Heart-Scorching Hatred

Snap!

Duanmu Ren was slapped hard across the face.

"What a piece of trash!"

His wife, clutching her designer handbag, stormed out of the house, slamming the door shut with a loud bang. The housekeeper, who was hiding in the kitchen, peeked out and, seeing the handprint on Duanmu Ren's face, whispered, "She's gone? Are you alright?"

"I'm gone." Duanmu Ren's expression was calm, as if he hadn't been the one who was hit. He shook his head with a smile, "I'm fine."

That crazy woman spends a lot of money, so she forces Duanmu Ren to make money.

Duanmu Ren is competing for an important position, and at this crucial time, it's neither good nor advisable for him to make a fortune.

Unfortunately, reasoning with him was ineffective; instead, it only enraged him further.

The nanny was also afraid of that crazy woman. She only returned to the living room after making sure she had left, looking at Duanmu Ren with a pained expression. "She was too ruthless. This handprint probably won't go away. How are you going to work tomorrow? Should I put some medicine on it for you?"

As he spoke, he reached out to touch Duanmu Ren's face.

Duanmu Ren dodged to the side, knowing this woman was not to be touched, and calmly said, "It's not the first time, it doesn't matter."

The nanny awkwardly withdrew her hand, her smile somewhat stiff.

The father-in-law woke up from his afternoon nap. He didn't ask about his daughter or care about the handprint on Duanmu Ren's face. Instead, he told Duanmu Ren, "Forget about becoming the top leader. You've missed your chance this time."

Duanmu Ren's body stiffened.

After enduring humiliation and painstaking planning for so long, thinking it was a sure thing, how could it all have fallen apart at the last hurdle?

Duanmu Ren didn't know what had gone wrong.

The nanny carefully trimmed her father-in-law's nails, filing them down gently, while softly complaining, "I twisted my hand while tidying the kitchen. The washing machine is broken, and I still have so many clothes to wash."

My father-in-law closed his eyes to rest and didn't say anything.

"Auntie, you should rest." Duanmu Ren, who had long been disciplined, stood up and said, "I'll go wash up."

An hour later, the clothes were washed and the nails were trimmed.

The nanny smiled happily.

The father-in-law was in a good mood and advised Duanmu Ren: "You're too hasty and ruthless. Spreading rumors about sex and reporting money transactions is one thing, but what's the point of targeting other people's families? You certainly have the means to eliminate all your competitors. But what's the use? It only makes some people above think you're too calculating and ruthless. The key is that you broke the rules, so they decided to suppress you and directly parachuted someone down."

"It's incredibly difficult for anyone to get a good position. Conversely, there are at least hundreds or thousands of people who could occupy that good position."

"Therefore, you can never finish fighting your competitors."

If you want to climb higher, you have to look up.

"Even if you become king in a pigsty, you'll still end up as a dish in the end."

Duanmu Ren nodded in realization.

"You acted on your own and ruined things, so you must be punished." The father-in-law got up and walked towards the bedroom. "Go kneel on the balcony for an hour and reflect on your actions."

On the balcony, colorful clothes were still dripping wet.

Duanmu Ren knelt on the ground, reviewing and reflecting on his actions.

In this place, even if you are beaten, scolded, and humiliated by three people, after you leave, you can get your revenge from thirty, three hundred, or even thirty thousand or three hundred thousand people in the future.

Therefore, Duanmu Ren remained calm and composed, without any resentment.

"Looking up... recently someone from the province came down on a temporary assignment. He's from the same township as me, and he seemed to like me. We even chatted for a bit about the changes in our hometown, and we exchanged contact information."

"I lost my father at a young age and have been lacking fatherly love, so I'm going to find a godfather."

You can only have one father-in-law, but you can have many godfathers.

As for my hometown...

Duanmu Ren chuckled. He was simply born in that place and didn't have any special feelings for it.

Even if it does exist, there's more hatred than resentment.

There was a reason why the father-in-law mocked Duanmu Ren by comparing him to a pig.

Duanmu Ren did indeed work at a pig farm.

Duanmu Ren arrived at Fumin Pig Farm with a belly full of resentment.

He was clearly framed and wronged, but instead of receiving any comfort, he was banished to this place. Duanmu Ren couldn't understand it at all.

