#ZBCN#

Filial piety is the foremost of all virtues; it is the heart that matters, not the actions. In the case of the poor, there may be no filial sons.

These are two sentences from "The Expanded Wise Words," meaning: Among all good deeds, filial piety towards parents ranks first; to judge whether a person is good or evil, one should not look at their external behavior, but rather at whether their heart is sincere. Just looking at their actions, even poor families can have filial sons.

The foundation of filial piety lies in the "heart".

"Focus on the Heart, Not on the Appearance": The core of filial piety is the sincere respect and care that children show towards their parents, rather than the material wealth or frugality. As long as there is gratitude and effort in providing care, filial piety remains valid even in a life of poverty.
A poor family may not be able to provide luxurious clothing and food, but a kind word, companionship, and understanding are equally expressions of filial piety.