焚弃逋负

 

Burning the Contracts of Debtors

 

十世祖吴渭(1129-1185),深得母教,敦崇礼法,乐善好施,建桥甃路,灾年开仓放粮,而待宗族尤厚。其母叶氏去世后,吴渭遵从遗愿,广施恩惠,焚弃逋负。其叔父康肃公(吴芾)有诗赞之:

吾家渭侄非常儿,读书不就成家肥。

此心伹欲济邻里,身外浮名非所希。


The tenth ancestor Wu Wei (1129-1185) was profoundly inspired by his mother’s good qualities. Following her example, he conscientiously observed social etiquette, helped people in need and built bridges, walls, and roads. In years of dearth and poor harvest, he opened up his granary and donated food to help the poor, treating family members with particular care. After his mother’s death, Wu Wei complied with her wishes and was generous to the poor, burning to ashes the contracts of debtors. His father’s younger brother Wu Fu, Duke Kangsu, wrote the following poem to praise him: “My nephew Wu Wei is most uncommon; although lacking success in the imperial exams, he enriched his family. He helped neighbors and villagers alike out of compassion, without thought for his own reputation.”