How should you respond when your family relatives ask about your salary?

How to answer when your relatives ask about your salary?

Once, I went to a classmate’s house for dinner. He had a relative come from his hometown to see a doctor and stay at his place. The classmate called the relative “Jiu,” and we all followed suit. The older “Jiu” called, and the relative got excited, treating us all as his own nephews, asking each of us how much we earned in a month.

The customs in his hometown are very simple and honest, so honest that they wouldn’t see you as a stranger at all.

There’s someone working at a ministry, we affectionately call him “Mao Bu.”

Mao Bu said he earns four thousand yuan a month. The older “Jiu” frowned: Impossible!

The older “Jiu” said he was joking.

Mao Bu had to say, “There’s also some subsidies.”

The older “Jiu” asked how much the subsidies were.

Mao Bu said a few hundred yuan.

Older “Jiu”: Not enough?

Mao Bu smiled: Sometimes, there are also heating allowances, holiday bonuses, and so on.

Older “Jiu”: How much in total?

Mao Bu: About six or seven thousand.

Older “Jiu”: There must be more, definitely not just that amount.

His expression made it seem like Mao Bu’s salary was personally decided by him.

Mao Bu: If you count overtime pay, it’s around eight or nine thousand.

The older “Jiu” nodded: That’s more like it. I don’t believe you only earn four thousand.

In reality, Mao Bu’s total income is less than five thousand a month.

Next, we asked a classmate who works in IT.

He earns about twenty thousand a month.

We were afraid he might upset the older “Jiu.”

The IT classmate, being clever, said: “Old Jiu, how much do you think I earn in a month?”

Older “Jiu”: You wouldn’t be earning less either.

The IT classmate understood: “A little less than Mao Bu, but not by much, around seven or eight thousand a month.”

Older “Jiu”: Nodded: “Yeah, you’re telling the truth.”

That experience made me realize one thing: When answering others’ questions, you don’t necessarily have to tell the truth. Many times, giving an answer that matches their imagination might be more effective. Because not everyone has the courage to accept what they don’t understand and is willing to explore unfamiliar fields. For most people, they tend to use their existing ideas to interpret everything they see. These people are extremely self-assured. Their ingrained beliefs form an unbreakable fortress in their minds.

Jean-Noël Kapferer told a story in “Myth”:

In the year Nixon visited China, ordinary people heard the news on the radio and found it hard to believe:

“American imperialists actually dared to come to China?”

Even harder to believe was that Chairman Mao personally received him!

All imperialists should be overthrown, right?

Confused. Doubtful.

Soon, a story started circulating:

When Nixon met Chairman Mao, he saw a nine-dragon cup on the table.

Taking advantage of Mao’s inattention, he stole it.

Of course, this couldn’t escape the guards’ eyes.

But the guards didn’t dare to move him because he was Mao’s guest.

Initially, the guards reported to Premier Zhou.

Premier Zhou came up with a perfect plan:

That night, Nixon was arranged to watch a performance, which included a magic show.

In front of everyone, the magician made the nine-dragon cup in his hand disappear and then said:

“The nine-dragon cup is in President Nixon’s box.”

Then, the box was opened, and the magician replaced the real nine-dragon cup with a fake one, giving the fake to Nixon as a gift.

Everyone was happy at the end.

This is an excellent example of how rumors originate and spread.

The key to rumors spreading is that they must align with the public’s imagination.

In that era, the common people’s minds always believed that American imperialists were evil and greedy.

According to the “leather pants” principle, since the Americans came, they must have ulterior motives and are bound to cause trouble.

But, can our great socialist country be without clever and insightful people? Are there no people who can see through the reactionary nature of American imperialism?

Impossible, there definitely are.

Who are these people? Of course, our wise and resourceful Comrade Zhou Enlai.

Everything suddenly makes sense.

All explanations become the most reasonable.

The “leather pants” principle states: “Leather pants over leather pants, there must be a reason.” Either the leather pants are thin, or the wool pants have no wool.

When you encounter “leather pants” enthusiasts, just give them an answer that fits their imagination.

Because no matter how you explain, it’s futile.

Actually, what I want to say is, you must not become such a person.

When you hold a fixed opinion about something, you are putting “wool pants” over “leather pants.”

Take off the wool pants—without wool, are they still wool pants?