一飯千金 (Yī fàn qiān jīn)
A meal in return for one thousand taels of gold
From link.
Source: Western Han – Sima Qian – “Records of the Grand Historian – Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin“: “Xin was fishing outside the city wall, among the many middle-aged women washing clothes nearby there was one who saw that he was hungry and [thus] fed him, then she also washed his clothes [for him] over multiple days.” Also: “When Xin arrived at the city, to the woman who washed his clothes [and gave him food], he rewarded her with one thousand taels of gold”.
Story: Han Xin, a famous general who helped founded the Han Dynasty, had a very difficult life when he was young, and often had nothing to eat. In order to fill his stomach, he had to fish in the river outside the city. When luck was on his side, he could catch a few fish to help him make a living. Unfortunately, such good luck was rare and he often had to go hungry.
By the river where he was fishing there were many women busy washing clothes, among them was an old lady who saw that Han Xin was near being starved to death and greatly felt sorry for him, so much so that she gave him some of her own food. Afterwards, she continued to assist Han Xin.
Han Xin was very grateful to her and said: “When I make it big in the future, I will surely repay you for your kindness!” When the old lady heard this, she became very angry: “You are a man, yet you don’t work hard to improve yourself. You are unable to support yourself and here you keep on talking about repaying my kindness! I did not do this for your future reward!”
Han Xin felt ashamed upon hearing this and stopped loitering around like he did in the past. Later, Han Xin joined Liu Bang‘s rebel army, contributed many meritorious services and was made the King of Qi.
When he was sitting in his palace enjoying the fine clothes and good food [that his newfound fortune brought him], he could not help but remember the kindness shown to him by the old lady, so he ordered his men to bring her wine and food, and even gave her a thousand taels of gold to thank her [for what she did].
—– VOCABULARY —–
遷, 迁 qiān – to move; to shift; to change (a position or location etc); to promote [[thiên: dời, chuyển; đổi quan; biến đổi]]
釣, 钓 diào – to fish with a hook and bait [[điếu: câu cá, câu; dùng mánh lới, cách quỷ quyệt để lấy được]]
漂 piāo – to float, to drift [[phiêu: nổi, trôi, lềnh bềnh; thổi, thông “phiêu” 飄; đánh, đập, kích; vay, mượn, mua chịu; tiêu tan hi vọng, sắp sửa thành công đột nhiên thất bại]]
piǎo – to bleach [[phiếu: tẩy]]
piào – elegant; polished [[phiếu: đập sợi ở trong nước (giã vải), giặt, rửa; đãi, lọc]]
饑, 饥 jī – [[cơ: năm mất mùa, năm đói kém; đói]]
鍋 guō – pot; pan; boiler [[oa: bầu dầu (bầu đựng dầu mỡ trong xe cho trục xe chạy trơn; điếu, tẩu; nồi, xanh, chảo, xoong]]
填 tián – to fill or stuff; (of a form etc) to fill in [[điền: lấp đầy; dồn ứ, chứa đầy; viết thêm vào (trên đơn từ); tiếng trống thùng thùng]]
飽, 饱 bǎo – to eat till full; satisfied [[bão: làm cho đầy; no, no đủ; nhiều, rộng; sự no đủ]]
肚 dǔ – tripe [[đỗ: bụng, dạ dày; bụng dạ, tấm lòng; “đỗ tử” 肚子: (1) Bụng. (2) Phần phình lên của một vật gì, như cái bụng]]
dù – belly
清洗 qīng xǐ – to wash; to clean; to purge
洗 xǐ – to wash; to bathe; to develop (photo) [[tẩy: giặt, rửa; làm trong sạch; giết sạch, cướp sạch; cái chậu rửa mặt]]
棉絮 mián xù – cotton wadding
棉 mián – generic term for cotton or kapok; cotton; padded or quilted with cotton [[miên: cây bông, cây gạo hoặc cây gạo rừng]]
絮 xù – cotton wadding; fig. padding; long-winded [[nhứ: tơ kén, loại tinh gọi là “miên” 綿, loại thô gọi là “nhứ” 絮; bông gòn; bông tơ mềm nhẹ của thực vật, bay bốc ra được; nhồi bông gòn, đệm bông gòn; nhai nhải; chán, ngán]]
忙碌 máng lù – busy; bustling [[bận rộn, hối hả, vội vàng]]
碌 lù – laborious; small stone; to record; to tape; to write down; to hire; to employ [[lục: đá nhỏ nhiều; bận rộn, bận bịu]]
可怜 kě lián – pitiful; pathetic; to have pity on [[đáng thương]]
憐, 怜 lián – to pity [[liên: thương, thương tình; yêu, tiếc]]
勤奋 qín fèn – hardworking; diligent
勤 qín – diligent; industrious; hardworking; frequent; regular; constant [[cần: bắt làm việc hình dịch; siêng năng làm, chăm chỉ làm; cứu giúp; thường xuyên; hết lòng, hết sức; việc làm, công tác; việc nhọc nhằn, vất vả; thành khẩn, chu đáo]]
僅, 堇 jǐn – barely; only; merely [[cận: nừng, ít; chỉ có, chẳng qua; gần, gần như]]
奮, 奋 fèn – to exert oneself (bound form) [[phấn: chim dang cánh bắt đầu bay; gắng sức lên; giơ lên; chấn động, rung động; dũng mãnh tiến tới, không sợ chết]]
混 hún – confused; dirty; to mix; muddy [[hỗn: thế nước lớn; đục, ô trọc, không trong sạch; trộn; giả mạo, lừa gạt, làm gian dối; làm cẩu thả, làm bừa bãi; lộn xộn, lung tung; cổn: cuồn cuộn]]
hùn – to mix; to mingle; muddled; to drift along; to muddle along; to pass for; to get along with sb; thoughtless; reckless