Cha Yihuang was a native of Zhejiang. Around the time of the Qingming Festival, he was passing by a temple and decided to step inside for a look around. Inside the main hall, he noticed a colossal bronze bell, weighing no less than a thousand jin. Streaks of fresh claw marks scored its surface, clearly showing distinct handprints. Cha Yihuang frowned in suspicion: "Who possesses such divine power as to etch their prints into solid iron?" He glanced downward and spotted a large bamboo basket inside the bell, several feet in diameter, with a capacity of eight sheng—its purpose entirely unknown to him.

Driven by curiosity, Cha Yihuang immediately ordered his retainers, "Lift this great bell and let's examine what's inside!"

Seven or eight servants rushed forward, throwing their combined weight into the effort, heaving upward. It was like a dragonfly attempting to move a stone pillar; the massive bell did not budge an inch. Cha Yihuang grew even more astonished. He promptly sat down on the floor, poured himself some wine, and settled in to await the temple's master.

Before long, a beggar ambled into the temple, holding a broken bowl brimming with a full serving of rice. The beggar extended his left hand, grasped the bell's loop, and gave it a slight lift. The colossal bell rose several feet off the ground. The beggar offered a faint smile, carefully poured the rice from his bowl into the bamboo basket, gave no one in the crowd a second glance, gently set the bell back down, and turned to leave.

This routine was repeated four times. The rice in the basket steadily piled up. The beggar then rolled up his sleeves, lifted the great bell with his left hand, and reached his right hand into the basket, scooping up handfuls of rice to devour greedily. In moments, the rice was gone. He wiped his lips, let out a resounding burp, and stood content. Witnessing such prodigious strength coupled with an enormous appetite, Cha Yihuang asked, "Sir, you are clearly a man of great capability; why then do you resort to begging?"

The beggar chuckled, "My appetite is like that of an ox; I eat too much, and no one dares hire me." Cha Yihuang persuaded him, "With such gifts, why not join the army?" The beggar sighed, "Alas, I have no connections." Cha Yihuang assured him, "Worry not about that; I shall find a way." He immediately invited the beggar to his home, had new clothes and shoes procured for him, and treated him with the utmost hospitality.

The beggar possessed a remarkable appetite, consuming five or six times the amount of an ordinary man. After several days, Cha Yihuang presented the beggar with fifty liang of gold. "I have already arranged your enlistment," he explained. "As we must part soon, I bid you farewell now." The beggar offered no thanks, merely accepted the silver, and departed on his own accord.

After that, there was no news of him; ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

More than a decade later, Cha Yihuang’s nephew took up a post in Fujian, rising to the rank of County Magistrate. One day, a General named Wu Liuyi called upon him. After exchanging pleasantries, they conversed warmly, and Wu Liuyi casually inquired, "Magistrate, what is your relationship with Mr. Cha Yihuang?" The nephew replied, "Mr. Cha is my uncle. Does the General know him?"

Wu Liuyi responded, "He is my esteemed mentor. We have been separated for over ten years, and I often think of him. Would you be so kind as to pass along a message, asking Mr. Cha to visit my residence for a chat?" The nephew gave a noncommittal reply, thinking to himself, My uncle is a renowned scholar; how could his disciple be a mere soldier?

Coincidentally, Cha Yihuang happened to be passing through Fujian on other business when his nephew relayed the entire story. Upon hearing it, Cha Yihuang's face registered sheer confusion. He pondered for a long time but could recall no one named Wu Liuyi. Nevertheless, seeing the General’s intense fervor, he was pleased and immediately prepared his finest mount to pay a visit to the Wu residence.

Upon receiving the calling card, Wu Liuyi personally went out to greet him. Cha Yihuang scrutinized the man before him intently; he did not recognize the face and had no recollection of him, thinking, The General must have mistaken me for someone else.

Wu Liuyi was excessively deferential, courteously ushering Cha Yihuang into his home. After passing through three or four courtyards, Cha Yihuang suddenly noticed women moving about the inner chambers. Realizing these must be the General’s female relatives, and deeming it improper for a man to proceed, he halted. Wu Liuyi bowed repeatedly, urging him, "Sir, you are no stranger here. Please, come in, come in."

Entering the main hall, Cha Yihuang found his vision blurred by the sheer number of young maids: some were drawing curtains, some carrying chairs, pouring tea, and dispensing wine—all of them uniformly young women. He blinked to clear his sight and sat down in a chair with scholarly decorum. Just as he prepared to inquire about Wu Liuyi’s background, the General gave a soft cough and clapped his hands a few times. A maid approached holding an official uniform and placed it respectfully upon the table.

Wu Liuyi donned the robes. The maids clustered around him, fastening his buttons and securing his belt, attending to him with meticulous care. Wu Liuyi fixed his gaze upon Cha Yihuang and said simply, "Pardon me." As the words concluded, two maids leaped forward, each grabbing one of Cha Yihuang's arms, rendering him immobile.

Wu Liuyi stood erect, facing Mr. Cha, and then bent his knees, falling to the ground in a deep bow, performing the ritual as if a vassal paying homage to an Emperor, his demeanor profoundly respectful. Cha Yihuang was utterly dumbfounded, grasping nothing of the reason. Once the homage was completed, Wu Liuyi changed back into his casual attire and smiled, saying, "Sir, do you not remember the beggar from the temple in days past?" A sudden flash of understanding illuminated Cha Yihuang’s mind; the realization struck him instantly.

Following this, a banquet was laid out, and drums and music filled the hall. After the meal, Wu Liuyi arranged lodging for Cha Yihuang and instructed several of his concubines to "attend to the esteemed sir properly." With a respectful bow, he took his leave.

The next day, Cha Yihuang, still heavy with drink, slept late. Wu Liuyi sent greetings to his door three times consecutively. Aware of this, Cha Yihuang grew deeply unsettled and prepared to take his leave and return home. Wu Liuyi smiled, refused consent, took the key, and firmly locked the main gate, preventing Mr. Cha from departing.

With no recourse, Cha Yihuang resided at the Wu estate as a guest. Every day, he watched Wu Liuyi meticulously inventorying his assets: servants, mules and horses, clothing, utensils, houses, and land—each item being logged and recorded. Cha Yihuang reasoned, This is the General’s private business; there is no need to inquire further.

One day, Wu Liuyi approached Cha Yihuang holding an account book and stated, "It is entirely due to your support that I have achieved what I have today. The household property, every maid and every possession, I dare not claim alone; I wish to divide it equally with you." Cha Yihuang protested, "Absolutely not, this cannot be done under any circumstances," and refused to accept.

Wu Liuyi would not listen. He produced ten thousand liang of gold, divided it precisely in half, and forcefully gifted one portion to Mr. Cha. The family antiques, jade carvings, silks, and brocades, along with the male and female servants—all were divided equally with Mr. Cha. The servants packed their belongings, loaded the wealth onto carriages, and invited Cha Yihuang to board. The whole party then mounted their horses and galloped merrily back to Zhejiang.

Later, when Cha Yihuang was implicated and imprisoned due to the Ming History case, Wu Liuyi exerted himself both financially and practically, smoothing matters with the authorities until Cha Yihuang was finally released without guilt.

(Wu Liuyi is the same person as Wu Liuqi in The Deer and the Cauldron.)