However, apart from his academic qualifications, Duanmu Ren had no connections or influence, so he could only accept his fate and obey.

The pig farm assigned Duanmu Ren to the front line, euphemistically calling it "training and development."

Duanmu Ren worked alongside the workers, feeding pigs and shoveling manure. He was covered in stench and sometimes wondered if he could ever make a name for himself like this.

One day, several pigs in the pigpen got into a fight.

An old worker came over with a shovel and smashed a pig near the edge of the pen, making it scream in agony.

Duanmu Ren was stunned and quickly reminded him, "This pig isn't fighting, you've attacked the wrong one!"

Those around him laughed.

The old worker casually smashed the object a few more times, mocking, "College students are so rigid, they're all animals, what's the difference? See, they're not fighting anymore, are they?!"

Duanmu Ren glanced at it.

The pigs in the sty were trembling with fear; they had indeed stopped fighting.

Duanmu Ren suddenly understood a question that had puzzled him for a long time.

Why, when I was clearly framed, am I being sent to a pig farm?

Because, in the leader's view, the essence of this matter is simply pigs fighting.

Pig farmers only care about the stability of the pigpen, not about which pig is right or wrong. They just pick a pig with a shovel and smash it a few times, and the pigpen will return to stability.

I was the unlucky pig that got hit.

Duanmu Ren suddenly stopped complaining.

That evening, a pig jumped out of its pen and escaped from the pig farm.

Instead of chasing after them, Duanmu Ren went out to visit every pig farmer he could think of.

Unfortunately, most of them couldn't even get through the door.

Just when he was about to despair, a bureau chief who had once taught at his university and later entered politics opened the door. After listening to Duanmu Ren recount his experiences and purpose, the bureau chief made Duanmu Ren kneel for a whole night before finally speaking. He said that he had a daughter who was of marriageable age, who was good-looking but loved to play around, had a bad temper, and a bad reputation. He asked Duanmu Ren if he was willing to marry her.

Duanmu Ren was willing.

Front Mountain Ridge, just by looking at the name, you can tell that it must be a poor and desolate place.

This place was not only where Duanmu Ren Duanmu Ren was born, but it also completely changed his life after he came of age.

After graduating from university, Duanmu Ren returned to his hometown without hesitation.

It wasn't that Duanmu Ren had any particularly high moral character, but rather it was because of his mother's obsession.

Back then, a college degree held considerable value and social status. (Note: This is not to say that a college degree still holds value and social status today.)

Duanmu Ren was highly regarded. He was assigned to the township government as a communications officer for a deputy leader and would actively apply to go to the countryside.

Before long, many villagers heard that the son of the widow South Mountain Ridge Widow Meng from Nanshan had been admitted to university and returned home to become a cadre!

It's a pity that Widow Meng died young. She suffered her whole life but never enjoyed a single day of happiness, and she didn't even live to see her son become successful.

Even if some people gossip behind his back, Duanmu Ren doesn't care.

Because my mother, in heaven, would be happy to see me as I am now.

When Duanmu Ren passed by Front Mountain Ridge, he heard that there was a widow in the village who was having a hard time, so he decided to go and see her.

A sickly, thin woman struggled to make ends meet in a dilapidated house, raising her equally frail daughter.

The little girl's timid eyes and obviously malnourished body deeply pained Duanmu Ren.

Duanmu Ren kept it in mind and would visit her from time to time with rice, flour, and cooking oil. Occasionally, he would also buy some meat and goat milk powder to help the little girl get better.

The little girl's name is Daya. She really likes Duanmu Ren Duanmu Ren. Every time she plays with him, she happily holds his hand and spins around with him. She has become noticeably healthier and more lively.

Duanmu Ren also likes Daya very much and treats her very well, as if he is redeeming his childhood self.

It was the beginning of a heartwarming story, but the ending was less than ideal.

One day, Daya's mother pulled Duanmu Ren into the house, then closed the door and began to take off her clothes.

Duanmu Ren was terrified. He pushed aside Daya's mother and broke down the door to escape.

"Stop right there!" Daya's mother stood in the shadows, her voice carrying a familiar stubbornness, and said to Duanmu Ren outside the door, "If you dare to run away today, I'll call the police to arrest you!"

