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Wang Anshi, courtesy name Jiefu, literary name Banshan, and small courtesy name Badger Lang. Most of the poems and verses he wrote throughout his life have been passed down through the ages, making him one of the great literary scholars of the Tang and Song dynasties; He is a great politician who cares about the country and the people, cares about the suffering of the people, and strives to implement new policies; He is a great thinker who remains calm, cares for the people as his own responsibility, and always thinks about how to break through the old and establish the new.
During middle school, I liked Li Bai’s carefree and free spirited style. His poetry was grand and unrestrained, without regard for details. After entering society, I found that I liked Wang Anshi more. His poetry style is subtle and profound, deep and gentle, and not forced. He writes about things and reminisces about the past, with a broad and vast artistic conception. Such a politician, thinker, and great talent should, in theory, be dressed neatly and cleanly. But he has a particularly prominent flaw, which is being disheveled and unkempt all day long, not taking a shower for a long time, covered in lice all over his body, and extremely messy.
Girls like to dress themselves up clean and tidy, and after getting married, they also like to clean every part of the house inside and out. Wang Anshi’s wife is like this, and even has a slight obsession with cleanliness. So why would such a clean loving woman still cling to Wang Anshi, the ‘scruffy king’, and show great affection?
Firstly, one should be highly talented and knowledgeable. When Wang Anshi was a child, he was often referred to as “someone else’s child” by the general public. He was intelligent and unforgettable from a young age. When neighbors and fellow villagers meet, they praise him for being cunning and clever. There were many popular stories during my childhood when I went to school. Gradually grew up and studied under the renowned teacher Du Ziye. Such a clever child is still staying up late and studying hard, eventually becoming a legendary figure. How come such a smart, diligent, and studious person doesn’t attract girls to like him?
Secondly, I have been childhood friends with my wife since childhood, and we have had no secrets. Wang Anshi’s grandfather passed away when he was 13 years old, and he followed his father to observe filial piety in Zhegang for three years. During this period, I studied with my relatives, cousins, and classmates. Wu Qiong is one of his cousins, also born into a scholarly family and skilled in poetry and literature. Instead of prolonged contact, the two enjoyed tea and poetry, developing feelings for each other. The emotional foundation is solid.
Thirdly, Wang Anshi, as the prime minister, continued to work hard, be simple, and frugal in managing the household. Wang Anshi possessed the beautiful virtues of hard work, simplicity, diligence, and frugality in managing the household. The son of Xiao, a relative of Wang Anshi’s daughter-in-law, came to the house as a guest for lunch. Xiao, dressed in fancy clothes, went to the banquet, thinking that Wang Anshi would entertain him with delicious food. However, when he sat down at the table, he found that Wang Anshi was entertaining him with ordinary food. Xiao is picky about food and only ate the stuffed part of the cake, which was placed on a plate on all four sides. Wang Anshi picked up the cake with missing filling and ate it face to face. Xiao Shizi felt very ashamed after seeing it and hurried back. Wang Anshi brilliantly satirized those who were greedy for fame and fortune with his own actions, even if they were his relatives, he did not lose his principles and sneered at them.
Fourth, never take concubines, strictly regulate oneself, and only love one person. This is the most important point for the Wu family. When Wang Anshi served as a labor department official and inspector in the capital prison, his official position and salary were both elevated. He could be considered a wealthy family and belonged to the upper class. The virtuous Lady Wu secretly bought him a concubine to serve him. After learning about it, Wang Anshi returned the woman to his wife and gave her money to reunite with her family. This kind of behavior and character is not something that ordinary people can possess. His morality has far exceeded the moral level of ordinary literati.
I think it was Wang Anshi’s inner beauty that deeply touched Lady Wu’s heart. Even in harsh environments, one can still uphold integrity, advocate justice, and contribute to the strength of the country, without fear of being excluded or attacked by others. Unkempt and unkempt, these flaws are not worth mentioning in the face of those beautiful qualities.
