Muwa Gisun Section Eight

discourse 61

How about this landscape painting?  Have a look.  There are no such paintings these days.

Are you kidding me?  Is it truly well made?  It’s not a painting, but a print!  If it were really a painting by a famous artist, would it be possible that there is no signature?

 

discourse 62

What great jujubes!  They are crunchy and not that expensive.  Why aren’t you buying?

My friend, you’ve aged but you still have youthful thoughts.  Jujubes, watermelon seeds, sauteed peas – these are all things that entice little children.  Look how fond you are of them.

 

discourse 63

Go buy some flour.  I want to make some paste in order to repair the windows.

Don’t repair it right now.  The kang has just been put in order and the fire is not lit.  There is still time:  Buy some kindling and light a fire to dry out the air.  Then you can paste in repairs.

 

discourse 64

When someone says things are like this, he just goes along.  If they says things are like that, he will accommodate.  He does not separate true and false, or good and evil.  He just looks for whatever will get him praise.  He’s the kind of guy who blows with the wind.

 

discourse 65

What a handsome bag!  But it doesn’t suit you.  I’d like you to give it to me.

Why are your eyes so big [lit. greedy]?  Everything you see, you want.  The day before yesterday, you said to me, “Nice knife!”  Then you asked for it and took it.  Today you say you want my pouch.  Given that you are so greedy, later someday when you become an official, you are going to be a greedy and corrupt official.

 

discourse 66

Who is that quarrelling by the gate?

Our pekingese bit the neighbor’s cat.  Their hired servant had been saying that we should compensate them for the cat.

What does that kid know?  Just placate him with some nice words, and you can send him off and be done with it.

 

discourse 67

Your pen cap fell on the floor.  Pick it up and don’t step on it.  However often I tell you to pick it up, you don’t listen.  But wouldn’t it be a pity to have it stepped on and broken?

 

discourse 68

Don’t miss doing good things because they seem small.  Don’t do bad things because they seem small.  All in all, a person must not do bad things and must do good things.  Be on your guard.

 

discourse 69

Who is this?

My servant.

Is he hired or pawned?

He is the son of my family bondservant.  He was born clever, but he is unbearably naughty.

All kids are naughty.  This is a good kid.

 

discourse 70

Do not yawn toward others.  Do not stretch out in front of strangers.  Do not sneeze while facing people. Do not stand with your back to other people.  These are all things that will make people stare at you.

Section Seven