RPAGF Chapter 24 All things have a spirit
Chapter 24 All things have a spirit
Wang Zhihuan saw it all, but only smiled faintly and didn't point it out.
He was not a puppet; the woman before him was dignified and gentle, yet she always carried a hint of demureness and shyness in his presence, possessing a unique and captivating charm.
Next came the time to choose a name.
Three-year-old Sizi couldn't distinguish between tabby cats or different breeds; she only recognized colors. Looking up at her with a serious expression, she said, "This one has grayish-yellow fur, so it's called Huanghuang!"
Chang Le gently corrected, "Si Zi, this is a kitten, not a puppy, and its fur is a different color than the one in the yard."
Sizi blinked her big, innocent eyes, leaned closer to take a closer look, then tilted her head and thought for a long time: "Well...it has lots of colorful patterns on its body, called 'flowers'!"
Chang Le chuckled and shook her head: "There aren't any other spotted little guys in the yard, so it's passable. It's just a bit too ordinary."
The two gently tugged at the little ox, teasing it back and forth.
Wang Zhi watched quietly as the two, one big and one small, gently discussed a name, creating a particularly heartwarming scene.
After some tugging, Sizi decided to name the kitten by color, pointing to another kitten with the same markings: "This one is also grayish-yellow, so let's call it Gray!"
Chang Le, feeling helpless yet doting, had no choice but to go along with her child's wishes and no longer insist on being refined.
After a little argument and tug-of-war, they finally decided on names for the two kittens: one named Hua Hua and the other named Hui Hui.
When it was the puppy's turn, Sizi immediately perked up, pointed at the yellow dog with white skin, and said in a clear voice, "This yellow puppy will be called Ah Huang! Perfect!"
No one objected this time, and Chang Le nodded in agreement: "Ah Huang, simple and easy to remember, very suitable."
Finally, it was the turn of the all-black puppy. Sizi tilted her head and thought for a long time: "It's all black, its name is Xiao Hei!"
Chang Le hesitated for a moment, wanting to choose a more elegant name, but looking at the innocent and carefree appearance of the three-year-old child, she couldn't bear to go against her wishes.
After a slight hesitation and a few minor disagreements, she finally went along with Si Zi's temperament and agreed: "Okay, let's call him Xiao Hei."
The naming process was quite a struggle, but it was full of warmth and childlike fun.
Once the name was decided, Sizi immediately became busy, sometimes hugging Huahua, sometimes petting Ah Huang, sometimes chasing after Huihui, and sometimes squatting next to Xiao Hei and whispering.
The four little ones were running all over the yard because of her antics, and she laughed so hard that her eyes crinkled, her clear laughter filling the courtyard.
Chang Le sat quietly on the stone bench, her gaze gently following her younger sister's running figure, occasionally glancing sideways at Wang Zhihuan, who sat calmly beside her.
Each time their eyes met, she would look away in slight panic, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, her heart fluttering like a deer, shy yet at peace.
Being with him always brings a sense of inexplicable peace and warmth, making one cherish this leisurely time.
Her gaze inadvertently fell on a corner of the stone table, where a rough porcelain bowl sat empty, with a pair of chopsticks resting forlornly beside it, its cold and lonely atmosphere highlighting the desolation of the owner of the courtyard, who was all alone.
She gazed at it quietly for a moment, a strange emotion passing through her heart. Then, she calmly collected her thoughts and spoke softly, breaking the silence.
"Young Master Wang," she said in a gentle tone, "I just saw that these cats and dogs ate their food well and were not picky. It seems that you have your own unique way of treating all things in the world with kindness."
I remember you saying before that earthworms are the lifeblood of the land, and that you can coexist with everything, from crops in the fields and creatures in the soil to cats and dogs right now.
A question lingers in my mind: In your eyes, are there any common principles among all these vibrant creatures in this world?
As the sun sets, the shadows of the jujube trees spread across the courtyard wall.
