Lou Shide, a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, later earned the admiration of Empress Wu Zetian, who appointed him as a chancellor at the age of sixty-three. Known for his extraordinary magnanimity in dealing with people, he won her deep trust.
When Lou Shide's younger brother was promoted by Empress Wu Zetian to serve as the governor of Daizhou, he came to bid farewell before his departure. Lou Shide asked him, "I have been granted imperial favor beyond my merits, and now you are also receiving high office. This is bound to invite jealousy. How will you protect yourself?" His brother knelt and replied, "Even if someone spits in my face, I will simply wipe it off and not argue. Rest assured, brother." Lou Shide sighed and said, "That is exactly what worries me! If someone spits on you, it means they are angry. Wiping it off only defies their will and provokes them further. Let the spit dry on its own—accept it with a smile." This story from the Tang Dynasty illustrates the wisdom of forbearance and humility in the face of conflict.
Lou Shide said, "You and I have both received the emperor's favor and generous treatment. This easily invites jealousy from others, who will surely seek out our faults to attack us. If you encounter someone deliberately finding fault with you, how would you deal with them?"
His younger brother thought for a moment and replied, "If someone spits on my face, I won't argue with him—I'll just wipe it off and let it go."
"Unexpectedly, Lou Shide replied, 'Since someone spat on your face, it shows they hold a grudge against you. If you wipe the spit away, it will only deepen their resentment. So, you should let the saliva dry on its own and bear it with a smile. Only then will their anger subside.'"
Later, the idiom "Let Spit Dry on Your Face" came to describe enduring humiliation with patience, or those with exceptionally broad tolerance.
Source: *New Book of Tang*, "Biography of Lou Shide"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "唾面自干" came to describe enduring humiliation with patience, or those with exceptionally broad tolerance.