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1. Study medical books diligently every day, keeping a book in hand at all times; if you have good friends or mentors, frequently seek their advice. Since the sea of learning is boundless, this is the fundamental strategy for scholarship.

2. Rise early and sleep late, never leaving the clinic for even a moment. When any patient arrives with illness, you must personally examine them and prescribe medication with care. Do not revert to previous habits of relying solely on hired practitioners (assistants) while seeking leisure. As the saying goes: The plan for the day lies in the Yin hour (3-5 AM), and the plan for life lies in diligence.

3. Set prices according to the local customary rates; this benefits yourself and prevents resentment from peers. You may provide generous quantities of herbs but must not reduce the unit price. The proverb states: One need not fear high prices, only poor skill.

4. When practicing medicine and prescribing initial medications, base your prescriptions on classical formulas (Jingfang). Do not fabricate herb names or arbitrarily write secret recipes, which would subject you to questioning and refutation by others.

5. Do not easily believe others' words regarding seeking official academic positions. Moreover, being alone and young, it is difficult to sustain such a role; fearing that pursuing empty fame might hinder practical livelihood.

6. Interactions with fellow practitioners must be humble and harmonious; do not be arrogant towards others. Show respect to elders and treat learned individuals as teachers. If conflicts arise over patients, yield according to righteousness; do not snatch cases, lest you attract resentment and slander. The Classics state: In the application of propriety, harmony is most precious.

7. Men govern external affairs, women govern internal affairs; this is the natural order. Household matters and financial inflows and outflows should be managed by your wife, so that savings can be accumulated. Maintain an income and expenditure ledger for reference. If there are surpluses, purchase jewelry and utensils for emergencies. Do not buy toys or unnecessary luxuries, wasting money.

8. Regarding social interactions with neighbors and friends, aside from attending funerals, visiting the sick, and celebrating joys with the community, cease other non-essential engagements. This saves money and does not interfere with business. As for reciprocal gift-giving, do not compete for novelty or superiority. The ancients said: Extensive seeking is inferior to frugal use.

9. As a practitioner, determine how many staff to employ based on your income. Do not claim that having more people looks better; although wages may be low, food expenses are high.

10. Hosting banquets for guests and employing musicians is not inherently bad. However, it should be done only when appropriate and within one's means. If one abandons their profession solely for feasting and leisure, their destitution is foreseeable. When courtesans visit and offer gifts such as tea, brushes, fans, or handkerchiefs, refuse them initially. Instead, return the gifts along with one or two packets of herbal decoctions, naturally cutting off future trouble. If one seeks回报 (return/reward) for romantic indulgence... Thus, the *Taishang Jing* says: Music and delicacies cause passing travelers to stop. Reflect deeply on this.

The above ten points are the essential teachings of Master Danxi (Zhu Zhenheng) for his son regarding self-cultivation and family management; hence they are stated directly without literary embellishment. Place them by your seat for morning and evening reading. If you can follow and practice them, you can establish a family and career. If you do not listen, you will surely face worries of hunger, cold, and starvation, finding yourself in a dilemma with no time for regret.