I received the letter you sent. Listening to your story about the ungrateful person made me think of a time when I struggled with the same issue. Lady Rod's story is quite unfortunate. Who in the world would like an irresponsible person who doesn't work as much as they're paid? If I were Lady Rod, I would have worked as much as I received, no matter how busy I was.

Perhaps others might say that Lady Rod is using her sick son as an excuse to easily earn money from others. If her son was truly sick as she claimed, she would have been busy caring for him. But Lady Rod opened her own shop while neglecting your work, didn't she? It might be a perfect timing for misunderstanding, but from your point of view, you might have seen her as using her son as an excuse to neglect your work for her own greed.

I came across this passage in the book I read today.

Whether it's parents and children, siblings, friends, or colleagues, it is wise to cut ties with those who are ungrateful early on. Nothing in the world is for granted. Those who don't appreciate what they receive take away our energy and eat away at our lives. That's why we need to diligently check our own give and take lists.

-Mi-Kyung Jeon, Even If You Do Your Best, They Won't Stay By Your Side

Isn't it strange? Even a psychiatrist author says to diligently check your give and take list. In fact, I lived a life without checking my give and take list, just like you. Human relationships are sometimes about giving more, and sometimes about receiving more. Being too strict can make you seem uncaring. As you experienced with Mrs. Spring this time, there are often people who take advantage of others' kindness to their own advantage. That's why we need our own give and take list.

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I know what you're worried about. How calculative and inhuman it looks to keep track of give and take in human relationships. But human relationships lose their balance the moment the giving and receiving become unbalanced. It feels like it's not the right thing to do, and it's especially difficult to say unpleasant things to others. You've lived your life with the mindset that it's good to be good, so there are many reasons for this.

Besides, Lady Rod was the one who spoke first. She said, "I don't like people who are ungrateful." Lady Rod is the ungrateful one, so she said that first. Usually, when you're doing something that makes you feel guilty, you say something like that first to create a protective barrier. It's like a way of saying that you're the one who understands gratitude, but the other person doesn't.

And you should also know how to refrain from giving money that you don't have to give, or kindness that you don't have to offer. Sometimes, being a bit uncaring can be the strength that protects you.

I hope that you will be able to demand more from others in your relationships in the future. For example, Mrs. Spring had to do her share of work for the money she received. When you see her not working properly, you have the right to tell her exactly what she needs to do. If not, you have the right to ask her to return the money. You are the only one who can protect your rights.

It's better to be firm when you need to protect your rights, even if it seems a bit uncaring.

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Postscript.

You're curious about the story of the glasses doctor, aren't you? I want to, but I'm still organizing my thoughts. I'll pray for your happiness today.