In Xuancheng (in Anhui), a wealthy man named Han suffered a significant loss when thieves stole a large sum of his assets. Although he reported it to the authorities, the culprits were never caught. Soon after, the head of the Han family passed away, leaving behind his 8-year-old son, Shaokun, and his wife, Mrs. Xie, who depended on each other for survival.
The mother and son were left alone and unable to protect their property. Stronger family members came to bully and exploit them, and the accountant colluded with outsiders. Within a few years, their family fortune was nearly depleted. The mother and son lived in constant misery, and with no options left, they eventually had to sell their residence to cover living expenses.
The return of stolen property
One night, the mother was spinning yarn while the son was studying. It was close to midnight, and the moonlight shone brightly in the courtyard. Mrs. Xie sighed as she looked at the moon. Suddenly, she heard a voice in the courtyard saying: “Madam, there’s no need to lament. Your son can study hard, and he will surely achieve great things in the future. It’s just a matter of enduring hardship for these ten years.” Startled, Mrs. Xie waited for a long time but heard nothing more. She opened the door to check and found the moonlight filling the courtyard, but no one was there.
Turning back, she noticed a leather trunk on the desk, which had mysteriously materialized. Hurriedly, she opened it and found it filled with gold and silver, mixed with jewels; items that had been stolen from the house years ago. Mrs. Xie realized that the person who had spoken earlier had some connection. She quickly instructed her son to remain silent and to continue studying diligently as before.
The benefactor ‘Iron Man’
As Shaokun grew up, he passed the imperial examination, became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examinations), and later became the magistrate of Zhejiang through the Da Tiao (a Qing Dynasty system for selecting officials from among Juren). At this time, Mrs. Xie took out the accumulated gold and silver to redeem their old home and renovate it. Shaokun was naturally intelligent and particularly adept at navigating officialdom, gaining the favor of his superiors. After a few years in office, he accumulated quite a bit of wealth.
One day, his subordinate reported that a notorious thief had been captured. Shaokun personally interrogated the thief, who remained calm and, when asked his name, claimed to be “Iron Man,” refusing to reveal his true name. Shaokun ordered severe torture, but the thief used his internal energy to resist, and the torture devices were ineffective. After a while, the thief looked up at Shaokun and said: “You are Han Shaokun, right? Do you remember what was said on the night of April 18, 10 years ago? Go back and ask your mother.” Shaokun was startled and ordered the thief returned to his cell. After returning home, he told his mother what “Iron Man” had said.
The betrayal
Mrs. Xie instructed someone to check the trunk from years ago and found a mark on the lid that read “Iron Man.” She wanted to release him, but Shaokun disagreed, saying: “He is a key suspect in a robbery case involving a wealthy family. If we let him go, I might lose my position. He merely returned what was stolen from us; it’s not a great kindness. I am handling this matter officially, which is sufficient.”
Mrs. Xie replied: “When we were impoverished and toiling every day just to get by, if he hadn’t returned our property, we would have starved to death in the mountains long ago. Moreover, if they hadn’t robbed us back then, this wealth would long ago have fallen into the hands of our creditors. He took from us when we were wealthy and returned it when we were in distress; how can we forget such kindness?”
Shaokun then said: “We can let this person go now, but if he considers himself a benefactor, and if this news spreads, outsiders will inevitably make wild speculations. It would be better to silence him.” Before Mrs. Xie could respond, a beam of white light shot into the room, shattering all the window panes.
A satire of character
A man stood before him; it was “Iron Man.” He smiled at Shaokun and said: “You have a cruel heart! How can you repay kindness with enmity, and even hold your mother hostage?” Shaokun was stunned, unable to speak. In an instant, the room was filled with white light, like a flash of lightning. After a moment, the light dissipated, and Iron Man stood on the roof, held a three-foot sword, and clasped his hands, saying: “Farewell!”
Shaokun regained his composure and felt a sharp pain, realizing that both of his eyebrows had been shaved off along with the skin. That night, it was reported that the notorious thief had escaped from prison. Shaokun subsequently developed a heart condition, becoming mentally disoriented and unable to handle official duties, forcing him to resign and return home.
The “Iron Man” in the story, though a thief, displayed a sense of righteousness, as though possessing a code of honor among thieves. At the same time, Han Shaokun, despite having studied the classics and becoming a court official, harbored murderous intent in the face of personal gain. The loss of his eyebrows was not only a punishment, but also a mockery, a satire of his “face” and “character.”
Translated by Joseph Wu and edited by Maria
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