The original text is as follows:
Mencius was a young man. After learning and returning home, Meng’s mother became successful and asked: "Where did you learn?" Mencius said: "It's self-ruling." Mencius' mother cut the fabric with a knife. Mencius was afraid and asked why. Mencius's mother said: "If you abandon your studies, I will cut off the weaving. A husband, a gentleman, will learn to establish a reputation. If you ask, you will know a lot. If you live in this way, you will be at peace, and if you move, you will be far away from harm. If you abandon it now, you will not be exempted from servant service." , but there is no way to avoid disasters. How is it different from weaving food?
It is better to be able to clothe the husband and grow up without lack of food if the middle way is abolished. If you fall into cultivating virtue, if you don't steal, you will become a slave!" Mencius was afraid, so he studied hard day and night, taught Zisi, and became a famous Confucian in the world. The gentleman said that Meng's mother knew the way of being a mother.
Translation:
When Mencius was a child, his mother was weaving when he came home from school. (Seeing him coming back,) she asked: "How is your study?" Mencius ( "It's the same as before," he said casually. Mother Meng (very annoyed when she saw his indifferent look) cut the woven cloth with scissors. Mencius was very frightened and asked him why Lian Xiangda's mother did this.
Meng's mother said: "You are neglecting your studies, just like I am cutting this cloth. A virtuous person studies to establish a reputation, and only by asking more questions can he increase his knowledge. Therefore, if you can be peaceful at ordinary times, you can do things. Avoid disasters. Now that you have neglected your studies, you will not be exempted from doing despicable labor, and it is difficult to avoid disasters. Why is it different from making a living by weaving? (What is the difference between this and relying on weaving to survive?)
If it is abandoned midway and Yuan Zhixiao does not do it, how can her husband and son have clothes to wear and no shortage of food for a long time? If a woman neglects producing the daily necessities needed by the family, a man will relax his self-cultivation. and virtue, then if the family does not become robbers and thieves, they can only do slave labor!" Mencius was shocked. From then on, Mencius studied diligently from morning to night without rest, regarded Zisi as his teacher, and finally became a great leader in the world. A learned person. Virtuous people think that Meng's mother understands the rules of motherhood.