Original text

Fan Yuanyan (yǎn), courtesy name Bogui (guī), was a native of Qiantang, Wu County. He was long-term (zhǎng) eager to learn, knowledgeable in classics and history, and versed in Buddhist teachings. However, since he is modest by nature, he will not be arrogant with his strengths. The family is poor, but their only occupation is garden vegetables. When he was traveling, he saw someone stealing his rice. Yuan Yan retreated suddenly. When my mother asked why, she answered truthfully. The mother asked who the thief was, and she replied: "I retreated because I was afraid of his shame. Now I will reveal his name, and I hope it will not be revealed." So the mother and son kept it secret. There may be people who crossed the ditch to steal the bamboo shoots. Yuan Yan cut down the trees and built a bridge to cross them. Naturally, the thieves were greatly ashamed, and no one could steal them again in the township.

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Fan Yuanyan, courtesy name Bogui, was a native of Qiantang, Wu County. When he was young, he liked to study, was knowledgeable in classics and history, and studied Buddhism intensively. Because of his humble temperament, he never looks down on others because of his own strengths. His family was poor and he only regarded gardening and fruit and vegetable gardening as his profession. Ever been out. Seeing someone stealing cabbage, Yuan Yan hurriedly retreated. (His) mother asked him why (he came back so soon), and (he) told her the actual situation in detail. The mother asked (him) who the thief was, and (he) replied: "The reason why I retreated earlier was because I was worried that he would be ashamed. Now I am telling him his name. I hope you won't tell others." So the mother and son made a plan for this. The matter is kept confidential. Someone crossed the ditch and stole his bamboo shoots, so Yuan Yan cut down the trees to make a bridge to make it easier for him to cross the ditch. Since this incident, the thieves were very ashamed, and no one in the entire village stole anything again.

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This ancient text is selected from "Southern History: Hermitage".