In the evening, I had dinner with two classmates. During the meal, a male classmate shared a recent troubling experience we all learned from.
A friend of his from 10 years ago had accidentally injured someone in a fight and was sentenced to three years of labor reform. After his release, he couldn’t return to his original job, faced repeated rejections while job hunting, and lacked the capital to start a business. My classmate generously lent him 100,000 yuan, which he used to buy his first piece of farm equipment. Two years later, he bought a second one, hired more workers, and expanded, eventually amassing land and assets worth millions.
“If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t be where he is today!” my classmate said. But just the day before, when he asked his friend to process some parts, the price quoted was even higher than what others were charged. “I’m heartbroken,” he lamented. “How can someone be so ungrateful? If I had known, I wouldn’t have helped him in the first place!” He grew more agitated as he spoke, downed a large glass of baijiu, and his eyes turned red.
I also listened, feeling indignant, and remarked that people like that would eventually face retribution. Seeing our anger, the female classmate continued sipping her tea. I questioned her: “Why aren’t you angry?” She replied: “I completely understand your feelings. If it were the old me, I would be just as angry. But something changed me, and it was my 15-year-old daughter who gave me a profound insight.”
Daughter learns to play the piano
My daughter started learning piano at age four and was admitted to an art school in Shanghai at nine with excellent grades. In her piano class, she was the best, and her teacher said she was naturally gifted. Her deskmate, also a girl, played well too, second only to my daughter, and came from a high-ranking official’s family, making her very proud. My daughter was kind to her, sharing the best things with her. Whenever I visited Shanghai, I took her on trips with my daughter. Whatever I bought for my daughter, I bought for her too.
Once, I visited my daughter and saw her tutoring the girl in piano. My daughter said she often made mistakes in the details and was determined to help her improve. To help her, my daughter sacrificed much of her own practice time.
During an exam, the girl unexpectedly surpassed my daughter. She showed my daughter her certificate and said: “See, you were teaching me, but I was better than you all along!” Before this, my daughter had asked to borrow a hard-to-find music score from her, but she claimed she couldn’t find it — afraid my daughter would surpass her. I was furious, feeling my daughter’s efforts were wasted on someone so selfish.
My daughter, however, acted as if nothing had happened. I asked: “Aren’t you angry at all?” She replied: “Mom, why should I be angry?” I said: “You helped her so much; this is how she repays you.” My daughter smiled and said something I’ll never forget.
She said: “Mom, when I helped her, I never expected anything in return. Isn’t there a joy in your heart when you help someone? I’ve already received the best reward.” After speaking, she continued playing her classical piano as the sun shone. She looked like a glowing angel, serene and calm.
I was stunned. When did my daughter become so transcendent? In this regard, she is my teacher. I am also glad because she has a heart like an angel. With such a heart, she won’t be troubled by people and events in the future. Isn’t that the best reward? After hearing the female classmate’s story, we were silent for a long time. Sometimes, we adults genuinely have much to learn from children.
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