Shi Chong was a great tycoon of the Jin Dynasty, and Wang Kai was the uncle of Emperor Wu of Jin; both men were immensely wealthy and held a grudge against each other, so they often flaunted their riches in public. It wasn't just the two of them—the entire Jin Dynasty was swept up in a trend of conspicuous comparison. Sima Yan, believing he had unified the whole country and achieved great merit, also began to live a life of luxury, indulging in wine, women, and pleasure day after day. With the emperor leading the way in corruption, the officials naturally followed suit, all imitating his decadent lifestyle.
Shi Chong accumulated most of his wealth while serving as a local official. Jingzhou was a key transit point for traveling merchants, with well-developed transportation routes, and Shi Chong frequently sent men to rob passing merchants, plundering their goods and also extorting money from the common people. It was through these methods that Shi Chong amassed his fortune, becoming a nationally renowned wealthy man.
No one truly knew how much wealth Shi Chong possessed. He ordered the construction of many magnificent, lavishly decorated mansions, where he housed numerous stunning beauties, all purchased with top-quality pearls. The women wore clothes made of splendid brocade embroidered with vibrant patterns, and their jewelry featured rare gems and jade. Shi Chong also set up a music chamber filled with precious instruments, where musicians took turns playing melodious tunes every day. The kitchen was stocked with countless delicacies, and rare birds and exotic animals were regular dishes on the table.
Once, a foreign country presented a batch of precious fabric as tribute to the Jin Dynasty. Emperor Wu of Jin kept some for himself and distributed the rest to his ministers, with Shi Chong receiving a portion as well. Shi Chong, finding the fabric inferior to what he already owned, gave it to his servants to make clothes, while he himself wore even more luxurious garments. When Emperor Wu visited Shi Chong's residence and saw his servants dressed in the precious fabric, he was stunned into silence. Looking further at Shi Chong's own attire, which surpassed even the imperial robes, the emperor could not help but marvel at Shi Chong's immense wealth.
Shi Chong's extravagant displays of wealth made Wang Kai very unhappy, and he was determined to compete with Shi Chong. Wang Kai ordered his servants to wash dishes and pots with sugar water; when Shi Chong heard about this, he commanded his own kitchen to stop using firewood for cooking and instead use candles—imagine how many candles it would take to cook just one meal! After the news spread, everyone felt that Shi Chong was wealthier than Wang Kai, which made Wang Kai even more resentful, so he came up with another trick to flaunt his riches. Wang Kai had his men weave a forty-li-long cloth from precious purple silk threads, turning it into a screen placed along both sides of the road in front of his house. Not to be outdone, Shi Chong immediately used colorful brocade to create a fifty-li-long screen in front of his own home, which looked even more magnificent and splendid than Wang Kai's, nearly driving Wang Kai mad with fury.
Bean porridge takes a long time to cook, but at Shi Chong's residence, it could be served piping hot in just a moment—many people were baffled by this, and Wang Kai was equally puzzled. Besides this, Wang Kai also noticed that Shi Chong had fresh chives to eat even in winter, despite the fact that no farmers grew chives during the bitter cold months. Not only that, but Shi Chong's ox also ran faster than Wang Kai's, even though Shi's ox appeared smaller in size than Wang's; yet whenever they went out in their carriages, Shi Chong's ox cart always took the lead. Wang Kai vowed to uncover the secret and bribed one of Shi Chong's servants heavily, finally getting the answer.
It turned out that the beans in the bean porridge had been cooked and mashed in advance, and the plain congee was also prepared early in the kitchen; as soon as an order was given, the cook would simply add the cooked bean paste into the congee and simmer it for a while. As for the chives, the roots were chopped finely and mixed into wheat seedlings. The reason the oxcart ran so fast was due to the driver's exceptional skill, knowing exactly when to pull the reins and when to let the ox run freely. After Wang Kai learned this secret, he quickly put it into practice at home. Shi Chong never expected that Wang Kai would bribe his servants, so he seized an opportunity to kill the one who had leaked the information.
Wang Kai then thought of using cinnabar powder to coat his walls to show off the splendor of his house, but Shi Chong outdid him by using pepper to plaster his walls instead. Unable to match Shi Chong, Wang Kai went to the palace to seek help from his nephew, Emperor Wu of Jin. Hearing his uncle's request, the emperor found their rivalry in flaunting wealth amusing and also wanted to see who would ultimately prevail, so he gave his uncle a very precious and rare coral tree from the imperial palace. This coral tree was over two feet tall, with lush branches, thick stems, and a captivating red glow throughout. Wang Kai thought that with this coral tree, Shi Chong would surely admit defeat.
Wang Kai excitedly brought the coral tree home and the next day hosted a grand banquet, with Shi Chong also among the invited guests. In the middle of the feast, Wang Kai ordered the coral tree to be carried into the hall for everyone to admire, and the guests exclaimed in praise, circling the tree in endless appreciation, except for Shi Chong, who sat motionless in his seat. Wang Kai, thinking Shi Chong was awestruck, proudly boasted before him, but Shi Chong did not argue; instead, he stood up, walked over to the coral tree, raised the iron ruyi he carried with him, and smashed the coral tree to pieces with a sudden blow. The guests, caught off guard, stood frozen in shock. Seeing his coral tree destroyed, Wang Kai furiously shouted at Shi Chong, demanding that he compensate for it. Shi Chong nonchalantly replied, "What's all the fuss over a coral tree? I'll pay you back for it." With that, Shi Chong ordered several servants to return home.
Before long, Shi Chong's servants carried several coral trees into the hall, and when the guests saw them, they were struck speechless for a long time. These coral trees were each taller and more dazzlingly colorful than Wang Kai's, with branches that looked just like real trees. Not only were the guests dumbfounded, but Wang Kai himself was so astonished he could not speak; only then did he realize that Shi Chong was far wealthier than himself. Thinking this over, Wang Kai could not help but feel dejected and never again brought up the topic of flaunting his wealth.
Corruption pervaded the state of Jin, and upright ministers all said its downfall was near.