Kong Yiji: The memes that expose the disillusionment of Chinese youth

In a comment, state broadcaster CCTV said students should “take off the long robe”, referring to a crucial part of the story, perhaps its most enduring detail. The “long dress” worn by Kong is what separates the rich and learned from the uneducated poor who wear “short jackets”. So CCTV’s advice, it seems, was that students should swallow their pride, throw away the long robe, and get every job they can get.