There is a saying in China: "Old cows eat tender grass".
This phrase, with its vivid metaphor, has become the talk of people after dinner, often reminiscent of the love affair between an older man and a young woman.
They know that this is not just a visual description of the cow, but also a metaphor for some unspeakable desire in human nature.
Today, let's explore the story behind this proverb and the second half of that little-known sentence.
"Old cow eats tender grass", as the name suggests, depicts an old cow who still loves tender grass.
In the human world, this phrase is often used to describe the pursuit of younger women by older men.
This pursuit may be out of nostalgia for youth, or an appreciation of beauty, or just a yearning for the vitality of life.
Take Su Shi's ridicule of Zhang Xian's story as an example. Zhang Xian, an old man who is over the age of 80, actually married a girl who was only 18 years old.
This move caused quite a stir in the society at that time. Su Shi, as Zhang Xian's friend, naturally came to join in the fun.
Su Shi teased him with a limerick poem: "Eighteen brides and eighty langs, with pale hair and red makeup." Mandarin ducks are lined into two nights, and a pear blossom presses the begonia", cleverly using the white of the pear blossom as a metaphor for Zhang Xian's old age, and the red of the begonia symbolizes the young and delicate of the bride.
This poem is not only a ridicule of the marriage of a friend, but also a vivid interpretation of the phenomenon of "old cows eating tender grass".
"Old cows eat young grass" reflects people's different views on life attitudes and choices brought about by age differences.
In ancient societies, cattle were an important tool for agricultural production, so they were respected and cherished by people. Young grass, on the other hand, represents something fresh and vibrant. When an old cow chooses to eat tender grass, it is actually pursuing a freshness and vitality that does not match its age.
The same can be compared to the emotional life of human beings, when an older man chooses to pursue a younger woman, he may also be seeking a sense of youthfulness and vitality as a way to fight against the passage of time.
However, although the phrase "old cows eat tender grass" is widely known, the second half of its sentence is rarely known. What exactly is this second half of the sentence? How does it come from?
However, the saying "old cows eat tender grass" actually has a little-known second half. The second half of the sentence is "eat chicken as soon as possible". Although these two sentences seem to be unrelated, they actually contain a profound philosophy of life.
"Eat chicken as soon as possible", literally, is telling us to enjoy delicious chicken as soon as possible, otherwise when the chicken gets old, it will lose its original tender taste.
And when it comes to life, it reminds us to cherish the opportunities in front of us, have fun in time, and don't regret it until we miss it.
There is an interesting legend about the origin of this second half of the sentence. Once upon a time, there was an old man in the village who raised chickens. The chickens he raises, with their tender meat and fragrant aroma, are a must in the village.
However, the old man was always reluctant to eat it, always thinking about waiting for the chickens to grow up and fatter again. However, as time passed, the chicken that was originally tender gradually became old and hard, and lost its original flavor.
The old man regretted it, and when he met people, he said: "Eat chicken as soon as possible, don't miss the best time like me." ”
This story, although simple, contains a profound truth. It tells us that many good things in life are fleeting. We must learn to cherish the present, seize the opportunity in time, and not wait until we lose it to regret it.
"The old cow eats the tender grass, and the chicken should eat as soon as possible", although these two sayings seem to be prosaic, but they contain profound wisdom of life.
They remind us that on the road to pursuing love and enjoying life, we must be brave in facing our desires, cherish the opportunities in front of us, and do not leave regrets in our lives. At the same time, learn to make the right choice at the right time, and don't wait until you miss it to regret it.