The novel is derived from the classical Chinese text "The Old Man of Han Dynasty" as the background of the story, and was completed by two people. During the Han Dynasty, there was a man who was old but had no children. The family is very rich, but he is stingy by nature. The food and clothing are poor, he gets up at dawn and goes to bed after dark; he runs the industry and is never satisfied with amassing money, and he is not willing to spend money. When someone begged him and he couldn't refuse, he would go to the house to get ten cents and walk out from the hall, deducting money as he went. When he walked out of the door, only half of the money was left. He closed his eyes distressedly and handed the money to the beggar. After a while, he repeatedly warned: "I gave you all the money at home. You must not tell others. Others will follow suit and come to ask me for money." The old man died soon after. His fields and houses were confiscated by the government, and his money was put into the national treasury.