Before Liu Tingshi took the provincial level civil service examination to become a mid-level government official, he met a farm girl in his hometown and proposed to her. She accepted his proposal even though Liu could not promise to give her family the usual dowry.
Liu Tingshi passed the provincial level civil service examination and became a government official. He was highly regarded by his superiors. Everyone knew Liu Tingshi was a promising young man with a bright future ahead of him. Meanwhile, Liu’s fiancé became seriously ill and completely lost her eyesight. Her peasant parents were rather poor and felt she was unworthy of marrying Liu. They didn't dare to bring up their daughter’s engagement in conversation.
A friend of Liu tried to talk him out of marrying the farm girl. He said to Liu, "She is blind now. Why don't you find someone else to marry for the sake of your career and future family? If you must marry someone from her family, then marry her younger sister instead."
Liu Tingshi replied, "When I was engaged to her I had already given her my heart. She may be blind but her heart is intact. If I break my promise then my heart must be warped. Besides, everyone grows old. When a man's wife becomes old, he shouldn't replace her with a younger one, should he? A man must be true to his word. I must not have a change of heart."
Thus Liu Tingshi married the blind farm girl. After they got married Liu Tingshi did his best to take care of his blind wife. They got along very well and loved each other very much. Together they raised several children.
One’s conduct and character is the cornerstone of marriage. A couple should be cordial, kind, respectful, and caring of each other, only then can a marriage be happy and grow. Marriage is the cornerstone of a family. If a marriage is stable then the family will be in harmony. Family is the cornerstone of a nation. A healthy family is believed to be the foundation for a nation, and what allows it to thrive and become prosperous.
