Merchant Li and the Beggars
There once was a wealthy rice merchant named Li, who kept his riches to himself. Every year he would walk to the dark and muddy Chang Jiang River, wearing his most prized jewellery to see the dragon boat race. Every year, Li’s friends would admire the gold and bright stones hanging off of him: “Li! This ruby looks larger than last year’s! Your business must be doing well.”
And every year, Li would pass by the same three men- a mute man, a deaf man, and a blind man- on the way to the river, and each would ask for food, and each time Li would reluctantly give a few coins.
One year, Li sold so much rice that he bought the finest jade bracelet, only matched by the riches of the Emperor. Excited to show his success once again that year, Li began his walk to Chang Jiang River. After walking for some time, Li remembered he must soon walk by the beggars, and so he hatched a plan to keep his purse strings tightly tied.
The first beggar, a mute man, was seated against the wall of a half-collapsed hut. As Li passed, the mute put his hand to his mouth, to show he needed food. Li put his hands out in front of himself and clumsily walked forward. He saw the beggar stop asking for food. “He must have thought I was blind!” said Li.
The second beggar, a deaf man, was lying in the grass by an old tree. When he saw Li coming, the deaf man began yelling for food, not knowing the volume of his own voice. Li turned his head and looked to the other side of the road, pretending not to notice the deaf beggar. Soon the yelling stopped. “He must have thought I was deaf!” said Li.
The third beggar, a blind man, was seated on the road, his ear to the ground so he could hear passersby coming. As Li approached, he saw people shake their head and explain they had no money. When Li passed, the blind man asked for food, but Li kept walking. “He must have thought I was mute!” said Li.
Pleased that he saved money, Li made his way to Chang Jiang River. When he arrived, he walked to the dock where his friends were watching the race; Li had made it just in time. His friends were pleased to see he could make it.
“What riches do you have this year, Li?” they asked.
Li, wanting his new bracelet to be seen by all, stood at the end of the dock, blocking the view of the dragon boats. It was so beautiful, his friends clustered around to poke and prod at the jade. But soon there were so many pushing forward to see the bracelet that Li lost his balance, and the bracelet was dropped into the river. “My jade bracelet! My precious bracelet!” Li exclaimed.
His friends stood around, dumb-founded with what to do. Li was furious. He removed his robe and dove into the water. He could not see the bracelet in the murky water. He could not call for help with his search, for the rushing river was too loud. And he could not hear the oncoming dragon boat when it dashed his head open.
And every year, Li would pass by the same three men- a mute man, a deaf man, and a blind man- on the way to the river, and each would ask for food, and each time Li would reluctantly give a few coins.
One year, Li sold so much rice that he bought the finest jade bracelet, only matched by the riches of the Emperor. Excited to show his success once again that year, Li began his walk to Chang Jiang River. After walking for some time, Li remembered he must soon walk by the beggars, and so he hatched a plan to keep his purse strings tightly tied.
The first beggar, a mute man, was seated against the wall of a half-collapsed hut. As Li passed, the mute put his hand to his mouth, to show he needed food. Li put his hands out in front of himself and clumsily walked forward. He saw the beggar stop asking for food. “He must have thought I was blind!” said Li.
The second beggar, a deaf man, was lying in the grass by an old tree. When he saw Li coming, the deaf man began yelling for food, not knowing the volume of his own voice. Li turned his head and looked to the other side of the road, pretending not to notice the deaf beggar. Soon the yelling stopped. “He must have thought I was deaf!” said Li.
The third beggar, a blind man, was seated on the road, his ear to the ground so he could hear passersby coming. As Li approached, he saw people shake their head and explain they had no money. When Li passed, the blind man asked for food, but Li kept walking. “He must have thought I was mute!” said Li.
Pleased that he saved money, Li made his way to Chang Jiang River. When he arrived, he walked to the dock where his friends were watching the race; Li had made it just in time. His friends were pleased to see he could make it.
“What riches do you have this year, Li?” they asked.
Li, wanting his new bracelet to be seen by all, stood at the end of the dock, blocking the view of the dragon boats. It was so beautiful, his friends clustered around to poke and prod at the jade. But soon there were so many pushing forward to see the bracelet that Li lost his balance, and the bracelet was dropped into the river. “My jade bracelet! My precious bracelet!” Li exclaimed.
His friends stood around, dumb-founded with what to do. Li was furious. He removed his robe and dove into the water. He could not see the bracelet in the murky water. He could not call for help with his search, for the rushing river was too loud. And he could not hear the oncoming dragon boat when it dashed his head open.