During the Ming Dynasty, in order to encourage the neighbors to learn from the Zheng Lian family, the prefect of Zhejiang province gave a plaque "the first in the world" to commend.
At that time, during the reign of Ming Taizu, I heard about the deeds of the zhejiang prefect giving "the first family in the world", and I was curious. So he ordered a summons to summon Zheng Lian into the palace.
Ming Taizu asked, "Why is your family called "the first in the world?" Zheng Lian replied respectfully: "Our family has been in the same house for eight or nine generations, and the local prefect believes that the style of the Zheng family can inspire customs, so he built a memorial arch and gave a plaque 'the first in the world', and the courtiers may not be able to afford it." ”
Ming Taizu continued to ask, "There are several people in your family. Zheng Lian replied, "More than a thousand people." Ming Taizu shouted in shock: "More than a thousand people live under the same roof, which is really rare and unheard of in the world, and it is really the first in the world!" ”
Zheng Lian ,Chinese: 郑濂; pinyin: Zhōngde, zhōng From the beginning of his seventh ancestor Zheng Qi, he taught his descendants to do things "only with integrity". By the time of Zheng Lian, there were already seven generations of the same church, after more than two hundred years, there had been no disputes, they loved each other, and they never made trouble on their own. People call their home "Righteous Gate", because the Zheng family's filial piety to their parents, love their brothers, and enjoy a family style of happiness and difficulty are the examples of the people of the world.
It happened that the fragrant pears from Henan's tribute were sent to the palace, and Taizu gave Zheng Lian two fragrant pears. Zheng Lian thanked the holy grace and returned home with the pear in both hands. Ming Taizu was curious about what Zheng Lian would do with the two fragrant pears, so he asked the lieutenant to follow them all the way.
More than a thousand people, there are only two fragrant pears in front of them, how to divide them can make this thousand people wet with rain and dew, and it is a problem that cannot be broken if you want to break your head. If you take the way of cutting blocks, how many knives do you have to make up. Whether it is swallowing alone or only sharing the people around you, it is against the family style.
Only to see Zheng Lian gather more than a thousand tribesmen to the courtyard, divided into two rows, and first led the crowd to bow their heads in the direction of the imperial capital. After that, Zheng Lian ordered people to move out two large water tanks, put two large tanks of clear water, and then break the fragrant pear to let the juice penetrate into the water tank. Then stir well, so that everyone is given a glass of pear water, have to admire, this move is really wonderful!!
The lieutenant returned to the palace to tell Ming Taizu what he had seen and heard, and Ming Taizu was very happy and very emotional, and understood the reason for the Zheng family and Le Ankang. He wanted to appoint Zheng Lian as an official, but Zheng Lian resigned because of his age.
Soon after, someone said that the Zheng family had colluded with the powerful ministers and openly paid bribes, but Taizu dismissed it, saying: "The Zheng family has no fault, it must be a false accusation." ”
After the death of Ming Taizu, Emperor Jianwen used the three characters of "filial piety" to express his door. The Zheng Lian brothers jointly wrote three volumes of "Jia Fan" and published it.