The man looked at Zhu Yunwen and said:
"Does His Highness mean that I should not study and instead help my parents?"
Zhu Yunwen began to speak:
"You should study, but you shouldn't spend all your time studying every day. You shouldn't expect your family to provide for you while you're working hard for your own future."
Simply put, you can do some work in your spare time to help support your family and ensure their basic living needs are met. That's the right way to go.
Don't put the cart before the horse. While studying can help you succeed, what if you don't? Then, all the hardships your parents and family have endured for you over the years, won't they have to bear the consequences?
The young man remained silent for a moment, but did not speak.
Zhu Yunwen continued:
"Also, I heard that the government has been providing some material assistance to your family, but you are unwilling to accept it, is that right?"
The young man said:
“It wasn’t just the government offices; some charitable organizations in the county town also came to our impoverished area many times to offer my family food or supplies, but I refused them all.”
Zhu Yunwen asked in confusion:
Why is that?
The young man then suddenly said with an arrogant expression:
"I am an educated person, and I believe that I will be able to pass the civil service exam in the future, so I'm willing to endure the hardships I'm facing now."
Besides, it's just a bit of financial difficulty for my family; I don't care. I'm a grown man, I won't bow down for five pecks of rice, so how could I accept handouts?
Hearing this, Zhu Yunwen was quite angry, and without hesitation, he rebuked him:
"You scoundrel, what have you learned? A seven-foot man? A seven-foot man would rather let his elders be bedridden and unable to afford medical treatment. A seven-foot man would rather let his elderly father work hard outside to support the family. A seven-foot man would rather ignore the hardship his mother and grandmother endure in caring for him."
But you just can't bow down for a pittance? You just won't accept handouts? You think you're so noble? You think this is your backbone? Using your family's tragedy to maintain your so-called dignity that you never had in the first place?
Are you betting that you won't pass the imperial examinations, using the sacrifices and immeasurable costs of your entire family? Look at how hard your father's hands have worked, look at how weak your grandfather is lying in bed.
"When you finally pass the imperial examinations and achieve fame, will they still have the chance to enjoy all of that?"
Zhu Yunwen was not usually angry with the common people, nor did he have any reason to be angry with them.
But today he really lost his temper; he felt that the man in front of him had indeed become somewhat confused from his studies.
Blindly pursuing academic success and fame can lead to neglecting the purpose of achieving these goals.
In the beginning, wasn't it all just about wanting to make life better for the family?
It's simply because I don't want my family to suffer so much.
All you want is to change the current situation?
However, we shouldn't let the family's situation get worse and worse for the sake of such a goal.
That not only failed to change the situation at home, but actually made it worse, which is absolutely unacceptable.
Let alone whether this young man can actually pass the imperial examination, even if he spends several years and does pass it, can the suffering his parents endured over the years truly be compensated?
Can the grandfather's medical treatment be made up for in those years when the whole family took care of him?
Besides, what if I fail the exam?
What Zhu Yunwen wanted to tell him was never to make him content with a mundane life.
It wasn't about advising him to just be an ordinary person with a simple and beautiful life like everyone else.
Instead, you should tell him that his future should not be built on such heavy sacrifices from his family.
Rather, the meaning lies in using your spare time to study while ensuring your livelihood and at least not burdening your family.
Otherwise, even if such a person were to pass the imperial examinations and achieve official rank, would the imperial court really dare to employ him?
After all, someone who is selfish and only cares about himself probably can't be a good official.
Zhu Yunwen's scathing rebuke left the man stunned. After a long silence, he lowered his head.
The county magistrate inside the room glanced at Zhu Yunwen with admiration.
He did try to reason with the young man, but some of his words felt like they were hurting him.
It felt like it was telling this young man not to study so hard.
This seems incorrect.
However, some of the words spoken by Zhu Yunwen were different. They not only inspired and encouraged him, but also told him that he should rely on himself to spend more time studying to achieve his goals.
It also made him realize that he couldn't let his family bear the burden of his somewhat vague ideals.
After a long silence, the young man suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to Zhu Yunwen, saying:
"I was given a good scolding by His Highness the Crown Prince today, and I dared not utter a single complaint. His Highness the Crown Prince's words have woken me up. Yes, I was indeed too selfish."
Dreams should exist in our hearts, and we should strive for them, but we shouldn't let our family's living conditions get worse and worse because of these dreams.
I used to be confused, but now I know what to do.
Zhu Yunwen took a deep breath and asked:
"Then tell me, what should you do next?"
The young man did not avoid Zhu Yunwen's gaze, but looked at Zhu Yunwen and said:
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