In the bustling city of Bianjing, near Fanlou, there was a small teahouse known for its cleanliness and high-quality tea sets. The tables and chairs were impeccably maintained, attracting many customers. However, the real reason behind its popularity was not just its appearance.
During the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty, a scholar from the Li family of Shaowu visited this teahouse. He met an old friend outside, and they decided to catch up inside the teahouse. The scholar, Mr. Li, carried a pouch containing several taels of gold, which he tied to his arm for safekeeping.
As spring transitioned from cold to warm, he removed a layer of clothing and carelessly left the pouch on the table. Soon, they were invited to Fanlou for drinks, and in the excitement, Mr. Li forgot about the gold. It wasn’t until midnight, after the lights were out that he remembered the lost gold. He assumed it was impossible to recover due to the teahouse’s constant flow of patrons and didn’t bother asking about it.
Years later, Mr. Li returned to the same teahouse and casually mentioned the incident to his companion. He said: “I once lost a pouch of gold here and thought I would be destitute, unable to return home. Yet, here I am again with you today.”
The teahouse owner overheard this and approached Mr. Li, bowing respectfully. “Sir, what did you just say?” he inquired. Mr. Li explained the situation, mentioning how friends had swept him away for drinks and never reported the loss.
The scholar’s money is returned by the teahouse owner
The owner pondered momentarily and asked: “Were you wearing a sweater and sitting inside then?” Mr. Li confirmed. The owner continued: “Was your companion wearing a black leather robe?” Again, Mr. Li confirmed. The owner then revealed: “I kept the pouch. I tried to return it to you, but you left too quickly, lost in the crowd. I stored it, thinking you would come back for it. I never opened it, but it felt heavy, likely gold or silver. You may have it back if you can describe the contents accurately.” Mr. Li offered half the gold to the owner, who smiled without responding.
The teahouse had a small loft built of wood. The owner brought a ladder and climbed up, with Mr. Li following. The loft was filled with various items left by patrons — umbrellas, shoes, clothes, utensils, and more. Each item had a label indicating the date and a description of the person who left it, such as monk, Taoist, woman, or a guessed occupation like merchant or official. If the owner couldn’t determine the person, the label stated “unknown.”
In the corner, the owner found a small pouch with the original seal intact, labeled with the date and “a gentleman’s loss.” They climbed down, and the owner gathered the patrons to witness Mr. Li describe the contents. Mr. Li accurately recounted the number and weight of the gold pieces. The owner opened the pouch, confirmed the match, and returned it to Mr. Li. Despite Mr. Li’s insistence on sharing the gold, the owner refused, saying: “As a learned man, you should understand the importance of integrity over profit. If I valued profit over virtue, I would have kept this secret.”
Realizing the owner’s refusal, Mr. Li felt deeply ashamed and could not find words to express his gratitude. He offered to treat the owner to a drink at Fanlou, but the owner politely declined. The fifty patrons in the teahouse were moved, placing their hands on their foreheads in admiration, declaring this act of integrity rare and commendable.
Knowledgeable individuals compared the owner to Yi Yin of the Shang Dynasty and Yang Zhen of the Eastern Han, both known for incorruptibility. They lamented that the owner’s name was not recorded in the annals of history, for he genuinely belonged among those of noble character.
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