Ding Qianxi of Zhucheng, Shandong Province, came from a family which had plenty of money and grain. But, all his life, he was an admirer of Guo Xie, a man noted during the Han Dynasty for his chivalry. Like him, he performed many chivalrous deeds.
At one time, the imperial procurator was after Ding and he was constantly on the run. One day, he arrived at Anqiu, just as it started to rain, so he took shelter in a small inn. At midday, the rain was still falling. A boy came and prepared a room for him to rest in and a fine meal. When night came, Ding decided to stay. The boy fed his horse with fodder and beans, and tended to his food and drink with care. Ding asked the boy what his name was and the boy said, “The owner of this inn is surnamed Yang. I am his wife’s nephew. The master likes to have a lot of friends. Right now, he’s gone off somewhere, so there is only my aunt at home. We’re not very well off so that we haven’t been able to provide you with more. Please forgive us for that.” Ding went on to inquire what the master’s occupation was and learned that the family had little money and property, and managed its three meals a day by sponsoring a daily gambling party.
The next day, the rain continued non-stop. The boy attended to his food and drink without fail. When night fell, Ding noticed that the bundles of grass the boy was cutting for fodder were wet and not of the same length and thought that was strange. The boy explained,”Let me tell you the truth. We are so poor that we have no money to buy fodder to feed your horse. Just now, my aunt pulled down some of the straw from the thatched roof for me to use as fodder.” Ding thought this was even more extraordinary. He figured they must be doing that in order to be paid more, so at dawn, he paid the boy some silver coins, but the boy refused to accept it. Ding insisted that he take it inside, but when the boy came out a while later, he returned the money to the guest, saying, “My aunt said we don’t make a living by charging rent on the rooms and money for the meals. Sometimes, the master may go out for several days without carrying a single coin with him, so how can we ask for money when a guest comes to our house?” Ding Qianxi was full of praise as he took his leave, telling the boy, “I am Ding Qianxi from Zhucheng. When the master of this house comes home, please tell him to come and visit me when he has the time.”
Several years passed, and he heard no more. Then one year, there was a serious drought and the Yang family was in dire straits. With no other way out, Yang’s wife proposed off the top of her head to try and ask the man named Ding for help. The husband agreed. When he arrived at Zhucheng and found Ding’s house, he announced his name, but Ding couldn’t remember who he was. Only when Yang described the situation did it all come back to Ding. Not waiting to put on his shoes properly, he rushed outside and respectfully invited his guest in. Noticing that Yang’s clothes were in rags and his heels exposed, he put him up in a warm room and prepared a big meal for him, showering him with hospitality. The following day, Ding ordered new clothes to be made for Yang so that he could stay warm. Grateful as he was, Yang was burdened with worry about his family, but he thought to himself, “It’s not hopeless yet.” After living there for several days, the host still said nothing about presenting him with some money. Full of anxiety, Yang confided in Ding, “To tell you the truth, when I left home, there was not one sheng (Trans. Note： A sheng is a traditional unit equivalent to a litre) of rice left in the house. Now, although I am very happy, thanks to your warm hospitality and the food and clothing you’ve provided me, I don’t know how my wife is faring.” “You don’t have to worry” Ding said. “I have made all the arrangements. I hope you will rest a few more days, while I help you prepare some traveling fare.” Then he sent his servants out to round up some gamblers and let Yang sit there and ask the winners for money. (Trans. Note: This was a common gambling practice in those days.) In one night, Yang collected almost a hundred taels of silver. Then, Ding Qianxi saw him off.
Back at home, Yang found his wife dressed up in brand new clothes and enjoying the service of a maid. Surprised, he asked how this had come about. His wife said, “The day after you left, some people came with cartloads of cloth and grain which filled a whole room, saying they were gifts from a former guest named Ding. And they brought along this maid for me, too.” Yang was moved beyond words. From then on, his family was able to lead a relatively comfortable life and there was no longer any need to return to his former trade.
The Chronicler of the Tales said: It’s not difficult for drunkards and gamblers who do not live by honest labor to be poor and yet hospitable. The person who most deserves praise is Yang’s wife. To be given help and not repay it is not human, but not forgetting the kindness of a single meal is what made Ding Qianxi special.
Leave a Reply