Confucian Cultivator Under One Person

Grandma also said, "Erxiao only sees you once a year, and this year you don't even want to talk to him? If that's the case, then don't come back! Also, didn't you say you would bring Xiaorong back? Why didn't you bring her back?"

"Dad, Mom, you don't understand. Xiaorong is now promising. This is the key to her development. I originally planned to let Erxiao learn skills as well so that he can enter Xiaorong's circle together."

Fu Jingui's voice was a little deep. "It just so happens that Mr. Liu doesn't like Erxiao. Xiaorong's master told me that Erxiao doesn't have the talent to learn their skills!"

Fu Guojin growled, "What's the difference between qualified and unqualified? If you don't like her, then don't like her. Erxiao isn't his grandson, he doesn't depend on him for survival... How old is Xiaorong? Ten years old? What's the point of development? What do you two think of Xiaorong?"

Fu Jingui said, "Dad! Everyone says that working in the city can make money, but it's getting harder and harder to make money now. It's good enough if I can save a thousand yuan every month with hard work. The cost of living in the city is still high!"

If you want to make a lot of money, you have to squeeze into Xiaorong's circle. Their circle is very exclusive, but they have a very wide network of contacts and there is also support from the policy...

Erxiao doesn't have that talent, so our family has to rely on Xiaorong. Only if Xiaorong succeeds can our family develop and even become a member of that circle!"

Fu Guojin's voice became increasingly low, but his tone was even more serious: "Just because Erxiao has no qualifications, he has no future? You think you can be my father like this? You haven't learned any skills, so I can't expect you to have a future? What a bullshit!"

"Dad, you don't understand what we mean. Second Primary School is Second Primary School. Just let him go to school and grow up normally, but the family still depends on Xiaorong for her future..."

"I only know one thing, Erxiao is your son. I don't ask you to treat him equally, but when you come back once a year, you must put your heart into Erxiao, otherwise... don't come back again!"

"Dad, do you know what kind of circle that is? You've never seen people like that..."

"What kind of person? Four eyes and two noses? I finally understand. You two only care about money. Xiaorong is just a tool for you to make money!"

"I can't make sense to you. Money is important, but there are higher things... Let's put it this way, immortals, you know what? As long as Xiaorong has a promising future, our family can also become an immortal. Then... 'If one person succeeds, the whole family will ascend to heaven', don't you understand?"

"I think you two are confused. What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Anyway, our focus must be on Xiaorong!"

"boom--"

After a knock on the table, there was complete silence outside.

After a while, people started moving around.

Fu Yuan waited silently for a long time, but no one pushed the door open.

……

After the quarrel that night, the family was at least more harmonious on the surface.

Fu Jingui and Wu Guihua also began to show concern for Fu Yuan, although it was a bit fake.

Although Fu Yuan was very cooperative, he was polite and distant. He didn't believe that the couple didn't notice it, but they didn't care about it at all.

Fu Yuan was also happy that he didn't expect to have such a pair of parents in this life.

Fortunately, he has grandparents, so Fu Yuan has no lack of family love.

On New Year's Eve, the couple didn't stay at home for long. They went out with a bunch of things. Judging from the direction, they were going to Old Man Liu's house. They didn't return until the evening. The couple was talking excitedly and no one else could interrupt them.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the couple spent almost the entire day at Old Man Liu's house, just like the day before.

In the evening, the couple excitedly discussed who had paid New Year's greetings to Old Man Liu, how highly they thought of Fu Rong, what kind of relationships they could establish through him, and so on.

That night, Fu Yuan was driven into the house by his grandfather Fu Guojin.

Immediately afterwards, the first quarrel of the year broke out outside, which was even more intense than the one on the night of the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Fu Jingui and his wife left early in the morning with their things, leaving behind a sentence: "Xiaorong is still young and the company is busy, so she can't be left alone."

Grandma hugged Fu Yuan and cried in the room for a long time.

Grandpa had a gloomy face and didn't say a word the whole day.

This year has been very bad!

Fu Yuan understood. It is better for extraordinary people not to be known by ordinary people, otherwise it is too easy to confuse their minds!

I have lived two lives as a human being, and I was also fascinated by the extraordinary "aliens" and fell into obsession.

Chapter 9 Self-cultivation is actually the cultivation of the mind and body

It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Ultimately, it is because people's hearts are unstable!

Don't try to get wealth, don't try to avoid difficulties, don't seek to win, don't seek to get more.

When faced with property, no matter how much it is, do not try to get it in a dishonest way. Only take what is your due. If it is not what you deserve, you should not take it no matter how much it is, and you must not get it by dishonorable means.

When danger strikes, don't try to escape it at the expense of others.

When debating with others, you are seeking truth and reality. Don't be too eager to win simply for the sake of winning or losing.

You should not expect to get more of what you deserve, as this will only take away other people's share. A gentleman should do his duty and not be greedy.

After all, our ancestors have already explained the truth, but how many people can actually do it?

Cultivating oneself and practicing what one says is called good deeds, and practicing what one says and practicing what one says is the essence of etiquette!

……

Grandpa and grandma seemed to have calmed down on the surface, but Fu Yuan could still feel that the old couple had lost some of their energy and spirit.

I just held on because Fu Yuan was there.

Fu Yuan didn't care too much about his parents' attitude towards him, but seeing the old couple like this, Fu Yuan really felt resentful.

The resentment is stuck in the chest, making the person feel uncomfortable.

On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, the factory resumed work, and the old couple went out to earn money. As usual, Fu Yuan was the only one at home.

Old Man Liu staggered over and approached Fu Yuan, saying cheerfully, "I heard your parents passed away on the second day of the New Year. Are you sad?"

