He was said to have succeeded in transforming the character of the people of Wucheng by teaching them ritual propriety and music, and was praised by Confucius.

Yan replied, "The influences of Zichan and my master might be compared to those of overflowing water and those of fattening rain.

Wherever the water in its overflow reaches, men take knowledge of it, while the fattening rain falls unobserved.

After realizing Yan Yan's intention, Wenzi placed Huizi's rightful heir, the eldest son by his main wife (a di son), in the position reserved for the heir.

His tomb is now a major tourist attraction in Changshu, and has been listed as a provincial cultural treasure by the Jiangsu government since 1982.