One day a college student was taking a walk with his teacher. As they went along, they saw a pair of old shoes lying in the path. There was a farmer working in the nearby field. The student turned to his
teacher, saying, "Let us play the farmer a trick (捉弄): we will hide his shoes, and hide ourselves behind the trees, and wait to see what he will do. "
"My young friend, "answered the teacher." We should never make fun of the poor. Why not put a coin in each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch?" The student did so and they both hid themselves behind the trees. The poor man soon finished his work, and came back. After putting on his coat, he put his foot into one of his shoes, and felt something hard. Then he bent down to feel what it was, and found a coin.
Surprised, he looked around, but no person was seen. He put it into his pocket, and then put on the other shoe. His surprise was doubled on finding another coin.
He couldn't control his feelings and fell to his knees, looked up to the sky and expressed his thanks. Then he spoke of his sick wife, his hungry children and the importance of the money to them.
The student stood there deeply moved, and his eyes were filled with tears.
'Now," said the teacher," Aren't you much better pleased than that if you hide the shoes?" The student replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget."