Fu Yuan shook his head and said seriously, "You can call me heartless or ungrateful, but I really don't care much about them. I only see them once a year, so they are no different from strangers.

I feel resentful towards them, but it’s not because of me, but because they made my grandparents sad…

As children, it's their duty to respect their elders, but how do they do it? They don't usually send money home, and when they do come back, they don't even want to act...

Legally speaking, I am their responsibility, not my grandparents’, but they have lost their responsibility…”

Old man Liu just looked at him with a smile without saying a word.

Gradually, Fu Yuan couldn't continue speaking. He exhaled heavily and said, "It is polite not to speak ill of others and not to refuse expenses. Only those who are impatient and irritable talk too much. I can't calm down!"

Old Man Liu then asked, "Then what are you going to do?"

Fu Yuan was in deep thought.

Old man Liu said cheerfully: "You can't do anything. No matter what they do, they are still your parents. Can you still use tricks on them?

This is the bondage of family affection. Didn't you say you wanted to add bondage to yourself? Now that you are bound by it, how can your mind still be at peace?"

Fu Yuan let out a long breath and said, "Love someone and know their faults; hate someone and know their virtues. Accumulate and be able to disperse; be at peace and be able to move on. You need to see the shortcomings of those you love, and see the strengths of those you hate.

Only when you can give up and gain, gather and disperse, can you achieve your goal!

Rituals are used to determine closeness, resolve suspicions, distinguish similarities and differences, and clarify right and wrong... I haven't learned this "ritual" thoroughly enough!"

Old Man Liu nodded and said, "It's a good point. You said it yourself. They treat you almost like strangers. What do you expect from strangers?"

"call--"

The depression in my heart dissipated, just like the blue sky appeared after the clouds cleared, and the bright moon appeared after the clouds parted.

I felt refreshed all of a sudden!

Old Man Liu could also see that Fu Yuan suddenly felt relieved, and praised: "Good boy, it's good that you figured it out!"

Fu Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Grandpa Liu, let me ask you something. Is it easy for strangers to make money?"

Old Man Liu was stunned: "Haven't you figured it out? Why are you still concerned about this?"

Fu Yuan smiled and said, "No, I just heard that there will be policy support for foreigners doing business. Is that true?"

Old Man Liu thought for a moment and said, "I've never done business, but among the strange people I know, whether they are from their families or supported agents, I haven't heard of anyone failing in business... Why are you asking this?"

"Curious."

Fu Yuan laughed, not knowing what he was thinking about. He said, "Look, there's a group of pigs in a pigpen, and one of them is particularly aggressive and keeps snatching food. What will the owner of the pigpen do?"

Old man Liu thought about it and his face suddenly turned grim.

Fu Yuanle said happily, "Of course, we should isolate this pig and feed it more. Once it's well-fed, it won't cause trouble... The owner of the pigpen doesn't care about what's right or wrong, public or private, good or evil between the pigs. As long as the pigpen is peaceful, that's all that matters!"

Old man Liu said unhappily, "Why are you saying this?"

Fu Yuan looked at Old Man Liu and asked, "Why is this pig so aggressive and trying to cause trouble?"

Old Man Liu was stunned for a moment, then thought: "Because... he has the ability?"

Fu Yuandao said: "Learn to apply. After learning, you should want to use it. The Analects of Confucius begins with "To learn and to put it into practice from time to time, is it not a pleasure?" After learning something, it is a very happy thing to put it into practice in the appropriate way.

This is the same principle as "A gentleman hides his abilities and waits for the right time to act."

Ordinary people do not know how to restrain themselves. "With a sharp knife in hand, they will naturally have murderous intentions." However, Confucianism is different. Whether it is "practicing at the right time" or "waiting for the right time to act," they all pay attention to "time."

The difference between the two lies in the different levels of spiritual cultivation... In the world of extraordinary people, there must be a group of people who don't consider the timing and "want to use it after learning"!

In Taoist terms, this means someone who "has skills but no principles," right?

Old Man Liu looked at Fu Yuan strangely for a long time before he said, "Yes, that group of people is called 'Quan Xing'. They are a group of lawless monsters who ignore the rules."

"Whole nature? Whole nature preserves its authenticity, unburdened by material things?"

Fu Yuan was surprised and asked, "Isn't this Yang Zhu's 'self-centered' doctrine? Mencius said, 'Yang Zhu's self-centered approach is without a ruler; Mo Zhu's universal love is without a father. Without a father and a ruler, one is like an animal.'"

Shouldn't the doctrine of "for myself" be avoided in the world?"

Old Man Liu said disdainfully, "There's no such thing as Quan Xing anymore these days. They're just a bunch of lustful bastards... Stay away from them from now on!"

Fu Yuanle said, "I'm not even an extraordinary person, so I can't be considered... I was just thinking, I've been learning etiquette for half a year, but I can't even calm my mind. Did I learn something wrong?"

Old Man Liu was stunned and said, "It's only been half a year, and you're already doubting yourself?"

"no!"

Fu Yuan shook his head and said seriously, "Of course I know that this is a long process of silent accumulation, waiting for the day when it will break out of the ground. Don't be impatient!

It's just that Confucianism has long since lost its true heritage. All of this is just my exploration and speculation. Without orthodox teachings, mistakes are inevitable... It's like planting crops; it's not enough to just plant the seeds; you have to cultivate them in the right way."

Old Man Liu understood and said, "Do you think your etiquette is not learned correctly?"

"At least not entirely!"

Fu Yuan pondered, "I use ritual to restrain my body, and once my body is restrained, I restrain my mind... I wonder if the body and mind are actually bound together, rather than in a sequential order."