The Four Unwritten Rules of Chinese Society

The first sentence is called "Techniques should not be sold cheaply."

In Lanzhou, selling beef noodles costs 15 yuan a bowl, selling 1,000 bowls a day, with a daily income of 10,000 yuan, resulting in over 3 million yuan a year. If you ask the boss, "Can you sell me your noodle-making recipe?" would he sell it to you? Many people master a skill that is the foundation for their family's livelihood, supporting their families, would he easily sell it to you? This is called not selling one's craft cheaply.

The second is called Dao Bu Qing Chuan.

What does it mean to not pass on the Dao lightly? In Buddhism, there are no barriers to accepting students; it is oriented towards goodness, and anyone can enter the Buddhist door, even if you are a murderer. However, when it comes to accepting students at home, there must be an assessment. Military strategy can protect the home and the country, but it can also bring disaster to the nation and the people. First, I select people; I need to see if their morals are sufficient. The Dao should not be passed on lightly to others; this is called not passing on the Dao lightly.

The third sentence is called "The teacher does not follow the path."

It’s just that you shouldn’t casually ask the teacher to teach you something. For example, if you meet a master of fate, you say, "Master, could you take a look at my face?" This casual request to the teacher is disrespectful. The teacher won't take you seriously, and if they do look, it’s for nothing. If you want the teacher to examine you, you should invite the teacher to do so. After the teacher has looked at it, you must remember to give them a token of appreciation. A token of appreciation is something everyone should do, as the person has practiced in this field for decades and relies on it for a living. Why should they do it for free? If they have altered your feng shui, improved your fortune, or changed your destiny, why shouldn’t you give them something in return? Even Confucius would remind his students to be more conscious, suggesting they bring a few dozen pounds of pork to the teacher.

The last sentence is that medicine does not knock on the door.

Even if I know you are sick, and I know what illness you have, I will not take the initiative to treat you if you do not come to me for help. Even if I am a good doctor, I will not seek you out to treat you. You must come to me for medical help; this is called "the doctor does not knock on the door". This means that the celestial domain is vast, and it does not nourish rootless grass. The way of the law is broad, and it does not reach those without fate.