At the end of the Qing Dynasty (1636 – 1912), a pear paste candy store thrived in Shanghai. The store, renowned for its bustling business, was adorned with a plaque bearing the bold characters for “Heaven Knows.” Directly across from this store was Yu’s Store, a fruit shop pivotal to the candy store’s success.
In the eighth year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign, Yu’s Store imported 50 baskets of pears from Shandong Province. The long journey and exposure to rain left the pears bruised and rotten upon arrival. Despite efforts to dry and peel them, they remained unsold.
Across the street was a small shop, home to a destitute couple. When they noticed the discarded pears, they seized the opportunity, removing the spoiled sections to discover the remaining fruit was deliciously sweet. They then sold the good parts, cut into small pieces, at five pieces for a copper coin, quickly garnering popularity.
The couple soon started purchasing all the damaged pears from Yu’s Store at a low cost. Since they now had more pears than they could sell in a short time, they decided to peel and marinate them in sugar in a large vat, enhancing their taste and value.
Later, they expanded their business. They peeled damaged pears and boiled them to create a paste, which they formed into candies. As fresh pears were unavailable in spring, these pear paste candies became an instant hit in the South.
Empress Dowager Cixi found relief from the pear paste candies
The following year, a minister from the imperial court sampled these candies during a visit to Shanghai. Delighted by their sweet and sour taste, he presented them to Empress Dowager Cixi in Beijing. Cixi, who was suffering from a cough, found relief after eating the candies and requested the couple to supply them to the imperial household. This endorsement significantly expanded their business, leading them to officially open a pear paste candy store.
Learning that the candies were made from damaged pears, the envious and jealous owner of Yu’s Store, fearful of offending the emperor, wrote “Heaven Knows” on a piece of paper and attached it to the couple’s store door.
The next morning, the couple was initially baffled by the message but quickly realized it was a malicious act. The husband, amused, said: “I was contemplating a name for our store. It seems someone has kindly provided one. Since our pear paste candy has been enjoyed by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and considering the emperor’s divine status, ‘Heaven Knows’ is apt. Let’s adopt it as our store’s name.” He then crafted an unusually large plaque with these words, attracting customers who learned of the imperial endorsement, thereby boosting their business further.
The frustrated owner of Yu’s Store, in another attempt to discredit the couple, drew a turtle, a symbol of disgrace, on their store wall, labeling it “What a Shame!”
The next day, the couple, unfazed by the turtle, proposed: “Let’s use the turtle as our trademark! Turtles symbolize longevity, just as our pear paste candy relieves coughs and promotes long life.” This trademark soon became a famous symbol in Shanghai.
The owner of Yu’s Store, although clever and cunning, lacked foresight and depth, ultimately achieving the opposite of his intentions.
In contrast, the pear paste candy store couple demonstrated true wisdom. Regardless of the fruit store owner’s provocations, they remained unshaken, responding with generosity and kindness.
True wisdom lies in turning every setback and betrayal into an opportunity for growth and advantage. This is not just wisdom; it is indeed great wisdom!
Translated by Audrey Wang
