A certain man came from a prominent family and possessed considerable wealth, yet his character was vile, and he frequently engaged in wickedness.

His wife urged him toward virtue, but the man paid no heed.

In the village lived a sorcerer who could divine the span of a person's life.

The man visited the sorcerer and inquired, "How much longer do I have to live?" The sorcerer replied, "Sir, upon consuming twenty shi of rice, or forty shi of flour, your life will end."

The man thought to himself, "I consume at most two shi of flour annually, which means I have at least twenty years left."

From that day forward, he became even more unrestrained, committing every manner of evil deed.

Not long after, the man was suddenly afflicted with a strange malady. His appetite became voracious, like that of an ox; he consumed ten catties of rice daily, yet remained hungry, and the more he ate, the more he craved. After seven or eight months of this, he died.