One day, a businessman (商人) lost a bag. There were one thousand coins (硬币) in it. He told everyone that he would give one hundred coins to anyone giving back the money.
Later, a farmer1 the bag and he went to give it back to the businessman. The businessman was2 to find that all one thousand coins were still in the bag. However, he was also3 that he had to give some of his money away. He wondered how he could get out of his4 and still appear to be fair.
At last, the businessman got an idea. "I thank you for5 my money," he said. "I noticed that you already6 your reward (报酬), for there are only nine hundred coins in the bag. "
The farmer shouted, "But I did not even7 the bag before I gave it to you!"
"I hope you enjoy your reward," the businessman said. "Thank you again and goodbye. "He8 left.
The farmer was9 and told his sad story to the prince. The prince asked the businessman to meet him with the bag of money. It had only nine hundred coins in it now.
The prince took the money bag and said, "If your bag had one thousand coins and this bag has only nine hundred, then how do you10 this is your bag?" The businessman had trouble speaking.
