Fan Li and Yan Hui were talking with Confucius, and suddenly heard someone talking outside, and Confucius smiled and said, "Zigong is here." ”

As he was talking, he saw a man walk in, about forty years old, with a white complexion, two eyes with a bright eye, wide sleeves hanging down to his knees, and a sword at his waist, chic and handsome, with a good demeanor. This is exactly the Zigong of Confucius's students who have the strongest knowledge and talent.

Zigong's surname is Duanmu, the name is given, the word Zigong, everyone generally calls him Zigong. Huaxia ethnic group, patriots in the late Spring and Autumn Period. Confucius's protégé, one of the ten philosophers of Confucius, and a disciple of "karma", Confucius once called it "the instrument of Hulian".

Zigong is famous for his words in the ten philosophers of Confucius, eloquent, eloquent, and has the ability to do things, and has served as the prime minister of Lu and Weiguo. He once sent an envoy once, messed up the Qi State, destroyed the Wu State, kept the Lu State, strengthened the Jin State, and finally made the Yue State hegemonic. We're going to get to that story in a moment.

Zigong is also good at business, once did business between Cao and Lu, and was rich and rich, and was the richest man among Confucius's disciples. The folk are known as the "Duanmu legacy", which refers to the atmosphere of honest business left by Zigong, which has become the god of wealth believed by the Chinese people. Zigong is good at business and believes in the creed of "a gentleman loves money and takes it in the right way", which was respected by the business community in later generations. and became the originator of Confucian merchants.

At this time, Zigong was the prime minister in the country of Lu, and had just returned from the next dynasty, and heard that Fan Li, a famous man in the south of the Yangtze River, had visited, so he hurried to meet.

Entering the door, Zigong hurriedly walked a few steps and paid homage to Confucius: "I have seen the teacher." ”

Confucius smiled back: "Given, I haven't seen a distinguished guest, this is a famous man in the south of the Yangtze River, and Fan Li, the general of the Yue Kingdom, is also." ”

Zigong hurriedly saluted Fan Li, and Fan Li returned the salute and admired each other.

Zigong said: "Young Uncle Ling's name is widely spread all over the world, Duanmu has admired it for a long time, and it is a blessing to meet today!" ”

Fan Li bowed down and said: "Mr. Zigong follows the teacher, his achievements are extremely high, Fan Li and Mr. have been friends for a long time!" ”

Confucius smiled and said, "Gift, the young uncle gave me the sacred relics of the ancestors today, come and pay respects." ”

Zigong, like Confucius, belonged to the same Huaxia clan and was a remnant of the Yin Shang dynasty. So Confucius said so.

Zigong walked over, looked at the wine vessel given by Fan Li with a solemn expression, and then couldn't help but pay homage.

After worshipping, everyone sat down around Confucius again. Confucius stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Today is a good day, I am so happy that distinguished guests have come to visit and brought the sacred relics of the ancestors." ”

Fan Li said: "Can the teacher not regard Fan Li as a guest." Although Fan Li was trained by his mentor Wenzi, he just listened to the teacher's discussion and found that although the ideological and academic values of Confucianism and Taoism are different, the ultimate goal pursued is the same. It's all for the sake of all beings in the world to live a peaceful life. Therefore, Fan Li is willing to perform the gift of a disciple for the teacher. ”

Confucius said happily: "Confucius and Shaobo can only be said to learn from each other. I found that the three of you have your own characteristics. Poor but not flattering, Yan Hui also. Rich but not arrogant, beautiful but not floating, Fan Li also. Haha, hurry, hurry! ”

Zigong said: "Is it okay to be poor and not flattering, and rich but not arrogant? ”

Confucius nodded and said, "It's okay to be able to do this." But it is better to be poor but happy, and rich and prudent to follow etiquette. This is the highest state of being a human being. ”

Zigong said: "Duanmu often thinks about the teacher's reasoning in private. As for how to behave, you need to think about it from time to time. This is just like what the "Book of Songs" says: 'We should treat bones, horns, ivory, and jade as we do with them, and study them and ponder them', which is what it means, right? Teacher, am I right? ”

Confucius laughed and said, "Yes, you can understand from what I have already said that I have not yet said, and draw inferences from others." Not bad, not bad! I can talk to you about the Book of Songs. ”

Fan Li said: "Teacher, you regard being poor and willing to learn the Tao as the highest state of life. Fan Li wants to say that poverty is disgusted by people, can it really be poor and happy? Ask the teacher to explain. ”

Confucius pointed at Yan Hui and said, "Yan Yuan has the most say on this issue. Please tell me about it. ”

Fan Li turned to Yan Hui and said, "Please teach you." ”

Yan Hui said: "Whether poverty and wealth are related to Ledao depends on what you are pursuing?" If you are after money and beauty, and if you are after material comforts, poverty will not make you happy. If you are pursuing the Tao, then poverty and wealth have nothing to do with happiness. At the end of the day, joy and happiness are just human mental activities. There is no necessary connection with external things. Yan Hui used bamboo utensils to serve rice, scooped water with a gourd to drink, and lived in a simple alley, which was a difficult life that others could not bear, but Yan Hui was still very happy. Why? Because Yan Hui pursues the Tao! ”

Fan Li was convinced and said, "Xueyou said it very well. Then he asked Confucius, "Teacher, why is it that when you are rich, you can follow etiquette, which is also the highest state of life?" ”

Confucius smiled and said, "Among my students, Duanmu Ci is the biggest official and the richest. You should ask this question. ”

Fan Li said: "Can Zigong Xueyou guide the maze? ”

Zigong said: "Yan Yun: "For the rich is not benevolent." When people have money, they also have resources, such as relationships, information, connections, convenience, and time. In order to pursue more wealth, they will use these resources to make more wealth. And it is often at the expense of others and self-interest, unscrupulous means. Therefore, nine times out of ten, the rich people in the world are bad people. What is the hardest thing about being rich? It is to follow the way of heaven and act according to reason. Knowing the rules, abiding by the rules, and making money in a good way is the most difficult. When the rich are able to do this, they have reached the highest level of being a human being. That's why the teacher said, rich and courteous. ”

Fan Li praised: "High theory! Fan Li was taught. ”

Confucius said: "Today we have a happy conversation, let's have a meal and a drink together." Let's talk. ”

So someone passed the word down, and after a while, the wine and food were delivered, Confucius sat as the chairman, Fan Li sat in the guest seat, and Yan Hui Zigong sat in the accompanying seat. Eating and drinking and chatting, it's not a lot of fun.

Suddenly, Confucius shouted, "Stop! ”

Everyone looked back and saw a disciple hurriedly passing by the front of the hall, hearing the teacher's call, and hurriedly stopped. I saw this person, his clothes were soaked, and even his hair was wet.

Confucius stepped forward from the table and asked, "What's the matter with you?" Wet like this? ”

The student said, "Teacher, someone just fell into the deep water, and I went down and brought him up." ”

Confucius smiled. Nodding approvingly, "You're doing the right thing." But why do you panic as if you have done something bad? ”

The student said, "Teacher, I did something wrong. The family of the man who fell into the water had to give me a cow as a thank you, and I couldn't refuse, so I had to accept it. I know it's not right to give favor, and people will talk about it. Ask the teacher to criticize. ”

Confucius exclaimed, "Boy, you are right, you are doing the right thing. This will allow more people to be rescued from the overboard. Because after saving people, they can receive money when they give them. So if someone falls into the water, there will be someone willing to save them. Therefore, we should not care about what others say, but look at the objective effect produced. Oops, you're going to get cold. Come, there is wine, drink two bowls to warm up. ”