PFC Chapter 390 Taking and Giving
Chapter 390 Taking and Giving
Zhen Xiaosi once suffered greatly due to the alienation and exclusion from her colleagues.
She was convinced that they were ill-intentioned; the men were yearning for what they couldn't have, and the women were jealous. The thought of spending a long time with these people made her feel as if the world had lost its light.
She was exceptionally talented and quickly caught the eye of the education group's top leader, but she unexpectedly rejected that recognition.
She nestled in a self-righteous sense of superiority, convinced that she was different from others and not someone who chased fame and fortune, but simply lamented her own inadequacy.
Until one day, Zi'an extended an olive branch to her, and she finally left her original school and went to the most prosperous city, only to fall into another predicament.
She gradually realized that in life, one must adhere to humility and courtesy, but also know how to seize opportunities. Especially when facing significant opportunities and responsibilities, the balance between the two is enough to make one ponder repeatedly.
When she first entered the system, she saw that her classmates, whose professional abilities were better than hers, were still teaching as substitutes and faced the dilemma of never being able to become permanent teachers. She felt ashamed, as if she had stolen resources that she did not deserve.
When her supervisor wanted to promote her, her first thought was: that English teacher had been vying for the vice principal position for years without success, and she had elderly parents and young children to support, and was always competitive; perhaps she should give this opportunity to Teacher Dong…
Beneath the paulownia tree in the courtyard, Zi'an approached with tea, and Xiao Sizi, who was sitting with a book in hand, opened her eyes...
Little Sizi: "Brother Zian just said, 'If you don't take what Heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences.' I feel like I only vaguely understand it. Is there a deeper meaning behind it?"
Zi An gently stroked his teacup: "Heavenly secrets are like dew, fleeting and hard to retain. These words not only teach people to be enterprising, but also to discern what Heaven bestows—sometimes it is fine wine, sometimes it is medicine. In the past, Fan Li observed the stars and knew that the power of Wu was waning. He strongly advised the King of Yue to lead his troops north, not out of greed for merit, but because he feared the backlash of Heaven's secrets."
Little Sizi: "So, some of the opportunities that we regret are actually calamities?"
Zi'an: "Indeed. The stone table reveals traces, what Heaven bestows is often not the glory and fortune of one person, but the entrustment of all people. Just like the surging tide, it can carry a boat or capsize it, depending entirely on whether the helmsman can understand the wind direction and the current."
Little Sizi: "If one encounters the opportune moment to seize power, yet remains humble and unassuming, what should one do then?"
Zi'an picked up a fallen crabapple petal: "The virtue of sharing pears lies in sharing them appropriately. If you see an old plum tree still strong after winter, and then give all the spring dew to the new buds, you will only ruin the vitality of the whole garden."
The key to success lies in transforming a solitary flower into a lush grove—for example, if the head of an academy reforms the educational system so that even children from humble backgrounds can study the classics, wouldn't that be far better than someone confined to their study?
Little Si Zi frowned in thought: "In the future, Si Zi also had an opportunity for recommendation, but after backing down, he realized many years later that he had wasted the opportunity, and thus suffered sleepless nights of hesitation..."
Zi'an smiled as he poured tea: "Look at the bright moon emerging from the clouds: its clear and bright light has neither pushed back the heavens nor obscured the stars. You should examine whether this opportunity is for personal gain or for public good, and consider whether you are a boat capable of bearing heavy burdens or an oar for ferrying people. If it is truly the will of the people, why not express your true intentions to everyone and discuss important matters together? Perhaps you could increase the number of places or jointly establish new rules, rather than clinging to a humble reputation and jeopardizing the overall situation."
Xiao Sizi's eyes brightened: "Sir, are you saying that taking or giving can both be achieved?"
Zi'an offered tea instead of wine to the bright moon: "How wise! Kong Rong gave away the pears, which was for his own personal enjoyment; but if we encounter a pear for the country, we should think about how to share its sweetness. It is certainly wrong not to take what Heaven has given us, but it is also a disaster to forcibly take it. Only by having a heart of reverence, distinguishing between truth and falsehood, and weighing public and private interests, can we live up to the way of Heaven and our own conscience."
A night breeze swept by, casting shimmering golden shadows of sycamore leaves across the ground.