Chapter 37 Thirty-four, bereaved in old age

Ask the heavens, you are so unfair, why do I have to bear the three major tragedies in life alone? ... Confucius and his disciples are busy in Xingtan study. Suddenly, I heard my son-in-law, Gongye Chang, shouting from a distance: "Father, it's not good, something happened!" "What's the matter? Come and tell me." Confucius asked. Gong Ye ran in panting, and said with tears, "Father, Bo Yu...he..." "Bo Yu?" Confucius' heart sank when he heard this, and he asked urgently, "Bo Yu, what's wrong with him?" "He..." Gongye burst into tears, and the disciples were shocked when they saw this.

Zilu asked, "Master Gongye, why don't you tell me quickly?" Confucius' face turned pale. "Bo Yu...he died." "Ah..." Confucius was like five thunderclaps, and fainted immediately, and the students hurriedly supported the teacher. "Wake up, teacher, wake up, teacher." Gong Xihua cried and shouted. Zeng Xi, who knew a little bit about medicine, hurriedly pinched Confucius, while Ran Qiu cried and rubbed Confucius' chest... Confucius woke up and said anxiously, "Quick, go back and have a look." When I got home, I saw Kong Li lying upright on the couch in the hall, the whole family surrounded him crying, and Kong Ji's mother was crying like hell...

Confucius walked over tremblingly, bent down and pressed his forehead against his son's cold forehead, and tears flowed down Kong Li's face like a stream. "My child, why did you leave my father? Do you not want my father to live... My child!" Kong Ji also threw himself on his father's body, beating his chest and weeping... "Father, father, why did you abandon us..." "Son, I cheated you. I went out for more than ten years, and you became sick from overwork. My child, it was your father who killed you." "Teacher's condolences." "Teacher, please take care."

Zi Gong, Yan Hui and other disciples all cried to persuade Confucius. Confucius' students, neighbors, and people who heard the bad news all rushed to the Confucius mansion. People were standing inside and outside the Confucius mansion, and they were all weeping silently. Confucius asked, "How did Bo Yu get sick?" Chang Gongye said: "He went to fetch water in the courtyard, and he had a headache when he came in. Everyone helped him to lie on the bed, and he died before he had time to call you." "Did you leave any words before you died?" Confucius asked.

"We put him on the bed and he passed out." "Oh, I was the one who killed him." Confucius cried again. Zi Gong persuaded: "Teacher, when people die, the lamp goes out, and crying is useless. It is better to bury it generously to show your heart. Teacher, I would like to donate a good outer coffin for the brother to comfort the spirit of the brother in heaven." Confucius shook his head and said, "Too thick a burial is not in line with etiquette. There is no need to use a coffin. The coffin should be better. Just do what you want." People didn't disperse until dinner, and several main disciples of Confucius stayed to help with the cooking.

After lighting the lamp, Confucius sat at the table under the spirit candle, with his hand on his forehead, and sat blankly. Bo Yu, you are only forty-nine years old, my father can't bear it, can't bear it that you left me so early! The past is vivid... As soon as Xiao Kongli was born, King Lu sent a big carp to congratulate him, so Xiaokongli was named Boyu. At the age of three, Xiao Bo Yu followed his mother, Qi Guan, to work in the vegetable field, pulling weeds with his little butt sticking out. At the age of seven, he will take care of his younger siblings. After listening to his father's lectures at the age of fifteen, he and his mother took care of the housework when they returned home.

He loves his cousin and takes care of him like his own brother. He treats his cousin and his sister well, and they respect him very much. After he went abroad, for fourteen years, he was in charge of the study of the remaining disciples. When he returned home, he helped his mother with housework, cared for his siblings and took care of his wife and children. He fulfilled the responsibilities of a son, brother, father, and senior brother.Boyu, you replaced my tiredness. During the mother's illness, you treated the mother's illness, busy before and after.After my mother died, my loving mother was buried, and Bo Yuyou shouldered the burden of the school and the whole family alone.Alas, my dear son, it is the burden that weighs you down.

Grief and guilt tormented Confucius. He neither ate nor drank, but just sat silently. His disciples stood quietly aside, not wanting to disturb the teacher's thoughts. Yan Hui came over with a bowl of porridge and said softly, "Teacher, have some hot porridge." Confucius shook his head. Yan Hui choked with sobs and persuaded: "Teacher, take a sip, you will damage your body if you continue like this." Zisi also said, "Grandpa, eat something quickly, Grandpa's health is critical." Confucius looked at Zisi and said with a heartache: "Si'er, your father has passed away. He has worked too hard all his life and failed to study hard. You must make up for your father's unfulfilled will."

Zisi hurriedly said: "Grandpa, grandson, remember, grandson must study hard to complete the grand career of father and grandfather." Confucius felt a little relieved at this, took a few sips of porridge from Yan Hui, and ate a few chopsticks from the meal from Zigong. At the foot of Qingshan Mountain on the north bank of Surabaya, a new tomb was added behind Qi Guan’s tomb. Confucius’ whole family and almost all his disciples came to attend the funeral, and many people who worshiped Confucius also came.The disciples were very saddened by the death of their senior brother.The disciples who did not follow Confucius to travel around the world, and stayed in the school were even more grateful for Dai Boyu's care, so they were all very sad, and they were all crying.

