It is a virtue to repay kindness, but how can we repay the kindness of others?Perhaps the answer can be found in an old story. The story takes place in China during the Spring and Autumn period. Wei Wuzi fell ill and died not long after, and he instructed his son to give him a concubine to be buried after his death. However, the son did not obey his father's last wish and married off the concubine.
Soon after, the son went to war, but received a reward from the concubine's father to help him defeat the enemy. This story tells us that repaying the favor is not a blind taking, but a kind of heart-to-heart exchange. We can find a model from history, which is Li Shanchang during the Yuan Dynasty. He is a smart person and is highly valued by Zhu Yuanzhang. However, with the accumulation of credit, Li Shanchang began to be proud and conceited, acted recklessly, and even forgot his kindness.
In the end, he ended up tragically because he demanded too much favor. What can we learn from this story?Perhaps, kindness should not be a transaction, but a gratitude of the heart. We should be kind to others, not expecting help from others, but persisting in doing good deeds and trusting that kindness will eventually be rewarded.
The story of Li Shanchang tells us that "give a peach and repay it" does not mean asking for more. Kindness should not be a kidnapping, but a voluntary act. Helping others, without asking for anything in return, just out of a kind heart, is the real repayment. To sum up, repaying kindness is a virtue, but how we should repay the kindness of others should be determined by our hearts.
Don't ask too much for a momentary kindness. As said in "Tang Ju Says Xinling Jun": "A person's virtue is to me, and I must not forget it", kindness will always be rewarded, and this reward should be a voluntary act, not a forced result.