Original Text
On the perilous cliffs of the mountains overlooking the river in Guangdong, silver ingots were often embedded in the rocks. Below, the waves surged violently, making it impossible for boats to anchor. If someone rowed close to pluck an ingot, it would be firmly lodged and could not be removed; but if a person was fated to obtain it, a single pull would bring it free, and when they looked back, another ingot would have grown in its place.
Commentary
This passage records a hearsay tale. Silver ingots were used as currency in ancient China, and obtaining a silver ingot meant obtaining wealth. The phrase "if it is fated that you should obtain this, then it will fall at the first pluck" conveys the message that destiny is predetermined and all events are decided beforehand.