Farmer Huang Jianji was born in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, during the Northern Song Dynasty. He was a simple man who lived an upright life; uninterested in personal gain but happy to help others. He was respected by all.
Zhang Yong was then the mayor of Chengdu. He was likewise honest in his dealings while in public office and held a sense of justice, but was slightly arrogant. He dreamed one night that a deity foretold him: "Huang Jianji has arrived." At that moment a being in Daoist robes appeared and descended the steps to receive Huang Jianji and offered the guest a seat more elevated than the mayor’s.
The next morning Zhang sought out Huang. He looked him over carefully and discovered that he was indeed the man in his dream. He inquired of the farmer how he managed to do so many good deeds each day and thus amass so much virtue, for the deity to show him such great respect.
Farmer Huang replied, "I have not done anything extraordinary; merely taken care of my land [plowing, cultivating, sowing]. When grain harvest arrived, I augmented the crop by purchasing some extra at the normal price. Since I did not need it, the following year I sold it to those poor farmers whose crops were not yet ready for the same price I had paid. I did not profit a cent from this transaction, and the weight of the grain was the same. I did not lose a thing and at the same time helped these unfortunates."
Hearing this, the mayor sighed deeply saying, "You do deserve the higher position to mine." Then he prostrated himself before the farmer and paid him homage.
A saying goes: "Don't assume a good deed won't bring rewards." The farmer's compassionate heart held no interest in personal gain. He was upright in his business and helped others in the process. That amounted to having done a good deed, bringing him virtue. That is why everyone respected him, and he got his just reward.
