| In the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), there lived
a man called Chen Shi, who had been the head of a county.
He was admired and respected by people for his fine morality
and good reputation. He was ready to be promoted, instead
he retired for some political reasons and lived in his
hometown since then.
One year, turmoil and war took place because of a terrible
famine. Robberies and thieves were rampant in that area.
One night a thief got into the house of Chen Shi through
one of the windows. The thief was about start his deal
when Chen Shi got up to relieve himself. So the thief
hid himself on the beam immediately. Chen Shi had noticed
the thief but he pretended to know nothing about him.
After he tied the belt around his waist, instead of
calling the thief down, he called his sons up and then
spoke out to them, "Listen!" the father declared,
"As a man, one should act straightly and firmly.
He should do good deeds all his life. And I don't think
those who serve the devils have an instinct for evil."
The address made by the father in the middle of the
night puzzled the sons. They didn't know what on earth
had happened. And then the father raised his voice and
continued, "You must remember that one can be short
of property, however, he must stand on his dignity."
The father hinted for his sons what he said was all
aimed to the man on the beam.
The thief felt very sorry and shamed for what he did.
So he began to weep on the beam. Later, he climbed down
and knelt before Chen Shi, "I'm terribly sorry,
but that is all because of the famine and the war."
At last Chen Shi forgave him, gave him some cloth, and
let him go.
Though the thief in the story was a little commiserated
with, yet he was regarded as a thief admittedly. Since
then such a person has got another name, that is, THE
GENTLEMAN ON THE BEAM.
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