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老東家經常對王善人侃侃談起，每一次都講得很有意味的，所以王善人內心非常地感嘆，心想：「太爺他老那麼有名，書讀得那麼好，而我呢？卻連個字都不認得，啊！將來我又有什麼臉，到地下去見他呢？」
王善人深深覺得，為人子孫的，絕對不可以忘本，心裡常常存有光宗耀祖的志氣。家裡有孝子賢孫，那麼歷代的祖先也都會有榮耀。所以王善人就發願立志：「啊！這輩子，我是沒有法子讀書，可是將來我有兒子，我就是當乞丐要飯吃（討飯），我也要叫他讀書識字，好繼祖德啊！」
十三、不衒己長
王善人在二十三歲，仍然在十里臺老張家扛活（做長工）時。有一天，遇著一個打頭的（領工），他對於莊稼農事平常，但是他會織布。老東家（僱主）為了冬天農閒時，因為他會織布，所以才叫他當打頭的。
有一天，王善人和打頭的一起送糞，王善人把糞筐裝在車上，打頭的就在後面趕車，肥料車子走後，王善人遠遠就聽到他打罵牲口的吆喝聲，嗓子都給喊啞了。吃過午飯，王善人繼續把糞車裝好了，就對他說：「讓我來趕一趟試試好嗎？」他說：「好啊！你就試試吧。這牲口可把我氣死了！」不一會兒的工夫，王善人就回來了，打頭的就說：「咦！你真的會趕車啊！那好了，你就趕吧！」
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The elder employer often talked with Good Man Wang about his great grandfather, always with great relish and enjoyment. So Good Man Wang was moved to sigh with deep regret, "My great grandpa was so famous and erudite. As for me, I am illiterate. Ah! How can I face him after I die in the future?"
Good Man Wang deeply felt that as descendants we should never forget our roots, and we should always resolve to glorify our family and ancestors. If there are filial children and worthy descendants in a family, the ancestors of all generations will be glorified. Hence, Good Man Wang made a vow, "Alas! In this life, I had no means to study. However, in the future when I have a son, even if I have to beg for a living, I will make him study and learn to read, so that the virtue of my ancestors will be carried on."
13. Never Bragging about His Own Strengths
When Good Man Wang was twenty-three years old, he was still working as a laborer for the Changs at Ten Li Platform. One day, he met a leader of the laborers, whose skill in farming was only fair, but who could weave. Because of his skill in weaving, the boss hired him to be the leader so that he could weave during the wintertime when farming was slow.
One day, Good Man Wang was transporting manure with the leader. Good Man Wang loaded the carts filled with manure onto the wagon. The leader was driving in the back. After the manure wagon pulled away, Good Man Wang could hear from some distance the leader yelling at the animal pulling the manure. His voice was hoarse. After lunch, Good Man Wang continued to load the manure wagon. He said to the leader, "Let me try to drive the wagon for one round." The leader said, "Sure! Go ahead and try. This animal is really driving me nuts!" In just a little while, Good Man Wang returned. The leader said, "Wow! You can really drive the wagon! Well then, why don't you keep driving."
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