A merchant traveled to Hebei, and suddenly hailstones began to fall from the sky. He took refuge among the young crops.

At that very moment, a voice echoed down from the air, "This is Zhang Buliang's land; do not damage his harvest."

The merchant mused to himself, "If this man is called 'Buliang' [Unmeasuring/Unprincipled], why is he favored by spirits?"

Shortly after, the hail ceased. The merchant made his way into the village to inquire. After much questioning, he finally understood the full story.

It turned out that there was a wealthy man named Zhang in that area, known for his deep benevolence. He possessed vast tracts of land. Every spring during the planting season, the poor villagers would come to him to borrow grain, and Zhang always obliged every request.

When it came time to repay the debt, he never bothered with exact measurements. If they gave more, he accepted more; if they gave less, he accepted less. He never used a measuring bushel, which is why he earned the nickname "Zhang Buliang," meaning he was 'Unmeasuring,' not 'Unprincipled.'

The villagers then went out to inspect the fields. They saw the ground littered with damaged and broken stalks, yet Zhang's fields remained completely untouched, perfectly intact.