One day in Qingyuan, a county in central Hebei, a scholar named Ye received a letter meant for another family. Despite the letter being mistakenly delivered to him, Ye was deeply touched by its heartfelt contents and felt a strong urge to help. Here is his tale.
A mother’s plea
The letter Ye received was from a mother writing to her son, who had been away for years studying and preparing for the imperial exams. In her heartfelt message, she expressed her deep longing for him, lamenting the absence of any word from him. Her heart was worried, and she desperately wished to see him again. She also shared the hardships they faced at home:
“I am growing old with each passing day. Your wife has been dutiful, caring for me with great effort. She works tirelessly to provide food and take care of our needs. However, we are already poor, and survival has become nearly impossible. Unless I remarry my daughter-in-law, we will both starve. But she cannot bear to leave, and I cannot bear to send her away. So I have entrusted this letter to a messenger, hoping you can decide her fate.”
A noble deed
Ye realized that the letter was likely intended for someone with the same name as his and had mistakenly come into his hands. However, he could not stand by and watch this family fall apart due to poverty. So he immediately decided to help. He prepared 20 taels of silver and, pretending to be the son, wrote a warm and loving reply for the messenger to deliver.
In this letter, the “son” expressed his longing and regret for not returning home sooner, saying: “Though I have been fortunate enough to pass the exams, circumstances have kept me from returning immediately. I will be home as soon as I can, so please, my dear mother and my beloved wife, bear with this hardship a little longer. Enclosed are twenty taels of silver to help you get by for now. I have never doubted my wife’s virtue and devotion. Please endure this poverty until I return. Our reunion is not far off, and I will not delay much longer.”
Upon receiving this letter, the mother was overjoyed — her son had succeeded! With great relief, she and her daughter-in-law used the money to travel to Qingyuan, following the address to find her son. When she finally met Ye, they realized the mistake. However, Ye did not turn them away. Instead, he arranged their accommodation, provided for their daily needs, and promised to help find the woman’s real son.
In the end, after being recommended for the provincial exams, her son returned. After a long search, he finally came to Qingyuan and was reunited with his mother and wife. Ye’s compassionate act deeply moved the family. Overcome with gratitude, the son formed a brotherly bond with Ye, a connection that transcended blood. The goodness of Ye’s heart echoed through his descendants, and they were honored by the local community. The blessings from his kindness did not end with him but continued for generations to come.
The legacy of kindness
There is a saying in ancient China: “Human compassion aligns with divine will!”
Ye’s actions reflected the essence of goodness, and the heavens rewarded them. Such noble deeds will be remembered and celebrated for generations. The principle of Heaven is to return goodness, rewarding those who act virtuously with blessings. Moreover, the good deeds of ancestors even extend blessings to their descendants. Like Ye and other good-hearted people, kindness naturally leads to positive outcomes and blessings.
The divine order celebrates kindness, compassion, and humble generosity. Heaven’s way is to return blessings, and the rewards for those who do good deeds will surely come!
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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