Preamble:
In the vast river of history, there are always moments when the spark of wisdom inadvertently bursts out and illuminates the entire era.
These moments, which often take place in the most inconspicuous corners, are triggered by the most mundane characters.
And today, we are going to tell just such a story.
In this story, a great thinker, a young prodigy, and a chance encounter weave a story that has been passed down through the ages.
Let us follow the wheel of time, go back to that era full of wisdom and inspiration, and witness a legend about Confucius and Xiang Lu.
1. "Chance Encounter with a Prodigy: Confucius's Unexpected Joy"
The cold wind was bitter, and Confucius took his disciples and walked through the thick snow to a small village in the country of Ju.
Their clothes are thin, but the enthusiasm in their hearts is like a raging fire, burning with the pursuit of knowledge and the adherence to morality.
When the people of the village saw this group of strange scholars, they all cast curious glances.
Confucius smiled and explained his purpose to them, his voice gentle but firm, as if it could dispel the chill around him.
At this moment, a little boy appeared in Confucius' sight.
His eyes were bright and deep, as if he could see all the truth in the world.
This little boy is Xiang Lu.
He stood silently aside, listening to Confucius's words, nodding his head from time to time, as if pondering some profound question.
Attracted by his demeanor, Confucius stepped forward and asked softly, "Little friend, how do you feel about what I said?"
”
Xiang Lu raised his head and replied with a firm gaze: "Sir, I think that life is like a white horse, and we should work hard to cultivate ourselves, strive to enlighten the Tao as soon as possible, and benefit the world."
Confucius was shocked by these words, and he did not expect a seven-year-old child to have such profound insights.
He glanced at Xiang Lu deeply, and thought to himself: This child is definitely not a thing in the pool.
2. "Preaching in the Cold Winter: Confucius's Persistence and Helplessness"
Confucius's life in Ju was not easy.
Although his teachings were profound, they also offended many powerful people because of it.
In the state of Lu, he was imprisoned and forced to leave his homeland.
However, these setbacks did not defeat him.
He firmly believes that the real truth needs to be disseminated among the people.
So, he took a few faithful disciples and embarked on a journey to the east.
In the country of Ju, Confucius met all kinds of people.
Some welcomed his arrival, while others were suspicious of him.
But Confucius was not discouraged by this.
He remained committed to his preaching path, patiently explaining his teachings to people wherever he went.
His words are sharp, but they are full of wisdom, which makes people listen to them with respect.
However, it was during such a difficult preaching that Confucius met Xiang Lu.
The appearance of this child seems to be a gift from heaven to Confucius.
Xiang Lu's ingenuity gave Confucius a new hope.
He began to think that perhaps, this child was the inheritor he had been looking for.
In the cold winter, Confucius's heart became warm because of the appearance of Xiang Lu.
He decided to get to know the child more deeply and see if he could really become his disciple.
3. "Meeting in the Village: A Dialogue between a Wise Man and a Child"
As time passed, Confucius's interactions with Xiang Lu became more and more frequent.
Under the old locust tree in the village, the two can often be seen sitting side by side, discussing the mysteries of heaven and earth.
One day, Confucius took Xiang Lu to walk on the path in the field, and they talked about the law of the growth of all things, and Xiang Lu replied fluently, which made Confucius admire his wisdom even more.
In a conversation, Confucius asked a deceptively simple but profound question: "Little friend, what do you think is benevolence?"
Xiang Lu pondered for a moment, and then replied: "The benevolent person also loves others."
Whether you treat relatives or strangers, you should treat each other with sincerity and exchange hearts for hearts.
When Confucius heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, he didn't expect this child to understand the connotation of "benevolence" so deeply.
At this moment, an injured bird landed in front of them, and Xiang Lu carefully held it in his hand, his eyes full of worry.
Seeing this, Confucius nodded secretly in his heart, he knew that Xiang Lu's benevolence had been reflected in his actions.
This small incident not only gave Confucius a deeper understanding of Xiang Lu's morality, but also made him more convinced that this child would be the best person to pass on his teachings.
4. "Wisdom in the Painting: The Mystery of Xiang Lu's City Gate"
As the communication between Confucius and Xiang Lu deepened, the people of the village also began to take a strong interest in this prodigy.
