Fan Li was a minister of the State of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period. He helped King Goujian of Yue defeat the State of Wu (described in the idiom story “Sleeping on Brushwood and Tasting Gall”). Later, he retired from politics and went into business, changed his name to Tao Zhu Gong and became a very wealthy man.
Tao Zhu Gong’s second son committed homicide in the State of Chu and was sentenced to death. Tao Zhu Gong wanted to save him, so he prepared a thousand taels of gold and planned to send his youngest son to the State of Chu to seek help from his friend, Zhuang Sheng.
However, when the eldest son heard this, he was indignant and said, “I am the eldest son in the family. Why am I not sent on such an important mission? Father must think I am useless.” With these words, he threatened to kill himself. Tao Zhu Gong’s wife also pleaded for the eldest son. Having no other choice, Tao Zhu Gong let the eldest son go.
Before leaving, Tao Zhu Gong wrote a letter to Zhuang Sheng and instructed his son, “When you arrive in Chu, give this letter and the gold to Zhuang Sheng. Then do whatever he says. Whatever you do, do not argue with him.”
The eldest son went to Chu and found Zhuang Sheng. Zhuang Sheng lived in a very humble, run-down home. Nevertheless, the eldest son followed his father’s instructions and handed over the letter and the gold. Zhuang Sheng said, “Leave Chu at once. Do not linger. When your brother is released, do not ask why.”
The eldest son left Zhuang Sheng’s house, but he felt uneasy and secretly stayed behind, finding a place to lodge. Although Zhuang Sheng was poor, he was very famous in Chu, and even the King of Chu respected him. Zhuang Sheng had accepted the gold, but he never intended to keep it; he only took it to show he would help. His plan was to return the gold to Tao Zhu Gong after he had succeeded.
Zhuang Sheng found an opportunity to see the King of Chu and said, “An ominous sign has appeared among the stars. It bodes ill for the State of Chu. Only a general amnesty can avert the disaster.” The King of Chu believed him and ordered preparations for a general amnesty.
When the eldest son heard the news of the impending amnesty, he thought to himself, “Since there is going to be a general amnesty, my brother will surely be released. Wouldn’t that mean the thousand taels of gold were given for nothing?” So he went back to Zhuang Sheng’s house. Zhuang Sheng was surprised to see him and asked, “You haven’t left yet?” The eldest son replied, “I never left. I heard that the King of Chu is about to grant a general amnesty, and my brother will be released. So I have come to say goodbye.” Zhuang Sheng understood immediately—he had come to take back the gold. He said, “The gold is inside the house. You may take it back yourself.” The eldest son happily took the gold and left.
Zhuang Sheng felt deeply humiliated that a young man had made a fool of him. So he went to see the King of Chu again and said, “Last time I spoke of the ominous star sign and advised Your Majesty to perform good deeds through an amnesty. But people outside are saying that it is because the son of Tao Zhu Gong has bribed officials that Your Majesty is granting the amnesty.” The King of Chu was furious upon hearing this , so he first ordered the execution of Tao Zhu Gong’s second son, and then announced the amnesty.
The eldest son brought his brother’s body home. The whole family wept bitterly except Tao Zhu Gong. He said, “I knew it would turn out like this. It’s not that the eldest son doesn’t love his brother. It’s that he was growing up we were poor. He knows how hard money comes by, so he is reluctant to part with it. The youngest son, on the other hand, grew up in wealth and comfort, and he does not worry about spending money. The reason I wanted to send the youngest son was precisely because he could let go of the gold. The eldest son, because he begrudged the gold, ended up causing his brother’s death. This was all fate. Do not weep anymore.”
From Records of the Grand Historian – House of Gou Jian, King of Yue
#10 陶朱公救子
范蠡是春秋时期越国的大臣，他帮助越王勾践打败了吴国 (见成语故事“卧薪尝胆”），后来就隐退做生意，改名陶朱公，成了大富翁。
陶朱公的第二个儿子在楚国犯了杀人罪，被判了死刑。陶朱公想救他，就准备了一千两黄金，打算派自己的小儿子去楚国找朋友庄生帮忙。
可是大儿子听了，很不服气，说：“我是家里的老大，这样重要的事为什么不派我去？父亲一定是觉得我没用。”说着就要自杀。陶朱公的妻子也帮着大儿子说话。陶朱公没办法，只好让大儿子去。
临走前，陶朱公写了一封信给庄生，并对大儿子说：“到了楚国，把这封信和金子都交给庄生，然后什么都听他的，千万不要和他争执。”
大儿子到了楚国，找到庄生。庄生住得很破旧，但大儿子还是按父亲说的，把信和金子都给了他。庄生说：“你赶快离开楚国，不要停留。等你弟弟放出来，也不要问为什么。”
大儿子离开了庄生家，但心里不放心，又偷偷留了下来，找了一个地方住着。庄生虽然穷，但在楚国很有名，连楚王都尊敬他。庄生收了金子，其实并不想真的拿，只是表示会帮忙。他打算事情办成后再还给陶朱公。
庄生找机会见楚王，说：“天上的星星出现了一种凶兆，对楚国不利，需要大赦天下才能消灾。”楚王相信了，就下令准备大赦。
大儿子听到楚王要大赦的消息，心想：既然要大赦，弟弟肯定会被放出来，那一千两黄金不就白给了吗？于是他又跑到庄生家。庄生见到他很惊讶，问：“你还没走吗？”大儿子说：“我本来就没走。听说楚王要大赦了，弟弟要出来了，所以来跟您告辞。”庄生听明白了，这是来要回金子的。他说：“金子就在屋里，你自己拿回去吧。”大儿子高兴地拿走了金子。
庄生觉得很丢脸，自己被一个年轻人耍了。于是他又去见楚王，说：“我上次说星象不好，要大王行善大赦。但外面有人说，是陶朱公的儿子买了人，大王是为了他才大赦的。”楚王一听很生气，于是先下令把陶朱公的二儿子杀了，然后才宣布大赦。
大儿子最后只能带着弟弟的尸体回家。家里人都哭得很伤心，只有陶朱公没有哭，他说：“我早就知道会是这样的。不是大儿子不爱弟弟，而是他从小跟着我吃苦，知道钱财来之不易，所以舍不得花钱。而小儿子从小生活富裕，花钱不在乎。我本来想让小儿子去，就是因为他能放下钱财。大儿子因为舍不得金子，最后害了弟弟。这都是命中注定的，不要哭了。”
出自《史记 越王勾践世家》