Please bend down.

     On the street near the school, there was a beggar—perhaps "beggar" isn't quite the right word. He was a blind old man, thin but sprightly. He had a metal can in front of him, and he never stretched out his hands or mumbled to passersby, "Kind people, have pity on me!" Every time I saw him, he was quietly playing the erhu. I dare not comment on how well he played, since I know absolutely nothing about it, but he always played with great concentration. His face was almost expressionless, and he never seemed to stop to rest.

    Few passersby stopped to give him money; occasionally, a few would casually toss a coin into the can, the coin making a crisp sound as it hit the metal. At that moment, the old man would stop, say thank you, and then continue playing his erhu with unwavering focus. Every time I hear that crisp "thud," I feel a surge of inexplicable anger. I don't understand why these people who give alms always just toss coins into the can so carelessly. Do they find the sound pleasant? What kind of mentality do these people have when they give money? Can't they show even a little respect or compassion for the elderly?

    Bending down and gently putting the money in is such a simple action, a small favor, yet it reflects a person's cultivation and character. If you're not giving out of pity, if you're only doing it because you happen to have a coin and want to practice your aim, then please put away your pathetic coin. You are insulting others, and your behavior lacks any semblance of nobility. Instead, it makes you seem shallow. You have no right to display your superiority in front of a destitute old person.

    Don't you understand that everyone in this world is equal? ​​Even a beggar eats and drinks just like you. He is no different from you. As long as we are all human, we are all the same.

    In the future, when you encounter elderly people begging, please take the time to bend down and gently put the money into their jars.