Confucius He Say...

   

 
The palankeen bearers were sweating profusely as they set down the two old friends at the public bath house. As they crossed to the entrance an old peasant stumbled on the uneven paving and almost fell into one of the grand gentlemen.  
 
‘Out of the way dog how dare you bar my path’ Nee Sun was outraged and pushed the fellow who, being already off balance, fell heavily to the ground before them.  
 
The man rolled away then scrambled to his knees knocking his head three times on the ground in grovelling apology. Nee Sun turned away in disgust but his companion Chee Yang stooped and helped the old fellow to his feet. He had a heavy grey beard and his long dishevelled hair was matted around his face.  
 
‘When did you last eat old fellow?’  
 
‘Just two days ago sir’ he said with head downcast not daring to look such a great gentleman in the face.  
 
Reaching into the sleeve of his magnificent silk robe Chee Yang extracted a string of fifty coppers which he pressed on the peasant. The old man cried out in gratitude and bowed deeply then scuttled off singing Chee Yang’s praises.  
 
Nothing was said until after the bath and the men were in the steam room away from the attendants then Nee Sun said puzzled ‘why did you soil your hands on that lowly dog and give him fifty cash when he had offended us?’  
 
‘What offence did he commit brother?’  
 
‘You saw him bar our path the clumsy oaf.’  
 
‘And what if one of us had stumbled and barred his path?’  
 
‘What in heaven’s name do you mean Chee Yang? We are vastly superior to that low dog.’  
 
‘Oh are we, in what way?’  
 
Nee Sun was astounded ‘How many ships do you own Chee Yang? How many godowns are full of your goods?’  
 
‘I have one hundred and forty two trading junks and seven godowns as you well know Nee Sun two ships fewer than you as you are always at pains to remind me.’  
 
‘Well there you are then my strange friend. You are a wealthy merchant, the son of a wealthy merchant educated, cultured and vastly superior to that low dog in every way.’  
 
‘No sir, I am richer and more privileged than he, true, and heaven has smiled upon my fortune but in what way am I his superior?’  
 
Nee Sun stared at his friend speechless. He had always been a strange fellow but since he had started studying Confucius he had become even stranger. He shook his head in silent bewilderment.  
 
‘You see Nee Sun these poor fellows have no wealth. They go out daily to labour for a few coppers lest their families starve. They live in hovels you and I would not keep our dogs in. Yet love for their wives and children keep them going out day after day pulling carts, carrying our palankeens or emptying our shit pots with so little reward and no hope of improvement. Could you do it?  
 
‘Could you Chee Yang?’  
 
‘Do you remember last month when I went away for a week?’  
 
‘Ah yes visiting your esteemed brother the magistrate in the next province.’  
 
‘My humble apologies brother Sun that was a lie.’  
 
‘Really?’  
 
‘I disguised myself as a peasant, lived in a low hostel and found work as a labourer when I could.’  
 
‘By the gods whatever for man?’  
 
‘To learn humility and to show penitence for my former arrogance; It was a hard lesson working in one of your godowns Sun. I was set to carrying heavy bales from dawn until dusk without a break just to earn enough for my lodgings and a bowl of noodles.’  
 
‘But you have a mansion four wives and the gods only know how many concubines and servants brother Yang why would you debase yourself so?’  
 
‘Do you remember Wen Po?’  
 
‘Yes he lost his fortune and killed himself; can’t say I blame the fellow.’  
 
‘And now his wives and children are destitute and living on the mercy of relatives. He was a young well educated man. I offered him work as an administrator in my business but he turned me down saying that such work was beneath the dignity of a gentleman.’  
 
‘It is often the case with us the superior classes.’  
 
‘Sadly, yes, and yet working as a labourer I found no indignity quite the opposite in fact. Wen Po chose death to preserve his pride over the wellbeing of his family. How then was he superior to that poor fellow who fell before us?’  
 
Nee Sun was embarrassed he had no answer so changed the subject ‘Are you going to the Governor’s feast tonight Chee Yang?’  
 
‘Yes, as a fellow Confucian His Excellency was gracious enough to invite me doubtless I will see you there.’  
 
The feast in the governor’s palace was a splendid occasion lit with hundreds of bright lampions. There were dancers and acrobats to entertain the guests and the finest food and wines. As the evening drew to a close the High Governor of the province was saying farewell to each guest individually. When Nee Sun’s turn came he offered profuse thanks bowing low before the personal representative of the august Emperor himself. As he bowed he noticed a wound on the governor's hand.  
 
‘You are injured Your Excellency I shall send my personal physician in the morning to attend you.’  
 
‘You are too kind Nee Sun but it is of little consequence I, clumsy fellow that I am, fell this morning outside the public baths that’s all.’