Fan Li met Confucius, and after the salute was finished, he and Yan Hui sat beside Confucius and listened to the teachings.

Confucius said: "What is the young man doing when he goes north this time? ”

Fan Li said: "Fan Li got a wine vessel by chance, it is estimated that some years, this thing may have something to do with the teacher, especially take the opportunity to go north on business, dedicated to the teacher." ”

Confucius smiled and said, "I don't know what kind of antiquity it is, please take it and see it." ”

Fan Li took out a cloth bag from his side, opened it slowly, and a wine bottle with a simple shape and green patina appeared. He sent it to Confucius and said, "Teacher, please see." ”

Implicit in the book. Fan Li got the secret of Shaojiang's treasure, according to the secret instructions, and sure enough, he found a cave in Heilongkou, he lit a torch, went into the cave to search, and found a large number of gold, silver, jewelry, and utensils in the Yin Shang era, he selected a few things that could be used to take it with him, and then closed the cave as it was, and then hit the horse to the north.

Confucius's ancestors were the clans of the Shang Dynasty, that is, his ancestors were Shang Dynasty nobles, and the Shang Dynasty monarchs were his own family. By the time of the Zhou Dynasty, he was sealed in the Song Kingdom, so he can be said to be a descendant of the nobility of Yin Shang (Huaxia).

The treasure obtained by Fan Li was hidden by the royal family of the Shang Dynasty. These are the things that Confucius's ancestors used. Therefore, Fan Li said that this thing should be related to Confucius.

Confucius picked up the bronze wine bottle, and he saw a clear Yin character on the bottom of the wine bottle. That is to say, this is an item after the twentieth king of the Shang Dynasty, Pangeng, moved his capital to Yindi.

Confucius's eyes shone brightly, and a respectful and solemn expression appeared on his face. He asked Fan Li: "Where did the young uncle get this holy relic?" ”

Fan Li said: "Back then, King Wu and King Su fought in Muye, won a complete victory, captured Chaoge, and King Su burned himself to death. While cleaning the battlefield, he discovers that the treasury treasures have been stolen. Later, someone was sent to investigate the matter. But there has been no news for hundreds of years. On the way north, the students heard this story at the Taohua Ferry of the Yangtze River, got a little information, and got this wine vessel. ”

Confucius looked solemn and said, "This should be the thing of the ancestors of Confucius." For Confucius, it is a holy relic, please allow Confucius to worship the holy relic first, and then talk to the young uncle. ”

Confucius got up, respectfully raised his hands above the top, solemnly offered it on the offering table, then lit the fire and burned incense, took three steps back, knelt with a long bow, and prostrate. Then he got up and prostrated again. Nine times.

This is the most solemn ceremony performed by the king to worship heaven and earth and ancestors during the national sacrifice ceremony. Yan Hui and Fan Li also visited with Confucius.

After the visit, Confucius showed a pleading look and said: "Young uncle and nephew, you got this holy relic, Confucius has a reluctant request, can you lend me this holy relic for a period of time, and then return it to you?" ”

Confucius called Fan Li a virtuous nephew because Confucius and Fan Li's teacher Ji Ran Wenzi had a relationship.

Ji Ran was a native of Kuiqiu in the Song Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period. His ancestors were fallen nobles who fled from the Jin Kingdom to the Song Kingdom. He looks mediocre and dull on the outside, but he is very studious and well-read since he was a child. As people often say, a wise man is foolish. Always observe and learn from nature, and be good at knowing the development law of things and other people's thoughts from the beginning of things. He was erudite and knowledgeable in everything about astronomy and geography.

Because he is upright, loves mountains and rivers, and often travels by boat. He refused to take the initiative to lobby, recommended himself to the princes, and did not want to accept apprentices. Therefore, although he is the best in the world, he is not known to the world. Later, when he traveled south to the Yue Kingdom, he accepted Fan Li as an apprentice. Fan Li once wanted to recommend him to the king of Yue, but he said to Fan Li: The king of Yue is a human being, with a long-necked beak, and can share hardships and hardships, not prosperity and happiness. In his later work with King Yue, Fan Li repeatedly verified that Ji Ran's evaluation of King Yue was very correct. This also laid the groundwork for Fan Li's successful retirement after his return to China.

Ji Ran Wenzi and Confucius were both under the disciple of Lao Tzu Li Er, and they both went to the Zhou room many times to greet Lao Tzu. The two are classmates, so Confucius called Fan Li a virtuous nephew.

At this time, Fan Li said respectfully: "Why did the teacher say this!" This thing was originally the ancestor of the teacher, and the teacher was its owner, and Fan Li kept it for a period of time. Now is the time for things to be returned to their rightful owners. ”

Confucius was overjoyed. The mouth is full of thanks. Confucius said: "The gift of the young man is emotional. Don't know what Kongqiu can do for you? ”

Fan Li bowed and said, "The teacher is polite." Fan Li didn't dare to bother the teacher, but he was a little confused in his heart, hoping to get the teacher's guidance. ”

As soon as Confucius heard Fan Li ask, his interest came. said: "If there is any problem with the young uncle, let's discuss it together." ”

Fan Li said: "Just now a few students were sitting, and the teacher asked everyone to talk about their ambitions. Zeng Zi said: What I thought in my heart was that when the weather warmed up in late spring, I took off my winter clothes and my spring clothes were already on. I invited five or six adults, with six or seven teenagers, to bathe in the Yi River, and then blew the wind on the sacrificial dance platform, and then walked home with everyone talking, laughing, singing, and singing. The teacher listened to Zengzi's answer, sighed and said, "That's a good thing." I'm in favor of Zeng's idea! Fan Li couldn't figure it out, why did the teacher take such an ordinary thing so seriously? ”

Yan Hui said: "Teacher, I haven't thought it through either. ”

Confucius twisted his beard and smiled, and said, "Let me ask you first, about a few adults, with a few children, to bathe in the river carefree, blow the wind, talk and laugh, and sing songs and go home." Is it a good day? ”

Fan Li said: "Of course this day is very happy. ”

Confucius said, "So, let me ask you, have you ever had such a happy time?" ”

Fan Li thought about it seriously and said: "Teacher, although Fan Li has become the prime minister of the country, he has been constantly troubled, and he has never had such a happy time. ”

Yan Hui said, "I don't have either." ”

Confucius said, "I have never had such a happy time. Not only a few of us, but also all over the world, from the princes and nobles, down to the common people, who can live such a carefree and worry-free life? And what are we looking for, day and night? Isn't it just that we and the people of the world can live such happy days? ”

Confucius's words sounded calm and uneventful. But it still made Fan Li feel greatly shocked. I have worked hard for decades, and in the final analysis, it is precisely to live a carefree life. When he found that no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't live a carefree life, so he had the idea of retreating and wanted to get rid of the red dust and live in seclusion in the mountains and forests, but the goal did not change, and he still pursued four words: carefree!

Fan Li let out a long sigh. He bowed deeply to the end and said, "Teacher, I understand!" ”

I was really chatting, and I suddenly heard someone outside the door shouting: "Teacher, Duanmu is here!" ”

Confucius applauded and laughed: "Haha, my poorest students and the richest students are here!" ”