Throughout history, tales of human kindness and devotion often emerge from the most difficult circumstances. In times of illness, poverty, or misfortune, the actions of a single compassionate person can change the course of a life — and sometimes even unite two hearts through extraordinary trials. The stories that follow illustrate how hardship, chance, and virtue intertwine to create profound bonds between individuals.
Saved by silver and oil
During the Qing Dynasty, a prefecture (administrative region) in Guangdong had many young women afflicted with leprosy. These women believed they could cure themselves only by infecting a man with the disease — a practice known as “passing the leprosy.” Yet some felt too ashamed to approach men, while others were shunned out of fear. Thus, many afflicted women would ambush travelers in the wilderness at night, offering silver to those who resisted.
One woman afflicted with the disease was sent by her mother to wait by the roadside at night, silver in hand. As dawn approached, she saw a man coming down the road and asked where he was headed. He replied, “My parents died when I was young, leaving me alone and helpless. I am now seeking loans from relatives and friends in order to survive.”
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