When Li Jue was 15, his father handed him the keys to the family business and moved away. Overnight, Li became the owner of a grain trading business.

While many businessmen would do anything to turn a profit, Li chose not to; instead, he was a conscientious and selfless man.

Whenever his customers came to make a purchase, Li would hand them the measuring vessels and let them measure the amount they needed.

The fluctuation of the grain prices didn’t matter to him – neither did profits, really, so it seemed. Li only made a few cents off of every 10 liters of rice, and he used most of that money to support his parents.

Strangely enough, he still somehow had enough money left over for his family to live an abundant life. They never wanted for anything.

One day, his father asked him how business was going.

“Most people in the grain business cheat with their measuring vessels,” his father said. “When they buy grain, they intentionally use a bigger vessel so that they can get more grain for the price. When they sell grain, they use a smaller vessel so their customers get less for the price.”

He continued, “Though government officials examine and calibrate the vessels twice a year, they really can't do much to stop this practice.”

“I thought I was better than them because I used the same sized vessel to buy and sell grain, but you – you let the customers do their own measuring. You are the better man,” said Li's father. “Yet, even though you do that, you still make a good living. The gods must have blessed you for your kindness.”

Li continued doing business into his eighties. When he was well over 100, he was still healthy and mentally sound.

One day, he gathered all his children around him.

“I have lived for a very long time. Though I have cultivated my energy, I am of no benefit to you all here,” he said.

Li died soon after that. Three days later, people heard a cracking sound from his coffin. They opened it to see that his body had somehow disappeared, leaving his clothes behind.

Li had left and become an immortal.

Jesus said that it was difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. The ancient Chinese also believed that it was hard for businessmen to attain the Tao. However, Li’s story tells us that it is not an impossible feat, so long as one has a righteous heart and virtuous behavior.
李珏卖粮　升斗交给买主自量　终得仙位
选编：梦醒
 
生意人大都把利益放在第一位，与道甚远。想修道真是太难了。有一位叫李珏的，买卖粮食让买主自己来量，也是奇闻。最后因为自己的德行而入了仙位。


李珏是广陵江阳人。世代住在城里，以贩卖粮食为职业。李珏的性情端庄谨慎，和一般人不一样。十五岁的时候，他父亲到别的地方去了，把贩卖粮食的事交给李珏专管。


有人来买粮，李珏就把升和斗交给人家，让人家自己量，不按当时粮食的贵贱计价，一斗粮只赚两文钱的利，用来资助父母。时间长了，他家的衣食却很丰足。


他的父亲感到奇怪，就问他是怎么回事，他如实告诉父亲。父亲说：“我做粮食生意的时候，同行中都是用升斗出入，出的时候用小斗，入的时候用大斗，用来赚取大利。虽然有关官吏年年春秋两季都要检查校正升斗的准确，但是始终不能制止弊病。我只是用同一个升和斗出入，时间已很久了，自以为没有什么偏差了。你现在改为出入自己量，我不如你。但是自己量还能衣食丰足，难道是神明帮助你吗？”


后来，他的父母都亡故了。直到李珏活到八十多岁，也没改变他的职业。李珏活到一百多岁，身体非常轻健。他忽然告诉子孙们说：“我活在世上多年，虽然我自己修养真气，对你们也没有好处。”一天晚上他就死了。三天之后，他的棺材有裂开的声音。一看，他的衣带没解，象蝉蜕一样， 身体已经飞升成仙去了。


耶稣认为富人修道难，中国自古认为生意人修道难。而李珏的成仙却告诉我们，一切都在人心，并不是不可能的。在任何层次做好了，都会有机会的。


原文：李珏，广陵江阳人也。世居城市，贩籴自业。而珏性端谨，异于常辈。年十五时，父适他行，以珏专贩事。人有籴者，与籴。珏即授以升斗，俾令自量。不计时之贵贱，一斗只求两文利，以资父母。岁月既深，衣食甚丰。父怪而问之。具以实对。父曰：“吾之所业，同流中无不用出入升斗，出轻入重，以规厚利。虽官司以春秋较榷，终莫断其弊。吾但以升斗出入皆用之，自以为无偏久矣。汝今更出入任之自量，吾不可及也。然衣食丰给，岂非神明之助耶！”后父母殁，及珏年八十余，不改其业。珏年百余岁，轻健异常。忽告子孙曰：“吾寄世多年，虽自养气，亦无益汝辈。”一夕而卒。三日棺裂声。视之，衣带不解，如蝉蜕，已尸解矣。（出《续仙传》有删减）