Reading broadly into a person (original essay) by Feng Jicai
Translated by YK Chan
世界是一个大舞台，每个人都是一本书。读人，比读其他文字写就的书更难。我认认真真地读，读了大半辈子，至今还没有读懂这本“人之书”。
On the worldwide stage every person appears as a book. To read a person is more difficult than to read a written book. I have been seriously reading this “Book of Man” over half of my life, and still haven’t understood it.
有的人，在阳光明媚的日子里愿意把伞借给你，而下雨的时候，他却打着伞悄悄地先走了。——你读他时，千万别埋怨他。因为他自己不愿意被雨淋着 (且是人家的雨伞)，也不愿意分担别人的困难，你能说什么呢？还是自己常备一把伞吧。
When there is bright sunshine someone would lend you his umbrella. However, when it rains he would leave stealthily under his umbrella.–When you are reading him, don’t ever complain about him. Since he isn’t willing to get wet and it’s his umbrella after all, how can you question his reluctance to share other people’s problems? It’s better to have your own umbrella.
有的人，在你有权势的时候，围着你团团转，而你离职了，或无权无势了，他却躲得远远的。——
When you are in power or influential someone would hover all over you. However, when you leave your job or do not have clout anymore, he would make himself scarce.–
你读他时，千万要理解他。因为他过去是为了某种需要而赞美你，现在你没有那种功力了，也就没有必要再为你吟唱什么赞美诗了。在此，你就需要静下心来，先想一下自己过去是否太轻信别人呢？
When you are reading him, try your best to understand him. He praised you in the past because he needed something from you. Since you don’t serve that function now, he does not have to glorify you anymore. From now on you have to keep your cool and ponder if you are too trusting of people. Continue reading →
