Sun Jian was a renowned figure during the Three Kingdoms period, widely regarded as one of the most formidable generals of his time. But, Sun Jian grew up in a poor family. No one would think he could be some body, let alone rise so rapidly.
Sun Zichu, a celebrated man of letters of Guangxi, had a sixth finger growing on one of his hands. He was unrealistic by nature, halting in speech and inclined to accept the deceitful words of others at face value.
Wang Zifu was a native of Luodian in Luxian County, Shandong Province. His father died when he was still a child. Being extraordinarily clever, he passed the imperial examination at the local level and became a xiucai at the age of fourteen.
Scholar Kong Xueli, a descendent of the sage, Confucius, was a man of forbearance and well-versed in poetry. His good friend, a magistrate of Tiantai County in Zhejiang Province, wrote to him, inviting him to be his guest.