A Fable of Kindness and Greed: The County Magistrate and the Beggar

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It is said that a beggar begged for two pieces of dry food, happily lying in a sunny place, eating and basking in the sun.

In the cold winter and the twelfth lunar month, encountering such warm weather and begging smoothly, he was very comfortable. Looking at the busy people going back and forth, he suddenly sighed with emotion: "Oh, why bother, so desperately busy, isn't it just for a month! Haha, how leisurely and comfortable I can get two pieces of dry food every day and lie down wherever I want. Haha, every day is like today, really contented."

It just so happened that a county official passed by. Hearing this, he was very surprised and shouted, "Who knows so much?

Foot?  Bring it to me! "

The servants did not dare to neglect, and caught the beggar and brought him to the front of the palanquin. The beggar was unkempt, tied with a straw rope around his waist, wrapped around a few balls of cotton wool that were about to slide down, bare arms, and ten toes exposed.

The county official was really surprised when he saw it, so he asked, "It is said that there is no contented person in the world. You are a beggar, naked, and you can't eat to cure hunger. Where does contentment come from?"

The beggar hastily replied, "The villain has been begging all day, and it has never been as smooth as today. Two pieces of dry food can fill his stomach, and the weather is so warm. If I lie down in this sunny place, wouldn't it be much more comfortable than those busy people?

The county official pondered for a while and said to the officer, "Bring him back, eat and entertain him." He also ordered, "From now on, you will all call him the son of contentment. If he has any requirements, please inform me know in time."

So, every day, chicken, duck, fish, delicacies from the mountains and seas, and the contentment of the father was offered. The more he thought about it, the happier he became, and he sighed with emotion: "This time, it's really time to be contented!"

The contented master was regarded as a guest for no reason, neither a relative of the county official, nor capable. The servants were inexplicable and asked the county official, but the county official only smiled but did not answer, and asked them to serve thoughtfully and not neglect.

After a few more days, the official suddenly came to report: "The big thing is not good. Master, the contented master does not eat or drink. I don't know why, he keeps insisting on seeing you."

The county magistrate rushed over.

The contented father knelt down on the ground and said, "Sir, you are a good person in the world, please do good deeds to the end. I eat and sleep like this every day, it is too boring, and it would be even more contented if I had a contented lady to accompany me."

"Yes! Yes!The county official suddenly laughed, "You have food and drink, and you miss your wife. What do you think about when you have a wife? As I expected, it is true that 'here is no contented person in the world .'"

Then he shouted: "Blow him out for me!"