In today’s practical world, true friends are rare, and a kindred spirit is rarer still. If you are fortunate enough to meet someone who truly understands you, life leaves little to regret.
Long ago, there was a wealthy man who loved tea. Anyone who visited his home — rich or poor — was welcomed warmly. He always instructed his servants to serve guests with genuine hospitality.
One day, a beggar in tattered clothes arrived. He did not come to ask for food or money, but simply for a bowl of tea. The servant let him in and poured him some tea.
A beggar’s refined taste surprises the wealthy host
The beggar glanced at the cup and said calmly: “This tea is not good.”
Surprised by his discernment, the servant quickly replaced it with finer tea.
The beggar smelled it and shook his head. “The tea is good, but the water is lacking. It should be brewed with fresh spring water.”
Recognizing that this was no ordinary guest, the servant fetched the finest spring water and brewed another pot.
After a sip, the beggar sighed. “The water is fine, but the firewood used to boil it is wrong. You must use wood from the shaded side of a famous mountain. Wood from the sunny side is too soft.”
The servant, now convinced he was in the presence of a master of tea, prepared the fire again as instructed and invited the master of the house to join them.
When the tea was ready, the rich man sat down beside the beggar, and they drank together.
The beggar set down his cup and said: “The tea, the water, the firewood, and the fire are all perfect. But the teapot itself is lacking.”
The wealthy man looked apologetic. “This is the best teapot I own,” he replied.
The beggar shook his head gently and, with great care, took a purple clay teapot from his robe. He handed it to the servant to prepare yet another pot of tea.
When it was served, the rich man took a sip and was amazed by its fragrance and depth. Overcome with admiration, he stood and bowed.
“I wish to buy your purple clay teapot,” he said sincerely. “Name any price.”
But the beggar answered firmly: “No. This teapot is my life. I cannot part with it.” With that, he poured out the tea, put the teapot away, and turned to leave.
An offer no amount of wealth could secure
The rich man hurried to stop him. “Then I will give you half my wealth for it,” he pleaded.
The beggar said nothing and kept walking.
In desperation, the rich man called out: “I will give you everything I own to buy that teapot!”
The beggar burst into laughter. “If I had ever been willing to give up this teapot,” he said, “I wouldn’t have ended up in this state today.”
He turned to go, but the rich man stepped forward again.
“Listen,” he said gently, “the teapot remains yours. All I ask is that you stay here as my guest. Eat as I eat, live as I live, and let me look at the teapot each day. Would you agree to that?”
The beggar, long burdened by the struggle to survive, was deeply moved by this offer and accepted it.
From that day on, the two men shared their meals, their wine, and their tea. They spent their days in conversation, laughter, and quiet companionship, the purple clay teapot always at hand.
Years passed. The rich man and the beggar grew old together and became the truest of friends. One day, the wealthy man said: “You have no children to inherit your teapot. When you are gone, let me keep it safe. Would that be acceptable?”
The beggar was deeply touched and agreed.
Not long after, the beggar passed away, and the rich man finally held the treasured teapot he had long desired.
The true worth of companionship revealed
At first, he felt only joy. But one day, as he sat alone, turning the teapot in his hands, an emptiness welled up inside him. Memories of the beggar’s laughter and their shared cups of tea filled his mind, and he realized what he had truly lost.
With tears in his eyes, he raised the teapot high and smashed it against the floor.
The bond between the two men had long since surpassed the worth of any object. The finest things in the world lose their meaning if there is no one to share them. No treasure is more valuable than a friend who understands your heart.
What truly matters in life
When we look at our own lives, what matters most? Perhaps it is that person with whom you can drink tea in easy silence, share your thoughts without fear, and feel understood without saying a word.
A true friend is someone whose presence brings comfort and resonance — someone whose embrace, whose glance of concern, whose simple greeting leaves a lasting warmth.
To have even one person in your life who truly knows you is life’s greatest blessing. Such a friend may not always be by your side, but they will always live in your heart.
Translated by Eva
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
