No one can live without friends, but people are separated, and people are often deceived or even hurt by so-called friends. A lot of times, you can't tell who is really a friend worth making friends with. There is a famous saying in Zhuangzi that the true meaning of making friends is revealed in only three words.

Let's start with a story: there was a general named Xue in the Tang Dynasty. He was poor when he was young. His family had to live in caves and often went hungry. There is a family next to him whose owner is Wang, who is a friend of Xue.

This Mao-family is also very ordinary. Although a little better than Xue, life is tight. When he saw that Xue's family was so miserable, he always squeezed a little out of his own food to help Xue.

Later, Xue joined the army, followed Emperor Taizong in the four directions, and repeatedly made outstanding achievements. Finally, he was made Duke of Pingyang, and many people came to congratulate him with gifts. When the king who helped him heard that Xue had become the county king, he also sent two big jars by client.

Xue refused all the gifts, but accepted two jars of wine from Wang.

But when he opened the jar, he found it was not wine, but ordinary water. When his men saw it, they flew into a rage: Who dares to send two jars of water to tease our general Xue!

Xue laughed, poured out three bowls of water and gulped it down. He said, "These two cans of water are from my good friend Wang Xiong. Although he can't afford to buy wine, I not only want to accept them, but also have a good taste, because this is "a friendship between gentlemen is as light as water"!

Mao didn't please Xue because of his development, and Xue didn't forget this old friend. When Xue came to Mao's house again, Mao still entertained him with simple meals as in those days, and their friendship lasted for a lifetime.

The phrase "A friendship between gentlemen is as light as water" comes from Zhuangzi: "A friendship between saints is as light as water, but not vain." It means that a truly pure friendship should be as light as water.

We often say that interpersonal relationships are complicated, so many social relationships are complicated in our lives, but not all people can call them friends.

For example, business partners may call each other brothers and sisters when they are together. According to Zhuangzi's standards, this is not a friend, but a partner, because the true meaning of making friends in Zhuangzi is only three short words-"as light as water".

What kind of friends are worth making friends with? The premise is based on this friendship that is as light as water, not mixed with interests or other ingredients. Just remember the words "light as water".

For example, in this story of Xue and Mao, their friends are not mixed with such things as status, status and wealth, so even if Xue became the county king, Mao only gave him two altars of clear water, and Xue was extremely happy.

Although this kind of friendship looks like water, it is actually stronger and more mellow than wine. There is no need to call out brothers and sisters or swear by blood.

In real life, people often say that they have been cheated by their friends. Actually, it's because they don't know what a friend is. If you define people who have interests with each other as friends, and if you think that I have helped this friend, he will be good to me, then it is inevitable to get such a lesson.

Friendship as light as water must be equal. Zhuangzi described such a friend as "smiling at each other, but never looking back". It is enough not to talk together at any time. Do you have such a friend?