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During the late Qing period, near Bijiashan in Yiyang, there was a couple, both of whom were talented in literature. However, due to their impoverished circumstances, they struggled daily to make ends meet.
On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, the wife, well-versed in poetry, was deeply moved by their family’s hardships and composed a seven-character quatrain:
- Shamed of my ill fate meet a husband poor ,
- Tomorrow's festival brings us rural.
- The festival is best spent in emptiness,
- Boiling plain water with wild veggis.
Seeing his wife’s poem, the husband felt both ashamed and determined to cheer her up. So, on the night before the Dragon Boat Festival, he sneaked out and stole a cow from near Bijiashan, intending to sell it the next day to buy festival supplies and give his wife a proper celebration.
Unexpectedly, when he brought the cow to the market, he was caught by the owner, who reported him to the county court, and he faced imprisonment.
Upon hearing the news, the wife rushed to the county court, beating the drum to plead for justice. She explained that her husband was emulating the cowherd star in the sky and had no intention of stealing. If anyone was to blame, it should be her for writing the poem, and she was willing to take the responsibility.
The county magistrate, an upright official who appreciated talent, was intrigued by the story and the wife’s literary skills. He wanted to test her talent further.
Pointing to three items on the desk—ink water, an inkstone, and a chess set—he asked the wife to compose three poems on the spot, each containing the word "cow". The wife, eager to save her husband, gladly accepted and immediately began to compose.
1. The first item was 'water':
- The river flows relentlessly east,
- Unable to wash away my husband’s shameful deed.
- I deeply regret not being the weaving girl,
- Why must my good man emulate the cowherd?
2. The second item was 'inkstone':
- A mere stone from the common folk,
- Carved by craftsmen to serve nobles.
- A slight move brings lightning clouds,
- Flashes of brilliance like brave cow.
3. The third item was 'chess set':
- Two countries at war endless strife,
- Soldiers cross river, the water stucked.
- Chariots, horses, cannons, and elephants
- Not a single cow, amen.
The magistrate, impressed by her talent, ordered the release of her husband and appointed him to work in the court. This story illustrates that behind every successful man is a wise woman. A virtuous woman can turn misfortune into fortune, and it also emphasizes the power of knowledge to change everything.
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前清時期，益陽筆架山附近有對夫妻，男女皆有文才。只因家境貧窮，時日都揭不開鍋地過著貧困日子。
是日，為逢端午節的前日。飽讀詩書的妻子，對家庭的困境感慨動情，隨即吟成七絕一首:
自慚薄命遇窮夫，
明日端陽樣樣無。
佳節只宜虛度過，
寥將白水煮蒼莆。
丈夫看到妻子的詩，既感慚愧對不起妻子，又覺得自己應該想辦法讓妻子高興。於是在端午節前夜，丈夫一人悄悄出門，在筆架山附近偷回來了一頭牛，準備明日賣了換些節貨，好好讓妻子過一次真正的端午節。
誰都沒想到，當丈夫把牛牽到市場交易時，竟被失主逮了個正著，錢沒換到，人卻被告到了縣衙，還要面臨牢獄之災。
妻子聞訊，隨即趕往縣衙大堂，擂鼓鳴冤，說她夫君是在學天上的牽牛星牽牛，根本沒有偷牛的意思，如果丈夫有責任，也是因為自己寫詩的原因，責任應由自己承擔，不能怪罪丈夫。
縣令是個惜才的清官，聽到妻子誦詩招至丈夫違法的趣事，非常感興趣，覺得面前這位女子才華不錯，並有意放過她丈夫。故還想當面試試女子的才氣。
縣令指著案頭三樣物品磨墨的水，硯台和一副象棋，讓女子即興作詩三首。要求毎首詩中都必須有一個"牛"字。 女子聽完縣令的話，就能憑自己的才氣搭救丈夫，心中甚是高興。 女子不加思索，張口即來。
㈠ 第一件物品是『水』:
滔滔河水向東流，
難洗夫君滿面羞。
深恨妾身非織女，
良人何必仿牽牛！
㈡ 第二件物品是『硯台』:
本是民間一石頭，
匠人雕刻伴公侯。
輕輕一動烏雲起，
文光電閃射鬥牛。
㈢ 第三件物品是『象棋』:
兩國相爭誓不休，
兵卒過河水無流。
車馬炮象般般有，
唯獨缺少一頭牛。
縣令看了，拍案叫絕，真乃閨中才女！ 當即吩咐衙役放了她丈夫，並讓她丈夫即日進衙門當差。 此故事不僅讓人感覺到成功的男人背後都有位賢淑的女人。 賢良的女人最能善解人意，逢凶化吉。 更讓人們懂得知識的力量可以改變一切。
此文很好，值得一讀。 請和你們的好朋友分享！
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