# A Tale of Two Men

In the village, there were two men. One was honest and upright, named A-Shan; the other was calculating and cunning, named A-Hua.

In business, A-Shan never cheated anyone—his goods were genuine and fairly priced. A-Hua short-measured and lied through his teeth, yet earned far more. A-Hua seemed to prosper while A-Shan struggled.

In relationships, A-Shan treated people with sincerity and helped in times of need. A-Hua was all false pleasantries, using people and discarding them afterward, yet appeared more socially connected.

A-Shan often suffered losses and was mocked for being foolish, lacking adaptability, and too soft.

Someone advised him: "Learn to be sharper, develop a harder heart—that's how you get ahead in life."

A-Shan simply shook his head:
"I'm not afraid of trouble, and I'm no pushover. I just don't want to become the kind of person I despise."

Days turned into years.

A-Hua profited through cunning and manipulation. But in the end, no one wanted to associate with him. His business collapsed, and he was abandoned by all.

A-Shan kept his conscience intact. Though he never became wealthy or powerful, everyone trusted him. When he faced difficulty, people were always willing to help.

Later, someone asked A-Shan: "Didn't you ever feel resentful back then?"

A-Shan replied:
"The virtuous don't match the ruthless;
The truthful don't out-talk the liars;
The sincere don't out-play the false;
The kind don't provoke the cold-hearted.
I've seen all of this.

Yet I still choose kindness—not because I'm weak,
But because I believe that besides law,
There exists something more powerful and more just—
It's called karma.

What people owe you, heaven will repay;
What your heart loses, time will restore.
Good and evil eventually return; karma turns for all.
No one escapes it."