Never forget friends made in adversity, and never abandon a wife who has shared your poverty and hardships.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
In the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Liu Xiu appointed Song Hong, who had been a chamberlain during the Western Han Dynasty, promoting him to 'Grand Master of Remonstrance'. Liu Xiu's sister was a widow and had developed feelings for Song Hong.
Liu Xiu wanted to marry his sister to Song Hong. He asked Song Hong for his opinion on the saying 'to abandon old friends when one becomes wealthy, and divorce one's wife when one becomes rich'.
Song Hong replied, 'Friends made in poverty should not be forgotten, and a wife who shared hardships should not be cast aside.' Liu Xiu had no choice but to give up the idea.