Wang Zhi leaned back slightly against the stone bench, his gaze sweeping over the adorable creatures playing in the courtyard. His expression was calm and composed, exuding a sense of profound understanding.
This question is insightful, avoiding mundane trivialities and delving into the origins of all things, thus highlighting the woman's erudition and thoughtfulness.
"The truth is actually quite simple," he said slowly. "All living things possess a spirit. What is a spirit? It is being born knowing what one desires and what one upholds."
Cats have their habits, dogs have their nature, crops have their way of growing, and earthworms have their own way of living. They are born with their own instincts and need no external instruction.
Chang Le leaned forward slightly, listening quietly with focused eyes and full of admiration.
"Look at cats, when they're full they groom themselves; and when puppies are tired from running, they find a shady spot to rest."
Earthworms choose to live in moist, fertile soil; rice plants curl their leaves as a warning when they lack water.
All of this is done without instruction; it is simply innate, what is meant by destiny as nature.
He pointed to Ah Huang, who was foolishly chasing its tail in the yard.
"Ah Huang may look simple and clumsy, but he is not stupid. He knows how to avoid bumps and falls after a fall, and he explores the way of survival by following his nature. This is his intelligence."
These little ones became stable and easy to care for after a month, growing naturally without being pampered or forced; instead, they thrived freely.
Chang Le followed his gaze and saw Ah Huang lying under the shade of a tree, its belly pressed against the cool ground, its eyes half-closed in contentment, looking lazy and peaceful.
"The same goes for kittens," Wang Zhihuan continued. "One is lively and affectionate, while the other is quiet and reserved. Their personalities are set from birth, so following their nature is the best course of action."
What Heaven ordains is called human nature; to follow one's nature is called the Way; the cultivation of the Way is called education. In my view, before cultivating the Way, one must first investigate things.
"Without understanding the nature of a thing, one cannot follow its way. By investigating things and gaining knowledge, one can see through the habits of cats and dogs, the texture of crops, and the essence of the land. From this, one can understand the principles of all things."
Chang Le looked down at Hui Hui, who was lying next to her shoes. The kitten was resting its front paws on its head, its tail was swaying gently, and its purring was long and soft.
She pondered these words in her heart; they were insightful, pragmatic, and grounded in the realities of life, transcending the rigidity of the study and embracing the everyday realities of the fields.
He explained the principles of sages and saints in a simple and clear way, making them both down-to-earth and profound, which made her admire him even more and feel a stronger sense of goodwill towards him. Amidst her shyness, she felt a deep sense of sincere admiration.
"Young Master Wang's profound insights are truly refreshing." She looked up, her voice filled with genuine admiration, "People in the world only confine their reading to the words of sages in the study, but you have revealed the great truth in the fields, in cats and dogs, and in every blade of grass and every tree."
"The principles of sages and virtuous men are not something that arises out of thin air from books." Wang Zhihuan smiled calmly. "The foundation of the Great Learning's principles of self-cultivation, family harmony, national order, and world peace lies in the investigation of things."
By seeing through things and understanding principles, accumulating knowledge little by little, one can cultivate oneself, manage one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.
"By understanding the soil properties, one can increase grain production; by managing the agricultural affairs of a village well, one can benefit the people of that area; by extending this principle, one can govern the country."
To talk about lofty ideals without first investigating things practically is like trying to ride a horse a thousand miles before you've even learned to walk—it's all in vain.
Chang Le's eyes grew brighter, her heart opened up, and she became increasingly admiring of the man before her for his knowledge, vision, and magnanimity.
This affection remained hidden in her heart, too shy to express, only manifesting as a soft glint in her eyes and a quiet blush on her ears.
"So raising livestock, farming, and observing living beings are all the foundation of understanding things," she murmured softly.
"Exactly. Everything starts with the small things at your feet. By understanding one thing and comprehending one principle, you can achieve long-term success by taking each step firmly."