To refer to someone who, despite achieving wealth or high status, remains diligent, humble, and never forgets their origins or seeks comfort and ease; to maintain one's simple ways and diligence regardless of changes in status.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Jing Jiang, the mother of Wenbo Chu from the State of Lu, became a widow early in life and made a living by spinning hemp threads. Even after Wenbo Chu became the Prime Minister of Lu, she continued to labor in spinning and weaving.
Wenbo Chu thought her behavior was incongruous with his current high status.
Jing Jiang replied, "I am a widow. You, though holding office, are still in a relatively modest position, handling affairs day and night. I still fear forgetting the ancestral livelihood; how could I afford to be lazy? If I were, how could we avoid future misfortunes?"