coobybook Chapter 384 Humanity's Forgetting of Boundaries
Chapter 384 Humanity's Forgetting of Boundaries
Zi'an's expression turned cold, as if covered with a thin layer of frost, and she looked out the window at the gradually drizzling rain:
"Remember the old saying: 'A small favor is appreciated, but a large favor breeds resentment.' Human nature is complex and subtle. Giving too much kindness and helping others out of one's own pocket may not bring gratitude, but rather foster a sense of entitlement and greed. It may even lead to resentment and enmity if one's needs are not met even once."
He turned back and said, "A small favor fosters gratitude, a large favor breeds resentment. It's not that the rice has changed, but that the scales of people's hearts have tipped."
His gaze was calm yet cautionary: “In this vast city of Chang’an, if you seek lasting peace and stability, rather than bestowing favors and hoping to build good relationships, it is better to be cautious in your words and deeds, make fewer enemies, and actively sever those karmic ties that drain you. A debt-free life is a carefree life, and a friendless path is a wide path.”
Xiao Sizi hesitated for a long time, twisting the shawl tighter with her fingers. Finally, she mustered her courage, her voice trembling slightly: "Sister... if... if there is a man, nearing forty, without fame or fortune, without any property or skills, yet he vows to work hard for me, to take me to taste the delicacies of the East and West markets, and to travel to the magnificent landscapes described in books... should I... should I believe him? Is it... worth taking a gamble?"
Zi'an remained silent for a moment, and the only sound in the room was the sound of rain pattering on banana leaves.
He looked at Xiao Sizi's face, a mixture of confusion and hope, with a complex expression, and finally let out a barely audible sigh: "Ah... Xiao Sizi, oh Xiao Sizi..."
Zi'an's tone seemed to carry a hint of undisguised pity and deep helplessness, "This pie... is drawn too small... even the hope seems so... pitiful."
He leaned forward slightly, looking directly into Xiao Sizi's clear eyes. "Who you can choose, and who will choose you, is determined by fate, like the red thread in the hands of the Old Man Under the Moon. If you truly had other excellent choices, you wouldn't be so conflicted and hesitant to ask me now."
Zi An slowly stood up, walked to the carved wooden lattice window, looked at the verdant courtyard outside that was shining after being washed by the rain, and spoke in a clear and calm voice, like shattered jade, "You actually had a premonition about my answer long ago."
But I'll leave you with this heartfelt advice in the end: Instead of exhausting yourself gambling on what a man might earn for you in the future… a pittance…
Zi An turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as lightning. "Why not clench your fists, hone your will, and fight for a real and prosperous empire that you can hold in your own hands? Relying on mountains will lead to their collapse, relying on people will lead to their aging. Only your own abilities are the most stable and reliable support in this world!"
After hearing Zi An's thunderous and thought-provoking words, Xiao Sizi's eyes went from initial confusion and shock to surging waves, and finally settled into a clarity and resilience born from painful understanding.
She lowered her head, looking at her fingertips that had turned white from twisting them together. After a long while, she gently exhaled a breath of stale air, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. When she looked up again, although her face still had a childlike quality, her eyes held a maturity beyond her years: "Sister, I... I think I understand a little bit now. It's just... sometimes I still make mistakes, and I feel so foolish, letting you down."
Zi'an walked back to her side, her sleeves, carrying the scent of sandalwood, brushed past her. She gently stroked the top of Xiao Sizi's soft hair, her tone as gentle as a spring breeze: "Silly child, who hasn't stumbled and staggered their way through life, feeling their way across the river?"
Making mistakes, acting foolishly, messing up, failing… these are all part of the inevitable journey of self-cultivation. Don't be too hard on yourself; that will only add unnecessary burdens.
The young man's eyes were filled with warmth, like the last soft light of a lamp wick. "A person who truly knows how to love himself must have a kind of 'doting love' for himself in his heart."
As long as this pampering doesn't lead you astray or become a hidden danger on your path, it is the most precious nourishment, the warmest and safest harbor in your heart when you are exhausted.
As Xiaosizi felt the warmth and calming fragrance emanating from the top of her head, her tense shoulders finally relaxed completely.
She looked up at Zi'an with a smile that was both relieved and slightly weary, yet a spark of life rekindled deep within her eyes: "Yes! I'll remember that, Zi'an. Love yourself, and... see the road ahead clearly. No matter how long the road is, take it one step at a time."
The sound of rain outside the window has softened considerably, and the cool rain air mixed with the fragrance of agarwood quietly permeates the quiet room.