Give life an exit

Author: Lin Xi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: The Key to Life
This is the story my father told me. There was a father who lost his parents at a very young age and became an orphan. Orphaned and penniless, he wandered the streets and endured all the hardships of life. Eventually, he built a substantial fortune, but by then, he had reached the twilight of his life and had to consider arrangements for after his death. He had two sons, both in their prime and equally intelligent and capable. Almost everyone, including himself, thought that the property should be divided equally between the two sons. But at the last moment, he changed his mind. He called his two sons to his bedside, took a key from under his pillow, looked up at them, and said slowly but clearly, "All the wealth I have earned in my life is locked in a box that this key can open. But now, I can only pass this key to one of my two sons." The two brothers stared at their father in astonishment, almost asking in unison, "Why? That's too cruel!" "Yes, it is cruel," the father paused and emphasized. "But it is also kind. Now, you choose. The one who takes this key must take on the responsibility of the family. He must manage and run this wealth according to my wishes and ways. The one who refuses the key will not have to bear any responsibility. His life will be entirely his own, and he can earn wealth beyond this box according to his own wishes and ways."
The two brothers listened and began to struggle internally. Taking the key would ensure a life free of hardship and risk, but it would also bind them and strip them of freedom. Refusing it? The wealth in the box was limited, while the world outside was more exciting. But such a life would be full of uncertainties and unknowns. What if their father had already guessed their thoughts? He smiled faintly and said, "That's right, no choice is perfect. There is joy, and there is pain, but that is life. You can't concentrate joy or dissipate pain. What matters most is that you understand yourself. What do you want? The process, or the outcome?"
The two brothers suddenly had a revelation. The older brother said, "I want the key." The younger brother said, "I want to go out and explore." After weighing the pros and cons, they ultimately took what they needed. This outcome was exactly what their father had anticipated.
Now, twenty years have passed. The two brothers have had vastly different experiences and circumstances. The older brother lives a comfortable and peaceful life, managing the family business in an orderly manner. His personality has become increasingly gentle and refined, especially in his twilight years, resembling his deceased father more and more, though with less sharpness and resilience. The younger brother lives a tough and turbulent life, experiencing ups and downs and enduring many hardships. His personality has become resolute and decisive. Compared to twenty years ago, the difference is significant, almost negligible.
In the hardest times, he too has regretted and resented his choice, but since he had already chosen, there was no turning back. He had to move forward with unwavering determination. After experiencing the ups and downs of life, he finally built a career of his own. It was only then that he truly understood his father and deeply thanked him.
The first time I heard this story, I was only eighteen years old. I had just been admitted to the university in the provincial capital and was about to leave home.