Zhu Yunming skillfully interprets the four punctuation marks in a couplet and replaces them with ten taels of silver in the pattern of a wealthy man

Zhu Yunming and Tang Bohu were both famous literati in the Ming Dynasty. One was skilled in writing and the other was skilled in painting. They were like siblings and shared the same aspirations. One New Year’s Eve, they went to Hangzhou to visit friends and met an old man and a young man on the street, squatting at the foot of the wall crying. Upon approaching and inquiring, it was discovered that this elderly man and young man were grandparents who, due to a disaster in their hometown, went to the city to beg. While passing by the gate of the Qiang family, they accidentally knocked over their offerings and were brutally beaten. This person with the surname Qiang is the owner of a silk and cloth shop, wealthy and powerful, often living in the same hometown and being hated by people. After thinking for a moment, Zhu Yunming whispered in Tang Bohu’s ear for a while, then explained a few words to the old man and went to his friend’s house.
There used to be an old custom in Hangzhou during the Spring Festival. On New Year’s Eve, only two large red strips of paper were pasted on the couplets, and on the fifth day of the lunar new year, they were re written. On the morning of the first day of the Chinese New Year, when Mr. Qiang opened the door, he was suddenly stunned. I saw a pair of couplets written on the red paper at the entrance: “This house is safe to live in, and the person is not sad.” Below it was the signature “Wishing Zhishan a Book Gift. Boss Qiang was both angry and resentful. He took off the Spring Festival couplets and headed straight to Xiangyun Teahouse on the front street for everyone to evaluate. Tea drinkers also find this a bit unbelievable. During the Chinese New Year, they not only curse but also leave their names saying it was a “book gift”. At this moment, a scholar stepped into the door and walked up to Boss Qiang, bowing his hand and saying, “I’m really sorry, I’m Zhu Yunming, I’m late.” Boss Qiang heard that the person coming was Zhu Yunming and angrily questioned, “I have no grudges against you, why do you slander me?” However, Boss Qiang smiled and asked back, “This couplet has good intentions, how can you say malicious slander?” Boss Qiang was even more furious when he heard this: “Hmph! If you can say a good word, I’m willing to give you ten taels of silver!” Zhu Yunming said, “You can’t joke!” Boss Qiang replied, A gentleman’s words are hard to catch up with, four horses cannot be chased back
Zhu Yunming calmly spread out the Spring Festival couplets on the tea table and circled four punctuation marks on them with a pen. He loudly read them out: “This house is safe and livable; the person is good and not sad.” After listening, the tea guests praised Zhu Yunming’s writing repeatedly. Finally, Boss Qiang had to take out ten taels of silver from his pocket and hand it to Zhu Yunming in front of everyone.
Afterwards, Zhu Yunming handed ten taels of silver to his grandparents who were bullied by the strong family, and the old man was moved to tears.