Duanmu Ren was furious and turned around to question the woman about why she had done this.

The woman pleaded in a low voice, "Do you know how hard it is to be a widow? Daya needs a father! I can still have children!"

Duanmu Ren was so angry that he trembled all over and turned to leave.

Then, Daya's mother really took Daya to the local police station.

A newly arrived college graduate cadre slept with a widow and then denied it, which was reported to the police and quickly became a sensation throughout the township.

Duanmu Ren believed he was upright and had nothing to hide. He remained calm and composed after being taken to the police station, but his anger and heartbreak only intensified after he heard Daya crying and saying, "He touched me... and bullied my mother!"

Daya's mother stubbornly held her head high, waiting for Duanmu Ren to back down. "If you agree to marry me, I won't sue!"

Although it's obvious to anyone with eyes to see that this is a farce.

However, no one spoke up for Duanmu Ren; in fact, they all felt that he had only himself to blame and was reaping what he sowed.

Duanmu Ren was first sent from the township government to the livestock station, and then reassigned to a pig farm.

After many years, Widow Meng's reputation in Front Mountain Ridge has once again plummeted.

Widow Meng was neither the first nor the last widow of Front Mountain Ridge, but she was probably the most famous.

They're said to come from big cities and have very fancy names, but they're just unlucky.

Duanmu Ren knew that his mother came from Sea City, the most prosperous city in the country, and her name was Meng Shuxian.

These three words are completely out of step with everything in Front Mountain Ridge.

In the second year after Meng Shuxian arrived at Front Mountain Ridge, she married a man surnamed Duanmu and soon gave birth to Duanmu Ren.

Later, an accident occurred during the construction of a reservoir in the village, killing several people, one of whom was surnamed Duanmu.

The only person in South Mountain Ridge who knew and called Meng Shuxian by that name is no longer here.

Everyone called her Widow Meng.

Widow Meng is beautiful, educated, and can paint. She should be able to live well in a big city, but not in South Mountain Ridge.

Widow Meng is very delicate and doesn't know how to farm. This wouldn't be a problem in a big city, but it's a fatal flaw in South Mountain Ridge.

Duanmu's pension did not last long.

Widow Meng still had to bend down and hoe the ground and pull weeds. She learned to farm and made a lot of jokes. After a year of hard work, she could barely support herself and her son.

Soon, no one will remember Duanmu, who sacrificed his life while building the reservoir.

Widow Meng's situation on the Front Mountain Ridge became increasingly difficult.

There's always gossip around a widow's door, Widow Meng was beautiful and disliked by the other women in the village.

However, many men were attracted to her and would deliberately strike up conversations with Widow Meng. Some would even knock on her door at night and shout lewd things.

Widow Meng was not only stubborn but also very proud; once, she injured a man with a knife.

From then on, the men in the village disliked Widow Meng.

When Duanmu Ren turned four, the harvest was poor, Widow Meng's family ran out of food.

Widow Meng completely abandoned her pride and went to the village to borrow grain.

When it got dark, Widow Meng returned empty-handed and sat there blankly all night.

The next morning, Widow Meng cooked and stored all the remaining grain in her house, then went to the village to borrow money, and then took a train to Sea City.

That was the darkest and most terrifying experience of Duanmu Ren's life.

Five days later, Widow Meng returned looking exhausted, still empty-handed.

Later, in order to encourage Duanmu Ren to study harder, Widow Meng recounted this experience many times.

Widow Meng returned to Sea City, only to find that she no longer had a place in the Meng Household.

Widow Meng's mother felt sorry for her daughter and asked someone to introduce her to a widowed worker.

The man was very satisfied with Widow Meng, but he resolutely refused to take Duanmu Ren and was unwilling to raise someone else's son.

Widow Meng had almost given in, quietly watching her mother prepare her dowry, ready to forget everything about South Mountain Ridge and start a new life in Sea City.

But at the last moment, Widow Meng still had a big fight with her family and returned to the Front Mountain Ridge.

After returning home, Widow Meng's deepest obsession was to have Duanmu Ren study hard so that he could pass the exam and return to Sea City.

This was not the first time Widow Meng had abandoned Duanmu Ren.

However, the second one was much shorter, only about five hours.

