现代名人金钥匙中国励志故事
清朝乾隆年间，有个读书人吴孟举，是浙江石门县洲泉人。他家底富厚，良田千亩，又官为内阁中书，可以说既有荣华，又有富贵，唯独缺少一样，就是长生不老的仙术。吴孟举听说苏州民间以四月初八为“神仙节”，传说每年这一天，天上神仙都要下凡一游，察看人间世故。人们都想亲眼看一看神通广大的仙人，所以四月初八这天，整个苏州总是热闹非凡。可是从来也没有人真的在这一天见到过神仙，只有用当地一句俗语：“见仙不识仙，富贵三千年”来取个吉利罢了。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，不带任何随从，只身一人，上街凑热闹。这时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”等卖艺人的热闹景象。轧闹猛的人川流不息，这真是个热闹的神仙节。然而，他的心思并不是欣赏这些热闹，而是在观察来往行人的神态举止，看是否能辨认出非凡之人才。
他串街过巷，不觉来到八里桥堍，就想走上桥，但只见桥上一个衣衫褴褛的叫化子手握一根破竹拐杖，一摇晃晃走下桥。他嘴里衔着铜钿，每呼吸一次，都发出“嘘、嘘”的声音。被这个模样所吸引的是他的眼睛和转动的脑筋忽然心头闪现，他急忙向叫化子深深作了一揖。那叫化子连忙还礼，说：“怪哉!怪哉!谁知你堂堂内阁中书老爷，为何向我这穷叫化作揖呢?” 吴孟舉面带喜色地说：“请问，你可就是吕洞宾？”那叫化子回答：“此话从何而来？”
Wu Mengju pointed to the copper coin in the mouth of the beggar and said, "The mouth holds copper, and the two mouths are entwined. Entwining is Lyu." The beggar replied: "I see. As today we have met once, I will give you a few lines of poetry." He then used his bamboo cane to write on the railing of the bridge:
In Suzhou for decades,
No one knows me as a god.
Only Wu Mengju from Shouquan knows
That I am not meant to be with him.
The poem disappeared along with the beggar. Wu Mengju was convinced that he had indeed met Lü Dongbin, a legendary immortal who lived during Tang Dynasty. After this encounter, Wu Mengju decided to follow Lü's advice and left his official position behind. He returned to his hometown and distributed his wealth among his neighbors before devoting himself fully to literature.
He spent his later years in Chongfu Town under various pseudonyms such as Huang Leaf Village Scholar or Yellow Leaf Hermit. As an accomplished scholar during Qing dynasty's early years, he became friends with notable scholars like Lu Xun (Lü Liuyuan) and Zeng Zhongyan (Zhang Zhidao). Together they compiled Song Poetry Anthology.
This story tells us about how Wu Mengju encountered Lü Dongbin on Earth Day in Suzhou when he was still holding onto material wealth but lacked spiritual enlightenment; how he followed Lü's advice after their meeting; how he renounced worldly possessions for literary pursuits; eventually passing away without any valuable items buried alongside him - it all reflects on what truly matters in life: spiritual growth over material gains.
In summary, this story highlights that true fulfillment comes from cultivating one's inner self rather than accumulating wealth or power. It serves as an inspiration for anyone seeking personal growth through self-reflection and learning from others' experiences.
