When she suddenly realized that her handbag was missing, she was terrified and broke into a cold sweat. The money and bank cards inside it were secondary; what was crucial were the import and export manuals and the duty-proof documents for the customs. If lost, it would result in enormous economic losses for the customs declaration company where she worked.
In a daze, she stumbled to the police station in the square to report the case and then anxiously hired three people to hold up signs and walk back and forth. The signs reading “10,000 yuan reward for finding the brown handbag with documents inside” acted like giant spotlights, attracting the attention of passersby. She thought that such a generous reward would surely create a miracle.
As the sunlight gradually faded, her heart tightened more and more. At that moment, a police officer called to say that someone had found a brown handbag. She rushed to the police station in a panic, and indeed, it was hers. She exclaimed in surprise, but when she opened the zipper, she was stunned to find it empty. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head; her hopes were instantly extinguished. She felt both anxious and angry, tears streaming down her face.
The person who found the bag was a boy around 16 or 17 years old, dressed in tattered and dirty clothes, with a detached expression. The police officer quietly told her: “This boy spends all day picking up trash in the square. Last time, he claimed to have found a handbag and returned it to the owner, but the owner insisted that this boy had been lingering around where he was sitting, and soon after, the handbag disappeared. The owner firmly believed he had stolen it. As a result, not only did he refuse to reward him, but he also demanded the money that was missing from the bag, even resorting to violence.” The officer looked at the distraught lady and said: “I suspect he’s trying the same trick again. Why don’t we interrogate him closely to see if there are any flaws?”
The lady showed the boy respect
She quickly shook her head. Even if the boy had a history of wrongdoing, she was unwilling to doubt him and speculate about his sincerity without any evidence. Perhaps sensing the content of the officers’ discussion with her, the boy’s face flushed, and he bit his lower lip, looking furious as he defended himself: “I found the bag; I didn’t steal it.” She stepped forward, slowly squatted down, took the boy’s hand, and patted his shoulder, saying: “Little brother, I believe you. Even if you only brought me an empty bag, I still thank you.”
Until nightfall, no miracle occurred, and feeling disheartened, she began to walk back. The moonlight was cool and watery, chilling her to the core. Suddenly, someone sprang out from behind her, stuffed a bag into her arms, then turned and ran away, disappearing into the dark alley.
When she regained her composure from the shock, she was astonished to find that the bag contained those documents she had been so worried about. Aside from the cash, everything was returned, along with a note that read: “Once, I returned a found bag to its owner, but he bit me back. Human nature is treacherous; I truly regret giving the bag to him. So when I found another bag this afternoon, I first submitted it empty to test the waters. Had you falsely accused me, I wouldn’t have let those documents disappear. Unexpectedly, not only did you believe me, but you also held my dirty hand. I won’t be asking for a reward; in fact, you have rewarded me with something more precious than any money could, with respect and trust. I appreciate it, and thank you for it. Please believe me; when I found the bag, there was no money inside.”
Translated by Joseph Wu and edited by Laura Cozzolino
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