This Legalist‑oriented essay uses Lü Buwei’s downfall to argue gratitude is an unreliable investment. Genuine feelings cannot guarantee returns; dependable claims need binding structural leverage instead of mere emotional obligation.
This entry explains the idiom *qí huò kě jū*, originating from Lü Buwei’s political speculation story in *Records of the Grand Historian*. It covers its literal and figurative meanings, modern usages and related cautionary notes.