TFWYH – Chapter 367 Black, White and Gray

If it weren’t for Madam Su, Ling Yue might have thought that being charitable and kind meant you couldn’t be a true merchant. But Madam Su had said it clearly: this was what a real merchant looked like.

Ling Yue couldn’t quite figure it out. She remained quiet and brooding, still unsettled even after returning to the estate.

It was then that Ling Yu returned. Seeing that everyone at home was safe, he gave Ling Yue a few instructions and prepared to leave again.

He was genuinely worried about the three of them — especially little Ling Chen.

In the previous life, Ling Chen had already been gravely ill at this time. He had survived for only a month and ultimately died in Ling Yu’s arms. That memory had haunted him, leaving him unable to let go.

So he had to return in person to check on him. Only after seeing Ling Chen safe could he feel at ease.

Ling Yu came in a rush, and he left just as quickly.

But at that moment, Ling Yue called after him: “Big brother, I know you’re busy, but there’s something I can’t figure out. Can I ask you?”

Ling Yu stopped and turned back to look at her, as if saying, Speak quickly.

Ling Yue scratched the back of her head, embarrassed: “Um… I just went to the Su family. I saw that our household had a lot of grain, so I took some to donate — to do a good deed. But…”

Hearing this, Ling Yu’s aura turned cold.

Feeling it, Ling Yue quickly sped up her words: “But Madam Su didn’t accept it. She only bought two thousand jin at a high price and told me to take the rest back. She also said a lot of things, telling me that what I did was wrong, that it wasn’t how a merchant should act.”

Ling Yu’s expression softened slightly. “Madam Su is really looking out for you. That’s why she said it.”

Ling Yue said helplessly: “I can still tell right from wrong, but I just don’t understand — to be a merchant, do you really have to suppress your conscience?”

Ling Yu answered indirectly: “Let me ask you — if right now you went out into the streets to distribute porridge, would that be considered a good deed?”

Ling Yue thought for a moment, then nodded: “Of course it would. A very good deed.”

“A good deed?” Ling Yu gave a cold smile. “Xiangxi Town has over two thousand residents. After the grain you sold, our reserves only have a little over seven thousand jin left. How long do you think that would feed them?”

Ling Yue: …

Ling Yu continued: “Survival of the fittest! If you distribute porridge without government protection, could it trigger a riot? Those strong men among the people — might they take food from women, children, and the elderly out of hunger?”

Ling Yue: …

Ling Yu: “Do you know what it feels like to be starving to the extreme? You’ve experienced it. Do you think such hunger might cost lives?”

Ling Yue’s face went pale as fear gripped her.

Ling Yu pressed on: “When you’ve used up all the household grain and can no longer provide, will the townspeople blame you?”

Ling Yue stammered: “N…no, they wouldn’t, right? I’m their benefactor!”

Ling Yu mocked: “Think about your father and grandmother — the saying ‘one grain given, one grudge received’ didn’t come from nowhere. Never test human nature, and never play the great altruist. Good people don’t live long. The world is not as beautiful as you imagine. Don’t overuse your compassion, because your compassion could kill you — and those around you.”

Ling Yue’s face drained of color. “So… does that mean we must suppress our conscience because of this?”

Ling Yu looked at her for a moment, then sighed helplessly: “There aren’t only black-and-white people in this world. Learn from your sister-in-law — it’s not that you can’t do good, it’s that before doing something, you must consider the consequences and then decide whether to act.”

Leaving those words behind, Ling Yu turned and left. He didn’t want to waste more time talking with his sister.

After enduring so much suffering, taking so many risks, and still being naively kind…

Tsk…

At least his younger brother was simpler and suited his temper better.