A strange event occurred during the Han Dynasty. In Chang’an, the capital of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C to A.D. 220), there lived a man called Zhang. One day, while Zhang was alone at home, a Turtle Dove suddenly flew in and landed on his bed. All was silent. The man and the bird stared at each other, as if there was an unspoken connection between them.
Facing this uninvited guest, Zhang was both puzzled and frightened. He broke the silence and spoke to the Turtle Dove: “You cannot speak, so tell me with your actions. If you have come to bring me misfortune, then fly to the roof; if you have come to bring me good fortune, then fly into my arms.”
Having said this, Zhang nervously observed the Turtle Dove, barely daring to breathe. The Turtle Dove seemed to understand, flapping its wings and flying towards Zhang, suddenly plunging into his arms. Zhang was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly reached out to retrieve the Turtle Dove, but it seemed to have vanished into his arms.
He searched high and low, but could not find even a single feather of the Turtle Dove. Instead, he found a small gold necklace. The Zhang family found it miraculous and treasured the small gold necklace as a family heirloom.
The rise and fall of fortune
Strangely enough, with this heirloom, the Zhang family’s fortunes improved dramatically, and they gradually became wealthy. Their descendants eventually became incredibly rich and rose to prominence in Chang’an. The news that the Zhang family’s generations of wealth stemmed from a small gold necklace spread like wildfire throughout the capital and surrounding areas.
A merchant from Shu (Sichuan) came to Chang’an and heard of the story. He became envious and determined to possess it. He spent a large sum of money to bribe a maid in the Zhang family. The maid, having received a generous bribe, secretly stole the small gold necklace and gave it to him. Overjoyed, the merchant fled far away. After losing the heirloom, the Zhang family’s fortunes gradually declined.
The price of theft
Even more strangely, after obtaining the small gold necklace, the merchant did not experience business prosperity or abundant wealth. Instead, his business suffered repeated failures, and misfortune followed misfortune, leaving him increasingly impoverished.
After repeated setbacks and misfortunes, the merchant was utterly perplexed: “The Zhang family lost the necklace, and they became poor; I obtained the necklace, so why am I also poor? I’ve had the necklace for so many years, so why haven’t I turned my business around? Everyone says this necklace is a treasure, so why doesn’t it work for me?”
Finally, he could no longer contain himself and privately confided his secret of stealing the small gold necklace and his doubts to a wise man, hoping he could enlighten him. The person was greatly alarmed upon hearing this, shaking his head and waving his hands, saying: “Wrong! Wrong! The small gold necklace was not yours to begin with, yet you insist on possessing it. This is bringing trouble upon yourself!
Heaven bestows wealth and honor; one can only acquire them through virtue and ethical means, not by force. The Zhang family accumulated ancestral merit, which is why Heaven bestowed the small gold necklace upon their descendants for their enjoyment. You accumulated blessings in your past life, which is why Heaven allows you to become wealthy in this life. Even if you steal the necklace, you cannot turn the Zhang family’s wealth into your own!
By stealing the necklace, you have impoverished Zhang’s descendants. The more suffering the Zhang family endures as a result, the more blessings Heaven will reduce from you. Therefore, as you impoverish the Zhang family, you will also become poorer! If the small gold necklace cannot be returned to its rightful owner, and the Zhang family continues to decline, your future misfortunes will not be limited to poverty!”
Restoration and peace
The merchant suddenly realized the truth and quickly returned the small gold necklace to the Zhang family in Chang’an, making a sincere apology. After the Zhang family regained the necklace, they prospered again, and the merchant in Shu reformed his ways and died peacefully.
Translated by Patty Zhang and edited by Helen London
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