Rocks On Trial
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An official was in charge of transporting a large amount of silver which was placed in several wooden chests carried by a mule. When he arrived at the destination, the official discovered two hundred ounces of silver were missing from a chest. In its place, there was a rock. The mule-driver was arrested and the case was reported to Magistrate Peng.
Magistrate Peng examined the rock. It did not resemble those found on the roadside because it had an insects’ nest inside.
Weighing it in his hand, he asked the mule-driver, “The rock is lighter than the missing silver. But the weight on the mule’s back must be balanced on both sides for the animal to walk straight. Did you notice when the load on the mule’s back was tilting to one side?”
“I did. The load was somehow tilted to the right side after we had left the inn where we stayed for the night. I remember having to readjust the balance on the mule’s back.”
Magistrate Peng decided to visit the inn himself. On his way he picked up a dozen rocks which looked similar to but not of the same type as the one found in the money chest.
When he arrived at the inn, he walked around the place and found some rocks that looked exactly the same as the one found in the money chest. He summoned the innkeeper and showed him the rocks he had collected on the roadside.
“Are they the same rocks as the one found in the money chest?”
“No, they are not,” said the innkeeper.
Then Magistrate Peng showed him the rocks found in the back of his inn.
“What about these?”
“Yes, they are of the same type.”
“Well, I found them behind the inn.”
The innkeeper was thrown into terror. It turned out that he and an assistant to the official had colluded to steal the silver.
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Wise Proverbs
- A good beginning is half done.
- 良好的开端是成功的一半。
- A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
- 不善始者不善终。
- Wise man have their mouths in their hearts, fools have their hearts in their mouths.
- 智者嘴在心里，愚者心在嘴里。
Editor Says:
It is half the battle when you know where to start your investigation.