Guan Fu, a man from Yingyin (modern-day Xuchang, Henan) in the early Han Dynasty, had a father named Guan Meng. During Emperor Jing's reign, the Marquis of Yingyin was ordered to suppress the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms, and both Guan Fu and his father joined the campaign. In the battle, Guan Meng was killed in action. For his bravery and military merit, Guan Fu was appointed as a General of the Palace Guard.
Guan Fu was a man of fiery temper who loved befriending bold knights and chivalrous heroes. He feared no authority and had no qualms offending high-ranking officials, which earned him deep respect from many talented but low-born individuals.
Guan Fu was a heavy drinker who often lost control when drunk, flying into rages and cursing everyone in sight.
When Chancellor Tian Fen remarried, he hosted a grand banquet, and all the civil and military officials in the court went to offer congratulations. It happened that Guan Fu, having been dismissed from office for some matter, was idle at home, and at the urging of the Marquis of Weiqi, Dou Ying, he also went to the chancellor's mansion to offer his felicitations.
According to the custom of the time, host and guest were to toast each other in turn. When Guan Fu offered a toast to Tian Fen, Tian Fen said, "I cannot handle much wine, so I cannot finish a full cup!" Guan Fu, feeling that Tian Fen was slighting him, said with sarcasm, "Though you are a man of rank, by etiquette you should still finish this cup!"
But Tian Fen still did not raise his glass. Having been snubbed, Guan Fu moved on to toast Guan Xian, the Marquis of Linru. As luck would have it, Guan Xian was too busy whispering with Cheng Bushi to notice Guan Fu approaching with his drink.
Guan Fu, full of pent-up anger, burst out cursing, "You bastard! I've always thought Cheng Bushi was worthless. I'm your elder, you're my junior, and when I offer you a toast, you dare to ignore me, acting all effeminate and whispering in his ear!"
When Tian Fen saw Guan Fu daring to curse loudly at the wedding feast, he ordered him arrested. Someone advised Guan Fu to kneel and apologize to Tian Fen, but Guan Fu flatly refused. Tian Fen then had him thrown into prison.
Soon after, Guan Fu was killed by Tian Fen.
Later, the idiom "Not Worth a Single Coin" came to describe something utterly worthless or of negligible value.
Source: *Book of Han*, "Biography of Guan Fu"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "一钱不值" came to describe how something utterly worthless or of negligible value.