Scholar Li Yuesheng was the second son of Master Li Ruweng. Master Li was exceptionally wealthy, possessing countless amounts of gold, which he stored in large water vats—eight vats in total—leading the townsfolk to call him "Li Eight-Vats." Not long after, Master Li fell gravely ill. On his deathbed, he distributed his estate; the elder brother received eighty percent, leaving Li Yuesheng with only twenty percent, much to his displeasure.

Master Li said, "I am not showing favoritism. There is much more hidden gold in the estate, but you will only receive it when the 'time of few people' arrives. Do not rush." Days later, Master Li was near death. Li Yuesheng worried that once his father passed, no one would know the location of the remaining gold. Seeing the quiet surroundings, he thought, Didn't Father mention telling me the gold's whereabouts at the 'time of few people'? Now is a perfect opportunity.

With this thought, he immediately sought to probe his father's mind. Master Li replied, "A person's joys and sorrows are predetermined. Your wife is virtuous, and you are currently enjoying the blessings of marriage; I cannot give you more gold now, or it will only add to my sins." Li Yuesheng would not listen and begged repeatedly. Master Li grew angry, "You still have twenty years of hardship yet to endure. Even if I gifted you a thousand pieces of gold, they would vanish instantly. Do not expect my help until you are utterly destitute." Li Yuesheng was naturally filial; seeing his father enraged, he dared not press further.

Soon after, Master Li passed away from his illness. Fortunately, his elder brother was virtuous and took on the entire burden of the funeral and burial arrangements, holding no grudges against his younger sibling. Li Yuesheng was naive and carefree, indifferent to gain or loss; he loved drinking and hosting feasts, spending his days entertaining, neglecting all production. Village rascals, seeing his weakness, often came to freeload.

Years flew by, and the Li family's fortunes declined. During his destitution, Li Yuesheng relied entirely on his brother's assistance. Before long, his brother died of old age, and Li Yuesheng lost his support. His household soon lacked food, surviving solely on loans—borrowing in spring and repaying in autumn—leaving him utterly down and out. A few more years passed, his wife abandoned him, and his eldest son died tragically; the family was severely diminished.

Li Yuesheng was consumed by grief. Later, he married a woman named Xu, who was originally the wife of a sheep seller. Her character was fierce, and after marrying, she subjected her husband to constant humiliation. Li Yuesheng suffered in silence, and under Xu's coercion, he gradually cut off ties with relatives and friends.

That night, Li Yuesheng dreamt of his father, who told him, "The plight you now face is truly reaching rock bottom. I promised you gold before; now I fulfill that vow." Li Yuesheng asked, "Where is the gold?" His father replied, "I will give it to you tomorrow." With that, he vanished.

Li Yuesheng woke with a start, offering a bitter laugh, "I must be crazy with poverty. Father has been dead for many years; how can I expect him to give me gold?" The next day, Li Yuesheng was digging earth to repair a wall when he unearthed a massive hoard of gold from underground. Only then did he realize: "The so-called 'time of few people' referred to the majority of the household passing away, not literally 'fewer people.'"