He metaphorically explained that a "gentleman" should be like the lotus, growing pure in a muddy environment, its hollow stem growing straight and having no branches or offshoots.
美麗的荷花，除了花開得動人，它的果實（蓮子）、根莖（藕）都可食用，甚至荷梗、蓮蒂、蓮芯，也都能入藥強身，經濟價值極高。