| In the Warring States Period, in the state of Wei lived
a man called Leyangtsi. His wife was very angelic and
virtuous, who was loved and respected dearly by the husband.
One day, Leyangtsi found a piece of gold on his way
home, and he was so delighted that he ran home as fast
as he could to tell his wife. Looking at the gold, his
wife said calmly and gently, "As you know, it is
usually said that a true man never drink the stolen
water. How can you take such a piece of gold home which
is not yours?" Leyangtsi was greatly moved by the
words, and he immediately replaced it where it was.
The next year, Leyangtsi went to a distant place to
study classics with a talent teacher, leaving his wife
home alone. One day, his wife was weaving on the loom,
when Leyangtsi entered. At his coming, the wife seemed
to be worried, and she at once asked the reason why
he came back so soon. The husband explained how he missed
her. The wife got angry with what the husband did. Advising
his husband to be fortitude and not too indulged in
the love, the wife took up a pair of scissors and cut
down what she had woven on the loom, which made Leyangtsi
very puzzled. His wife declared, "If something
is stopped halfway, it is just like the cut cloth on
the loom. The cloth will only be useful if finished.
But now, it has been nothing but a mess, and so it is
with your study."
Leyangtsi was greatly moved by his wife. He left home
resolutely and went on with his study. He didn't return
home to see his beloved wife until gaining great achievements.
Afterwards, the story was often used as a model to
inspire those who would back out in competitions.
|
