the river 莫 mò don't (classical) 欺 qī to bully, to mock 穷 qióng poor
文化背景 Culture Note
“三十年河东，三十年河西"原是民间谚语：黄河改道，河东变河西——比喻世事轮转、风水轮流。萧炎在全书最屈辱的时刻说出这句话，成就了网文史上最著名的"打脸宣言”。
The river changes course; fortunes reverse. Never underestimate the underdog.