人性的丑陋 The Ugliness of Human Nature

We find that the ugliness of human nature can be seen more clearly at the bottom of society, such as in rural areas and small places like county towns. The reason may be that limited opportunities, limited resources, shortsightedness, and narrow view like a frog at the bottom of a well have created arrogance and prejudice, and narrowness and jealousy like "hating others when they have something and laughing at others when they have not".

Let's take a look at the countryside first. There is a deep-rooted traditional thought in the countryside, that is, one must have a son. Having a son means being able to carry on the family line and having strong labor force to do heavy farm work. More importantly, I think that giving birth to a son is to make up their household and not be bullied by others. In the countryside, families with only girls and no boys are called "without offspring". It means that after the daughters get married, the family will have no successors. Therefore, families with only girls will try every means to adopt a boy. Some families will also continue the ancestral line and support the family by recruiting son-in-law. In the village, families with many sons act like an overlord, while families with few or no sons are bullied.

There is also a phenomenon in the countryside. Although they are not rich, every family pays much attention to their own gates and houses. The gates are magnificently built, and the houses are tall with two or three floors. However, the furnishings in the house are very simple. People spent their life savings on building the house, even if the money was borrowed from others or even by belt-tightening. Because the gate and house are the face of a family, if they are too shabby the family will be laughed at by villagers. As for whether they eat well or not, others cannot see.

Some people say that this is a kind of vanity, but there is no alternative. Here we see the ugliness of human nature - using one's strength to bully the weak and laughing at others.

There is another place where the ugliness of human nature can be more exposed, that is, towns and counties. In such small places, most of the people who can get well-paid work such as government agencies and public institutions are people with connections and backgrounds. Even those who have entered through their own abilities are rare. Having a good position and post is the result of several generations of management, and the children of ordinary people are also suffering when they are lucky to enter such units all by themselves. Good units have almost become the world of the second generation of officials and the second generation of rich people. They have nothing to do, they can choose to lie down and have no worries about food and clothing. They can also shuffle their work off onto others. They regard themselves as superior and have every reason to despise others. Small places have limited resources and opportunities. In order to seize benefits, they can only sacrifice the interests of others. The law of the jungle, pride and prejudice can be seen everywhere. No wonder capable people choose to escape from small places, because you have no way out, you can't afford it, and you can't defeat it.

Compared with big cities, rural areas and small places are closer to the uncivilized civilization after all, which gives us the chance to see the most primitive human nature.

我们发现，越是在社会的底层越能看清楚人性的丑陋，比如在农村，在县城这样的小地方。究其原因，或许是机会有限，资源有限，鼠目寸光，井底之蛙，才有了夜郎自大般的傲慢与偏见，才有了“恨人有笑人无”的狭隘与妒忌。

我们先来看一下农村，农村有一个根深蒂固的传统思想，那就是一定要生个儿子。生儿子意味着能够传宗接代，有强壮的劳动力可以从事繁重的农活。更重要的一点，我以为，生儿子是支撑门面，不受人家的欺侮。在农村，家里只有女孩子没有男孩子的，被人称为“绝户”，意思是女儿出嫁后，这家人就没有传宗接代的人了。故此，只有女儿的家庭想方设法也要保养、领养、过继个男孩子，有的家庭也会通过招上门女婿的方式来为家庭延续香火及支撑面门。在村子里称王称霸的，一般都是兄弟们多的家庭，而受人欺负的都是没有儿子或者儿子少的家庭。

在农村里还有一种现象，尽管都不富裕，家家户户却很注重自家的大门及房屋，大门修的富丽堂皇，房屋盖得高大，有的甚至盖成了二层楼、三层楼。可房屋内的摆设简陋得很，他们把一生的积蓄都用在了盖房子上，哪怕是借贷、节衣缩食。因为大门及房屋是一个家庭的脸面，太过于寒碜了，会遭到村民们的嘲笑，而至于自己吃得好坏，甚至有没有饭吃，别人看不到。

有人说这是一种虚荣，可这也是被逼无奈，在这里我们看到了人性的丑陋——恃强凌弱，嘲笑别人。

还有一个地方更能暴露人性的丑陋，那就是乡镇、县城。在这样的小地方，能够进入好单位比如机关和事业单位工作的，大多是有关系有背景的人，即使有通过自己的能力考入的，也是凤毛麟角。能够有一个好的职位和岗位，都是几代人经营的结果，老百姓的孩子有幸单枪匹马闯进去也是倍受折磨。好单位几乎成了官二代富二代的天下，他们无所事事，选择躺平也能衣食无忧，也可以把工作推给别人。他们自视高人一等，目空一切，也有理由鄙视他人。小地方资源有限，机会有限，为攫取利益，只能是牺牲他人的利益。弱肉强食，傲慢与偏见，在这里一览无余。难怪，有能力的人都选择了逃离小地方，因为你没有出路，你耗不起，也斗不过。

农村及小地方，相较于大城市来说，距离未开化的文明毕竟近一些，才让我们有幸看到了人性最原始的东西。

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