One day, the villagers gathered at the entrance of the village, and saw Xiang Lu squatting on the ground, painting on the soil with a tree branch.
Confucius took a closer look and found that Xiang Lu had painted a city gate, and every brick and tile on the gate was painted vividly, as if someone would come out of the gate at any time.
Confucius praised Xiang Lu's painting skills, but he was more interested in the meaning behind the painting.
He asked Xiang Lu: "Little friend, why do you want to paint such a city gate?"
Xiang Lu raised his head, his eyes flashing with wisdom, and replied, "Sir, this city gate represents the entrance to knowledge and wisdom.
It is only through it that we can truly understand the world.
”
When Confucius heard this, he was filled with emotion.
He realized that Xiang Lu's painting was not just a picture, but also a profound philosophy.
He began to wonder if he could also use a simple way to understand the complex Taoist ideals and pass them on to more people, just like Xiang Lu.
This question has also become the direction of Confucius's continuous exploration and practice in his future teaching.
At this moment, a villager hurried over with an anxious look on his face.
He told Confucius and Xiang Lu that the well in the village had suddenly dried up, and the villagers were very anxious.
Confucius and Xiang Lu looked at each other, and they knew that this would be a new challenge for them.
And what kind of inspiration will this challenge bring to them?
The suspense of the story remained in the expectant eyes of the villagers.
5. Pine and Bamboo: Philosophy in Nature
With the change of seasons, the communication between Confucius and Xiang Lu became more and more in-depth.
One day, they walked together among the pine trees behind the village, and the winter sun shone through the treetops on the snow-covered forest paths.
Confucius pointed to a tall pine tree and said to Xiang Lu: "The reason why pines and cypresses can remain green in the severe cold is because they are tough in their hearts and are not afraid of wind and frost.
After hearing this, Xiang Lu smiled slightly, he walked to the bamboo on the side, and said softly: "Although the bamboo is hollow in the heart, it can also stand up in the wind and snow, why is this?"
”
Confucius pondered for a moment, then replied: "Perhaps, the reason why bamboo can be tenacious is precisely because of its inner etherealness, which allows it to adapt to various environments and not be shaken by the outside world.
After hearing this, a trace of realization flashed in Xiang Lu's eyes, and he seemed to have comprehended a more far-reaching philosophy of life from this simple metaphor.
Confucius looked at Xiang Lu's immature but wise face, and thought to himself: This child will definitely be able to achieve great things in the future.
六、《鹅与青蛙：声音的奥秘》
In the days that followed, Confucius and Xiang Lu continued their quest.
One day, they came to the small river at the edge of the village, the water was crystal clear, and a flock of white geese frolicked in the water, making a crisp call.
Xiang Lu asked Confucius curiously, "Sir, why is the cry of the goose so loud, but the cry of the frog so small?"
Confucius pondered for a moment and replied, "Maybe it's because the goose's neck is long, and the sound is naturally loud and loud because it travels through the long trachea."
”
After hearing this, Xiang Lu shook his head, and he pointed to the frogs by the river: "But the frogs' cries are also very loud, and their necks are not long."
Confucius was momentarily speechless, and he realized that he did not have a deep understanding of the subject.
At this time, Xiang Lu smiled and said, "Perhaps, the loudness of the voice does not depend entirely on the length of the neck, but how they use their voice."
After hearing this, Confucius was surprised by Xiang Lu's insight, but at the same time deeply pleased.
He knew that the child had learned to think for himself, and that was the most important ability he wanted to pass on to his disciples.
End:
As time passed, Confucius and Xiang Lu exchanged more and more, and together they discussed many questions about nature, life, and morality.
These dialogues not only enriched Confucius's knowledge, but also inspired Xiang Lu's wisdom at a deeper level.
In this ancient land, a great thinker and a young child prodigy weave a story of wisdom and growth.
And this story has also become a good story for future generations, inspiring every heart that is eager for knowledge and pursuing truth.
In this story, we see the light of wisdom and the power to grow.
And these are the precious treasures that each of us is worth pursuing and cherishing.