Step by step, a gentle breeze leads to a smooth path

Chapter 313 Smart Man

Seeing the bewildered Song Wanli, the monk said again, "I hope you will continue to do good and be able to act with a clear conscience. I ask you, 'A gentleman is magnanimous, while a petty person is always anxious,' do you want to be a gentleman or a petty person?"

Song Wanli answered without hesitation: "Of course, a gentleman!"

"Yes, it's very important to live an honest life. Although you can cover up bad deeds for a while, you can't get over it yourself. We all know that cause and effect are inevitable, so you'll have to live in fear for the rest of your life."

Young man, perhaps your start is not good, but as long as you are humble and cautious, restrain yourself, do good deeds according to your own thoughts and actual circumstances, and continue to have kindness, compassion, respect, and courtesy in your heart, Heaven will not forget to send blessings upon you.

Now it seems that all his good fortune came from listening to Nan. Before leaving, the monk instructed him: Do not give up halfway, just do good deeds, and don't worry about the future.

Song Wanli looked up at himself. He was a lucky man, really. When he was lost, he met that monk who guided him out of his confusion.

He and Song Wanxing were two extremes from childhood. His younger brother was handsome, intelligent, and knew how to please their parents, while he was dull and taciturn. Especially his father, who never praised or encouraged him once. He was the opposite of his brother, and the first thing his father would say was, "Don't be like your brother..."

The monk said that he was humble and cautious, able to discover his own strengths, and had great wisdom in supporting his family. He said that those who were arrogant, complacent, and overly assertive were actually the least wise.

Song Wanli was very happy to receive the monk's affirmation, but he couldn't believe it. He had always thought that his younger brother was smarter and more promising than him.

The monk asked him if he knew the riddle about Yang Xiu's "kuo" character. Song Wanli knew the story; his mother had told it when reciting the Hundred Family Surnames: Yang Xiu was a literary figure of the Eastern Han Dynasty, erudite and exceptionally intelligent. Once, Yang Xiu was in charge of overseeing the construction of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and Cao Cao, the Emperor Wu of Wei, personally came to inspect it. Cao Cao walked around the mansion inside and out, said nothing, but simply had someone bring him pen and ink, wrote the character "huo" (活, meaning alive/alive) on the gate, and left.

Yang Xiu glanced at the inscription on the door and ordered the craftsmen to dismantle it and replace it with a smaller one. The craftsmen were puzzled; why would they want to tear down such a perfectly good door? Yang Xiu explained, "The character '活' (huó, meaning 'alive') inside the door is the same as '阔' (kuò, meaning 'wide'). The King of Wei thinks this door is too wide!" The craftsmen then understood.

The monk said, "Look, Yang Xiu was very clever, but he was the epitome of a lack of wisdom. Why? Because he didn't know when to say what. Otherwise, how could Cao Cao have chopped off his head over something as simple as a chicken rib? How can someone who doesn't even know how to protect his own life be a wise person?"

Song Wanli nodded in agreement. Yes, when you're alive, you have to live first before you can talk about anything else!

No matter what, Song Wanxing was still his younger brother. Song Wanli wanted to talk to him again, hoping that he could realize his mistakes and correct them. He walked out of the factory and went inside, but there was no one there.

Song Wanli searched around but couldn't find him. Then he ran into Song Mingli, who said he saw him at the house where they were making steamed grain wine.

Song Wanli lost interest in talking to him. Back then, he would go crazy when he drank, and tonight he would have to keep an eye on this troublesome guy again.

That evening, Song Wanli was startled by a banging on the door. He went over with his cane and saw Song Wanxing smashing Zhao Xiaojuan's old room with an axe.