古代航海家与现代互联网从龙头金钗的故事中寻找历史的智慧
从《龙头金钗》的故事中寻找历史智慧：吴孟举与吕仙的奇遇
在清朝乾隆年间，浙江石门县洲泉人吴孟举，他家底富厚，拥有良田千亩，又官至内阁中书。然而，他缺少了一样东西，那就是长生不老的仙术。听闻苏州民间以四月初八为“神仙节”，传说这一天天上神仙下凡一游，人们热闹非凡，但只有用俗语：“见仙不识仙，富贵三千年”来取个吉利。
但吴孟举并不因此而灰心，他要到苏州碰碰额角头的运气。这年四月初八，吴孟举早到了苏州，不打红伞也不坐蓝轿，只带了四个亲兵，上街凑热闹。这天满街路摆满了各式各样的货摊，还有打拳头卖膏药、敲搭板唱“莲花落”等卖艺人。轧闹猛的人川流不息，这真是个热闹的神仙节。
吴孟举没心思欣赏这些热闹景致，而是留心观察来往行人的神态舉止，想从中辨认非凡之人。他串街过巷，不觉来到八里桥堍，正想举步上桥，只见桥上一个衣衫褴褛的叫化子手握一根破竹拐杖摇摇晃晃走下桥来。叫化子嘴里衔着一枚铜钿，每呼吸一次都发出“嘘、嘘”的声音。
被这叫化子的模样和舉动所吸引，他眼睛盯牢看，一阵脑筋骨碌转忽然心头一亮。他急忙上前，对叫化子深深地作了一揖。叫化子连忙还礼，说：“怪哉!怪哉!谁人不知你是堂堂内阁中书老爷，却向我这穷叫化作揖呢？”他问：“请问，你可是吕仙？”
Wu Mengju pointed to the copper coin in the mouth of the beggar and said, "The mouth holds copper coins, two mouths overlap, overlapping Lu also!" The beggar replied: "So it is, since we have met once today, I will give you a few lines of poetry."
With that, he used his broken bamboo cane to write on the railing of the bridge:
I have lived in Suzhou for many years,
No one knows that I am a god,
Only Wu Mengju from Shimen knows
That I am not meant for him.
The beggar wrote and finished before disappearing. At this point, Wu Mengju was convinced that he had really encountered Xian Ren Lü Dongbin. He returned to his mansion and carefully savored Lü's poem. He thought: "Although you know me as a god but not meant for me," means that while he knew he was an immortal but lacked the fate of becoming one. Why? Because he was too rich and poor in simplicity.
Soon after, Wu Mengju followed Lü's advice and resigned from his official position at court. He returned to Shimen Manor where he divided up his land and wealth among fellow villagers before retiring to a simple life as a scholar-teacher with no luxurious possessions or grand ambitions left behind upon death.
This story can be seen as an allegory for seeking wisdom through history; just like how Wu Mengju learned valuable lessons about contentment from Lü Dongbin during their encounter at Suzhou Bridge on Godly Day (Qingming Festival).
