Vocabulary

treacherous friend; snake in one's bosom; treacherous insider

generation-to-generation instruction from master to disciple

wise and clear-sighted; intelligent and astute by nature; blessed with talents

utmost purity

utmost purity

unprecedented in history; unheard-of; epoch-making

inquiry; enquiry; investigation; (police) interview; questioning (e.g. witness, suspect); hearing

self-cleansing power; being capable of purifying oneself

the first in history; only once in history

overriding necessity; absolute requirement; an absolute must

the orientation of time and place; awareness of the existing situation

self-help efforts; independent efforts; self-supporting endeavor

loss of (self-)confidence; inferiority complex

wise and clear-sighted; intelligent and astute by nature; blessed with talents

being of a gentle disposition; being of a mild character

sense of the trend of the times; sensitivity to the changing times

sense of the times; sensitivity to the times

being of an upright character; being of a noble nature

preparatory operations; measure taken in advance; doing the groundwork

one's thought and beliefs

slavish submission to power; sycophancy; flunkeyism; toadyism

a glib tongue (with fair words); fluent talk designed to deceive; talk something away

the friendly atmosphere of the traditional commercial and working-class neighborhoods

the warm feelings of people of the traditional commercial and working-class neighborhoods

poem of four lines, each of seven (Chinese) characters

poem of eight lines, each of seven (Chinese) characters

taking care of oneself; looking after oneself

being prudent and cautious; caution oneself against

jealousy and enmity; being jealous of and at odds with (each other)

practical ethics (morality)

practical ethics (morality)

(practice of) simplicity and frugality; scrimping and saving

the recovery of lost territory; recovering (regaining) lost ground (one's former position); fence-mending

struggling through wind and rain; undergoing hardships

struggling through wind and rain; undergoing hardships

being disappointed and disheartened

guide to office routine; guide to the performance of official duties

(the two persons' sides) being evenly matched in ability

pragmatism; functionalism; practicality; being intended for practical purposes

according to (depending on) one's ability; if one is good (competent, talented) enough