No Joking Matter
Zeng Shen’s son was crying because his mother refused to take him to go shopping with her. “Stay at home,” said the mother. “When I come back, we’ll kill a pig and cook a good meal for you. I know you like pork.”
The boy nodded and stayed home.
When she got back, she saw her husband dragging a pig out of the family’s pig-sty, ready to kill it. She hastened to stop him.
“Don’t kill the pig. I was only joking.”
“This is no joking matter,” Zeng Shen said. “A child does not know what is right and what is wrong. He follows the example set by his parents. If you deceive him, he’ll think it’s all right to deceive, and he won’t believe you any more. That’s not the way to teach a child.”
Zeng Shen killed the pig.
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General Wu Qi
Last Story
The Legend of Mulan
Wise Proverbs
- A word once spoken cannot be taken back, even with a team of four horse.
- 一言既出，驷马难追。
- Honesty is the best policy.
- 做人诚信为本。
- Feeding without teaching is the father's flaw.
- 养不教，父之过。
Editor Says:
Character building begins at home and starts with small things.