Always Enjoying It

In the late period of West Han Dynasty, Wang Mang dethroned the emperor of the Liu family and established New Dynasty. It caused a chaos in the country. The peasants from every part of the country rebelled and fought against Wang Mang. Liu Xiu performed meritorious deeds repeatedly in the campaigns against Wang Mang's troops. For his outstanding performance, Liu Xuan entitled him Lord Xiao.

Later, Liu Xiu was dispatched to crush the regional powers in Hebei. In the drainage area of Hutuo River and Fuyang river of Hebei, Liu Xiu fought for several years with Wang Lang, another uprising hero from Handan. Finally, Liu Xiu won the victory with great difficulty. He occupied Hebei as his own base area. Then Liu Xiu overwhelmed the rest of the warlords and became the emperor of East Han Dynasty.

Liu Xiu found that after many years of war and the chaos caused by it, the common people were eager to rehabilitate and live a peaceful life. Therefore he abolished the cruel laws, reduced the number of officials, built irrigation projects and developed production. Gradually he made the country prosperous.

In his sixties, Liu Xiu was still always busy with state affairs. He started working in court before dawn and returned after sunset.

The prince advised him to pay attention to his health and not to be excessively tired. But he shook his head and said,“I am enjoying it and do not feel tired.”

We usually use this idiom to describe having interest in something specially, immersing into it without feeling fatigue or boredom.

It tells us that, if young people can always enjoy their study or work without feeling fatigue or boredom, they are sure to succeed.