Hu Xiang: Near the West Lake.
Let's talk about the meanings of these two place names first to show our learning.
I think it means that you don't have to stick to the original meaning of writing, otherwise you will easily get lost.
The last two sentences mean that persistence may not be rewarded, but it has unexpected effects when giving up. The more you try to find answers from poetry, the more stupid you become. Even though I wore the strongest shoes, I found nothing. I didn't expect the final answer to appear effortlessly.