The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 116 You are blocking my sunshine

Fang Xiaoru was impatient at first, but when he heard about Diogenes' behavior, his attitude changed.

He felt as if he had found a soulmate.

Chen Jingke ignored him and continued to tell his story slowly:
"Diogenes' behavior was spurned by everyone. Everyone did not understand him and abused him, but he never explained..."

Fang Xiaoru couldn't help it anymore and asked: "Why, why doesn't he take the opportunity to preach his way to the world?"

Chen Jingke replied: "The Tao is in your heart, why do you need to preach it?"

"He did all this just to practice his own way."

“Instead of using weird behavior to attract other people’s attention and then preach your own way.”

Fang Xiaoru fell silent.

In fact, a large part of his weird behavior is to attract other people's attention and then take the opportunity to promote his own ideas.

Comparing the two, Diogenes' realm far surpassed him.

When Chen Jingke saw that he stopped talking, he continued to preach:
"Slowly, people started to get to know him and discovered his way, and then they were inspired by him and joined in."

"These people also spontaneously preached His word for Him."

"And he himself has always been dismissive of this and still practices his own way."

“He even turned into a beggar and traveled around the country.”

“His reputation is getting better and better, more and more people know his ways, and more and more people are following him.”

“But more doubts followed.”

"A lot of people think he's pretending to be generous because he's lost it all."

"If he had everything, he would give up the so-called Word."

"He never tried to explain, he still went his own way."

Fang Xiaoru was completely attracted by the story, and even couldn't help but draw herself into Diogenes.

"There are many people who doubt him, including their country's monarch, Alexander the Great."

"One day, Alexander came to him and said he could fulfill any request he had."

"As long as he opens his mouth, money, beauty, and status will all come to him."

At this point, Chen Jingke stopped and asked, "Guess how Diogenes answered."

Fang Xiaoru held her hands hidden in her sleeves tightly, her breathing became rapid, and she said nervously:
"He...how did he answer?"

Chen Jingke said slowly: "Diogenes said, you are blocking my sunshine, please get out of the way."

"Huh." Fang Xiaoru exhaled a long breath, as if he had overcome the difficulty of life and death, with a satisfied expression on his face.

Chen Jingke knew that the story had worked, and he was very happy.

"Alexander the Great was silent for a long time and said: If I am not Alexander, then I must be Diogenes."

"This incident made Diogenes famous and made the world recognize his way."

"But he defecates everywhere, eats like a dog, and lives naked, which does affect the normal lives of others."

“So his followers eliminated the clutter and retained the essence, removing the eccentric ways of doing things and retaining the essence of his ideas.”

"This made his doctrine recognized by more people."

Fang Xiaoru was very dissatisfied and thought that the follower's move was redundant.

Chen Jingke could naturally see what he was thinking and asked, "Don't you agree?"

Fang Xiaoru said affirmatively: "Diogenes realized the Tao through his unique actions. If these are removed, is it still his Tao?"

Chen Jingke did not explain directly, but asked: "A gentleman is cautious about being alone, what's the explanation?"

Fang Xiaoru didn't know why he asked this question, but he explained:
"When you are alone, you should also stick to your heart."

Chen Jingke smiled and said: "I have also heard another interpretation, which is self and personality."

"A gentleman should maintain his own individuality and not follow the crowd of others."

"But if you have an overly assertive personality, you will become an outlier and even affect other people's lives, and you will be rejected by others."

"So be cautious about being alone."

"Be careful to maintain your independent personality, don't influence others, and don't become an outlier." "A gentleman should be cautious about independence, which means a gentleman must learn to be round on the outside and square on the inside."

"What do you think of this explanation?"

Fang Xiaoru was shocked at first, and subconsciously wanted to refute, but then fell into deep thought.

Chen Jingke picked up the teacup and sipped it, his throat moistened. He was thirsty after talking for so long.

After a while, when Fang Xiaoru had finished thinking, he put down the tea cup and continued:

"Just now you opposed his followers to eliminate the bad and retain the good. How is your behavior different from those Confucian scholars who defend Cheng and Zhu?"

“When Diogenes imparted his Word to others, it became not only his own Word, but the Word of all men.”

"Every person who studies is qualified to understand his Tao according to his own thoughts."

"The same is true for Confucius' Tao... Everyone is qualified to interpret the Confucian Tao."

"Cheng Zhu can do it, and so can you."

Fang Xiaoru's body trembled. These words were like a thunderbolt, shattering the fog in his mind and making him wake up completely.

Chen Jingke continued: "You don't need to forcefully preach your own way, just like Diogenes."

“He never preached his own way, and he never said anyone else’s way was wrong.”

"He just practices his own way."

“People who agreed with him gathered around him from all over the country to learn from him and help him preach his ways.”

“If your Tao is not good enough, no matter how much you say, no one will believe it.”

"If your Tao is in line with everyone's thoughts, it can resonate with everyone's hearts and even lead this era forward."

"Then you don't need to explain anything, and people will naturally believe you and help you spread the word."

Fang Xiaoru showed a bitter smile and murmured: "I see, I was wrong, I was too shallow."

"The Tao is within the heart, so there is no need to preach it or explain it."

But he immediately cheered up, stood up, bowed to Chen Jingke and said:
"Thank you, Teacher Chen, for your teaching. The students will remember it in their hearts."

The stone in Chen Jingke's heart fell completely to the ground, and he almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

But he still suppressed his excitement and said modestly:

"Mr. Fang, you must not do it. I am far inferior to you in terms of knowledge. And it is all my fault that you are doing this, so how dare you shamelessly take credit for it."

Fang Xiaoru insisted on bowing down and said: "I know Master Chen is trying to remind me, but I am too stupid to do this."

"Master Chen never gave up and once again helped me get rid of my inner demons. Yu Xizhi is truly a gift of renewal."

Chen Jingke felt excited for a moment. After all, who doesn't want to be a teacher?

But it was only for a moment, and then he said seriously:
"The most important thing about a gentleman's friendship is heart-to-heart communication, so why worry about addressing each other."

Fang Xiaoru followed his words and said, "In that case, why should Master Chen object?"

Chen Jingke's expression was calm: "A gentleman should be cautious about being alone."

Fang Xiaoru was stunned for a moment and then reacted immediately.

Just now, Chen Jingke said that a gentleman should be cautious about independence, because he is careful to maintain his own personality and not become an outlier.

So when used here, the meaning is that you don't want to attract attention.

Fang Xiaoru was a world-famous scholar. He called Chen Jingke Master Chen, but it was impossible not to attract attention.

After understanding this meaning, Fang Xiaoru admired him even more. This is called truly practicing one's own way.

"Okay, if you are brave enough, student, please call Master Chen Jingke."

"Don't call me Mr. Fang. If you don't want to give up, how about you call me Brother Fang?"

Chen Jingke smiled and said: "It's better this way, Brother Fang, I'm polite."

Fang Xiaoru raised his hand and returned the greeting: "Jing Ke, I'm polite."

Then the two looked at each other and smiled, and a tacit understanding emerged.

Sitting down again, Fang Xiaoru said curiously: "Jing Ke, I wonder what your path is?"

(End of this chapter)