Story Who is the most beautiful?: adaptation of an ancient Chinese fable.
Hundreds of years ago there lived in China a gentleman named Zou Ji. This man knew that he was very handsome and spent the day looking at himself in the mirror to enjoy his own beauty.
– Oh, how lucky I am! I have a delicate face, a slender body and a natural grace that attracts attention. Nature has been very generous to me!
His style and elegance were famous throughout the kingdom, but rumors spread that there was another man who could compete with him in beauty: a Mr. Xu, who lived in another city in the north of the country.
One morning one of the maids called Zou Ji’s room.
– Sir, I remind you that in an hour you have an appointment in your office with an important businessman.
– It’s true! I get ready and go down to meet him.
Zou Ji cleaned up, dressed in his best clothes, and as always, he found himself extremely handsome.
As he looked himself up and down in front of the mirror, he asked his wife:
– Dear wife, I don’t know that Mr. Xu they talk so much about but you do. Tell me who is more beautiful of the two?
His wife answered him immediately:
– You, dear, of course. Mr. Xu is handsome but he is not even close to your beauty!
Zou Ji was very pleased with the answer, but he was not satisfied and decided to ask for a second opinion. She left her bedroom, went down the marble staircase that led to the office and crossed paths with the housekeeper, a trusted woman who had been working in the family home for more than twenty years.
The housekeeper wished him good morning with a nod of her head, without stopping.
– Good morning sir!
– Wait a moment! I want to ask you a question and please be honest with me.
– You will say.
– I know that you also know the famous Mr. Xu and I need you to tell me if he is more beautiful than me.
The answer was resounding:
– Sir, do not have any doubts of any kind. You are much more beautiful and attractive than him!
Zou Ji appreciated the compliment but doubt continued to run through his head as he headed to his personal office.
Shortly there was a knock at the door. Again, it was the maid.
– Sir, your guest has just arrived.
– Thanks, tell him to come in!
Zou Ji welcomed the businessman with a friendly smile and invited him to sit in a comfortable armchair.
– If you don’t mind, before we get into professional topics I want to ask you a very personal question.
– Of course I don’t care! What do you want to know?
– I know that you live in the north of the country like Mr. Xu and that you are childhood friends.
– You’re not wrong, that’s right.
– And in your opinion he is more beautiful than me?
The gentleman looked surprised at the bizarre question but answered confidently.
– Please don’t worry about that. You are very beautiful, much more beautiful than him beyond comparison!
– Thank you very much, you leave me alone. Now, if you want, tell me what brings you here.
Three days passed and by chance Mr. Xu visited the city. The news spread like wildfire, Zou Ji found out, and quickly ran to tell his wife.
– Dear, Mr. Xu will be in the city for a while and I want to meet him! I sent him a notice for him to come to our house for lunch today and he gladly accepted the invitation.
– What good news, my love! I will notify the service so that everything will be ready at one o’clock.
– Great! I’m going upstairs to dress up a little. I have to think carefully about what I’m going to wear… I’m finally going to see with my own eyes if I’m prettier than him!
Mr. Xu showed up very punctually and the couple came out to receive him. As soon as Zou Ji saw him, he was shocked!
He was a very handsome boy who exuded an innate elegance that was impossible to surpass. His teeth were perfect, he had big emerald green eyes and his skin seemed softer than silk! Not to mention that he moved exquisitely as if his feet were floating above the ground. !
Zou Ji felt plunged into misery. It was evident that Mr. Xu was a much more handsome and seductive guy than him!
That night disappointment and sadness did not let him sleep. The worst thing for him was not realizing that he was not as handsome as Mr. Xu, but realizing something much more important that he had never thought about.
– “My wife told me that I was more beautiful than Mr. Xu because he loves me and goes out of his way to please me; my housekeeper told me the same thing because she is afraid that I will fire her from her job; The businessman who visited me also assured me that I was more beautiful because he needs me to make money…
Zou Yi, saddened, sighed:
– How difficult it is to know what others really think!
Moral: We all like to be told nice things and how fantastic we are, but it’s good to know that there are people who do it just out of interest. Be wary of those who spend the day complimenting you and telling you that you are the best at everything. You know what your virtues, your capabilities and your limits are, and the important thing is to trust yourself and what your heart tells you.