Anger always comes from ignorance. When a person is confronted with difficulties in life, ignorance makes him react irritably and rashly. This not only brings more trouble to that person, but bothers others as well.

A married couple owned a bakery in a small town. Because their business kept them very busy and they were both hot-tempered, they got upset easily and often fought over trivial matters. Their days were filled with endless quarrels and fights. Their neighbors were very disturbed by this and did not have even a moment's peace. Finally, the neighbors decided to turn to the town mayor for help, hoping he could do something about it. The mayor shook his head. "I know we should do something, but this couple is totally out of control. No matter what we do to try to improve the situation, it will be useless, or it could make them fight even more violently. They are such a headache."

One day, the mayor went out for a walk. From a distance, he saw a crowd gathered in front of the bakery. Immediately he knew what was happening, and he hurried to the bakery. As he made his way through the crowd and into the store, he heard the husband threaten his wife, "If you don't do what I tell you to do and stop deliberately doing things against me, I'll kill you." "Come on," the wife shouted back. "Why don't you just do it? I don't want to live anymore anyway." The mayor came up and pulled them apart. "You're making such a scene. Can't you see those people standing outside watching you? Don't you feel ashamed?"

The couple looked through the door, and they saw that there was indeed a big crowd. That didn't make any difference to them, though. They refused to listen to the mayor's words. Instead, they yelled even louder at each other and fought even more violently. Seeing this, the mayor turned and shouted to the crowd outside: "Here is your chance! All the bread and cakes here are free. Come and get as much as you can and enjoy it."

The couple was stunned by what they heard, so they quickly asked the mayor why he had said that. The mayor answered: "Didn't I hear it right that one of you wants to kill the other, and the other doesn't want to live anymore? If that was what you said, soon one will die and the other will end up in jail. Why bother to keep the bread and cakes?"

At that, the husband and the wife grew silent. "Don't lose your tempers so easily," the mayor continued. "Be thoughtful and peaceful, and your family will surely become prosperous. It is fate that brought you two together and made you husband and wife. You should respect each other and try to be grateful for what you have, instead of being so antagonistic toward each other. When you heard people were coming to take all the bread in the store, you were reluctant to give it away. That showed you two still cherish what you've accomplished together. Since this is true, stop hurting each other, or you'll ruin what you have built up together and break up your family."

The couple finally calmed down. They realized that what the mayor had just said was right, so they decided to start treating each other better and not to quarrel or fight with each other anymore.

It is our duty to work to support our families. As long as we understand this and are willing to take our share of the responsibility, even if we work hard all day long, we will still feel happy and contented. On the contrary, if we keep thinking "You got me into this dog's life," or "I've done a lot more for the family than anyone else in this house," you will feel discontented. Ignorance will take advantage of this opportunity to grow and eventually control your thinking, making you easily lose your temper with your family. Your home will be full of tension and disharmony.