A wealthy man released a golden carp into the wild, and three years later, his family was ruined, and he himself had perished. A Taoist priest said, "It's all karma."
During the Ming Dynasty, in Zhenjiang, a wealthy man named Zhao ignored a Taoist's advice and released a golden carp. Three years later, misfortune befell him, and the Taoist reappeared, telling him it was all karma...
During the Wanli reign, there was a wealthy man in Zhenjiang Prefecture with the surname Zhao. Although he was not literate, he was quite shrewd. Starting from nothing in his youth, he built up an impressive fortune, which made him somewhat arrogant. However, his heart was in the right place, so he didn't cause much trouble.
One day, while Zhao was drinking tea in a teahouse, he suddenly heard a commotion outside. He went out to take a look and found a fisherman and a woodcutter quarreling. Watching the two men argue heatedly over a few coins, Zhao found the scene rather amusing.
He called the two men over and asked how they could turn their conflict into peace. The fisherman said the woodcutter should pay more, while the woodcutter said the fisherman should ask for less. Seeing this, Zhao immediately took a piece of silver from his pocket and handed it to the fisherman, then gave the fish from the fisherman to the woodcutter. The woodcutter, realizing he hadn’t paid, didn’t want to take the fish for free, so he offered to deliver the firewood he had just gathered to Zhao’s residence. Zhao nodded in agreement. The fisherman, having received the silver, knew he had profited handsomely and didn’t argue further. The matter was thus resolved smoothly.
Satisfied, Zhao returned to the teahouse to finish his tea, while those around him applauded. After returning home, his steward told him that a woodcutter had brought over two bundles of firewood and a golden carp. Zhao immediately went to take a look and found that, indeed, the woodcutter had left behind the most beautiful golden carp from the group of fish.
The steward asked Zhao whether he wanted to keep the fish at home or do something else with it. After thinking it over, Zhao said that they already had enough fish at home, so they should release it back into the wild. Just as he said this, a Taoist suddenly entered, shouting, "Don't do it!"
Zhao was startled and wondered where this man had come from and how the guards had failed to notice him. The Taoist said he was from Mount Longhu and had been sent by his master to rid the world of demons. The golden carp before them, he explained, had been weakened by his efforts, but given time, it would recover its strength. It was best, he advised, to leave the fish in his care.
Zhao grew furious. "You dare enter my home unannounced, and now you want to take this golden carp from me? You're dreaming!" With that, he ordered the steward to take the fish outside the city and release it into the river. The Taoist could only shake his head in helplessness.
Zhao wanted to scold him further, but before he could, the Taoist vanished into thin air. Left with no choice, Zhao gave up on the matter, swearing that from then on, he would never again donate a single coin to a Taoist temple, vowing to vent his frustration this way.
Three years passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Zhao's business had steadily declined due to government suppression and interference from local bullies. Fortunately, Zhao was skilled in managing his affairs, so he was able to keep his business afloat. One day, exhausted, Zhao returned home, and his steward informed him that a young boy had been waiting for him in the guest room for some time. Zhao rose and went to greet him. After exchanging pleasantries, the boy said, "Three years ago, you saved my life. Now, I will ensure your safety." With that, the boy disappeared.
Zhao was shocked and immediately began burning incense and praying to Buddha, asking for protection. However, the nightmare quickly began. Within three days, Zhao's once-thriving business collapsed, and he was left with nothing. He tried to find ways to save himself, but his once sharp mind, which had always brought him success, now seemed useless. He could no longer reverse his downfall and was reduced from a wealthy man to a beggar.
One day, while begging, Zhao suddenly noticed a familiar Taoist robe in front of him. He looked up and saw that it was the same Taoist from three years ago. The Taoist, with a look of disappointment, said, "If you had known this would happen, why didn't you listen back then?" Zhao could only shed silent tears. When he looked up again, the Taoist had disappeared.
An hour later, the Taoist reappeared and threw a golden carp in front of him. "This carp spirit is as gluttonous as a taotie (a mythical beast), and your family's fortune wasn't even enough to satisfy it. After you released it years ago, I was injured by it and have only recently recovered."
Upon hearing this, Zhao deeply regretted his actions. He hadn't realized that his impulsive decision had led to the ruin of his family. He told the Taoist that he had repented and was willing to dedicate his life to serving the Taoist temple.
The Taoist, pleased with this, said, "The spirit has been vanquished. Now you are free to rebuild your life." Zhao, overjoyed by the news, felt a renewed sense of hope.
Here is the translation of the text into English:
Later, with his skills and abilities, Zhao the wealthy man made a comeback and quickly restored his former glory. He was also able to reunite with his family smoothly. He spared no effort in offering donations to the Daoist temple, and indeed, never encountered any more absurd situations, living out the rest of his life in peace and happiness.
Editor's note: In life, the most dangerous thing is when a person’s temper exceeds their ability. In this story, Zhao the wealthy man, at a critical moment, refused to heed the Daoist's advice, leading to the destruction of his home and family. One could say he brought it upon himself. Fortunately, he realized his mistakes before it was too late, and by taking corrective action, he was able to make a comeback later.