Zhu Ziwen glanced at the two people and continued with a smile, "Goodness is not necessarily great goodness, and evil is not necessarily great evil. A beggar was on the verge of starvation, and a swindler gave him a bite of food to save his life. This was a life-saving grace, but this bite of food was snatched from someone else. So, is this goodness or evil? I agree with what Brother Yu said. There is no absolute goodness or absolute evil in the world."
Chen Dayi found the feeling of the quiet conversation at Hua's house, and then said: "Our ancestors have perfected moral rules from generation to generation to distinguish good from evil. However, rules are dead and people are alive. Some people break the rules because of laziness, and some people take shortcuts because of cleverness. They abide by the rules and do not mind crossing the line a little to make themselves more comfortable without damaging their own interests. Is this evil? Not necessarily. Chen also agrees with what Brother Yu said. There is no absolute good or absolute evil in the world."
There was a lively conversation in this pavilion, and people in other pavilions were also listening attentively. The students who were attending the Qingtan Club for the first time already had some idea in their minds. It turned out that this was what a Qingtan Club should be like.
Come to think of it, it should be like this. They are just for casual conversation, not for discussing political affairs. If there is no taboo in the casual conversation, how can the emperor tolerate it
With this in mind, some people joined in and started discussing good and evil, and then the discussion radiated from this point, and it really became a lively conversation.
Hua Zhi didn't say anything else, and continued to roll the osmanthus tree slowly and leisurely.
When the topic came to "A benevolent person uses wealth to improve himself, while an unkind person uses himself to make money", someone mentioned Hua Zhi's name again, "I wonder what the young lady thinks of this?"
Chen Dayi frowned, but he couldn't stand up for the young lady at this moment. The Qingtan Club allowed anyone to ask questions and also called on people to answer. This was a way to review what they had learned. No one wanted to be helped by others in this regard, as that would be a disdain for themselves.
Hua Zhi pondered these words in her heart. A benevolent person uses wealth to improve himself, while an unkind person uses himself to make money. Does this mean that she is unkind
“Whether a benevolent person uses wealth to improve himself or an unkind person uses himself to make money, the premise is that they have no worries. When hundreds of people in their family have trouble even eating, the first thing they think about is how to fill their stomachs and how to live with dignity. To maintain dignity, the first thing is to act upright and be impeccable. I personally think this is more important than righteousness. If everyone takes dignity more seriously, the world will be peaceful.”
"According to the young lady, you don't think there's anything wrong with an unkind person using his body to make money?"
"One word can have a thousand meanings. For me, as long as I behave properly, there will be nothing wrong."
"..." Hua Zhi's words of keeping oneself upright defeated the other party's thoughts, and then someone changed the subject and started talking about something else.
Zhu Ziwen gave his cousin a thumbs up. His cousin was really good at strangling people by the throat, leaving them unable to refute at all.
Hua Ling, who had been silent all this time, also smiled quietly. Her elder sister was really amazing. Nothing could stump her. She also knew this, but if she really had to answer, she was afraid that she would not be able to utter a single word.
Yu Xiasheng, who was sitting opposite her, was stunned when he inadvertently saw her smiling face. Then he immediately turned away with a red face, not daring to look at her any longer.
A few more topics passed by, and someone said: "In ancient times, there was a saying about the three obediences and four virtues. I think this saying is a bit too harsh on women. What do you think?"
Hua Zhi paused in her playful actions, took the longan that was stained with the warmth of her hands, peeled it slowly and put it into her mouth, hoping to sweeten her mouth so that she wouldn't say too much and make people unbearable.
"I think so too. Let's not talk about the women who have made various contributions throughout the ages. Let's take the eldest daughter of the Hua family for example. If it weren't for her, the Hua family would probably be the next He family. If she was trapped by the three obediences and four virtues, how could the Hua family be so stable? I think this makes sense, but it can't be generalized."
"But I think the Three Obediences and Four Virtues are also a protection for women. Women are naturally weaker than men. If women are not restrained and walk outside, what will they do if they encounter bad people? Just like the third daughter of the Hua family, if she had stayed in the inner room, why would she be asked to leave and cause such a commotion? So I think there must be a reason why the Three Obediences and Four Virtues can be passed down to this extent."
Hua Ling's face was pale, but she raised her head stubbornly. Her elder sister said that she was not wrong and that Wei Chengxi was wrong, so she was not wrong!
Hua Zhi spit a small longan seed into her palm and placed it on the table. She stood up and leaned against the railing to look, "If a rock rolled down and hit you on a mountain road, is it the pedestrian's fault or the rock's fault? If a boat was robbed by bandits, is it the pedestrian's fault or the bandits' fault? If a horse-drawn carriage hit you on the road, is it the pedestrian's fault or the coachman's fault? If a dog bit you on the road for no reason, is it the pedestrian's fault or the dog's owner's fault?"
After a moment of silence, a male voice sounded, "Young lady, please understand. We have no intention of offending you."
"It's just a casual conversation, how can it be offensive?" Hua Zhi smiled, "Let this gentleman answer it."
After a moment, the man replied, "If the passerby did not provoke, then there is nothing wrong."
"When a person walks outside and encounters a bad guy, is it the pedestrian's fault or the bad guy's?"
"It's the bad guys' fault."
"A girl was walking outside and met a bad guy. Was it the girl's fault or the bad guy's?"
"If the girl didn't go out, how could she have met a bad guy?"
"When a man meets a bad guy, it's the bad guy's fault. When a girl meets a bad guy, it's the girl's fault." Hua Zhi smiled. "In my opinion, the so-called three obediences and four virtues are just to keep women in the inner house so that they don't compete with men for the sky. In the final analysis, men are afraid that one day women will be too powerful and dominate men."
"You are wrong, young lady. There are differences between men and women. How can we judge the difference between men and women based on this reason?"
"Oh? What's the natural difference between men and women? Strength or intelligence? As for strength, there is indeed a difference. At most, it's just two women doing the work of one man. As for intelligence... the struggle in the inner house is no weaker than that in the court. If a woman uses the skills she has in the inner house to fight with you, the result is unknown."
It was the same male voice as before, "If the eldest lady is talking about me, I admit that she is capable, but if we look at the whole picture, what she said is a bit too much. And it may be difficult for her to find a husband if she shows up in public like this. In addition, have you considered the impact of your actions on the people around you? I am afraid that no one will come to propose marriage to the third lady in the future."
"It's not that it's hard to find a husband, but that no one dares to marry me. In terms of making money, you are far behind me, no matter how big Daqing is. In terms of managing the family, the Hua family is now in my hands. In terms of mind, I believe that I can accommodate all rivers. In terms of vision, I know how to plan for the future. In terms of skills, I have the courage to compete with military officers. But you have never earned a tael of silver, never planted an acre of land, never carried a load of water, and you don't know the difference between salt, sugar, sauce and vinegar. What else can you do except a few dead books? How dare you say that it's hard to find a husband for me?"