Master Kong Zhongni

Chapter 236

In the evening, Zaiyu Xiaozhai in Qufu.

Since Zaiyu was appointed Doctor Tuqiu, Lu Hou ordered him to renovate his residence in Qufu.

It's just that Zaiyu repeatedly declined. Later, he defeated the Qi army in the Battle of Dayeze, and Lu Hou brought up the story again. Zaiyu wanted to accept it.

But then he remembered what Qu Boyu had said to him.

So he asked Marquis Lu that it would be enough to fill in the leaks in the house and build a low wall around the house.

Feiyi Zaigong Shanbuxuan stood on the side of the street, looking at the unremarkable old house in front of him, he couldn't help but curiously asked the gatekeeper who was waiting outside the door.

"Zai Zi is now a senior official of the Lu State, and if he continues to live in such a place, isn't he afraid that the middle school officials will laugh at him for being stingy?

With such a noble status, but committing himself to such a humble mansion, Zaizi, as a great traveler of our country, doesn't he care about the impact on our country's reputation when interacting with princes? "

When the gatekeeper heard Gongshan Buxuan's question, he just replied respectfully.

"You're not the first to ask that question, I've asked him that too.

It's just that my master replied: "When I was poor and humble, I was just an ordinary elementary school student. If I could eat two hot millet meals on time after reading "Poems" and "Books" every day, I would already feel that I am a child. I am content.

Now, although I hold such a high position as a senior doctor and represent the country and exercise such a key official position as a Da Xingren, the granaries contain more food than generations can eat, and my words and deeds can decide the life and death of hundreds of households in Tuqiu.

With my wealth and power at my height, how dare I not be more cautious?
Once upon a time, Dong Luzi of Qi State was begging on the street and met someone who knew him.

The man asked Dong Luzi curiously: You used to be the assistant minister of Qi State, but now, why have you fallen into such a situation?

Dong Luzi sighed and said: I have been a prime minister for six years, but I have never recommended anyone.I've had 3000 million twice and I haven't made a single person rich.I have this end now, and this should be attributed to my ignorance of the law of changes in the luck of scholars!

It can be seen that the change of affairs is unpredictable, and the ups and downs are the law of fate.

It is possible to accumulate wealth comparable to the country in a few years, and it can also be reduced to a naked beggar overnight.

He can occupy a high position like the prime minister when the fortune comes, and he can also become a prisoner with no name when the fortune is bad.

If Dong Luzi was rich, he could distribute the wealth to the poor people who were starving.

If he was a noble man, he could support the poor scholars who were poor and humble.

Then, when the fate reverses and the fortune changes, when Dongluzi encounters disasters and falls into the trough of life, can those scholars, gentlemen and working people who have been favored by him still ignore him and treat him begging along the street? Do you sit idly by?

I would like to take Dongluzi as a warning and share my wealth with others.

I only hope that when I beg on the street in the future, I can get two more mouthfuls of food from the hands of the common people. '"

Gong Shan didn't hear the words, he couldn't help being awe-inspiring, he lowered his head and sighed repeatedly: "Zaizi's virtuousness is beyond my reach!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, he saw that the threshold on the ground was new.

Gong Shan Buxuan couldn't help wondering: "This... Didn't Zaizi say that he won't renovate his mansion? But why is the threshold new?"

After hearing this, the gatekeeper just replied with a smile: "It is true that the lord does not want to renovate the mansion, but since he became a doctor of Lu State, the threshold has to be replaced."

Gong Shan didn't think about it for a while, thinking that there was something particular about it.

He asked, "Why is this? Is it a regulation in the Rites?"

The gatekeeper replied: "This is not a stipulation in the Rites, but has something to do with human nature."

"Oh?" Gongshan Buxuan cupped his hands and asked for advice, "I would like to hear more about it."

The gatekeeper said: "I heard that people's nature is to pay attention to what they hear and despise what they see. They pay attention to things in the distance and despise things around them.

Even if there is a sage and philosopher among the people who have been with him since childhood, people will often treat him with contempt and lack of courtesy and respect.

As for people living in other counties and other places, as long as they have a little bit of fame, they will stretch their necks, stand on tiptoes, longing for them day and night, eager to meet him.

But in fact, comparing and examining the length and inferiority of the two, it is likely that the people far away are not as good as the people around them.

Zaizi didn't become virtuous all of a sudden, he was already so virtuous long before he was named a doctor.

At that time, the neighbors and relatives who lived near him dismissed him, and often no one came to visit him for a month.

