The Chinese have traditionally believed in the principle that the good are blessed with virtue and that the wicked are brought to justice. With the introduction of Buddhism and its teachings of reincarnation, this heavenly law was understood to extend beyond the grave and from before the cradle.
The following story, recorded in Chinese folk legend, took place during the transitional period between the Ming and Qing dynasties in the 17th century. In the village of Wajiadian, located a few miles outside Beijing, there was a wealthy landlord known as Sir Qian.
Less than a mile from Qian’s residence lived the peasant family Li. People called the master of the house “Brother Li.” Because Li had some skills in masonry and brickwork, he frequently serviced the Qian household with various odd jobs. Sir Qian was generous in his pay, and with time the landlord Qian and peasant Li, as well as their families, were closely acquainted.
One year, Sir Qian set off to the South with his family to do business. It would be several months before their return. Prior to the trip, Qian summoned Brother Li.
“Brother Li, our friendship is strong. Can I request a favor?”
“Sir Qian, if there there is anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I have a store of fine wine,” Qian said. “I fear that those I have hired to watch my property will drink it while I am away. Should you be willing, could you keep it in your home and watch over it for me?”
“Such a small matter, I‘d have taken it for a major affair!” Li replied. “I’ll have every jar waiting for you without so much as a scratch. Be at ease and bon voyage!”
With this, Sir Qian delivered 30 sealed earthen jars of wine to the house of Li. Brother Li locked them away in a spare room.
The Misdeed
Two months passed. There was no word from Qian or his family.
One day, Brother Li checked up on Sir Qian’s wine, each jar sealed tightly with kraft paper. Li held up one of the jars and gave it a sniff, but to his surprise, there was none of the wine’s fragrance whatsoever.
“Strange. However well-sealed, I should be able to smell the wine,” Li thought to himself. Then he shook the jar, and, hearing no sound, was again puzzled. Giving in to whim, he broke open the jar. What he saw took him aback: what spilled out of the jar was none other than sparkling white silver!
In a flash, Li opened all the jars. Each and every one was filled with the same precious silver—three thousand taels in all. His greed aroused by this massive sum, Li hatched a devious plan. Having voided the jars of their riches, he took a sum of the cash and ventured to market, where he procured fine wine, and refilled the jars with it. He resealed the 30 jars, and the wares appeared exactly as they had when Sir Qian had first delivered them to the Li residence.
And what of the silver? It was now stashed in the darkness of Li’s cellar, never to return to the hands of Sir Qian.