The early death of the only son was a great blow to Confucius.Confucius stood in front of Boyu's tomb for a long time, the mountain wind blowing his white hair... "God, why did you take away my beloved son? You are not fair. Why do you lose your father when you are young, lose your wife when you are middle-aged, and lose your son when you are old? I have to bear the three major tragedies in life alone?" Confucius turned his head and asked sadly Yan Hui and Zi Gong and the others. "Teacher..." Yan Hui just called out to the teacher, and was already sobbing. "Teacher, you have to take care, if your body collapses, what shall we do!" Zi Gong urged.

"Teacher, "Poetry" is still waiting for you to sort it out. If the teacher becomes ill with grief, what should we do with so many documents and classics?" Zixia cried and persuaded. Confucius turned his head and looked at his disciples affectionately, yes, if I collapse, who will teach them with so many disciples?Who will sort out so many documents, Lu Guo's "Spring and Autumn" has not been finished... I should mourn, how many things are waiting for me, I can't fall down, I can't! ...I...I must pull myself together. "Let's go back to the Xingtan." Confucius said firmly. "Teacher, you should go home and rest for a few days!" "No, go back to the apricot altar." About to get in the car, Confucius turned his head to his son's grave and said silently: Son, you stay here with your mother first. Confucius turned his head every three steps, and slowly walked down the mountain with the support of his disciples. The cold winter came, and there was heavy snow outside the window. Confucius was in a bad mood because of the loss of his son, and seldom spoke. He devoted himself to revising "Poetry" all day long.Zigong discussed with his disciples and said: "After Bo Yu's death, the teacher felt sad, let's persuade the teacher to go out and relax!" Ran Yong said, "It's snowing, how can I get there?" "Tread on the snow to enjoy the scenery! Go by bullock cart, it's safer." "Okay, I'll go tell the teacher." Ran Yong went to Confucius' room and said: "Teacher, let's go snow riding tomorrow. There is a pavilion on a small hill not far from the city. Shall we go there to enjoy the snow scenery?" Confucius also felt depressed, so he agreed. The next day, it snowed heavily, and the fluttering snowflakes covered the inside and outside of Qufu City in a vast expanse of whiteness. After breakfast, the teachers and students of Confucius took an ox cart to the outskirts for snow walking.After the ox cart left the city, the snow fell harder and harder. They walked slowly for a while and got off the cart next to the small hill. Zilu helped Confucius out of the car, and if you were tall, he put on Confucius' cloak, and everyone started to step on the snow to enjoy the scenery.Zizhang, Ziyou, Zixia, Zeng Can, Gongxihua and other young people walked in front, while the elders Min Zijian, Qi Diaokai and Zigong walked slowly around Confucius. When they came to the small pavilion, Zeng Shen spread a futon for Confucius and helped him sit on the stone bench.The disciples stood aside.Yan Hui did not come because he was unwell. At this time, large flakes of snowflakes were falling, and Zigong held up an umbrella to shield the teacher from the snow. Confucius looked at the snow-capped hills and saw that all the trees were withered under the severe cold, and only the pine trees were not afraid of the snow and the cold wind. He sighed: "Disciples, how proud is the cedar tree, its temperament will not change under the wind and snow and the cold; when the trees are withering, the evergreen will not change, can we be like trees?" Zilu immediately replied: "Teacher, of course you can. The teacher said: The army can win the commander, but the man cannot lose the ambition. Students should be like that cedar, and be a man of indomitable spirit." "Okay. Zilu, the teacher trusts you." Confucius said again: "My disciples are all serious." Ran Yong said: "Teacher, otherwise. Gongbo Liao is a person who is out of morals. He once destroyed the teacher's three capitals and slandered the teacher behind his back. Can he still be the teacher's disciple?" Confucius smiled lightly, "He is still my disciple, and I have not expelled him, but disciples must remember a sentence: 'A gentleman is a metaphor for righteousness, and a villain is a metaphor for profit.'" Zilu said: "Teacher, I understand: a gentleman is magnanimous, and a villain is always close." Confucius smiled at Zilu, looked at Songbai again and said: "The year is cold, and then the pines and cypresses will wither after knowing." Zilu asked, "Teacher, how can one become a perfect person?" Confucius said: "A person who thinks of righteousness when he sees profit, a person who can sacrifice his life for righteousness in times of crisis, and a person who has been suppressed for a long time and never forgets his ambition." Zilu said solemnly: "Disciple, remember, you must be a person who accepts orders when you are in danger." Confucius said, "Good. Zilu has ambition." Zi Gong took out the warm wine he had brought, poured a bottle, and said: "Teacher drank this bottle of warm wine, warm and warm." Confucius took it and drank it. After the teacher drank, everyone gathered around and drank the warm wine. After the body became hot, Confucius said, "Give me the Qin, Ran Yong." Ran Yong untied the qin from his back and handed it to the teacher, so Confucius played the qin, and the disciples sang: The song flutters in the wilderness along with the snowflakes...