During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, there was a scholar named Wang Jinshi in Huizhou. Wang Taiweng is very impatient. His family is very wealthy, but he doesn’t get along well with his family members and has a bad relationship. Wang Taiweng’s feet are very thin, with no flesh on the sides. After some people have seen them, they say, ‘Judging from your foot posture, you will definitely be poor and begging for food in the future.’. Wang Taiweng was very unhappy in his heart, but also very worried.
After Wang Jinshi was born, in order to avoid begging for a living, Wang Taiweng specially invited someone to teach him how to read. Unexpectedly, Wang Jinshi was very foolish. For over a decade, not only did he read and write articles, but he couldn’t even break sentences.
Those people use irony to mock Wang Taiweng, saying: This child has a rich and prosperous life, maybe he won’t have to beg in the future. After hearing this, Wang Taiweng felt even more uncomfortable.
Wang Taiweng has a distant nephew who is very intelligent, knowledgeable, and well-known in the local area. He spent a lot of money to invite his nephew to his home and let him teach his son how to read specifically. Famous teachers produce outstanding students. Perhaps with a famous teacher, one’s own son can make progress, “Wang Taiweng thought in his heart. He said to his nephew, ‘As a child, if you can teach well, teach with all your heart. If you can’t, tell me and don’t hide it from me.’.
My nephew agreed and started teaching this little brother seriously. Over the past year, he has tried various methods, but this little brother still doesn’t know how to read and break sentences. He was desperate and said to his uncle at the end of the year, ‘My nephew is really helpless and can’t teach him well. I have to go home.’. Uncle, your family is so wealthy. Even if my younger brother is dull, he can still become a wealthy man in the future. Why force him to study! Wang Taiweng nodded.
Privately, Wang Taiweng cursed his wife and said that he had given birth to a useless son for himself, and it seemed that he would really beg in the future. Wang Taiweng went to buy some things and prepared to give them to his nephew for practice. At the same time, he found a thick stick and leaned against the corner of the wall. Why look for a stick? Originally, Wang Taiweng was worried about being harmed by his son and begging for a living. He actually had a murderous heart and wanted to kill his son in the name of unfilial behavior, then donate his family property to the temple and become a monk himself to ensure his retirement.
Mrs. Wang knows her husband very well. When she saw him use a big stick and curse, she knew he was going to kill her son. She dared not stop and secretly told her son, asking Wang Jinshi to find a way to hide. Wang Jinshi has already married a wife. He is not foolish, he is just not enlightened in his studies. When he learned that his father was going to kill him, he discussed with his mother and wife, but the three of them didn’t know what to do after a long discussion. If you want to run, you don’t know where to land; If you want to stay, you’re afraid of being killed by your father.
It was almost midnight, and Wang Jinshi was tired. He fell asleep. In his sleep, Wang Jinshi saw a golden armored divine figure holding a huge axe, pushing away the crowded crowd, then grabbing Wang Jinshi and slamming him to the ground. He then stepped on both of Wang Jinshi’s arms and used the axe to split open his chest. In the stunned expression of the crowd, he pulled out Wang Jinshi’s heart. The divine figure once again took out a heart from his body and stuffed it into Wang Jinshi’s chest.
Wang Jinshi dreamed of this place and was greatly shocked, sweating profusely. He woke up. The next morning, Wang Taiweng practiced for his nephew and brought Wang Jinshi with him. After drinking and practicing, Wang Taiweng returned first. Wang Jinshi told his brother about his father’s plan to kill him, and he cried and said, ‘Compassion is something that everyone has.’. Brother, can you bear to see me go back and be beaten to death by my father? My brother told him not to worry, there is no father in the world who is so heartless.
Wang Jinshi also said, ‘My father could really do such a thing.’. He would do anything for his own retirement. However, I had a dream last night where the Golden Armor Divine Person gave me a new heart. Now I feel like I have become very smart, and reading and breaking sentences are no longer a problem. I vaguely remember the Four Books and Five Classics that my brother taught me. I am willing to follow my brother and complete my studies.
Upon hearing this, my brother was quite surprised and quickly tested his knowledge about books such as “The Great Learning,” “The Doctrine of the Mean,” “The Analects,” “The Book of Songs,” and “Spring and Autumn Annals.” Surprisingly, Wang Jinshi knew all of them, and he was able to memorize many of them, which was completely different from before.
Both of them were taken aback, and the younger brother felt as if he knew everything at once, as if the Eight Extraordinary Meridians had merged and connected, and the Ren and Du meridians had instantly opened up. And the older brother also felt that the younger brother seemed to have suddenly transformed from a fool to a talented genius. The two of them exchanged a smile and quickly went back.
A hurried knocking sound came from outside the door, and Wang Taiweng thought his son had returned. He picked up a big stick and prepared to kill his son. Seeing that my nephew had also returned together, I felt strange and asked him why he hadn’t left.
My nephew said: My younger brother had a dream last night that his heart was replaced by the Golden Armor Divine Man. He has now become very intelligent. I have already taken the exam and it is indeed the case.
Wang Taiweng didn’t believe it and tried to have his son memorize the Analects of Confucius and Mencius. Wang Jinshi memorized a lot in one breath, like flowing clouds and water, and no longer could he read without breaking sentences like before. Wang Taiweng was overjoyed and immediately arranged for his nephew to continue teaching his son how to read. One year later, Wang Jinshi entered the county academy as the first place scholar. A few years later, he passed the imperial examinations and became a scholar and juren, and finally became a jinshi. Good news came, and Wang Taiweng sat on the stool, laughing and saying, ‘Okay, okay, my old man will never beg for a living again.’.
Wang Taiweng was so happy and excited that he kept laughing until he lost his voice. He opened his mouth, closed his eyes, and passed away.
