In ancient China, making friends was not a simple task. At that time, there were strict social hierarchies, the gap between the rich and the poor was wide, and the interaction between the rich and the poor was often restricted.
But it is in this context that there is a good story that has been sung through the ages - that is, "the friend of the pestle and the mortar".
Speaking of "pestle and mortar friends", many people may be confused, but when it comes to the story behind it, it is very interesting. The pestle is the wooden stick of the rice; Mortar is a stone mortar, a utensil used for rice. These two seemingly inconspicuous farm tools have witnessed an extraordinary friendship.
One of the protagonists of the story is Gong Shamu, a scholar from a poor but ambitious background. In order to study, he traveled thousands of miles to Taixue, but he fell into trouble because of his shyness.
At this time, he met the noble man in his life - Wu You. Wu You is a rich kid, but he doesn't have the arrogance of a rich son, but is helpful, especially for those who are aspiring to read.
In order to make a living, Gong Shamu had to change his clothes and became a servant in Wu You's house to help with rice. He thought that his identity would be concealed seamlessly, but he didn't expect that after Wu You talked to him, he praised him a lot. Wu You did not look down on him because of Gong Shamu's poverty, but saw his talent and potential.
In this way, two people with very different identities formed a deep friendship in the collision of the pestle and the mortar. Their interactions do not care about the rich and poor, do not value identity, and only pay attention to the deep fit of the soul. This kind of friendship is particularly valuable in that hierarchical feudal society.
As time passed, Gongshamu's knowledge grew deeper and his reputation grew. He not only made academic achievements, but also educated five promising sons, known as the "Gongsha Five Dragons". And his friendship with Wu You has also deepened over time.
Whenever they recall the friendship formed between the pestle and mortar, Gongshamu and Wu You will feel emotional. They know that no matter how the world changes, no matter how each other's identities change, that innocent friendship is always the same and as solid as a rock.
In a feudal society with a huge disparity between the rich and the poor and strict hierarchies, it is rare to have such a friendship that does not care about the rich and the poor and does not value the identity. It is like a bright light that illuminates that dark era and also illuminates our hearts and minds today.
Today, "杵臼之交" chǔ jiù zhī jiāo has become an idiom used as a metaphor for innocent friendships that do not care about wealth or status. Whenever we mention this idiom, we will think of the good story that has been sung through the ages, and the deep friendship between Gongshamu and Wu You that transcends wealth and poverty and crosses ranks.
In this materialistic society, "friends of the pestle and mortar" are more like a mirror, allowing us to see the true meaning of friendship. It tells us that true friendship does not distinguish between rich and poor, regardless of identity, it only cares about the fit of the heart and the integration of emotions. This kind of friendship is the most valuable wealth in life.