Laozi was born into a farming family, with no unusual signs at birth. His parents were barely literate, living in a thatched hut of three rooms, not from a noble lineage. They cultivated a few acres of thin land just to survive, managing to eke out a living. All thanks to Heaven’s favor, and the love of his mother and father, he was able to survive in the vast red dust of the world. Eight years of schooling earned him a basic education, then he abandoned his studies to join the army, but did not achieve legendary feats. Though his life was fragile as paper, he harbored resentment towards the sky’s highness. Crawling among humans, he endured a hundred setbacks without giving up, hiding in smoke and dust, occasionally finding moments of freedom. Though he was learned, he had no grand ambitions, yet he enjoyed writing and calligraphy. Living among the marketplace, he observed the halls of power, sometimes pretending to be profound, putting on airs. In front of others, he dared not remove his disguise; behind their backs, he dared not face his own dirty heart. Being a good person, he could not be consistent; doing bad deeds, he dared not fully indulge. Greedy for wealth but afraid of societal disapproval; lustful but often timid. Not a troublemaker nor a hero of the world. He would burn incense at temples, bow to Buddha, indulge in wine and meat, show compassion when releasing life, but when killing, he was quick with the knife. He betrayed Guanyin and also betrayed Tathagata. Wasting half a life, with no proud past to recall, looking to the future, he lacked youthful ambition. Living carelessly in the red dust, wasting his years and time. Guilty as a son, he failed to fulfill filial duties, trying to put his parents at ease. Uneasy as a father, he did not shoulder his responsibilities, sharing his children’s joys and sorrows. Self-critical as a friend, he was not fully sincere with his friends, sighing that true confidants are hard to find in this world. This life as a person was truly accidental; lacking experience and guidance, he was not always satisfactory. Laozi doesn’t care about how others love him—he loves himself!