【Introduction】
“Life is like a play, it all depends on acting.”
“As we live on, we come to understand.”
“How can one achieve a perfect balance in this world, not disappointing the Buddha nor the beloved?”
These golden phrases sound deafening, but upon careful contemplation, they feel hollow and weak. Is there really so much profound wisdom in life? It’s just a matter of daily essentials: rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.
In decades of life, what kind of person should one strive to become? This question has perhaps troubled countless individuals. Some say one should live for oneself, others say wealth is sufficient. However, as I grow older, I increasingly believe that living well depends crucially on enriching oneself.
But the question arises, how can an ordinary person, without a big house or a prominent family background, enrich themselves?
Today, I want to share the simplest method for enriching oneself: treat your three meals a day kindly, and that is enough. Do not complicate life, nor should you spend all day chewing through difficult tomes. The essence of life is often hidden in the ordinary days.
01 **, Cultivate Wisdom
Nowadays, many people can fill their stomachs. Even if a family is deeply in debt, they still manage to have food, merely settling for simpler meals. For those in their fifties or sixties, whether there is food to eat is no longer a concern. With savings and retirement funds, even if one spends all this month, there will still be living expenses next month.
What we lack is exquisite food. With the fast-paced rhythm of life, many people eat hastily, merely going through the motions. Take Aunt Wang, whom I know, for example; she always finishes her meals quickly, rushing off to dance in the square or attend some lecture, completely missing the point.
In fact, if we are willing to put some thought into studying cuisine, we would find it far more useful than reading those tedious books.
A friend of mine, Xiao Li, is an example. He is obsessed with making Chinese stuffed buns. From the technique of baking the buns to the method of slicing them, he has mastered it all. He can even innovate, bringing new surprises each time.
“Did you know?” Xiao Li excitedly told me, “I’ve found that slightly charring the bun crust makes it taste even more fragrant.”
He has recorded all his insights on making buns and has already accumulated several notebooks.
“This is much more interesting than the reports I write at work,” Xiao Li smiled, “Each time I open them, I can learn something new.”
The wisdom of food is endless, hidden in our daily lives. Pick up the kitchen utensils, and wisdom flows at your fingertips; why seek far and wide?
02 Eat Smart, Cultivate Wealth
Grocery shopping is a great art. Some people manage to prepare three meals a day for just ten dollars, and their quality of life isn’t necessarily worse than someone who spends fifty.
My neighbor, Aunt Zhang, is a master in this regard. She has developed a set of clever tricks for reducing living costs.
“Buy groceries in the afternoon,” Aunt Zhang told me mysteriously, “Many stalls will restock, ensuring everything is fresh and cheap.”
She also advises against buying out-of-season vegetables, stating that “seasonal vegetables are not only cheaper but also more nutritious.”
Aunt Zhang frequently compares prices in different stores, “The same things can vary greatly in price.”
Sometimes, she even goes directly to the farmers’ fields to buy produce. “It’s the freshest and most affordable,” she said with a smile, “The farmers are grateful for my help in promoting their products.”
For meat, Aunt Zhang has her own views: “It’s not about buying the expensive ones, but rather the ordinary ones, and using skills to ensure nothing is wasted.”
She also recommends reducing the number of kitchen utensils, “We are all small families, and…
