King Zhuang of Chu was one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period and the most accomplished ruler of the state of Chu during that era.Once, after a great military victory, King Zhuang was so delighted that he hosted a grand banquet in his palace to entertain his ministers, filling the palace with festive cheer. In high spirits, the king summoned his favorite concubine, Lady Xu, to pour wine for the guests in turn and add to the merriment.

Lu Ban was a native of Dunhuang. Even as a child, his hands were remarkably skillful, and he could make all kinds of beautiful kites. As he grew up, he learned carpentry from his father and became exceptionally talented at building bridges, constructing houses, erecting temples, and crafting pagodas. He was well-known throughout the Hexi region for his craftsmanship.

The story of "tying grass" appears in the Zuo Zhuan, Duke Xuan, Year 15. During the Spring and Autumn period, Wei Wuzi of the state of Jin had a beloved concubine. When Wei Wuzi fell ill, he told his son Wei Ke: "After I die, you must marry her off." Soon after, when Wei Wuzi's illness worsened, he again instructed Wei Ke: "After I die, she must be buried with me as a sacrifice." After Wei Wuzi passed away, Wei Ke did not kill the concubine to be buried with his father; instead, he married her to someone else. Wei Ke explained: "When a person is critically ill, their mind becomes confused and disordered. I married her off following my father's instructions when he was mentally clear."

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a man named Huang Xiang. From a very young age, he knew how to be close to and respect his parents.When he was nine years old, his mother passed away, and his father raised him alone. Deeply aware of his father's hardships, Huang Xiang showed him exceptional filial devotion and took on all household chores by himself.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the realm was divided into a tripartite balance of power among the states of Wei, Shu, and Wu. Although the Shu Han regime established by Liu Bei was situated in the southwestern region, it had always aspired to launch a northern expedition against the state of Wei, unify the empire, and restore the Han dynasty's legacy. Unfortunately, Liu Bei did not fulfill this ambition during his lifetime. In order to accomplish the late emperor's final wish, Chancellor Zhuge Liang led a large army on a northern campaign.

After the failure of the Qingli Reforms, social contradictions in the Northern Song Dynasty persisted. Bureaucrat-landlords massively consolidated land, with some enjoying tax-exemption privileges and others using their power to conceal assets and evade taxes, thus placing the heavy burden of taxation and corvée labor squarely on the shoulders of peasants. Furthermore, the government had to pay large amounts of silver and silk annually to the Liao and Western Xia kingdoms, a cost also ultimately borne by the peasants. Peasant uprisings occurred frequently across the country. State revenue from land taxes was insecure, while expenditures continued to grow. The Northern Song government faced a severe crisis.

At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, there was a young man named Xu Heng, who was well known in his hometown for his intelligence and diligence. Once, Xu Heng was traveling alone during a scorching summer day, when the sun blazed like a fireball, baking the earth. After walking for a long time, he was drenched in sweat and extremely thirsty.

Emperor Taizong inherited the national policy of venerating ancestors and upholding Daoism established by his father, Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan, and further developed it, applying Daoist thought to govern the state and pacify the world. He appointed officials based on integrity and ability, knowing people well and using them effectively. He encouraged open discussion, respected life, practiced self-restraint, and humbly accepted advice. He implemented policies prioritizing agriculture, practicing strict frugality, allowing the people to rest and recuperate, reviving cultural education, and perfecting the imperial examination system. These measures led to a stable society. He vigorously suppressed external threats, respected the customs of border ethnic groups, consolidated frontier regions, and ultimately achieved the ideal state of peace and order throughout the realm. As his reign era was "Zhenguan" (627-649 AD), this period is historically known as "The Zhenguan Era of Good Governance."

According to the "Zuo Zhuan · First Year of Duke Yin," Duke Zhuang of Zheng had a younger brother. His mother, Lady Wu Jiang, experienced a difficult childbirth when delivering Duke Zhuang, which caused her to develop an aversion towards him. She named him "Wusheng" (meaning "born feet-first," an omen of bad luck). In contrast, she doted on his younger brother, Shuduan. According to ancient customs, Wusheng, as the eldest son, naturally inherited the throne and became the ruler of the State of Zheng. Lady Wu Jiang, increasingly resentful, went to great lengths to build up Shuduan's power, hoping he would grow strong enough to replace Duke Zhuang.

To modern people, the terms "shang" (merchant) and "gu" (trader) carry little semantic difference, both meaning trade. However, in ancient times, there was a distinction between "shang" and "gu" in their business methods: selling in small quantities was called "shang," while traveling to sell goods was known as "gu." A person who conducted business by buying goods in one place and selling them in another was called a "gu ren" (trader).