Wife Urges Husband to Elevate Moral Character through Studies
 
During the period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 220 AD), residing in the Luoyang District of Henan Province was a celebrated man named Le Yangzi. He was well-respected for his moral integrity and scholarship. His achievement, however, was said to be attributed to his wife's exhortation and assistance.
 
One day Le Yangzi found a piece of a gold ingot on the road. (Translator's note: People used silver and gold ingots for trade in the early days.) Elated, he brought it home to his wife, fully expecting her to stare at it, wide-eyed and with enthusiasm. But his wife frowned as if deep in thought, and without even glancing at the gold ingot, said in a serious tone, "I have heard that an incorruptible man does not drink water from the Robbers’ Spring (1) and an honorable man does not eat the food handed out with spite in the name of charity. Yet, you have found a lost gold ingot, decided to keep it, and have no intention of returning it. Aren't you blemishing your character?"
 
As if splashed with a basin of cold water, Le Yangzi was stunned, but quickly recollected himself and sobered up. He felt extremely ashamed of his behavior and hurriedly put the gold ingot back where he found it.
 
Seeing that Le Yangzi realized his mistake quickly and made amends, his wife was very happy and loved him dearly. She then again urged him, "While you are still young, why don't you go out to look for a teacher and further your studies? You will become accomplished when you become a learned man some day." So Le Yangzi bid farewell to his wife and left home in search of a teacher to study under. A year later, he felt homesick and returned home. Surprised to see him, his wife asked, "How is it that you have completed you studies so quickly? Is there a particular reason?" Le Yangzi answered, "It's been a long time, and I miss home. There is no other reason."
 
The wife empathized and took care of Le Yangzi for a few days. Then, standing in front of the loom, she said to her husband, "I feel lonely and miserable too, weaving at home on my own. But, we are still young. A bit of hardship will temper us for the better. Take a look. This is how I weave the silk. The silk thread is very fine. It goes through the shuttle back and forth repeatedly to build up an inch of material. Then, inch by inch, it grows to a yard and then a bolt. If I cut the silk on the machine with a knife now, I would have wasted all my previous efforts, wasted my many days of hard work. Similarly, when you go seeking a teacher to study, you should be persistent. Only through days and months of cumulative hard work will you build up your knowledge and accomplish something."
 
Very much moved by his wife's words, Le Yangzi decided to start afresh. With great determination, he went away to study again. For seven years, he went in search of renowned teachers and studied under them, and he did not go home. Finally he became a learned person of impeccable character, and gained great respect.
 
When Le Yangzi's wife died, the chief of the local prefecture gave her a highly honorable burial service. The imperial court also conferred upon her the title, "Woman of Loyalty and Propriety." In the book Historical Records of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the above saga was recorded as “Henan Le Yangzi’s wife.” Regrettably, her full name was not properly entered and cannot be verified.
 
Note:
(1) Robbers’ Spring - The name of an ancient spring, located near the present Sishui County, Shandong Province. It was said that after drinking water from the spring one would become greedy and oblivious to moral integrity.
 
妻劝丈夫，进德修业
 
在东汉时期，河南的洛阳地区，出了一位名人，叫乐羊子。他的道德高尚，学问渊博，人们都很敬重他。而他的成就，是和他妻子的劝导与帮助，密切相关的。
 
有一天，乐羊子在路上捡到别人丢失的一锭金子，他十分欣喜的带回家中，把金子交给妻子，满以为妻子见金眼开，会跟他一样高兴的。可是，出乎意外的是：妻子皱起了眉头，若有所思。她连看都没看那金子一眼，很严肃的讲：「我听说，廉洁的人，不饮盗泉之水（笔者注﹕盗泉，古泉名，在今山东泗水县境内。传说：喝了这里的水，人会贪财忘义）；气节高尚的人，不吃嗟来之食（不吃侮辱人格的施舍之饭）。更何况，你是捡到了人家丢失的贵重之物，不想归还失主，而欲纳入私囊。这样做，难道不是玷污了自己的品行吗？」
 
乐羊子好像被迎头泼了一盆冷水，吃了一惊，立刻觉的冷静、清醒了起来。他感到十分羞愧，便立即把金子放回到原处。
 
妻子见乐羊子知错就改，非常欣喜而且心疼，又规劝他：「趁现在年青，到外面去拜师求学，将来做个大有学问的人，这才算有出息。」乐羊子便别妻离家，远出拜师求学。一年以后，乐羊子孤身在外久了，很是想家。他突然回来了。妻子惊问他：「这么快就学成归来了？是有甚么特殊的原因吗？」乐羊子说：「时间久了，就是想家。没有甚么特殊的原因。」
 
妻子心里明白了，好好照顾他休息了几天。她在织布机前，对丈夫讲：「我一个人在家织布，也很孤苦。但我们现在正年轻，吃些苦，磨练自己有好处。你看，我在家织丝绸是这样的：这些很细的蚕丝，穿梭往返，一根一根的积累起来，才会有一寸长。再一寸一寸的积累下去，才会有一丈，有一匹。现在如果把织布机上的这些丝织物，一刀子割断了（她拿过来一把刀子，比划了一下），那就会前功尽弃，白白的浪费掉以前的许多辛苦和时日。你在外拜师求学，也是这样。你应该坚持不断，日积月累，不断长进，才能有成就。」
 
乐羊子被妻子的话，深深打动了。他下了大决心，从新开始，再次出门求学，遍访明师求教。整整七年，没有回家。终于成为道德高尚，学问渊博的人，受到世人的尊敬。
 
乐羊子的妻子去世时，当地的太守为她举行了隆重的安葬仪式。朝廷还给她封赠为「贞义」的谥（读试，表彰的称号）号。《后汉书》中，有关于「河南乐羊子妻」事蹟的记载，但她具体的名字，已失确考，非常遗憾。