But after Zaizi became a doctor, the number of people who came to visit Zaizi was as numerous as fish in the river and leaves in the forest.

So many people came to visit suddenly that the threshold of the mansion was destroyed.

If these people could treat Zaizi with courtesy before he became famous, then why would they rush to line up outside the door with all kinds of expensive gifts under the scorching sun after he became famous? Standing in line, waiting to get acquainted with him?
That's why I said that the reason for changing the threshold is all about human nature. "

After hearing these words, Gongshan Buxuan was even more surprised.

"Oh! What a young man! I really didn't expect that even the gatekeeper in Zaizi's house has such profound knowledge.

With your talents, it's a pity to only do some jobs that welcome and send you off. Why don't you state your ambitions to Zaizi and change to other more promising jobs? "

The young man at the gate just smiled slightly: "I am different from a hero like you, Gongshanzi, my ambition is to perform sacrifices, treat guests, and make friends with wise men.

When I came to seek refuge with my brother, I had already stated my ambition to him. Now that I have got a job that suits me, why should I ask for a change? "

"Brother?"

When Gong Shan Buxuan heard this, he quickly bowed to him and said, "Unexpectedly, you are Zaizi's classmate, and I haven't asked for your name yet."

The gatekeeper replied: "Gongxi's name is Chi, and his name is Zihua."

Gongshan Buxuan is also an old man, once he heard that the other party was from the Gongxi family, he became familiar with the other party and developed a relationship with him.

"It turns out that you are also from the branch family of the public office. You are from the Gongxi family. I don't know what relationship you have with Gongxi Yuru?"

Gongxi Chi replied, "It's the clan brother."

Gong Shan Buxuan laughed loudly and said: "Gong Xizi's talent is already extraordinary, but he is already a sergeant when he is only thirty.

And Zihua, you are three points better than him.

At such a young age, he is so talented and eloquent.

Coupled with Zaizi's support and support, your future prospects are limitless! "

Gong Xichi is only in his teens, and Gong Shan has decades of flattering skills, how can he resist.

Facing the flattery of the other party, Gong Xichi had no choice but to blush and smile and said, "If you can learn three points of my senior brother's skill, you will benefit from it for the rest of your life. I really don't dare to ask extravagantly for getting support and so on."

After saying that, he hurriedly made way for Gongshan Buxuan.

"Gong Shanzi, Senior Brother has been waiting for you for a long time, please come in quickly."

Gong Shan nodded with a smile and didn't think much about it, but after saying goodbye, he walked in directly.

"Then say goodbye to you here."

"Gongshanzi, see you next time."

Seeing him enter the courtyard, Gong Xichi gently closed the door outside.

Then he came to Gongshan Buxuan's carriage with a smile, and spoke to his charioteer and servants.

"My lord told me before, that the house at home is low and humble, and there is no place to tie your horses to rest. It will be depressing for you to wait here. It is better to park your carts and horses under the willow tree opposite. In the city, everyone can find a rest to eat."

After saying that, Gong Xichi took out a small cloth bag from his bosom and handed it over.

"The lord entrusted me to give these knives and coins to you. Please take these and use them as drink money. I apologize, please forgive me."

At first the ruler and servants were reluctant to move, but when they saw the purse rattling in Gong Xichi's hand, they immediately burst into smiles.

"Oh! Zaizi is so polite. How can it be his fault that the mansion is low and there is no place for us to rest?"

"We're all villains, we're used to the wind and rain, so it doesn't matter if we wait here."

Seeing that they still refused to leave, Gongxi Chi could only pretend to be terrified that he would be punished for failing to complete his mission, and said to them.

"You are also scholars who cannibalize your salary. How can you easily abandon the entrustment of the lord? The lord ordered me to treat you, how can I watch you suffer in the cold wind?
Please don't refuse anymore, I will lead the way ahead, if you can't enjoy yourself today, it will be my dereliction of duty! "

The servants saw that he was so determined, and he had both food and money, so they didn't reply with a smile.

"Oh, I'll thank you then!"

Gong Xichi walked ahead with a smile, and his smile gradually faded into the shadows where no one could see.

The moon rose from the east, and the moonlight shone across the alley at the corner. In the darkness, something seemed to be shining with metallic luster.

When Gong Xichi crossed the end of the street, there was no one behind him.

Gong Xichi stopped, and just yelled lightly into the dark alley: "Don't hit too hard, just keep your mouth shut. Brother said, I want to live."

　I've lost my enthusiasm, and only a monthly pass can cure it.

　　——Excerpt from "Zaiyu's Diary"

　　
　
(End of this chapter)