Lao Tzu once said, "There is no greater misfortune than dissatisfaction, and no greater blame than desire, so contentment is always sufficient." The meaning of this sentence is that we should know how to be content and happy, cherish what we have, and not lose ourselves for those nihilistic things. In the late Qing Dynasty, there was a person named Hu Xueyan, whose life was very legendary, born in a poor family, and became the richest man in the late Qing Dynasty by his own efforts.
This person is very good at being a person and doing things, and he also knows how to seize opportunities, so he makes a fortune by his own strength. However, in the later period, Hu Xueyan destroyed the business empire he had built in order to seek higher profits. When he was dying, what did this sentence mean when he warned his descendants, "Do not approach the white tiger"?
Start from scratch
Speaking of Hu Xueyan, in fact, he was born in a rural family, because his family was poor, so he was able to endure hardships since he was a child. When he was 12 years old, his father died, and in order to make ends meet, he went out to work at a young age.
In order to survive, Hu Xueyan did a lot of work, and finally stayed in a place called "Xinhe Qianzhuang". In the few years of Qianzhuang, he worked hard and did a lot of things steadily, and after three years of hard work, he finally changed from an apprentice to a formal partner.
Because Hu Xueyan is patient, flexible and studious, he has been loved by the treasurer of Qianzhuang. Because the treasurer had no children and no daughters in his family, he handed over the money to Hu Xueyan before he died. So he jumped from an unknown guy to a treasurer.
However, Hu Xueyan was able to have the status at that time, or thanks to his diligence, but also thanks to his opportunity. Because he himself has spent so many years of poor life, knows what he wants, and knows what he should do, so as long as he has the opportunity, he will do well and get the approval of others.
Meet the nobles and become the richest man
Of course, Hu Xueyan's becoming the treasurer of Qianzhuang is only a small step on his way to becoming the richest man. In fact, on the road of his development, he met two nobles, and it was precisely because he himself had the insight to see people and worked hard to build a good relationship with these two that he could have later achievements.
This first nobleman was called Wang Youling. Although Wang Youling was born in a family of official eunuchs, by his generation, he was already very sloppy. Although Wang Youling was talented, he had no money to dredge the official road, so he could only wander around the liquor store and tea house from time to time, doing nothing.
Because Wang Youling is full of poetry and books, he has a shelf of readers, who is arrogant and arrogant, and does not like to interact with people, so he is always a person. At this time, Hu Xueyan knew him and was still very friendly to Wang Youling, often caring for him and helping him.
When he learned that Wang Youling's family was poor and could not fulfill his wish to become an official, Hu Xueyan raised 500 taels of silver to help him. At that time, Hu Xueyan was also very difficult, and he borrowed so much silver. Wang Youling was very touched, and promised that if he came out one day, he would not forget this grace.
It was this money that helped Wang Youling and made his own deeds in the imperial court. Of course, after the success, Hu Xueyan was not forgotten. He used his position to help Hu Xueyan set up his own portal, open a money bank, and run a business. Hu Xueyan himself is also very business-minded, and the business is in full swing.
After Wang Youling's death, Hu Xueyan quickly became acquainted with Zuo Zongtang, and under the protection of Zuo Zongtang, Hu Xueyan's wealth was more and he became the richest man; at the same time, when Zuo Zongtang was fighting the rebellion on the frontier, Hu Xueyan prepared grain, grass, and arms for him in the rear to help him successfully suppress the rebellion in western Xinjiang. Zuo Zongtang, who returned from victory, did not forget Hu Xueyan's kindness, and with the help of Zuo Zongtang, Hu Xueyan entered the official field and became an envoy and an official residence.
Once the dynasty falls, warn your descendants not to approach the white tiger.
But no one is always smooth sailing, and Hu Xueyan's good luck seems to be coming to an end. At that time, the Qing Dynasty was weak, coupled with the struggle between Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang, as Zuo Zongtang's staff, Hu Xueyan was certainly not exempt from implication.
In the eighth year of Guangxu, the curtain of a large commercial war between China and foreign countries was opened, and Hu Xueyan, as a businessman, saw the huge profits, of course, high profits must be accompanied by high risks, but Hu Xueyan was still attracted by this huge profit and began to buy a large number of new silk.
But in this business war, Hu Xueyan was not as lucky as before. At that time, the harvest of raw silk in Europe, coupled with the war, the market suddenly changed, and this batch of silk was accumulated in the hands of Hu Xueyan. Coupled with the struggle between Zuo and Li, many pairs of families took advantage of the situation to squeeze Hu Xueyan, and in less than a year, Hu Xueyan's painstaking wealth was destroyed.
After the defeat, Hu Xueyan was hit hard, and later, before he died, he called all his descendants to his side and warned them: "Don't go near the white tiger." So what exactly does this sentence mean?
In fact, the meaning of "white tiger" is the meaning of money, "do not enter" is not to indulge in it, Hu Xueyan these four words are to tell his descendants not to be greedy for money, and to accumulate a certain amount of wealth. Money can never be earned in a person's life, and the goal of our struggle is not just to become rich. There are many ways to choose in life, there are many ways to get glory, don't miss Qingqing's life because of money
Hu Xueyan also warned his descendants not to be trapped in the road of commerce in an era when businessmen were not valued. The four words "don't go near the White Tiger" can be said to have exhausted all of Hu Xueyan's heartache, of course, his descendants also listened to his admonitions, and almost no one did business.
brief summary:
In fact, Hu Xueyan's failure was already doomed, on the one hand, after having a lot of wealth, the desire would grow, and he would pursue more money and profits; on the other hand, in the society at that time, the Qing court was not able to succumb to the oppression of foreign invaders, and the infighting in the imperial court was obvious, and as a giant, it would definitely be oppressed.
But no matter what, in his limited life, Hu Xueyan won great wealth and won a lot of glory, even if he failed, he also did some things for the imperial court and the people, which has been remembered by many people. The final "Don't Go Near the White Tiger" is not only a warning to his children and grandchildren, it is very meaningful to each of us, too greedy for money.
In fact, in our lives, there are too many things, too many things are attractive, sometimes for the things they like or pursue are addicted to it, and finally they have no way to get out of it. Shakespeare once said, "Poor and contented can beat the rich; if the rich man is constantly worried that he will one day become poor, then even if he has unlimited wealth, he is actually as poor as winter." "In life, there will always be some regrets, don't pursue everything, don't want any desire to be satisfied, be content and happy, keep your own heart, such a life is the most comfortable!"