Long ago, there was a wealthy merchant family known for their cunning and deceit. The father had crafted a special scale filled with mercury, cleverly designed so that it would weigh heavier or lighter depending on his benefit. When selling goods, the scale tipped to his advantage, making the products appear lighter and the money larger. When buying, the scale worked the opposite way. Through this trickery, he always profited, and his wealth grew quickly. The family was blessed with two handsome and intelligent children who excelled in their studies, and people admired them as a household of great fortune.
One day, the parents decided that it was time to leave a legacy of virtue for their children. They agreed, “Now that we are wealthy and have two wise children, it is time to destroy the mercury scale and leave a legacy of virtue.” They held a solemn ceremony, offering prayers to Buddha and informing their ancestors, then carefully broke the scale. To their shock, they discovered a red clot of blood inside the scale. From that day on, they vowed to live righteously, avoiding wrongdoing and doing good deeds.
Tragedy struck a few years later. Their first child fell seriously ill and passed away, followed shortly by the second child. The parents were overwhelmed with grief, believing that their late attempt to correct their wrongs had gone unnoticed by Heaven. They mourned deeply, unable to focus on anything else.
One night, the couple had a shared dream. A divine figure appeared and said, “Do not blame Heaven. Your past deceit caused two evil spirits to be born as your children to punish the wealth gained through wrongdoing. Because you recognized your faults and turned toward virtue, Heaven has recalled the spirits. Stop mourning them and continue living righteously. Your good deeds will be rewarded, and you will have two more children who will bring honor and happiness.”
Inspired by the message, the parents devoted themselves to honest work and charity, cultivating virtue in their daily lives. True to the promise, they later had two more sons who were kind, virtuous, and talented, growing up to make their parents proud and bringing joy to their later years.
This story emphasizes the importance of honesty, virtue, and how ethical behavior can bring lasting blessings even after previous mistakes.