Saving Others Is Saving Ourselves
 
Ji Yun (1724 – 1805 AD), courtesy name Xiaolan, was a scholar and author in the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912 AD). He recorded and narrated a story in his book, Yuewei Hut Diaries, about a person who saved other people and then was saved himself. The story can still inspire people today. It goes as follows.
 
Mr. Shi lived in Xian County. Other people called him "Old Shi" and forgot his real name. Although Old Shi disregarded etiquette and formalities, he was a straightforward and upright person. He looked down upon mean and shameless people.
 
One day, while he was passing by a market on the way home from a gambling place, a family from a farm village caught his eye. The husband, wife, and a baby were huddled together and crying sadly. Old Shi's neighbor told him, "They owe some powerful person money. The husband wants to sell his wife to return the money. The couple shares a strong bond. They can't let go of each other. In addition, the mom is still breastfeeding the baby. Therefore, they feel especially sad at this moment of separation."
 
Old Shi asked, "How much do they owe?" His neighbor replied, "30 gold dollars." Old Shi asked, "How much are they selling the wife for?" The neighbor said, "50 gold dollars, selling her as concubine for another person." Old Shi asked again, "Can they stop the transaction and buy her back?" His neighbor replied, "They just signed a contract. However, they have neither received payment nor have they stamped their fingerprints. It is still possible to buy her back." Old Shi immediately handed over 70 gold dollars to the husband which he just won from gambling, and said to them, "I gave you 30 gold dollars for your debt. The other 40 gold dollars are to support yourselves. Stop the sale."
 
The couple was extremely thankful. They later invited Old Shi to their home and treated him to a chicken dinner and wine. The husband suddenly wanted to leave home with their child. He indicated to his wife to "sleep" with Old Shi to return his generosity. The wife nodded her head. Then, she hinted at this idea to Old Shi. Old Shi became aware of the situation and replied solemnly and sincerely. "I was a robber before. After that, I was a constable. I used to not bat an eye when killing people. If now I take advantage of your difficulty and sleep with you, then I am not human. I could not do this!" He turned his head and left right away.
 
After half a month, Old Shi's home caught fire in the middle of night. It was during the fall harvest season. Every home was stocked with firewood, grains, and straw, even on the roof. It was windy that night. Because fire was everywhere, Old Shi's family of three was desperate to flee, but they found no route to escape, so he stayed with his wife and son in the home and waited for death. Suddenly, they heard a voice from above, "God of the East Mountain sends a sudden message. Eliminate Old Shi's family from the list of all families needing to be destroyed by the fire. Old Shi's home is not allowed to burn down." Then, a big bang was heard. The rear wall of Old Shi's home collapsed. Old Shi pulled his wife with his left hand, held his son with the right hand, and jumped out the house. It seemed that he had wings, as he jumped a long distance.
 
After the fire was extinguished, villagers found that 90% of the people perished. Old Shi's whole family survived. There was no damage to their clothes or food, either. After he fixed the rear wall, their lives quickly returned to normal.
 
All his neighbors were feeling happy for Old Shi. They put their palms together devoutly and said, "We were secretly laughing at you and called you a fool. You gave 70 gold dollars to those strangers! We could not imagine that you used 70 gold dollars to save your family! We should all thank the Heavens!"
 
After the story, Ji Yun said, "I think that the family of Old Shi was protected by the gods. The virtue for giving money is 40%. The virtue for rejecting lust is 60%."
 
Therefore, we can see that saving people is actually saving ourselves. Rejecting lust and controlling our behavior are important for human beings. People's words are heard by the gods. People's actions are also seen by the gods. Good or evil will eventually be rewarded justly!
 
救人实是自救
 
纪昀（1724--1805），字晓岚，清代学者、文学家。他在《阅微草堂笔记》中，写了一位普通人救人而获自救的事，至今仍很有启迪作用。特译述如下：
 
献县有一个姓史的人，人们叫他老史，而忘记了他的名字。老史为人虽然不拘小节，但磊落正直，看不起那种卑鄙无耻的小人。
 
这天，他从赌博场上回家去，走到一个集市上，看见从农村来的一家人：丈夫、妻子和幼儿，三人相抱，正在悲伤的哭泣。与他家相邻近的人介绍说：「因为欠了豪强的债，丈夫要把妻子卖掉还债。夫妻平日感情深厚，依依难舍；再加上幼儿还在吃奶，当此诀别之时，所以悲痛。」
 
老史问道：「欠债是多少？」邻人回答：「欠三十金。」老史问：「打算卖掉妇女是多少钱？」邻人回答：「卖五十金，给别人作妾。」老史又问：「能够不卖她，把她赎回来吗？」邻人回答：「刚写了文字契约，还没付钱，也没按手印，应该还能赎回。」老史立即把刚才从赌博场上赢得的七十金，交与她丈夫，说：「我给你们三十金还债；再给四十金，让你们回家维持生计。不要把她卖掉。」
 
丈夫得到七十金。他们夫妇二人，对老史万分感谢。后来，把老史接到家中，烹鸡敬酒，热情招待。丈夫抽空抱走小儿，用眼睛示意妻子，叫妻子「荐枕以报」老史的大德；其妻点头，稍微对老史有所暗示；老史觉察了，立刻庄重、严肃的讲：「我老史从前做强盗，后来做捕快。杀人曾不眨眼。现在如果乘人之危，污人妇女，则太无人性。此事，实不能为！」掉头径去，不再絮言。
 
半个月后，老史的住处，半夜失火。那时正当秋收季节，家家屋上屋下，柴禾粮草都堆得满满的。风助火势，四面烈燄狂起。老史一家三口，自料无法逃出，与妻儿只好坐以待毙。他们忽然听到空中传来一个说话声：「东岳神发来急件，说明：速从原定应予烧毁的人家中，把老史一家给予除去，不可烧毁老史之家。」接下来就听到轰隆一声，老史家的后墙垮下来一个大洞，老史便左手牵妻，右臂抱子，一跃而出，像身上长了翅膀似的，跃出去很远。
 
等到大火熄灭以后，人们察看统计，被烧死的人数，占了总人数的九成。老史一家都是幸存者。他家中的衣物粮食等等，都没有损坏。把后墙的洞补起来，很快恢复了原状。
 
老史的邻居们，都双手合十，为老史一家庆幸，并且讲出来：「我们当时还窃笑你老史是个傻瓜：把七十金，毫无意义的给了素不相识的人！没想到：你用七十金，救了你一家三口的命！应该感谢神灵保祐！」
 
纪昀写到这里，特意说道：「我认为，老史一家，得神灵之佑，这是肯定的。此事捐金的功德，占十分之四；拒色、不污他人之妻的功德，占十分之六。」
 
由此可见：救人实是自救；拒色，不污妇女，洁身自律，更是极为重要的做人之道。人之一言，众神皆听；人之一行，众神皆见。善恶必有报，时辰终会到！