Yan Wenyuan of Zhejiang was a grand academician during the Ming Dynasty who resided in the capital. Many attributed his success to his intellect and the powerful feng shui of his ancestor, Elder Yan’s burial site. Yet, this auspicious placement was not a matter of chance — it was said to be a blessing earned through Elder Yan’s profound kindness.
Elder Yan once visited Xiaoxi Mountain, eighty miles from the city, to visit friends. The following day, as he made his return journey, a poor mountain villager also arranged to board the same boat. The street lamps were already lit when they reached the dock near Elder Yan’s home.
The villager wished to stay on the boat overnight, but the boatman refused, leaving him stranded on the shore. Elder Yan, recognizing that the man was from a remote mountain region with no acquaintances in the city, took pity on him, inviting him to stay at his home and providing him with a warm meal.
At dawn, the villagers prepared to leave while the city was still asleep. He waited a long time, but did not see his host emerge. Feeling that he had already imposed the night before, he chose not to disturb anyone further. He stepped out to have breakfast at an inn and planned to return afterward to express his gratitude. However, when he returned, he searched the street multiple times, but could not find the house. Since Elder Yan had led him there the previous night, he could not retrace his steps.
When Elder Yan awoke, he instructed his servants: “Make sure our guest has breakfast early so he can return home without delay.” A servant went upstairs to check, only to find that the guest had departed. Curious, Elder Yan went to see for himself and noticed a cloth bundle left behind by the pillow. Upon opening it, he discovered one hundred taels of silver and a tax bill.
“This must belong to a land steward from Xiaoxi Mountain,” Elder Yan remarked. “He was likely here to pay taxes on behalf of his village. How will he possibly account for the loss if he has left this behind? We must return it immediately so he does not suffer undue distress.”
A servant asked: “But we don’t know his name. Where shall we send the money?” Elder Yan replied: “The tax bill contains the name of the district and village. We will find him by asking around.”
Realizing that delaying tax payment could result in official punishment, Elder Yan personally went to the county office and paid the tax on the villager’s behalf. He immediately set off by boat with the official receipt toward Xiaoxi Mountain.
Upon arrival, Elder Yan inquired about the steward’s identity and quickly located his home. As he approached, he heard the sound of bitter wailing from inside. Knocking on the door, he was met by the villager’s wife, who explained: “My husband went to the county to pay the taxes but lost the money at the house where he stayed. Being poor and taking on this role out of necessity, he couldn’t possibly repay such a large sum. In his despair, he hung himself. Thankfully, we found him in time and managed to revive him.”
Elder Yan reassured her: “Your husband stayed at my house last night, and I have come to return the money.” The steward rushed out and fell to his knees in gratitude. Elder Yan handed him the tax receipt and said: “You have a long journey home each time, so I paid the tax for you to save another trip.”
Overcome with emotion, the steward called for his wife and children to come and kowtow in gratitude. He invited Elder Yan inside, prepared a meal, and showed him deep hospitality. From that day on, whenever he visited the city, the steward would always stop by Elder Yan’s home, bringing gifts of local produce as tokens of his appreciation. A few years later, after finishing his service as a tax steward, he ceased visiting the city.
Years later — a fateful encounter
As Elder Yan grew older, he began preparing for his burial site. He hired a geomancer to find an auspicious location, and the search led them to Xiaoxi Mountain, where the geomancer identified a site with exceptional feng shui.
Looking down at the valley below, Elder Yan spotted a farmer working the land. He approached and asked: “Who owns this land? Would they be willing to sell it?” The farmer briefly studied Elder Yan’s face before exclaiming: “Are you the esteemed Elder Yan?”
Surprised, Elder Yan asked: “How do you know me?” The farmer smiled and said: “I am the steward who once lost his silver at your home.”
Elder Yan remarked: “You’ve grown old!” The steward replied: “Thanks to your kindness, I was able to serve as a tax steward for three years, and now I support myself through farming. I haven’t visited the city in nearly 20 years, but my gratitude toward you has never faded. Now that fate has reunited us, please rest at my humble home. As for the land, if you desire it, we will surely agree.”
Elder Yan followed him home and, noticing the house had grown large and well-built, remarked: “It seems you have prospered!” The steward humbly responded: “At the very least, I no longer fear starvation.” He turned to his wife and said: “Our benefactor has revisited us — please quickly prepare a meal.”
Elder Yan objected: “Your willingness to help me find a burial site is already a great kindness — I cannot impose further.” The steward smiled and replied: “If you dine with us, the land is yours. If not, then the land is not for sale.” Elder Yan laughed and accepted the invitation.
After their meal, the steward explained: “I recently acquired this land.” He then retrieved the deed and presented it as a gift to Elder Yan, hoping to repay his kindness from years ago. Elder Yan, however, declined to take it for free. “I come from a well-off family. If I accept land without payment, people will mock me.” Seeing that the deed stated the purchase price as 16 taels of silver, Elder Yan paid him the full amount, saying: “My family lives far from here, and when the time comes to build and complete my burial, I will need your help.”
Years later, when construction began, all necessary materials and labor were conveniently sourced through the steward’s network, saving Elder Yan’s family significant costs.
True kindness comes without the expectation of rewards
During Jiajing’s reign, Elder Yan’s descendant, Yan Wenyuan, became a grand academician. His success was attributed to the powerful feng shui of his ancestor’s burial site, but it was the fruit of genuine kindness.
The expectation of reward did not drive Elder Yan’s generosity. When he discovered the forgotten silver, he did not merely post notices or send a servant — he sought out the steward and paid the taxes on his behalf. He acted with genuine goodwill, never anticipating anything in return. Yet, years later, in an unexpected twist of fate, his good deeds led him to the perfect burial site, a place that would bring great fortune to his descendants.
Heaven recognizes true virtue and rewards it abundantly. One act of sincere kindness can outweigh a thousand calculated deeds of charity.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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