During the Qing Dynasty in Chiayi Prefecture, Taiwan, there lived a man named Lin Dengzhang. Esteemed for his honesty and integrity, Lin found himself unfortunately embroiled in a false accusation that landed him in prison. His wife, in a desperate bid to free him, sold all their possessions, yet the funds raised were insufficient. In her profound despair, she even sold their son into slavery, managing to scrape together 40 taels of silver.
She carefully held onto the gathered silver, planning to bring it to the yamen — the local governmental office — but in her distressed state, she lost the bag on her journey. This misplaced fortune was found by Xu Liangsi, a beggar with a physical disability that forced him to use his hands to walk.
An unexpected discovery
Xu Liangsi pondered over his find, thinking: “The loss of such a large amount of silver could drive its rightful owner to despair, perhaps even suicide. Although I am poor and desperately need this silver for survival, I cannot risk someone’s life for my own gain. Even if it means starving, I will not take what is not mine.” With this resolve, he decided to wait for the owner to return.
As predicted, Lin Dengzhang’s wife returned in a frantic search for her lost money. Xu Liangsi, seeing her distress, painstakingly made his way over, confirmed her loss, and returned the silver in its entirety.
A turn of fortune
Upon hearing of the wife’s sacrificial efforts to save her husband and the beggar’s nobility in returning the lost silver, the official overseeing Lin’s case was deeply moved. Recognizing Lin’s innocence, he refused to take the silver offered by Lin’s wife, and promptly released Lin.
Upon returning home, Lin used the returned silver to open a hardware store for sustenance, and over time, managed to buy back his son. Both husband and wife prayed daily for the well-being of their benefactor, Xu Liangsi.
The reward of honesty
After his good deed, Xu Liangsi went back to Taigong Temple and stayed for the night. That night, he dreamed of two golden-armored deities striding to his side. One picked up his body, the other picked up his feet. They then pulled him violently at both ends. He cried out and woke up in agony, startling the two monks living in the temple. He shared his dream, and they dismissed it as just that — a dream.
Unexpectedly, the next morning, Xu Liangsi was surprised to find his two legs had straightened and he could walk normally! After this miracle, he stopped begging on the street and instead started to carry water for others and do odd jobs to earn a living. Although it was hard work, he lived a very happy and fulfilling life, since he no longer was disabled.
Reunion and gratitude
Three years into running their hardware store, Lin and his wife enjoyed prosperity due to their honesty and fair business practices. They constantly remembered Xu Liangsi’s kindness. One day, as Xu Liangsi was passing by their store, Lin’s wife thought she recognized him, but since he was walking upright, she was uncertain. Approaching him, she inquired and was overjoyed to learn that he was indeed the man who had saved them.
Overjoyed, both Lin and his wife insisted on expressing their gratitude. After learning about Xu Liangsi’s meager living, they invited him to stay with them, providing him with a life free of worry and hardship.
The gift of prosperity
Later, the couple inherited a large fortune from an uncle in Guangdong. They decided to gift their hardware store and all their assets in Taiwan to Xu Liangsi. In his later years, Xu became a wealthy man. He sympathized deeply with those in poverty and sickness, donating a large portion of his wealth to a hospital, and aiding many impoverished patients unable to afford treatment.
Xu Liangsi, who once survived through begging, had the moral strength to return a fortune. This precious trait brought about profound changes in his life, transforming misfortune into blessings. Truly, the universe is just and fair!
Translated by: Chua BC, edited by Maria
