Fan Li is a successor of Taoism, and Yan Hui is the first important figure of Confucianism he came into contact with. Through Yan Hui's words and deeds, as well as some small things in life, he deeply felt the spirit of Confucian disciples who actively applied knowledge and learning.

Compared with Confucianism, Taoism studies the laws of the operation of heaven and nature, the relationship between man and nature, and points out the harm of human development and progress to human beings themselves. It is proposed that governing the world should reach a very high level of rule by inaction. Be as careful as you would if you were cooking small fish.

Taoism is broad and profound, and it is extremely subtle. It is difficult for ordinary people to learn and apply.

Confucianism studies how to deal with the relationship between people, and Confucius founded the doctrine of benevolence, which can correctly handle the relationship between people, and do not impose on others what you do not want to do.

This theory, which is based on filial piety, is simple and straightforward, and everyone can understand and apply it. The village husband Li Shu and the peddler pawn are all easy to understand and accept. It is not surprising that Confucianism became the dominant ideology for more than 2,000 years.

What touched Fan Li the most was that although a character like Yan Hui was very poor in life, he was still optimistic, cheerful, positive, and happy to read and study. This kind of state is not something that can be achieved by just one person.

Fan Li's visit made Yan Hui very happy, and he said to the woman: "You go and boil some hot water for Mr. Fan Li to drink, he is not used to drinking cold water." You scoop a scoop of cold water for me to drink first, I'm a little thirsty. ”

Emei went out and brought a gourd scoop, half of which was cold water. Yan Hui took it, took a few sips very gently, handed it to Emei, and said, "I'm done." ”

Then he said to Fan Li: "Doing funerals for others, although it is not heavy work." But it's very painstaking, you have to say a lot of things, and sometimes you have to do it yourself to show them so that they can learn along with it. So it's easy to get thirsty. ”

Fan Li didn't understand this, so he asked: "Mr. Yan Hui, you and your classmates are keen to preside over and organize these affairs for everyone, the main purpose is to earn expenses or something else?" ”

Yan Hui smiled and said, "Sir, the purpose of our doing these things, earning labor fees is only a small part of it. Weddings and funerals are major events in life, and we preside over these things for everyone, we can promote a kind of thought and concept, help you deal with the relationship between the monarch and the minister, father and son, husband and wife, friends, etc., and you can also learn to practice some etiquette and so on. It boils down to one word, as a means of educating the population. ”

Fan Li smiled, nodded approvingly, and said: "I understand, there are still some estrangements between family, relatives and friends, and you can also use this opportunity to eliminate the estrangement and achieve harmony." ”

Yan Hui said happily: "What Mr. said is too good, because the joy and funeral is a major event, and it is a festival of life, and it can really resolve the contradictions that have been gathered for many years." Bridging the gap between family and friends. There's also a big role to play here. It is the good style, good character and good tradition of the ancestors, which are amplified and revealed through a series of etiquette, which can be well taught to future generations. Let everyone know what is right and wrong, good and evil. Teach everyone to turn to good and avoid evil. ”

Fan Li sighed and said: "For everyone to live in peace and stability, you Confucians are really well-intentioned." ”

Emei held a bowl of hot water, put it in front of Fan Li, and said, "Sir, please drink saliva and moisten your throat before talking." ”

Fan Li looked at the bowl, it was not a bowl of water, but with some sauce, he didn't know what was put here.

Yan Hui saw Fan Li's doubts, and explained with a smile: "Sir, don't laugh, my family is poor." I couldn't afford to buy tea, so my wife put a little pot in it when she boiled water, which was a little better than plain water. ”

E's face was a little red, but she immediately calmed down. He smiled and said, "Sir, take a sip and taste it, if you don't like it, Emei will go and bring you some white water." ”

Fan Li picked up the bowl and took a shallow sip, the boiling water in the pot still had a faint fragrance: "Well, it's delicious!" It has a special flavor than tea. ”

Yan Hui laughed and said: "This thing is not on the table, it can only be used to entertain good friends, ordinary guests, I can only entertain with boiled water." ”

Fan Li was also a little thirsty along the way, drank a few sips of pot tea in a row, and said with a smile: "Mr. Yan Hui is really refreshing, Fan Li thank you for not treating me as an outsider." ”

Yan Hui said: "You treat me as a brother first, you came to my house and bought a large piece of meat, I am so happy in my heart, to tell you the truth, I haven't eaten meat for a few months." ”

Fan Li was so moved in his heart that not only his eyes were damp. He had never met such a clear-hearted person. said: "When I met Mr. Yan Hui, being able to talk to you is the greatest blessing in Fan Li's life." ”

Emei said, "You talk slowly, I'll cook." He said to Yan Hui, "Sir, do you want to buy some more dishes?" ”

Yan Hui touched his waist and said, "I don't have a penny on me, what kind of food do I buy?" Isn't there meat brought by Mr. Fan Li? We eat meat! ”

E's eyebrows were not as frank as Yan Hui's, and her face was slightly red, as if she was ashamed of her poverty. Silently went out to cook.

Yan Hui shook his head, sighed slightly, and said, "Let you see you laugh, it's really a woman's family, it seems that my Yan Hui is poor and deserves to be ashamed of doing bad things." I can't even teach my own wife. It can be seen that a person's influence is limited. ”

Fan Li didn't know what to say. After pausing for a while, he said, "Mr. Yan Hui, Fan Li is going north this time, hoping to pay homage to the master and listen to his teachings, can you recommend me?" ”

Yan Hui became happy and said loudly: "This is a great thing. I have been following Master for decades, and I feel that I have worked very hard, but when I see Master, I still respect him more and more, Master is a mountain, I am a grain of dust, Master is the sea, I am a drop of water. ”

Fan Li said: "There is one more thing to ask for, please be sure to agree." ”

Yan Hui said: "You're welcome, you and I are brothers, good friends, if you have something to say, say it directly." ”

Fan Li said: "Fan Li, like Mr., is also a poor man, but I still have a few small amounts of money on me, and I dare not enjoy it for myself, and I want to share it with Mr. I would like to make this reluctant request, and I beg you to grant it. As he spoke, he pulled out a handful of silver horns beside him. Place on the table.

Yan Hui was stunned for a moment, looked at Fan Li, shook his head, and said after a while: "Sir, if Yan Hui had accepted help from others, he would not be so poor." I have thousands of classmates and friends, and they are all kind to me, especially Duanmu, who often asks me for financial support, but I refuse. ”

Fan Li looked ignorant and blurted out, "Why?" ”

Yan Hui said: "If the life is too comfortable, it will affect the recuperation of the heart." ”

Fan Li said: "Mr. is trying to reject me? ”

Yan paused and said, "No, I accepted Mr.'s funding, because I like you too much and don't want you to disappoint." ”

Emei brought the food, sure enough, there was only a large plate of meat, the rice was dry rice made of millet rice, golden millet rice, wafting with fragrance, there was probably only one bowl, which was used by Fan Li, and Yan Hui used bamboo baskets to serve rice. The bamboo basket is to cut a section of thick bamboo and use it as a vessel for rice.

This meal was the best meal Fan Li had ever had.