Story 1: In Fengyang, the hometown of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, there is still a ballad of four dishes and one soup: "It's the emperor's treat, and four dishes and one soup, radish and leek are really sweet; Westbank > When Zhu Yuanzhang gave the Queen a birthday party, he only used two bowls of carrots, leeks, green vegetables and onion tofu soup to entertain all the officials. Moreover, there are three chapters of the agreement: whoever holds a banquet in the future, only four dishes and one soup are allowed. If anyone violates it, hell to pay Zhu Yuanzhang is the king of a country, but he is the first to set an example and advocate a clean and honest style. * * * worked as an official for 4 years. During his tenure as an official, he always paid attention to frugality and often lived carefully. In 18, Su Shi was demoted to Huangzhou. Because his salary was greatly reduced, he was too poor to live. Later, with the help of his friends, he got a piece of land and cultivated it himself. In order not to spend a penny indiscriminately, he also implemented a planned expenditure: first calculate all the money. Each portion is divided into 3 small portions on average, and only a small portion is used every day. After all the money is paid, it is hung on the beam by portion, and a bag is taken down every morning as the living expenses for the whole day. After getting a small portion of money, he has to weigh carefully what he can not buy, only the surplus is allowed, and no overspending is allowed. Su Shi keeps the accumulated money in a bamboo tube for emergencies. It's a good idea.

Story 3: Zi Han was a wise minister of the Song State in the Spring and Autumn Period. A man in the Song State got a beautiful jade and presented it to Zi Han, who refused to accept it. The person who presented the jade said, "I have shown it to the jade worker, who thinks it is a treasure, so I dare to present it to you!" Zi Han said, "I regard greed as a treasure, and you regard beautiful jade as a treasure. If you give me jade, then both of us will lose our treasure."

The person who gave the jade kowtowed, and then said to Zi Han, "I have a treasure hidden in my arms. It's not safe to go anywhere, so I'd better give it to you. This will avoid being murdered for money." Then he sold it, gave the money to the jade giver, made him a rich man, and sent him home.

Story 4: Gong Yixiu likes to eat fish, and someone gave him fish, but he refused. The fish giver said, "I heard that you like fish, why don't you accept the fish I sent you?" Gong Yixiu said, "Because I like fish, I can't accept your fish! Now that I am a prime minister, I can afford to buy fish and eat it myself. If I am removed from my post as prime minister because I accepted the fish you sent me, I can't afford fish myself from now on. Will you send me fish again? In this way, can I eat fish again? Therefore, I can never accept the fish you sent me. "

Story 5

When the father and son were incorruptible

In the Three Kingdoms, Hu Zhi was the governor of the state of Wei for nearly three years. After his death, his family had no money left, only clothes and boxes of books given by the court. Everyone praised his integrity. When Hu Zhi was the secretariat of Jingzhou, his family members were all in Kyoto. Once his son Hu Wei went to his residence. Hu Zhi said, "My son doesn't have to doubt that this silk is the rest of my salary." Hu Wei thanked his father's reward and rode on the road. Along the way, he put the donkey and cut wood for cooking.

Later, Hu Wei was also an official secretariat, with outstanding achievements. After entering Jin Dynasty, Jin Wudi met him. Jin Wudi talked about Hu Zhi's life story and praised him. Hu Wei replied, "Not as good as my father." Emperor Wu of Jin asked, "Why?" Hu Wei said, "My father is clean for fear that others will know, and I am clean for fear that others will not know, so I am far from my father."