"A Meal Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold: A Drop of Kindness Deserves a Fountain of Gratitude"
【Source】Sima Qian's *Records of the Grand Historian: The Biography of Marquis of Huaiyin* (Western Han Dynasty).
【Meaning】"Thousand pieces of gold" refers to one thousand taels of gold. This idiom means that if someone gives you a meal, you should repay them with a thousand taels of gold. It symbolizes repaying kindness with generous gratitude.
【Historical Story】
Han Xin was a powerful and influential military commander in the early Han Dynasty. Originally from Huaiyin, he came from a poor family and lost both parents at a young age. He had a free-spirited and unrestrained personality, disregarding social etiquette. With no family wealth, he could neither be recommended for an official position nor engage in business or farming. As a result, he lived in poverty and destitution, often struggling to find his next meal, relying on others for food, eating here and there, and many people disliked him for this.
To survive, Han Xin had to go fishing by the river outside Huaiyin city. There, many elderly women washed silk, and one of them, seeing how hungry he looked, shared her own food with him. She did this for over ten consecutive days. Deeply moved, Han Xin said to the old woman, "One day, I will surely repay you well for your kindness." The old woman, however, became angry and scolded him loudly: "You're a grown man, yet you can't even feed yourself! I pitied you, so I gave you food—how could I possibly expect repayment from you?" Han Xin felt deeply ashamed and resolved to make something of himself.
From then on, he devoted himself daily to studying military strategy and practicing martial arts, waiting for the right opportunity. During the chaos at the end of the Qin Dynasty, he eventually joined the Han army led by Liu Bang, serving as a minor official responsible for transporting grain. Later, he met Liu Bang’s strategist Xiao He, and through his recognition, rose from a grain officer to become a general.
In the following years, Han Xin helped Liu Bang pacify the Three Qins, achieved victory in the war against Chu, successively conquered the states of Wei and Zhao, pressured Yan into submission, and pacified the state of Qi. Finally, he forced Xiang Yu to retreat to Gaixia, where Xiang committed suicide. After this decisive victory, Liu Bang enfeoffed Han Xin as the King of Chu. Upon returning to his kingdom, Han Xin sought out the old woman who had once shared her meal with him and presented her with a thousand taels of gold to repay her kindness.
【Life Lesson】
Never forget the kindness others have shown you. When your life is at its most difficult, even a small act of help is incredibly precious. What you receive is not merely assistance, but also a glimmer of light, a thread of hope. It can illuminate a path through endless darkness and offer a chance at survival in the most desperate moments. "A drop of kindness deserves a spring of gratitude." No matter your circumstances, never forget those who once helped you. In doing so, what you gain is not just a helping hand, but also a unique warmth in the world, and a pure, grateful heart.