There is a story about Yan Shu (991 – 1055 AD) in The Dream Pool Essays. When Yan Shu was young, he was recommended to the imperial court by Zhang Zhibai, a prominent person. The emperor summoned Yan to the imperial court while the national-level imperial exam was taking place, and ordered Yan to take the exam right away. Upon seeing the topic in the exam, Yan Shu said, "Your majesty, I used this topic for a poem ten days ago. I still have the rough draft with me. I beg for a new topic." The emperor appreciated his candidness.
 
While Yan Shu served as a government official, the country was at peace, so all officials were allowed to indulge in entertainment. All restaurants and taverns were equipped with special areas blocked off with heavy curtains, where officials could enjoy themselves. At this period of time, Yan Shu was very poor, financially unable to go out for entertainment. Instead, he stayed home and studied with his brothers. One day when the imperial court was selecting an official for the East Palace where the crown prince resided, a rumor came out of the royal palace that the appointment of Yan Shu had been approved by the emperor, and the administrative ministers couldn’t understand why. On the following day when the ministers presented themselves in the royal court, the emperor explained, "Lately, from what I heard, all ministers have been having a lot of fun except for Yan Shu, who stays home studying with his brothers. Such a prudent, cautious person is well qualified to be the official at the East Palace."
 
After his official appointment, Yan Shu was granted permission to see the emperor, where he was told the reason for his appointment. With his honest and straightforward habit of talking, Yan Shu replied, "Your majesty, it isn't that I don't like entertainment; it is just that I don't have the money to pursue it." The emperor further appreciated Yan Shu, for he knew that Yan Shu would be faithful and serve with honesty. When Emperor Renzong (1010 – 1063 AD) was on the throne, Yan Shu was finally promoted to an important position.
 
Because of his sincerity and faithfulness, Yan Shu was promoted repeatedly to important positions during the Northern Song Dynasty and became a very wealthy man. This is a phenomenon that most people in China today would find difficult to believe.
 
In traditional Chinese culture, people who are faithful and sincere are noble and respected.
 
Confucius said, "People without sincerity and faithfulness cannot progress nor make a mark in the world."
 
In the book Daxue (The Great Learning), there are phrases like: "Sincerity, righteous mind, cultivate the body, regulate the family, rule the state, and pacify the world."
 
In the book Zhong Yong (The Doctrine of the Mean) there is a phrase: "A man of noble character believes sincerity is most important."
 
The scholar Zhuxi wrote: "Sincerity is the basis of the five moral standards as well as the foundation of all business."
 
真诚的晏殊
 
《梦溪笔谈》中记载这样一则故事：晏殊还是少年的时候，张知白将他推荐给朝廷，皇上把他召至殿堂上，恰逢进士殿试，便令晏殊跟著考试。晏殊一见试题就说：“臣十日前已用此题目作过赋，赋的草稿都还在，乞请另外命题。”皇上喜欢他的坦白。


等到晏殊在馆阁任职时，正天下太平，朝廷允许官员们挑选好的地方宴饮取乐。当时在馆阁任职的士大夫纷纷聚会作乐，以致集市里的楼阁酒馆，往往都设置帷帐，成了士大夫游乐休息之所。晏殊这时很贫穷，没能力外出游乐，独自呆在家里和兄弟们研习学问。一天朝廷选东宫（太子所住的地方）官员，忽然从宫中传出皇上的批示任命晏殊，执政大臣不明白其中的缘由。第二天执政大臣觐见复核，皇上向他们解释说：“近来听说馆阁里的官员无不寻欢作乐，夜以继日，唯有晏殊闭门与兄弟读书。晏殊如此谨慎厚重，正可以担任东宫官。”
 
晏殊被任命后，得以入宫面见皇上，皇上当面告诉他任命他的原因。晏殊说话耿直，他回答说：“臣不是不喜欢游乐，只因为贫困没有游乐的本钱。臣如果有钱，也会去游乐，只因为没钱，没法去罢了。”皇上更加欣赏他的诚实，懂得侍奉君主识大体，对他的恩宠日益深厚。仁宗朝的时候，晏殊终于获得了重用。
 
因为诚实，而被皇上重用、加官晋爵、大富大贵。这让现在的中国人看来，只能当一则故事听听而已。
 
其实中华民族是本不乏“诚信”的传统的，在中国的传统文化中，诚实守信是为人们所尊崇的，是高贵的。
 
孔子曰：“自古皆有死，民无信则不立。”
 
《大学》中有：“诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下。”
 
《中庸》则言：“君子诚之为贵。”
 
朱熹也告诉我们：“诚，五常之本，百行之源也。”