ExclusiveTraditional Chinese Tales：The Tolerant and Wise Minister Lou Shide

The Tolerant and Wise Minister Lou Shide
During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, the Prime Minister, Lou Shide, was known for his profoundness and benevolence. When his younger brother was appointed as the Governor of Daizhou and about to take office, Lou asked him, "I am thinking, as a provincial official, our family has received too much favor from the emperor. This may provoke jealousy from others. How do you intend to handle it?" His brother knelt before him and said, "From now on, even if someone spits in my face, I will just wipe it off and not let you worry." Lou sternly replied, "This is exactly what worries me. When someone spits on you, it is to provoke you. By wiping it off, you are going against their intentions. It will only exacerbate their anger. You should calmly accept it, leave it, and let it dry naturally." This story was later condensed to the idiom "letting the spittle dry on one's face." Symbolically, it refers to accepting adversity with patience and tolerance.

Department of Production, Jing Di Academy