That was the heaviest rain Duanmu Ren could remember, so heavy that it washed away the roof and mud walls of his house.

Having no other option, Widow Meng took Duanmu Ren to an abandoned kiln behind the village to take shelter from the rain.

The cave dwelling has been abandoned for a long time and is filled with miscellaneous items, as well as some straw and cow and sheep dung.

Rainwater poured in from outside, almost reaching above ankle level, making the smell inside the cave dwelling even stranger.

Widow Meng held her five-year-old son, Duanmu Ren, trembling amidst the thunder and lightning.

Duanmu Ren woke up groggily and called out, "Mother, I'm cold."

Widow Meng was stunned for a moment, then threw Duanmu Ren into the mud, her face full of resentment. "It's all because of you that my life has become such a mess."

Why don't you just die!

Having said that, he got up, rushed out of the cave, and disappeared into the raging storm.

Duanmu Ren crawled out of the mud, unsure whether he should chase after them, and just cried out at the top of his lungs.

As dawn broke, the rain gradually stopped.

Widow Meng returned soaking wet, hugged Duanmu Ren, and burst into tears.

From that time on, Widow Meng never cried again.

Widow Meng remained stubborn, but she had lost her pride and was becoming more and more like an ordinary village woman.

Shriveled, numb, and dark-skinned.

Widow Meng couldn't borrow any more money. Every day, besides farming and doing farm work, she urged Duanmu Ren to study. She had almost gone mad.

If Duanmu Ren showed the slightest slackness or impatience, Widow Meng would severely punish Duanmu Ren.

This continued until the night before the college entrance examination.

Once Duanmu Ren finishes his exams, his scores will be high enough to get into the best university in Sea City.

This pitiful woman, steeped in suffering, had exhausted all her vitality and reached the end of her life. Finally, she was willing to let go of her obsessions and resentment, and became the gentle and virtuous Meng Shuxian she had been at the beginning. Holding Duanmu Ren's hand, she said, "Son, your name is Duanmu Ren."

"Duan means upright, and Mom hopes you will grow up to be an upright person."

"Wood represents the hope that you will become a pillar of society."

"Ren means kindness. Whether you're in business or politics in the future, you must always be kind and a good person."

"If we had met a kind person to help us after your father died, things wouldn't have been like this..."

"Okay!" Eighteen-year-old Duanmu Ren agreed with tears in his eyes.

"What a fine '[Resentment of the Myriad People]'! Must you stir up all my resentment before I'll be convinced and enter the Qi Ingestion?!"

The most embarrassing and darkest memories of Duanmu Ren's life have been unearthed.

Should we complain?!

Certainly!

He blamed others, himself, his father, his mother, heaven, and earth; he had blamed everything he should and shouldn't have Duanmu Ren a million times.

But it was ultimately useless.

Instead, hate!

Hatred arises first in the heart, then evil springs from the gall.

Hating that he was useless and unable to protect his loved ones, he buried himself in his studies and worked hard to improve himself!

Hating their lowly status and inability to establish themselves and realize their ambitions, they willingly endured humiliation and sought to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy!

They resent people for being poor and lacking dignity, so they resort to force and robbery, refusing to give up even a single penny!

Hating that all living beings are evil, invading and harming one another, he took up a knife to stop evil with killing!

Hating the injustice of the world, which rewards evil and punishes good, they vie for power and position, claiming to be in the place of Heaven!

The grievances of the people, in the end, are nothing more than a theatrical performance of lamentation, hoping to summon thunder from the heavens, tears from the saints, favors from the king, or swords from heroes. Ultimately, this is a inferior method of seeking external Lower Vehicle, a form of "Low Shaman Method," not "High Shaman Method."

First, Drink the People's Blood, then quell their Resentment of the Myriad People. This is the way of a sage who seeks virtue through oppression, both internally and externally; it is the Immortal Shaman Method, not the way of High Shaman.

"I am a supreme sorcerer; I should only seek within myself, to burn away the hatred in my heart."

"If I hate someone, I will set up an altar as a sacrifice, cursing and killing them."

"If I hate all living beings, I shall drink their blood, devour their souls, and slaughter the world."

If I hate heaven and earth, I will transform myself into boundless evil fire, burning away all cause and effect in the world.