A Sense of Purpose

The next day, Liu Zhihao woke up early, feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges ahead. He stood up and stretched his limbs before walking towards the door. As he opened it, he saw that his neighbor was outside, sweeping the dirt off his doorstep.

"Good morning," Liu Zhihao greeted him politely.

The man looked up and nodded in acknowledgment. "Morning. You're up early," he commented.

Liu Zhihao smiled. "Yes, I have some things to do today."

The man went back to his sweeping, and Liu Zhihao walked down the street towards the town's marketplace. He needed to buy some supplies for his journey. As he walked, he noticed that the streets were busier than usual. There were more people milling about, and he could hear the distant sounds of vendors calling out their wares.

He soon arrived at the marketplace and began to search for what he needed. He bought some dried meat, a water skin, and a few other essentials. As he was about to leave, he heard a commotion coming from one of the stalls.

Curious, Liu Zhihao made his way towards the noise. When he arrived, he saw a group of men arguing loudly with the vendor. They were accusing him of cheating them by selling them faulty equipment.

Liu Zhihao watched as the situation escalated, with the men becoming more and more aggressive. He could see that the vendor was starting to panic, and he knew that he had to do something to help.

Without thinking, he stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Excuse me, gentlemen. What seems to be the problem?"

The men turned to him, sizing him up. "This vendor sold us faulty equipment," one of them spat out. "He's a cheat and a liar."

Liu Zhihao looked at the vendor's wares and saw that they were indeed shoddy. He turned back to the men. "I see. Perhaps I can help you resolve this issue. May I suggest that we take this matter to the town's mayor? He can act as a mediator and ensure that a fair solution is reached."

The men looked at each other, unsure. "Fine," one of them finally said. "Lead the way."

Liu Zhihao walked with the men towards the mayor's office, feeling a sense of satisfaction that he had been able to help. As they arrived, he explained the situation to the mayor, who listened carefully before deciding that the vendor should provide a full refund to the men.

The men left, grumbling but satisfied, and Liu Zhihao turned to leave. As he walked away, he felt a strange sense of pride. He had always been a practical man, but this was the first time he had ever stepped in to help resolve a conflict. He felt a sense of purpose that he had never experienced before.

As he continued his journey, he resolved to keep an eye out for opportunities to help others. Perhaps he was not as selfish as he had thought.