Road to becoming the wealthiest: Starting From Treasure Hunting in the Cabinets
Chapter 800 - 477: Life in the World is About Fame and Gain_2

Chapter 800: Chapter 477: Life in the World is About Fame and Gain_2

Once, Confucius’s disciple Zi Gong redeemed a person from Lu Country abroad and refused to accept the national compensation after returning home. After learning about this, Confucius said, "Zi Gong, you made a mistake."

"From now on, people from Lu Country won’t redeem their compatriots from other countries. Receiving compensation from the state won’t compromise your integrity; but if you decline it, no one from Lu Country will redeem their unfortunate compatriots anymore."

Zi Lu saved a drowning person, who thanked him by giving him an ox, and Zi Lu accepted it. Confucius said happily, "From now on, people from Lu Country will surely be brave in rescuing those drowning."

The Master was keen in his observations, excelling at understanding human nature; he was truly remarkable.

The stories of "Zi Gong redeeming a person and Zi Lu receiving an ox" are quite thought-provoking.

According to the common sense understood by people today, Zi Gong was noble-minded for redeeming someone with his own money and refusing state compensation, having done a great deed worthy of being set as a moral example; Zi Lu, on the other hand, would not be considered commendable, having accepted an ox as a thank you for saving someone, he simply seemed like a money-grubber.

We think this way, and ancient people probably thought so too.

However, Confucius sternly criticized Zi Gong and praised Zi Lu. Looking at Confucius’s reasoning, we have to admire it. The sage was absolutely right!

Even placed in today’s context, Confucius’ perspective doesn’t lag behind at all.

The two stories talk about different approaches and illustrate a problem that is most commonly encountered in society now:

When doing good deeds, should one expect a reward?

From childhood, our parents taught us to be obedient, to take care of our younger siblings, and not to be disobedient children, otherwise, they would not want us;

After starting school, teachers taught us to obey, study well, and help others.

Upon working, social morality tells us to be a good person, to enlighten others with our actions, and to be selfless without seeking any return.

Yes, we have always lived in a world where we consider others, where being selfish is not being a good person, and where we should not expect a return for doing good deeds. But now I want to ask everyone, is this really right? Is relentlessly living for others truly making us happy?

In theory, when someone does a good deed, they should be rewarded. For instance, Zi Gong redeemed someone and the state offered compensation; or Zi Lu rescued someone, and he was given an ox; even giving up a seat should at least merit a "thank you."

Yet, why do we feel that Zi Gong did the right thing by refusing state compensation? Why do we think Zi Lu was wrong for accepting an ox after rescuing a person?

People often praise the "greatness" of good deeds done by good people, but as soon as material rewards are involved, they immediately adopt a negative and skeptical stance.

It seems that only when good deeds are done without expecting anything in return are they great, and if material rewards are involved, then the good deed and the good person seem tarnished, and unworthy of praise. Is that really the case?

Is this promotional direction, this ideological concept, really correct?

Doing good without expecting reward is indeed a virtue, but this virtue is "private virtue." You as an individual can do so, but expecting everyone to act this way, equating personal virtue with public virtue, and unreasonably elevating moral standards, will only deter those willing to do good, making them shy away from morality and drift away!

If we really set Zi Gong as a moral example and promote this broadly while demonizing Zi Lu, I estimate that the number of people redeeming others abroad will decrease and those actively saving lives will also become fewer.

This outcome is probably not what we would have expected.

A truth that Confucius understood more than two thousand years ago—why don’t we understand it yet?

This outcome is still occurring today.

So now that Joseph Davis said so, James Ross naturally didn’t refuse. Writing a name was just writing a name, and there was nothing about the report. He himself had done a good deed and wasn’t afraid of how others might maliciously speculate about him.

Sparrows might discuss whether an eagle flying so high can find food, but the eagle cannot see the low-flying sparrows.

After the matter of recording Sean Knight’s name was settled, Joseph Davis then asked:

"Mr. Knight, how many cultural relics are there in this batch? Approximately when can they be delivered, or when should we come to receive them? I need to prepare the venue here."

"Over a hundred and thirty pieces," Sean Knight said. "From a large BronzeTripod to a small jade belt buckle, I estimate some of them could be at the national level. However, most should meet the standards for national first and second-grade cultural relics."

"That many? Such high levels?" Joseph Davis was shocked. "Mr. Knight, are you sure they are donations, not rentals?"

After all, with so many relics at this level, the value must be truly astronomical. Even if Sean Knight says he traded for them, the items traded away at that time must also be of immense value!

"It’s a donation," Sean Knight confirmed. "You are the professionals. These items will be better protected with you."

"Thank you for your strong support of our work!" Joseph Davis really didn’t know what to say now. Sean Knight’s approach made him feel that this man truly put no value on fame and fortune, keeping an incredibly low profile.

This definitely wasn’t enough. His own side had to do something, simply putting a name to it truly wasn’t sufficient recognition for what Sean Knight had achieved.

At the very least, something representative should be organized.

Although Joseph Davis currently didn’t have the strength to do it himself, pushing the trend a bit was definitely not a problem.