He doesn't associate with anyone.(不通水火)
There was an official in the Western Han
Dynasty of China, his name was (Hou Wen).
There is a story about him recorded in the
history books
He was a man of great integrity and
intelligence. He accepted the appointment of the mayor of the capital at that
time and joined the administrative team of the capital government.
The mayor of the capital asked him during a
meeting.
I want to strengthen security in our
capital and we will investigate and arrest those who behave unlawfully.
Where do you think we should prioritise our
investigations?
he replied.
I think we should investigate (Du Xuji)
first.
After hearing his answer, the mayor looked
very embarrassed.
(Du Xuji) was a celebrity in the capital at
that time. He was a man with a great sense of justice.
When he hears that some people's grievances
cannot be redressed, he will privately use his own strength to defend what he
believes is justice.
Many people who agree with his approach,
and many who think there are loopholes in the legal system, admire him.
But there are many people who disagree with
his approach, and many people who believe that even if there are loopholes in
the legal system, legal norms should be followed, and they hate him.
He is a very controversial figure.
After (Hou Wen) saw the mayor's expression,
he knew that the mayor actually agreed with (Du Xuji's) approach.
He told the mayor.
You are a very upright official, and your
reputation is recognised by all the people in the capital.
I think you have two choices now. You can
choose to investigate and arrest (Du Xuji) for his illegal behaviour.
The other option is not to investigate and
arrest (Du Xuji) for his wrongdoing, but you cannot investigate or arrest
anyone else's wrongdoing.
The mayor looked at him in confusion.
He told the mayor.
If you don't investigate and arrest (Du
Xuji) for his wrongdoing, but instead investigate and arrest other people whose
crimes are not as serious. Then all the people can see from your behaviour that
you are selectively handling cases.
Your image in the hearts of the people will
be greatly diminished.
If you don't investigate anyone, the people
will think that you must be investigating illegal things in secret, so the
people won't be disgusted with you.After hearing his words, the mayor nodded in
agreement.
(Hou Wen) then said to the mayor.Although
we are not investigating or arresting (Du Xuji) for his illegal behaviour, our
goal of improving public security in the capital has not changed.
Please authorise me, and I will find a way
to prevent (Du Xuji) from breaking the law in the future.
The mayor nodded in agreement.A few days
later, Hou Wen spoke to (Du Xuji) privately.
He said to (Du Xuji)
You and I happen to be from the same
hometown, and I have no hatred for you. I don't have any quarrel with you
either.He knows that you are a person with a strong sense of justice. Because
the previous mayor of the capital was not fair enough, you broke many laws to
defend justice.
I'm speaking to you on behalf of the
current Mayor.
If you do not break the law from now on, we
will not prosecute you for your past crimes.The current mayor is a very
righteous person, he will administer the capital fairly and justly, and he will
abide by the law.
(Du Xuji) said to him after listening to
his words.I am willing to never break the law again as long as the current
mayor can run the capital fairly and justly.
But if the current mayor does not
administer the capital fairly and justly, I may once again use my own methods
to defend justice.
From that day on, (Du Xuji) began to live
in seclusion in his own house.
He locked the door to his house and stopped
receiving guests.
He grows vegetables and flowers in his house
every day and has never done anything illegal again.
This idiom describes a person who does not
associate with others.
Dear friend, what inspirations or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
If you were the mayor, would you listen to Hou Wen's advice? Do you think you can stay away from others for a long time?
I
hope this story can give you some new insights.
不通水火(He doesn't associate with anyone.)
中國的西漢王朝有一個官員，他的名字叫做(侯文)。
歷史書上記載了一個他的故事
他是一個非常正直又有智慧的人，他接受當時的首都市長的聘任，他加入了首都市政府的行政團隊。
在一場會議中，首都市長問他。
我想強化我們首都內的治安，我們要針對那些行為不法的人進行調查與逮捕。
你認為是我們最應該優先調查的目標呢?
他回答。
我認為我們應該先調查(杜穉季)。
市長聽到他的回答後，市長的表情非常的為難。
(杜穉季)是當時首都的一個名人，他是一個很有正義感的人。
當他聽到有些百姓的冤屈沒有辦法得到伸張的時候，他會私底下運用自己的力量去捍衛他所認定的正義。
很多認同他作法的人，很多認為法律制度有漏洞的人都很崇拜他，
但有很多不認同他的做法的人，很多認為就算法律制度有漏洞也應該依循法律規範的人很討厭他。
他是一個很有爭議的人。
(侯文)看到市長的表情後，他知道市長實際上認同(杜穉季)的做法。
他對市長說。
你是一個很正直的官員，你的名聲所有首都的百姓都很認同。
我認為你現在有兩種選擇，你可以選擇針對(杜穉季)的不法行為進行調查與逮捕。
另外一個選擇就是你不要針對(杜穉季)的不法行為進行調查與逮捕，但是你也不可以調查或逮捕其他人的不法行為。
市長很疑惑的看著他。
他對市長說。
如果你不針對(杜穉季)的不法行為進行調查與逮捕，而是調查與逮捕其他那些罪刑沒有那麼嚴重的人。那麼所有的百姓就可以從你的行為看出來你選擇性的辦案。
你的形象在所有的百姓的心中將會大打折扣。
如果你不調查任何人，百姓會認為你一定是暗中在調查那些不法的事物，所以百姓不會對你產生反感。
市長聽完他說的話後，認同的點了點頭。
(侯文)接著對市長說。
雖然我們不針對(杜穉季)的不法行為進行調查與逮捕，但我們改善首都的治安的目標沒有改變。
請你授權給我，我會想辦法讓(杜穉季)以後不再犯法。
市長點頭答應他的請求。
幾天後，侯文私底下找了(杜穉季)談話。
他對(杜穉季)說。
我和你剛好是同一個故鄉的人，我與你並沒有仇恨。我也沒有和你有任何的嫌隙。
他知道你是一個很有正義感的人，因為以前的首都市長不夠公正，所以你為了捍衛正義犯了很多法。
我代表現在的市長跟你談話。
如果你從此之後就不再犯法，我們將不追究以前你所犯的所有罪行。
現在的市長是一個很正直的人，他會公正公平的管理首都並且他很遵守法律。
(杜穉季)聽完他的話後就對他說。
我願意從此不再犯法，只要現在的市長可以公正公義的管理首都。
但是如果現在的市長沒有公正與工義的管理首都，那麼我可能會再用我的方式來捍衛正義。
從那一天起，(杜穉季)開始隱居在自已的家中。
他把他家的大門鎖起來不再接待任何的客人。
他每天在自已的家裡種菜養花，他再也沒有做任何不法的事情。
這句成語的意思是形容一個人不跟任何其他人來往。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你如果是市長，你會聽取侯文的意見嗎? 你認為你能夠長時間不跟他人往來嗎?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為漢書-卷77-孫寶
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%BC%A2%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7077