Wandering Thoughts

     Emerging from the subway station, a wave of heat washed over me, making me frown slightly as I swayed unsteadily along the roadside. I really enjoy this aimless, goalless wandering; the leisurely feeling lightens my mind. A setting sun hangs obliquely in the western sky, its hazy halo a testament to its waning heat. Distant mountain peaks are faintly visible, while nearby, a verdant expanse unfolds—a verdant tapestry of various unidentified trees.

    Across the street are newly built villas, their old-fashioned and austere style quite disliked. One day, I was passing by with A, and she said, "These villas cost 5 million each." I said, "So what?" She slyly replied, "If I could hook up with one of the men inside, I wouldn't have to worry about anything!" I was speechless! This girl really speaks without restraint, spouting nonsense. I said, "What if you hook up with one of the mistresses' kept gigolos?" She said, "That's fine too, they're richer than us anyway." I was speechless.

    Money is indeed a good thing; everyone likes it, and so do I. In this highly developed material society, it's practically impossible to get by without money, so everyone is focused on it. Some people risk everything for money, engaging in illegal mining and causing mine disasters, trampling on the lives of others; some become prostitutes for money, trampling on their own dignity; and even law enforcement officers knowingly break the law for money, colluding with criminals and betraying the people's trust. All of this stems from money. Yang Yuliang, the president of Fudan University, said: "The spirit of universities is somewhat lost now, with a relatively widespread spiritual exhaustion. Utilitarianism is rampant in society as a whole, including universities. Specifically, among ordinary people, it's about favoring the rich and despising the poor." Society as a whole is lost; we don't know what we're pursuing, let alone how to pursue it.

    I'm just an ordinary person; I don't want to pretend to be high-minded and consider money worthless. I simply love money, and there's nothing shameful about that. What's shameful is the means of accumulating wealth. The ancients told us: A gentleman loves wealth, but acquires it in a righteous way. The ancients also told us: ill-gotten gains should not be taken. When I earn a few hundred yuan in commission from a part-time sales job, I am happy because it's money I earned through hard work selling products. When I earn a fixed monthly income tutoring others, I am happy because it's what I earned with my knowledge. When I receive my internship salary, I am excited because it's a reward for my labor. Earning money is also a manifestation of ability. Honest and kind people should enjoy the process of earning money, while greedy people care about satisfying their desires.

    I hope to be an honest and kind person, but at the same time, I fear being dominated by desires. To maintain inner peace, I always quietly reflect in my spare time—reflecting on the past, the future, the meaning of life, and the meaning of existence. I don't know where my future will lead, but I know where my past came from, and that's enough. Confusion is also a stage of life; although it's not ideal, at least I still retain the purity I had at the beginning.