In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, the Qing army attacked and conquered Jinhua in Zhejiang Province, causing the local population to flee and scatter. Among those displaced were a righteous scholar and his wife, who were separated during the chaos. The scholar later heard that his wife had been captured by the Qing soldiers and taken to the Songjiang area near Shanghai. Desperate and exhausted, he traveled to Songjiang in search of her, but found no trace. One day, sitting in front of an inn, tired and hungry, he was noticed by the innkeeper, who took pity on him and inquired about his circumstances.
A temporary refuge at the inn
The scholar explained his plight to the innkeeper, who asked if he was literate and knew accounting. Upon learning that the scholar could read and handle accounting tasks, the innkeeper offered him a job managing the inn’s paperwork. The scholar gratefully accepted, and soon the inn’s business flourished under his meticulous management. The innkeeper, appreciating the scholar’s abilities, even considered marrying his daughter to him, though he had not yet voiced this thought.
Returning the lost silver
One morning, a man hurriedly entered the inn for a meal, paid for it, and left in haste, inadvertently leaving a small bundle on the table. The scholar discovered the bundle, which contained 50 taels of silver. He immediately informed the innkeeper, and they agreed to wait for the owner to return and claim it. By noon, the man returned, frantic and searching for his lost silver. When asked about it, he explained that he had intended to use the money to buy a woman from the army to marry. Relieved to have his money returned, he thanked the scholar profusely and left with a joyful heart.
A surprising reunion
A few days later, the grateful man returned with wedding invitations, expressing his heartfelt gratitude and inviting the scholar and the innkeeper to his wedding. Initially reluctant, the scholar was persuaded by the innkeeper to attend. At the wedding, while the host was busy preparing the festivities, the scholar wandered to the riverbank. He noticed a small boat approaching with a woman on board, who looked familiar. To his shock, the woman was his wife, and upon recognizing him, she burst into tears. The scholar fainted from the emotional shock, and his wife collapsed in the boat.
The three righteous men
The bridegroom, realizing the situation, sought help to bring the scholar and his wife together. He acknowledged the scholar’s honesty in returning the silver and decided that the silver rightfully belonged to him. To resolve the matter, he invited the innkeeper to mediate. The innkeeper, moved by the story, proposed a solution: The bridegroom should return the scholar’s wife to him, while the innkeeper would marry his daughter to the bridegroom as a reward for his integrity.
This solution pleased everyone, and the gathering applauded the righteousness and kindness of the three men. As the story spread, people remarked on the virtuous circle of helping others and receiving good in return.
The reward of good deeds
This tale demonstrates that acts of kindness and righteousness do not go unnoticed. The three righteous men were rewarded for their integrity and benevolence, reinforcing the belief that helping others is ultimately helping oneself.
Translated by Audrey Wang
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