Extremely poor; without a penny to one's name; having not a cent.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, there was a boatman named Deng Tong. Emperor Wen once had a dream of ascending to heaven, helped by a man with a yellow hat whose sash was tied behind his back. The next day, he found Deng Tong, who matched the description, and consequently favored him greatly, showering him with immense wealth, totaling over a hundred million coins, and granting him the title of Grand Master.
A fortune teller once predicted that Deng Tong would die of hunger and poverty. Emperor Wen, concerned, declared, "Only I can make Deng Tong rich; how can I let him be poor?" He then bestowed upon Deng Tong a copper mountain in Yandao, Shu Commandery, allowing him to mint his own currency. As a result, Deng Tong became incredibly wealthy, and his coins, known as "Deng's money," circulated widely.
Later, Emperor Wen developed a sore on his back. Deng Tong, eager to show his loyalty, would regularly suck out the pus for the emperor. One day, Emperor Wen asked Deng Tong who loved him most, and Deng Tong replied it was undoubtedly the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince, Liu Qi, visited, Emperor Wen asked him to suck the pus. Liu Qi felt disgusted by the stench and sight but reluctantly complied, showing a grimace. He later learned that Deng Tong frequently performed this act for his father, which made him feel ashamed and consequently resentful towards Deng Tong.
After Emperor Wen's death, Liu Qi ascended the throne as Emperor Jing. He immediately dismissed Deng Tong from his post. Soon, Deng Tong was accused of stealing materials for minting coins. Emperor Jing confiscated all of Deng Tong's assets, leaving him utterly destitute and owing a massive debt. Although Emperor Jing's sister, the Eldest Princess, remembered Emperor Wen's wish not to let Deng Tong starve and tried to give him money, officials immediately seized it to settle his debts, not even allowing him to keep a single hairpin. Thus, Deng Tong ended up 'without a penny to his name,' living as a dependent in others' homes until his death.