novelAbuy Chapter 8 Universal Love and Mutual Benefit
Chapter 8 Universal Love and Mutual Benefit
Li Zhi remained calm, picked up his chopsticks, and gracefully took a small piece of tomato, putting it into his mouth.
She ate with great elegance, her lips slightly pursed as she chewed slowly.
Her movements stopped abruptly.
The unique sweet and sour taste burst on her tongue; it was a flavor she had never tasted before.
First comes a refreshing tartness, followed by a gentle sweetness, and finally, a lingering aftertaste with a hint of the unique fragrance of tomatoes.
The thick sauce perfectly coats the tender scrambled eggs, making them melt in your mouth.
She swallowed slowly and remained silent for a moment.
"It really is delicious." She looked up and said calmly, "It tastes better than what my family cooks make."
She spoke in a flat tone, but Wang Zhihuan noticed a subtle change in her voice.
Her left hand, which had been resting gently on her knee, now naturally rested her elbow on the edge of the stone table, her fingertips casually touching.
This is a posture that only occurs when the body feels relaxed.
Sizi looked up from her rice bowl, a grain of rice still stuck to the corner of her mouth, and added in a childish voice, "Big sister!"
Now you should believe what Sizi said, right?
"Sizi doesn't lie; the food cooked by the handsome potty is the best!"
Li Zhi didn't reply, but silently picked up his second chopstick.
During the meal, Wang Zhi didn't say much.
He observed the two sisters' drastically different dining styles:
The ox-headed chicken devoured the food like a whirlwind, leaving rice grains stuck to the tip of its nose, thoroughly enjoying itself.
Li Zhi chewed his food slowly and thoroughly, making sure each bite was fully chewed.
This is not a deliberately feigned elegance, but a long-cultivated habit that is ingrained in one's bones.
He had seen similar situations when he was interning at a hospital in his previous life. They were either from families with very strict rules, and their eating etiquette was ingrained in their instincts.
Either your body needs it, or you must chew slowly to aid digestion.
Her complexion was indeed fair, and her lips were also rather pale.
This is a sign that the body's Qi and blood are not sufficient.
However, this is not something he should be worrying about right now.
At this moment, he was just a farm owner, not a doctor.
After finishing his meal, Wang Zhi went to the kitchen and took out a small earthenware jar.
"This is homemade tomato sauce, made from tomatoes. It can be used to mix with rice, dip steamed buns, or mix with vegetables. It tastes pretty good. If sealed properly, it can be stored for more than half a year," he explained.
Li Zhi took the pottery jar, opened the wooden stopper, brought it close and took a gentle sniff, then looked up at him.
"Young Master Wang, may I have this jar of sauce?"
"Why can't I give this away? Take it if you like."
"Thank you." She held the unremarkable pottery jar in both hands and placed it carefully on her lap.
Then she asked a question, a very crucial question.
"My lord, on my way here, I saw your tenants working by the fields. I overheard them chatting and they said that the rent for your land is 20% lower than elsewhere."
You teach them new farming methods without charging a penny. You treat people's illnesses without charging a cent. And this magical jar of sauce, you just gave it away like that.
She paused, her clear gaze fixed on Wang Zhihuan. "I want to ask, you do all this not for money, not for reward, so what exactly are you after?"
The courtyard suddenly fell silent.
Only the wind rustling through the leaves of the jujube tree made a soft, rustling sound.
Wang Zhi leaned back, relaxing his body against the back of the chair.
The fact that this question came from her suggests that she is particularly concerned about "what's the point?"
However, this makes sense. In such a prestigious family, every matter seems to have a price tag, and everyone's actions seem to be driven by a motive.
The sudden appearance of someone who neither seeks wealth nor profit is suspicious and makes people want to investigate.
He thought for a moment and answered seriously:
"Madam Li, it's a long story. When I was about seven or eight years old, I had a very serious illness and almost didn't make it."
Later, I was lucky enough to recover, and I often think that if the doctor who saved my life had thought about "what benefit I would gain from saving this child" before performing the treatment, I probably wouldn't be here now.
Li Zhi listened quietly without making a sound, but a slight ripple of emotion seemed to appear deep within his eyes.
"In this life, there are some things you don't have to do for any particular reason. If you see someone who is hungry, you can simply give them a bite to eat."
If you see someone is sick, help them treat them to the best of your ability. Not because you're calculating what they might do for you in the future, but simply because you saw it, you happened to have the ability, so you lent a hand.
Mencius said, "The heart of compassion is inherent in all people." I believe that if a person lacks this most basic compassion, then they cannot be considered a complete human being.
He picked up the rough earthenware teacup on the table, took a sip of water, and continued:
"To put it more broadly, Mozi said, 'Love each other universally and benefit each other.' The original intention of people treating each other kindly was not for the purpose of exchanging benefits."
Rather, when you treat others well, they receive that kindness and may reciprocate by treating others with kindness in return. This spreads kindness, eventually creating a positive atmosphere where everyone can live a better life.
I am now teaching the tenants how to grow new rice. If one person grows it well, his family might have enough to eat. If ten people grow it well, ten families might be spared from famine.
If one day, all the fields in the world could be planted with this high-yield rice, then perhaps no one in the world would ever have to go hungry again.
He spoke in a calm tone, yet Li Zhi felt a strange, serene power in his voice.
She couldn't help but press on, her voice becoming more serious than before: "What you said, Lord Wang, shows that you care about all people and have a broad mind."
However, there are many poor scholars and hungry people in the world. Even if there are good people, they still need spacious houses to shelter them and to ensure they have enough to eat and wear.
Such a grand aspiration is almost akin to the benevolence of a saint. Doesn't it seem too far-fetched and too difficult for you, young man, to accomplish it all by yourself?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhihuan looked up at her, then gazed at his own simple yet tidy courtyard, and at the figures working diligently in the fields in the distance.
He didn't answer immediately, but unconsciously tapped the rough pottery teacup lightly with his fingers, his gaze calm, as if he were carefully considering his words.
After a moment, he spoke slowly, his tone carrying a simple and frank quality:
"Lady Li said she was 'almost a saint,' but that's too much to say. A saint is selfless and benefits all generations."
I'm just an ordinary person; I have selfish desires, I get tired, and I'm careful about how much I have left.
He paused, as if searching for a more precise expression.
"But in my heart, I set a standard for myself. This standard doesn't measure what I can get, but what I 'should' do."
It taught me that in this life, one shouldn't just focus on what's right under one's nose. If you see something and it's within your power, then reach out and lend a helping hand.
It's like seeing your neighbor's house on fire. You have a bucket of water, but you can't just pick up the bucket and turn around and go home because you're thinking, "This bucket of water won't put out the whole fire" or "What good will it do me to save their house?"
"This ruler represents my aspirations and direction. It stands there as a reminder not to live too narrowly or too solitarily."
But I also know that it is a "benchmark", a goal to strive for, not a paving stone that you have to step on perfectly every time.
To achieve perfection is the mark of a saint, something I neither can nor desire, because it's too exhausting. For me, ease and comfort are what I seek.
If I can achieve even one or two things that bring some peace of mind to myself and those around me, then I feel that establishing it wasn't in vain.